STORMY POLITICAL WEATHER IN THE UNITED STATES

Governor Chris Christie won his second term as governor of New Jersey.  Terry McAuliffe won the contest as governor of Virginia. The victory of the Democrat was expected. His narrow margin was not. His opponent Ken Cuccinelli lost with a 45.5% while McAuliffe received a 47.9 %.

Those numbers are a slap in the face to both the Republican and Democratic parties. 

Christie represents all that which the "Fox News Republicans" are not.  McAuliffe received the support of the President and the Clinton "death squad machine," besides benefiting from a large fundraising advantage. Nevertheless, the rising anger and frustration about Obamacare are slowly becoming a tidal wave. Cuiccinelli, who is a neanderthal conservative regarding social issues, scored unexpectedly well because the health care reform is becoming toxic. The Clintons, McAuliffe's prime backers, are left with a "hangover."

I am convinced that the intentions of the President regarding universal health care reform were genuine and well-meant. Unfortunately, they are poorly implemented. The end result is a "debacle."  It is becoming difficult to foresee how the White House (which did not care to read the fine print of this Gargantuan bill) will be able to manage this major crisis, which risks derailing the Democrats' ambitions for future elections for Congress and the presidency.  It is too early to predict outcomes because the field in both camps looks murky. The Republicans might still become hostage to Tea Party zealots and the Democrats are starting to distance themselves from the President, and the Clinton embrace. Meanwhile, New York got a radical left-leaning Democratic mayor in the person of Bill de Blasio, who sounds more "Sixties" than 2013, but then New York and California have for awhile now followed more their own instincts than the often unwelcome invasive national "dogmas."

The political landscape looks more divided than ever. The extremes seem to be gaining ground. This might further complicate an already perverted political landscape. The Republicans should come to terms with a country which finds itself in an accelerating social spiral of change.  The hard line Tea Party mantra is a ticket for execution. The Democrats must revert to diversity and stop playing Dynasty full-time. Even the gifted Clintons  are becoming tiresome.  For the moment (how long?) only Christie looks like a man with a mission, open to diversity.  The danger lurks in his own ranks where he is "anathema" to the right-wing.  He had better look over his shoulder before having to say:  Tu quoque.

The President must feel lonely.  He should consider switching from an insular coterie to a more philosophical model able to project more coherent policies internally and abroad (what a mess!) Behind the mediocre play there lies indeed a complex, existential question:  that of the boundaries between State and society.  Yes-sayers will not help in finding the just equilibrium.