Partisan Politics

With a couple of Democratic upsets in the primaries and poll numbers showing a groundswell of voter dissatisfaction with the current administration's policies and with their handling of the war, the Democratic party stands at a crossroads. It's entirely possible they will take back one or both houses of congress in November. This will present them with an historical opportunity which I am convinced that they will choose to blow.

When the new congressional session opens in January, the Democrats have two paths before them. The first one leads to a clear-cut domestic and diplomatic program, a plan to end and either win or get out of the war in Iraq, and a mountain of problems that need to be solved to begin moving the country forward. Peripherally there will also be the need to undo some of the worst offenses committed by the Repubicans.

The second path will be the politics of get even, investigations, hearings, proposed impeachment, and finger pointing. This is the path I believe they will choose as it's an easy path and doesn't require any committment or any real work. I hope it is not the one they decide to take.

Even if they don't have the votes to pass the bills that are needed, they need to put them up anyway. Choose a few very important issues and concentrate on those. It took years for things to get into this abysmal mess. It will take years to get out as well. Start by picking a popular issue such as border security/illegal immigration. This has a great deal of bipartisan support so it will be possible to reach across the aisle to Republicans and start building bridges and coalitions that can only result in good for the American people.

If the Democrats can remember that the other party is not the enemy and that they are all there for the betterment of the American people and this country, rather than to line their own pockets, ensure their next reelection, or pander to special interests, then they can start making progress. One party or the other will eventually have to suck it up and stop this ever downward spiral of animosity and hatred. It can be the Democrats if they have any brains.

I don't mean that the Republicans will cooperate, but a few might. The more Democrats can fight the impulse to get even and concentrate on getting things done, the better it will be for them and for us. The question remains whether they have the brains to do it or the will. The river of hate and acrimony runs deep and wide. Someone has to bridge this chasm. The one who does will win the undying gratitude of the voters.

Oh, as an aside, and as a starting point, I would suggest that the party spring for muzzles and put them on Howard Dean, Jessie Jackson, and Al Sharpton when it comes to speaking officially for the party on anything. All three of these men are a damned embarassment.