Election Night Was Not That Bad, Stop With The 'Blame Game'

So, I'll be the first to admit that yesterday’s GOP showing was more a platoon than an entire cavalry. Not exactly what we were hoping for. Remember, though, according to the U.S. Army, a platoon is three to four squads, which could come out to as many as 140 soldiers. That’s not nothing. So, let’s not be too discouraged.

By the way, a squad (and you know who and what I mean) is less than 10 soldiers. Or, to sum up: Platoons are much, much bigger than squads, if you get my meaning.

Now, back to the story line. All the votes are not counted yet, but it sure looks like the GOP will carry the House, with at least 225 seats or so. This is very, very, important. That many GOP House members would make a hell of a platoon.

Also, by the way, House Republicans defeated half a dozen Democrat incumbents and counting — including Mike Lawler right here in New York state defeated the Democrat campaign chairman, Congressman Sean Maloney.

Minority Leader McCarthy’s efforts to expand his House troops by recruiting women and minority candidates paid off in Florida, Michigan, New York, Texas, Virginia, and elsewhere.

The Senate looks like it’s going to be a photo finish. Senator Johnson was just declared the winner in Wisconsin, putting the GOP headcount at 49. That leaves three remaining races, of which Adam Laxalt looks to me like a sure winner in Nevada.

Herschel Walker is in a runoff in Georgia, and this time his friends and allies will urge Georgians to come out and vote for him, and there are 80,000 libertarian votes that will likely swing toward him.

Finally there’s Blake Masters in Arizona, who I admit is a longer shot, but Kari Lake looks to be a winner, and who knows about Mr. Masters yet? He’s been on my show several times, and he is a fine person.

So, I’ll go out on a limb and say there’s a good path to 51, and maybe even 52.

By the way, kudos to Governor DeSantis for a big win in Florida, along with Senator Rubio.

So my conservative friends should really stop gnashing their teeth or pointing their fingers in incriminatory post-mortems, because it really wasn’t such a bad election. That’s right, I remain optimistic.

On the Senate side, you had a large number of first-time candidates who won primaries but faced tough, well-funded Democratic incumbents. That’s a tough road. You look down the list: J.D. Vance, Ted Budd, Tiffany Smiley, Joe O'Dea, Don Bolduc, Blake Masters, Herschel Walker….

We interviewed most of these folks several times during the campaign and watched them mature and improve as great candidates.Some of them who lost will be back for more in future elections.

A number of people are criticizing my former boss, Donald Trump, for backing bad candidates. This is so vastly overrated. Remember, these candidates won primaries. They all gave it their best shots in the general election, but some didn’t make it. Mr. Trump was not on the ballot.

I dare say he was not a major force, with one exception — I wish he had backed my pal David McCormick, who I think would’ve beaten John Fetterman. I like Mehmet Oz personally, but I do think Mr. McCormick was the right guy.

The others gave it their best shot. Several of them are going to win. Others lost. It was up to them, not anybody else. This blame game stuff is always a lot of hooey.

Whatever the final count, the GOP is going to have their house in order to stop the bad stuff on spending, taxing, regulating, and weaponizing places like the justice department, the IRS, the FBI, and other agencies. Stopping the bad stuff will bring relief.

If the Republicans can pull out the Senate, they can be an even greater force for positive legislative strategies to grow the economy and curb inflation.

Next year is going to be a huge economic challenge. I was looking at the OECD index of leading indicators, and it is pointed straight down — for many months. It’s predicting global recession, including in the U.S. High prices and a sinking economy must be dealt with immediately.

I still believe the first order of business is to take the handcuffs off of fossil fuels and open the spigots. Permitting, drilling, pipelining, refining  ... all of it. Oil and gas products permeate the entire economy, affecting the everyday lives of working people and their families. Opening the spigots could also take the pressure off of the Fed’s anti-inflation tightening, which would be a welcome relief for the economy.

Then, of course, it’s incumbent to cut spending and cut taxes. Grow the supply side of the economy. Pick up where we left off a couple years ago with the Trump V-shaped recovery boom.

President Biden may very well oppose all of this, but he’ll do so at his peril. He may well have lost both chambers in this midterm election. All the exit polls showed inflation and the economy were by far the no. 1 issue.

So if Mr. Biden doesn’t want a reset, he will make that choice at his own political peril.

Take heart, the platoon is coming. Nothing wrong with that.

From Mr. Kudlow’s broadcast on Fox Business News.

Larry Kudlow was the Director of the National Economic Council under President Trump from 2018-2021. His Fox Business show "Kudlow" airs at 4 p.m &. and his radio show airs on 770 ABC from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.