My absurd experiences in North America over the years

Cole was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone. Since it involved the midterm elections, he had to take it seriously.

The U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for November, but primaries for both major parties have already begun in some areas.

Many politicians are holding rallies to garner votes, and local governors and state legislatures are beginning to change elections.

As a pillar of the middle generation of a long-established political and business family, Cole will also step onto the stage to compete for power, and his next rally will be to prepare for the election of governor.

Of course, local elections are not the most important "event" in the midterm elections; the battle for parliament is the key.

The Senate and the House of Representatives jointly control the highest legislative power, but they are fundamentally different. In terms of power structure, one represents the upper class and the other reflects public opinion. They are the left and right arms of the highest power in implementing policies.

After a Black president comes to power, the ruling party, the Democratic Party, controls both houses of Congress and holds great power.

The Republican Party has no say in anything from the power to appoint personnel (to approve senior officials, ambassadors, and federal judges appointed by the president), to ratify international treaties (with a two-thirds majority), to impeachment trials, to initiating fiscal bills and impeachment proceedings (including impeaching the president and all federal officials).

Every midterm election is the best opportunity to reshuffle Congress. If either the House or the Senate gains a majority of seats, it can cut off one arm of the president's cabinet.

Do you think the Republican Party won't care?

"You said you'd overthrow the Democratic Party," Cole knew Li Fu's capabilities; if he said that, he must have a plan. "What are you planning to do?"

Li Fu leaned against the edge of his desk, his phone pressed to his ear, his gaze fixed on the afternoon sunlight in Los Angeles outside the window.

His next words, or rather all his actions, were related to his future in Los Angeles and even the United States; he had no way out.

"In my view, every midterm election is not essentially a contest between two parties, but a referendum on the current government. Almost every time, voters are dissatisfied with the economy, the unemployment rate, and the high-ranking officials. The people want to punish not just a particular member of parliament, but the ruling party itself."

Li Fu put forward his view that the midterm elections are indeed generally regarded as a midterm exam or a national referendum for the incumbent president and ruling party.

Historically, it has been common for a president's party to lose congressional seats in midterm elections.

Under the influence of such emotions, voters often choose to oppose rather than support a particular group.

In the first half of 2010, economic issues were the overwhelming top priority, as the unemployment rate remained high at 9.6%, and polls showed that as many as 84% ​​of voters were dissatisfied with the current economic situation.

Li Fu felt that it was something that could be used.

Cole didn't interrupt him and let him continue.

"So now, as long as voters can associate the Democratic Party with groups that cover up history and ignore the huge contributions made to this country, this discontent will erupt," Li Fu continued with his reasoned analysis. "Even if only a portion of swing voters hesitate for this reason, those Democratic seats with weak electoral prospects will be vacated."

As a long-time public official in the state legislature, Cole instantly grasped the essence of the matter: they didn't need to change the voting intentions of swing voters because of this issue; it was enough to prevent them from voting for the Democrats.

He has also noticed that polls show that the percentage of people who believe Japan has not fully reflected on its World War II history has risen from 37% to 62%, and the percentage who believe the United States should urge Japan to face up to its history has risen from 39% to 68%.

This is the overwhelming public opinion; the more Democratic lawmakers oppose it, the more Republicans should support it—that's the best strategy.

On the other hand, Democratic lawmakers cannot help but oppose it because it involves the formulation of the Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy, which is their long-term strategy.

The more opposition there is to the current situation, the more public opinion will be stirred up.

If the Republicans cannot shake the Democratic majority in the Senate (where only one-third of the seats are up for election), then the House of Representatives (where all seats are up for election in the midterm elections), which represents the will of the people, has a high probability of winning.

If either of the two houses is won, a black president can become a lame president.

"But I must remind you," Cole said, with a lingering doubt, "that foreign policy has never been the primary issue in midterm elections."

The American public doesn't actually care that much about foreign policy, which creates objective difficulties in terms of public opinion campaigning.

"That's true. Foreign policy has never been a major issue of concern for voters," Li Fu had to admit. However, he then changed the subject, "but this issue has now entered the public eye and is intertwined with the current core of public opinion."

The current focus of public opinion is on the numerous atrocities committed by Japanese fascists and the serious neglect of veterans who shed blood in the Pacific theater, while Democratic lawmakers are indifferent and condescendingly call for not damaging the alliance.

The public is extremely dissatisfied with politicians who, for diplomatic gain, objectively damage the honor of veterans, cover up historical truths, and ignore public sentiment.

In fact, most Americans do not attempt to understand the terms of the TPP, nor do they want to explore the strategic details of the Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy.

They are used to prioritizing their own citizens, while politicians ignore them because they want to cater to the feelings of their Japanese counterparts.

This is the core conflict.

This is also a point that Li Fu believes can be fully utilized.

Cole and Li Fu had worked together more than once or twice, and in some ways he understood politics and the power structure at the top much better than Li Fu.

However, he also had to admit that Li Fuyuan understood people's hearts far better than he did.

"Right now, the Tea Party is constantly looking for any ammunition they can use to attack the establishment. We should guide them to attack the Democrats instead," Cole said, scratching his head as he brought it up.

The Tea Party is not a third party, but rather an internal faction within the Republican Party; the name Tea Party has a dual origin.

One originates from the Boston Tea Party of 1773, a protest against British colonial rule, symbolizing resistance against high taxes and government tyranny.

TEA is also an abbreviation for Taxed Enough Already.

The Tea Party primarily holds conservative and right-wing populist views, and its supporters are mostly white men over 45 years old, who are generally more educated and have higher-than-average incomes, but their situation is beginning to deteriorate.

Some of these members can be seen as pioneers and core supporters of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.

They have had a huge impact on the relatively moderate establishment, and given the current situation, many Tea Party members are likely to emerge in the Republican primary.