CARLTON FLETCHER: Politics … the ‘gift’ that keeps on giving, and giving, and …

You go back, Jack, and do it again …

— Steely Dan

Somebody told me Wednesday morning after election results were pretty clear, “At least that’s over with! Now we don’t have to put up with politics being jammed down our throats on the regular.”

My reply was three words: “Are you kidding?”

No, we are not going to have to endure miles and miles of political signs (except for the ones not picked up by candidates in the aftermath of the election … Rick Jackson, you’ve got enough scratch to pay the locals who supported you to collect yours that still pollute the landscape around here), and we won’t get to hear about Jon Ossoff spending money to look good. (And, as an aside here, has there ever been a dumber political ad? I definitely would have asked for my money back.)

But as the Carpenters once told us, when it comes to politics in the wake of the midterm elections, “We’ve only just begun.”

There are several phases we’re going to have to endure over the coming months leading up to the 2028 presidential election, and the first one already is underway. Call it the analysis phase.

Pundits and self-proclaimed experts are busy telling us now – and will be for about a month or so – why there was such a landslide across the nation for Democrats and explaining how the election results will impact the country. Some of their comments will be spot-on and insightful. Most, however, will just be more hot air from people who love to hear themselves talk.

There will be a lot of back and forth about what Republicans should do in the short time their power will remain intact, and there will be counterarguments about what Democrats must do to keep GOP legislators from achieving their goals.

And if you’re among those who think Republicans in Congress who were voted out of office – at least those not named Thomas Massie – are going to finally step forward and do what’s right for the country, defying Trump if they have to, you obviously have not been following this bunch. They proved it when they used a procedural order to keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth – whose biography prior to taking that position read “drunken Fox newscaster” – in office when he certainly doesn’t deserve to be.

To keep an openly racist, homophobic, loony like this in such a position of authority shows that Republicans have no intention of doing what will best serve their constituents, choosing instead to continue their blind allegiance to the one man most responsible for their election losses.

And not too far down the road, after we get through a period of “what are the Democrats doing wrong and what are they doing right” once they claim their majority and start working on those campaign promises, they will be under intense scrutiny as bruised and battered Republicans seek to start chipping away at the overwhelming support they received in the election.

Then – and, yes, I hate to bring this up – before we’re too far into 2027, the campaigning will start for the 2028 run for White House. Trump will talk – buffoonishly – about how the American people want him back for another term (none so blind as he who won’t see) and how he’ll save the country from Democrats, and only the 15% or so of his true believers left will remain all in, but it will be enough to generate buzz on Fox News.

Then both major parties will start – a hint or two here and there at first – the push to get their candidates’ names in front of the American people as rightful heirs to become the country’s next president. J.D. Vance (please) … Pete Buttigieg … Raphael Warnock … Kamala Harris … Ted Cruz … Marco Rubio … Andy Bashear (yes!) …Gavin Newsom … Ron DeSantis … Chris Christie … Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez … Brian Kemp …

These names – and others – will be bandied about as we move into the new year and will either lose steam or pick up momentum as we head toward an Election Day two years in the distance.

And then, as things really start to rev up and pocketbooks are opened – sad to say – it all starts again. Lord, I’m going to need a vacation.

Email Carlton Fletcher at [email protected].