A false dawn?

I was on a little excursion to Copenhagen (see the two latest additions under  ‘Perambulations’) when the results of the U.S. midterm elections were coming in, or the referendum on Trump as some pundits called it. The curious electoral systems employed in the polls allowed Trump some mercy, but once again the Democrats voter tally was significantly bigger than the Republicans. In Senate races, the difference was 10 million votes, but whereas 40 million people in California are represented by two senators, in Wyoming it’s less than 600,000. It’s a wonder Democrats have ever had control of the Senate.
 
The problem for the Democrats now is what to do with their majority in the House of Representatives. Having economic powers, the House could easily disrupt much of Trump’s agenda. But as some commentators suggest, the U.S. economic cycle is near a peak, so if things slump in a year or two Trump could (and will) blame any obstructions on the House. As regards impeachment, which is a lengthy process which ends in the Senate, there seems little point. The Senate won’t agree to impeachment, and given the time it takes it would be best to oust Trump at the presidential election in 2020.
 
But what have the Democrats got that could succeed in getting rid of the idiot? At least Trump has recognisable policies, and whilst his solutions are simplistic and counter-productive sufficient people know what he stands for to get him elected. I have only heard a little of what Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has had to say, but for the most senior Democrat in Congress it sounds like it will be business as usual, which is to say they will be responsible and uninspiring. In other words, the Democrats’ gains in the House could be a false dawn. At this point it would be wise to avoid seeing these midterms as a pointer to getting a more civilised character into the White House in two years’ time.