Democrats must tread carefully
Now that the political tables have turned and given the Democrats a majority, they need to remember to avoid the pratfalls that recently plagued the GOP.
Dave Lombardo
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Opinion
Right now, Democrats need to take a deep breath and remember the cautionary phrase, "There but for the grace of God go I."
In this case, the "there" is the state of political irrelevance in which the Republican Party is trapped for the foreseeable future. While critics muse about the rocky road back to power for the GOP, they ought not ignore the daunting challenge the Democrats face to retain power.
It's not na've to question the longevity of this Democratic regime, even as Republicans line up in a circle for target practice, because politics is cyclical in nature. That's not to say the Democrats won't break this cycle of self-destruction, but there are already signs that they have failed to heed the lessons of their recent rise to power or their collapse in 1994.
For instance, a soothsayer might see dark tidings for the Democrats in the wake of their failure to stand by President Barack Obama in his attempt to limit farm subsidies. This restructuring would have ended payouts for corporate farms, and returned the focus of the program to the small farms that need the money, while saving almost $10 billion over a decade. Instead, the Democrats, led by Sen. Kent Conrad, gutted the provision in an attempt to cater to the farming industry at the expense of the national constituency.
This incident may seem inconsequential, but it could be indicative of an emerging trend that became the norm under the Bush administration, under which no special interest was left behind. This tactic produced bloated budgets and provoked a backlash from the voters, who were uneasy about skyrocketing deficits. Democrats need to avoid this particular allure of power, as it is corrupting and often fatal if allowed to become common practice.
Another trapping of majority rule the Democrats in the Senate should be wary of is "reconciliation." In the Senate this process allows the majority to undermine the minority's filibuster power by merging fiscal guidelines with policy proposals, so major policy initiatives are able to pass with just a majority vote.
In this case, the "there" is the state of political irrelevance in which the Republican Party is trapped for the foreseeable future. While critics muse about the rocky road back to power for the GOP, they ought not ignore the daunting challenge the Democrats face to retain power.
It's not na've to question the longevity of this Democratic regime, even as Republicans line up in a circle for target practice, because politics is cyclical in nature. That's not to say the Democrats won't break this cycle of self-destruction, but there are already signs that they have failed to heed the lessons of their recent rise to power or their collapse in 1994.
For instance, a soothsayer might see dark tidings for the Democrats in the wake of their failure to stand by President Barack Obama in his attempt to limit farm subsidies. This restructuring would have ended payouts for corporate farms, and returned the focus of the program to the small farms that need the money, while saving almost $10 billion over a decade. Instead, the Democrats, led by Sen. Kent Conrad, gutted the provision in an attempt to cater to the farming industry at the expense of the national constituency.
This incident may seem inconsequential, but it could be indicative of an emerging trend that became the norm under the Bush administration, under which no special interest was left behind. This tactic produced bloated budgets and provoked a backlash from the voters, who were uneasy about skyrocketing deficits. Democrats need to avoid this particular allure of power, as it is corrupting and often fatal if allowed to become common practice.
Another trapping of majority rule the Democrats in the Senate should be wary of is "reconciliation." In the Senate this process allows the majority to undermine the minority's filibuster power by merging fiscal guidelines with policy proposals, so major policy initiatives are able to pass with just a majority vote.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
John Haddow
posted 4/11/09 @ 12:43 PM EST
You make these comments with the clear indication that you are a Democrat and see them being able to hold power for an endless period of time if they would only mind the national electorate. (Continued…)
David Lombardo
posted 4/12/09 @ 3:22 PM EST
You're right about the Democrats in the midterm elections in terms of traditionally Republican districts, which will be hard to hold. Like for instances, the 25th in NY is one that could easily flip back. (Continued…)
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