GOP/JEFF SESSIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A fundamental question for President Donald Trump, as he moves forward after the midterms, is this: what role does he want to play? If he seeks to be the great negotiator he has always claimed to be, there could be an opportunity for him to cut the deal on immigration and on guns that other Republicans would not be allowed to by their base, and also a deal on infrastructure or tariffs. Will he do this? Or does the President double down on the rhetoric we have seen over the past two years?These opportunities for movement exist. But the President’s combative post-election press conference Tuesday [11-6-18] — and the dismissal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions — appear to answer the question. There will be no pivot. Indeed, that this fighting posture was Trump’s reaction to an election he claimed was a rousing success shows that the next two years are more likely to be a continuation of confrontation than any kind of cooperation. And despite presumed Speaker-to-be Pelosi’s words in her own post-election turn before reporters, it’s clear her conference wants a more confrontational approach.”
–Douglas Heye, “Buckle up, it’ll be a bumpy ride for the next two years,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, November 8, 2018 7:54 pm