(no subject)
Election Results: Democrats in Control
(This one's about a month late, but I've been busy! -_-)
As of the last US election, the Democratic party gained majority control in the House of Representatives, and essentially majority control in the Senate (technically 50 is not a majority, but since two are independents and one of those if expected to caucus with the Democrats [Sen. Lieberman, go him! I actually was happy he won, considering how his own party pretty much stabbed him in the back], but they have more than any other party, so they have, as I said, essentially majority.)
Anyway, I personally am conservative, though I have a few liberal (or radical, one of the two...) views, which is why I'm probably closer to a libertarian or centrist (that one GOOD political test said so! ^_^) But I do think this should be an interesting, if not refreshing, shift of power.
For the past six years the Democrats have run as the "not-Bush" party. This has been the scope of their platform. As far as I can tell, they ran on campaign finance reform, getting out of Iraq (in at least a semi-timely manor), raising taxes to pay for increased government spending, and "ethical behavior" (as opposed to the various breaches of ethics among some Republican party members, even if several Democrats have also had less than ethical records as of late.) And for the past six years, as the Democrats have been in the minority BUT strong enough to block most legislation, they have done their best to keep the Congress at a standstill, be partisin, and prevent any legislation from going forward except in a few cases.
...so now, THEY are in charge. The election results weren't so much a win for Democrats as a loss for Republicans; a vote of no-confidence by the American people. However, you take what you get, I suppose. This gives the Democrats an interesting dilema. They are now in charge, but they haven't really had a strong platform in several years. Also, since the Republicans are now in the "near majority minority", they can do what the Democrats have been doing and block most all liberal legislation. Further, since the Democrats are now in power, the American people are going to expect them to make good on their promises and pledges. And finally, the Democrats have the further problem of if they do a good job, but the President in any way gets credited for it (as is often the case - the President gets credit or blame for the successes or failures of Congress, for example, the economic growth credited to President Clinton as a result of the actions of a CONSERVATIVE [unlike today's] Republican party in Congress), then it will possibly strengthen the Republican bid for the 2008 Presidential election, which is something the Democrats do not want.
They also need to deal with major issues such as immigration reform, which is touchy to Democrats since low income, Hispanic voters, and illegals that gain citizenship are part of the Democrat base. That is to say, if the Democrats do too much, they risk alienating their own voters.
In essence, the Democrats now have a chance to make themselves out as good and make good on what they've been saying for six years, BUT, they're also in the limelight, which means now they're going to be the ones being watched for ethics violations and passing legislation. But then, I guess it's as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. The Democrats now have the power they've been seeking, and the American people will likly expect them to act. Now they're the ones responsible for legislation and such.
...should be interesting to see how the next two years go.
Anyway, back to homework and studying for finals (like they're not simultaneously the same thing...and then work in...19 minutes in the basement. ^_^)
(This one's about a month late, but I've been busy! -_-)
As of the last US election, the Democratic party gained majority control in the House of Representatives, and essentially majority control in the Senate (technically 50 is not a majority, but since two are independents and one of those if expected to caucus with the Democrats [Sen. Lieberman, go him! I actually was happy he won, considering how his own party pretty much stabbed him in the back], but they have more than any other party, so they have, as I said, essentially majority.)
Anyway, I personally am conservative, though I have a few liberal (or radical, one of the two...) views, which is why I'm probably closer to a libertarian or centrist (that one GOOD political test said so! ^_^) But I do think this should be an interesting, if not refreshing, shift of power.
For the past six years the Democrats have run as the "not-Bush" party. This has been the scope of their platform. As far as I can tell, they ran on campaign finance reform, getting out of Iraq (in at least a semi-timely manor), raising taxes to pay for increased government spending, and "ethical behavior" (as opposed to the various breaches of ethics among some Republican party members, even if several Democrats have also had less than ethical records as of late.) And for the past six years, as the Democrats have been in the minority BUT strong enough to block most legislation, they have done their best to keep the Congress at a standstill, be partisin, and prevent any legislation from going forward except in a few cases.
...so now, THEY are in charge. The election results weren't so much a win for Democrats as a loss for Republicans; a vote of no-confidence by the American people. However, you take what you get, I suppose. This gives the Democrats an interesting dilema. They are now in charge, but they haven't really had a strong platform in several years. Also, since the Republicans are now in the "near majority minority", they can do what the Democrats have been doing and block most all liberal legislation. Further, since the Democrats are now in power, the American people are going to expect them to make good on their promises and pledges. And finally, the Democrats have the further problem of if they do a good job, but the President in any way gets credited for it (as is often the case - the President gets credit or blame for the successes or failures of Congress, for example, the economic growth credited to President Clinton as a result of the actions of a CONSERVATIVE [unlike today's] Republican party in Congress), then it will possibly strengthen the Republican bid for the 2008 Presidential election, which is something the Democrats do not want.
They also need to deal with major issues such as immigration reform, which is touchy to Democrats since low income, Hispanic voters, and illegals that gain citizenship are part of the Democrat base. That is to say, if the Democrats do too much, they risk alienating their own voters.
In essence, the Democrats now have a chance to make themselves out as good and make good on what they've been saying for six years, BUT, they're also in the limelight, which means now they're going to be the ones being watched for ethics violations and passing legislation. But then, I guess it's as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. The Democrats now have the power they've been seeking, and the American people will likly expect them to act. Now they're the ones responsible for legislation and such.
...should be interesting to see how the next two years go.
Anyway, back to homework and studying for finals (like they're not simultaneously the same thing...and then work in...19 minutes in the basement. ^_^)