Midterm elections are always important. At the most basic level, they determine who will control Congress during the second half of a president's term. If the president's party gains or retains control of Congress, that president's final two years will be smoother and more productive than otherwise. Moreover, midterm elections serve as a reality check on a president. Especially in the days before public opinion polling, they indicated how voters were perceiving the performance of the president. Then and now, they could and can help a first-term president decide whether to run for a second term. They can cause would-be successors to the president to start campaigning, or to decide to sit on the sidelines for another four years.
I appreciate the article. I have a question though. I think that it should be obvious that our republic is the best form of government seen in the history of the world, I think everyone could agree with that, but currently, our government is a bit messy. I also know that our government hasn't changed much since its founding as we have barely amended it over the nearly three hundred years it has existed. What do you think went wrong between our founding, and now, to make our government the mess it currently is?
People who have been married for a long time sometimes take each other for granted. They focus on the foibles of their partner and neglect what brought them together in the first place. Americans have been married to the Constitution for a long time. We take for granted democracy and the rule of law. We forget that these have to be nurtured and cherished.
That makes quite a good amount of sense. Thank you. I'm one of Jake Peterson's students, and wanted to read your articles for myself. I quite find them much relieving. I know that this is a source that I can trust, so thank you.
Thanks for this. Great background history of this crucial period. I recently read Stahr's book on SALMON P. CHASE and I learned a lot about this ardent Unionist and his contributions to the Union, the war and Lincoln's cabinet.
You wrote:
"But it's been a hard lesson to heed. Franklin Roosevelt didn’t do so, and when the candidates he backed in 1938 lost, his plans for another round of New Deal reform were as dead in the water as Johnson's post-1866 presidency was."
I think you are right that Biden won't make many appearances. Mr. Biden is so unpopular all he can do is hurt his cause and his side. If the polls are correct BIden's presidency will essentially be checkmated for the rest of his term. Biden will become, very early, a lame duck.
Thanks again for an excellent and cogent article. I love your books and enjoy reading these articles. To me you are one of the top modern American historians.
I appreciate the article. I have a question though. I think that it should be obvious that our republic is the best form of government seen in the history of the world, I think everyone could agree with that, but currently, our government is a bit messy. I also know that our government hasn't changed much since its founding as we have barely amended it over the nearly three hundred years it has existed. What do you think went wrong between our founding, and now, to make our government the mess it currently is?
People who have been married for a long time sometimes take each other for granted. They focus on the foibles of their partner and neglect what brought them together in the first place. Americans have been married to the Constitution for a long time. We take for granted democracy and the rule of law. We forget that these have to be nurtured and cherished.
That makes quite a good amount of sense. Thank you. I'm one of Jake Peterson's students, and wanted to read your articles for myself. I quite find them much relieving. I know that this is a source that I can trust, so thank you.
Welcome aboard, Julian.
I'm glad to set sail on my mission of historical understanding.
Thanks for this. Great background history of this crucial period. I recently read Stahr's book on SALMON P. CHASE and I learned a lot about this ardent Unionist and his contributions to the Union, the war and Lincoln's cabinet.
You wrote:
"But it's been a hard lesson to heed. Franklin Roosevelt didn’t do so, and when the candidates he backed in 1938 lost, his plans for another round of New Deal reform were as dead in the water as Johnson's post-1866 presidency was."
I think you are right that Biden won't make many appearances. Mr. Biden is so unpopular all he can do is hurt his cause and his side. If the polls are correct BIden's presidency will essentially be checkmated for the rest of his term. Biden will become, very early, a lame duck.
Thanks again for an excellent and cogent article. I love your books and enjoy reading these articles. To me you are one of the top modern American historians.