It would be tempting to wax philosophical about Tuesday night’s almost complete decimation of Republican political power. It would be tempting, but it would also be a pointless exercise. Tuesday’s election results can and will serve as a cipher for any number of pundits and bloggers. People will see in the results what they choose to, and that’s their right. From where I sit, though, I’m less concerned with whatever message the electorate may have sent than what it all means for the future.
In order for Democratic control of the House and Senate to have any meaning and any hope of success, Democrats must learn the lessons taught by the demise of those who proceeded them in power. I watched an interview with Tom DeLay in which he posited that Democrats didn’t win the election as much as Republicans lost it. As much as I detest DeLay and everything he stands for, I find myself having to agree with him on this point. Republicans lost this election because of their overarching corruption and mean-spirited arrogance. Over the past 12 years, Republicans in Congress have come to view themselves as to the manor born, seeing their majority in both Houses as their birthright. Somewhere along the line they forgot about how they got there in the first place and who put them there. It may be trite but it’s true- power corrupts. In the end, Republicans simply lost sight of this basic, immutable fact.
Humility is a good thing. Fortunately for Democrats, humility is not a trait Republicans are known to possess in large quantities.
Democrats prevailed because Republicans lost this election. Now we have an opportunity to prove that we CAN govern, we DO have a vision, and that LIBERAL is not a synonym for indecisive and cowardly…not that it ever was, except in the mind of Conservatives. WE DESERVE BETTER…and now we have the opportunity to achieve exactly that. It’s a nice feeling, eh?
Democrats, in order to be successful, must pledge to avoid the temptation to take themselves seriously. They must create a system in which Congress, and especially Democrats, are open and accountable. If they simply take over where Republicans left off, it will be only a question of time before 1994 comes back around.
The biggest question in my mind is what can and will actually be accomplished over the next two years. Even with control of the House and Senate, Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader is still firmly ensconced in the Oval Office, which means that he can, if he so chooses, veto any- and everything that comes across his desk with fear of being overridden. To say that this is a recipe for gridlock would be something of an understatement.
When he was Governor of Texas, Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader was known for reaching across the aisle and finding compromise with Democrats in Austin. It wasn’t until he moved into the White House that he became the intractable, uncompromising ideologue he is now. So which version will emerge- the pragmatist who strived to find compromises that would work for both sides? Or the intolerant, immovable neo-Conservative ideologue who wraps himself in flag and faith? Time will tell, of course, but Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader has an opportunity to prove the he is the President of ALL Americans, not just narrow-minded Evangelical Social Conservatives.
In the interim, Nancy Pelosi and her minions should work as hard as they can to pass as much of their agenda as they possibly can. If Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader starts vetoing Democratic legislation, that’s on him. Democrats need to do what they’re promising to do. If they can follow through on these promises, and Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader proves to be the roadblock, then Democrats will have that much more ammunition in 2008.
The only real way that Democrats will have a chance at long-term lasting success is if they do what they’ve said they would do. That means getting to work on January 20th and not letting up. Take government seriously. Do what you said you’d do. Listen to your constituents. Be honest, open, and conduct the People’s business transparently. Learn from the numerous stupid mistakes made by Republicans. Bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq. Be a force for peace in the world. Demonstrate why America is the greatest country in the world.
IF Democrats can learn the lessons of Republican arrogance and corruption, we have a shot. If not…well, refer to 1994 and you’ll have an idea of what we can expect. It’s an exciting time to be a Democrat. We should be enjoying the reality that it’s a new day, but the excitement will and should be short-lived. There’s work to be done- a LOT of work. Time to roll up your sleeves, y’all….
Stay tuned….
