Understanding mandates and handling our regrets!

Earlier I emailed of an Op-ed written by Sen. Thom Tillis stating the Republican

Party does not have a 'mandate' with the victory of Donald Trump.

The earlier piece:  http://bit.ly/2jNTT0L 

This led to several replies highly critical of Tillis by people who regretted voting
for him.

I offer two thoughts; what a 'mandate' is and addressing our 'regrets'.

Tillis, despite his experience in politics, missed the broadness of the word
'mandate'.  It doesn't only mean what needs to be done, it also means what
must stop being done!

If you think back to the mid term election of 2010, the message was clear, STOP
deficit budgets and increasing our nation debt. This led to Republicans gaining
the majority in the US House and given the mandate to restrain spending!

Unfortunately, the 'mandate' fell on deaf ears as Republican leadership joined
with Democrat leadership and passed more deficit budgets and increased debt.  

Worse, this pattern  continued from 2012 until 2016, even as Republicans gained

majorities in both chambers of Congress.

With the Senate barely in Republican hands, the message to Tillis  and others
was clear but sadly unheeded, mandates need to be respected and applied!

Now to voter remorse, regretting voting for a candidate who disappoints us.

The Op-ed by Tillis should do more than anger people who voted for him, it
should be a reminder of the culture Tillis finds himself in.

The Senate is not the House, Tillis like every other senator has the luxury of
'time',  time to not think of  a reelection campaign for several years, allowing
him to devote more time to working with colleagues; meaning pushed to "reach
across the aisle", "compromise" and "end  gridlock", all worn out buzz words,
meant to pacify an  electorate, not necessarily equal to the mandate the people
gave them.

Tillis finds himself in a culture that is more corrosive than constructive, with
an entrance for lobbyists to freely access Congressional offices. These are the
people Tillis and others 'represent', until the calendar points to the  end of his
term.

But, before any of us swear off Tillis consider the difference between him and 

Dole and Faircloth. Neither of them were 'battle tested' in the state as Tillis was.

You may recall the grass root demanded NC repeal and replace Common Core.

It was Tillis who authorized a study committee which led to this occurring. We 

can do the same with him in the Senate.

Tillis may merely be 'misguided' and Limbaugh's exacting rebuke of his Op-ed 

and reinforcing the mandate voters gave Republicans may be a Blessing.

We need to contact Tillis and let him know we are on the same page as Donald 

Trump is, not his Senate colleagues!

Trump committed to lock the door and end the cozy politician-lobbyist relationship. 

It is up to us to "ring Tillis phone off the hook", even use social media, to let him 

know we are watching.  We should also bring our concerns to state party leaders, 

let them know our displeasure.

Thom Tillis has shown he will respond.  Let's not let our displease lead us to do 

nothing!

Feedback appreciated. Feel free to enter in comments section below, or email, ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/