Smooth transition, but then what?

We just witnessed something extraordinary. An election was held, the party in power lost and the outgoing administration is preparing to leave office without throwing a temper tantrum.

There’s been no screaming about a stolen election, or images of police officers being beaten and literally crushed under the weight of an angry mob trying to push through the doors of the Capitol.

In fact, the outgoing administration has graciously hosted the incoming administration at the White House and assembled a team that will work with them to ensure a smooth transition. I don’t recall either courtesy being extended that last time we had a change in administration.

So, what happens next? Well, the president-elect will step in inheriting a booming economy and will most likely start taking credit for it right way. I can’t wait for the first reports on jobs, inflation and economic growth. The gaslighting won’t be far behind.

Meanwhile, the president-elect is already trying to sidestep the Constitution and relegate Congress to irrelevance. In case anyone missed it, he has ordered the soon-to-be Republican controlled Senate to recess once it is sworn in so that he can make all his appointments without any confirmation hearings.

These confirmations are essentially a done deal in the new Senate, but even that is not enough for a president who considers the Constitution and our system of checks and balances a nuisance. With the GOP in control of both chambers, maybe all of Congress can go into recess for the next four years and let the administration rule by edict.

Dean Geroulis

Des Plaines