Doug Jones is now a United States Senator. Much of the Republican agenda in the senate dealt a serious blow by the new senator from the Heart of Dixie. 51-49, and the Repubs in ‘bama have nobody to blame but themselves. Of course, Mr. Jones will be up for re-election to win his own full-term outright in 2020. Enjoy your time, sir, and no need to purchase a house in the D.C. area. I can tell you the Republican candidate is already being assembled in a laboratory outside Montgomery. Eagle Scout: check; long, happy marriage, check; photogenic, adorable kids, check; banned from a mall? Nope. So this is the time to do something different. A unique window for Senator Jones (D-AL), to break the mold, and be a light on the Hill of independence, clear thought, and shoot from the hip honesty. Have a tirade, a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington moment. Swear a little bit. Have fun.
Already, however, our erstwhile Mr. Smith has already caved. He will have the first African-American senate democrat chief of staff sitting outside his office. This a result of interest groups in Alabama insisting he do that. He did, but he is male. Dana Gresham a former bureaucratic functionary in the Department of Transportation, who, previous to that served as administrative assistant in two congressional offices. He really should be a woman since female African-Americans put Jones over the top against Roy Moore. Yes, he is hearing about that already. Gresham, in ordinary times would be in over his head, but, all the Dems will be there to show him the way. Jones will be fail proof until he shows otherwise. He is being besieged, and can leave his bags packed if he caves to party interest. Not to let this go unmentioned, but, Republicans have two chiefs of staff of color. Serving the two Republican senators of color. Did anyone pressure Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), or Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA)? The two being African-American Democrat senators.
Speaking of Senator Harris; she has made it quite clear that she wants the senate judiciary committee slot once occupied by Al Franken. Formerly of the “Al Franken Decade.” Harris is a former California State Attorney General with a wildly unspectacular record. However, she is being propped up by the Dems as a wildly spectacular figure in 2020. Probably a V.P. nominee if the presidential nominee is white. Identity politics is always the rage on the left side. Senator Jones has been a long time Alabama prosecuter, who, years after the fact, tried, and convicted the proponents of a black church bombing which killed kids during the racial strife in ‘60’s Birmingham. I am thinking it will be smart to put him in the non-lawyer Franken slot. It should have been done already, and maybe still will be. The fact that it has not yet been done is due to the alleged star power Dems believe Harris has. She is gold. For now. Among her senate colleagues she is known to be very tempermental, and apparently, fails to play well with others. Not to up on the parliamentary procedures as well.
In bi-partisan land Mr. Jones can become a hallowed figure. The first democratic senator from Alabama since Howard Heflin. The late Senator Heflin is who you would call if you had to cast a movie part of; “politician, southern, traditional, right leaning, but has always been a Democrat, boll weevil.” Not the most progressive guy by any means. Heck, Jones might be the first Alabama Dem in spirit, and practice, ever elected. He can do so much if he can break free of the bonds of Democrats, and touch the face of practicality. Go in like you will lose in 2020. Which you will. Vote like you don’t care. Take the people’s interests to heart. Go on the senate floor and toss a truth bomb speech into the Congressional Record. Flip the tables of corporate political contributors and drive them out of democracy’s temple. You will have a Republican heavyweight to run against so fear not a primary challenge from the left. Make friends, pull a Humphrey, and be a “happy warrior.” A wonderful moniker for a senator who chased the White House like a techie pursuing a supermodel with the same result. Heartbreak. Doug, you know what is right, you seem like a no-scandal guy, you can do this. Tell the Black Caucus to shove it, and tell Repubs they are too inflexible. Be the ball. Wrap yourself in moral dignity and spear the whale of identity politics. It can be, as the phrase goes, “Nixon to China.” A popular saying referring to a 1972 trip to China to meet Mao as Nixon did. He was applauded. It is correctly assumed if a Democrat President did that he would be lynched politically. Which is true. Perhaps only an off the reservation Dem, which you can be, can correct the self-loathing of your party. Before some call you a Democrat In Name Only, use your new found popularity among Republican senators, and give them a whack in the tea bag as well.
No one is holding their breath on this; if you do, I wonder who will play you in the Mr. Smith remake?
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