US Senator-elect Kay Hagan (D) of North Carolina greeted supporters at her victory party in Greensboro after defeating incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R). (Ellen Ozier/Reuters)
In Congress, a party sweep for Democrats
But they fall short of the 60 Senate seats needed to overcome filibusters and end gridlock.
By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer/ November 5, 2008 edition
Reporter Gail Russell Chaddock discusses the high expectations that can come with a Democrat-controlled Congress.
Washington
Barack Obama’s historic victory Tuesday night means Democrats will be in control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time since 1995 – a one-party sweep that is lifting public expectations for what government can do to improve the lives of Americans.
It’s not the full coronation many Democrats had hoped for. They fell short, notably, of the 60 votes needed in the Senate that are considered the key to breaking partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill.
But as election results continue to trickle in Wednesday, Democrats stand to pick up at least 16 seats in the House of Representative and at least five in the Senate – adding to their big gains in 2006 campaign cycle and giving the new president stronger working majorities in Congress.
The only vestige of conservative control is the US Supreme Court, but even that may shift, as Mr. Obama starts sending any judicial nominations to a Senate now more likely to back them.
If history has any lessons for a new president, however, it’s that one-party control doesn’t ensure that a new president can move his legislative agenda or meet public expectations for change.
The Obama administration also faces formidable challenges, including a budget deficit near a record-shattering $1 trillion by the time Obama is sworn into office in January.
Even as Democrats rejoice in their victory, they’re already discussing how to manage these new expectations: from voters, eager to see economic relief; from liberal interest groups, looking for a reward for their campaign efforts; and from powerful committee chairs on the Hill, eager to move their own agenda items blocked by eight years of a Republican presidency.
“It’s a hard time for the party in power no matter how decisive the majority,” says Julian Zelizer, a congressional historian at Princeton University in New Jersey.
Previous Democratic presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, came to power with the support of enthusiastic and ardent supporters. “But figuring out how to bring the energy of a campaign and the power you have with the electorate, and translating it into a legislative program, is extremely difficult,” says Mr. Zelizer. “The divisions within the new Democratic majority can be as difficult as between Republicans and Democrats.”
For example, liberal Democrats are already pressing for a new economic stimulus plan in the range of $150 billion to $500 billion. Fiscally conservative “blue dog” Democrats, on the other hand, want entitlement reform and guarantees that any new spending or tax cuts will be paid for with offsetting budget cuts.
Then there are the expectations of interest groups, such as labor unions, civil rights activists, and others, who fought for an Obama victory.
“Obama is becoming president just in the nick of time, because working people are facing the worst economic crisis in our lifetime, and the country needs a tremendous effort by the federal government to turn the economy around,” says Bruce Raynor, general president of Unite Here and leader of Change to Win, a coalition representing some 6 million union members that supported Obama since early in the Democratic primary.
“He has a lot to thank working people for,” he adds. “Congress has a very able group of leaders, and you’re going to see some significant steps forward.”
A top priority of labor, adds Mr. Raynor, is to quickly move a stimulus plan that is large enough to make a difference in the lives of working Americans.
“To limit the stimulus to $150 billion, as some Democrats have proposed, is ludicrous,” he says. “It’s a deep crisis. Were going to have to bail out the auto industry. And we have to find a way to provide healthcare for huge portions of the population that don’t have it now.”
Ellen Malcolm, president of Emily’s List, which claims to have turned out some 6.5 million women to support Democratic abortion-rights candidates, also sees a pent-up demand for more government action.
“There will be big significant changes that he’s going to do to help the economy and some other issues he can do very quickly to signal that it’s a different Washington now,” she says. “I hope that the excitement of the Obama presidency will bring in the best and the brightest to repair government itself. We saw it with [hurricane] Katrina: The government is broken.”
For Democrats, the lessons of the first two years of the Clinton presidency are especially relevant as an object lesson in how not to manage a new administration. From an early focus on gays in the military and tough negotiations with Congress over a budget to a massive (and ultimately failed) healthcare-reform plan, the Clinton administration overreached in its first two years, opening the door to a Republican takeover of the House in 1995, Democrats say.
“Obviously, the first priority for a new president is to set priorities and determine what’s the most important things to try to get done,” says Leon Panetta, President Clinton’s former chief of staff. “If you pick the wrong issue or a divisive issue or one that you lose on, it will undermine your ability to deal with other issues.”
But Obama could have an advantage heading into his first term, adds Mr. Panetta. Despite public frustrations and expectations, “the one thing he has is a bond with those voters. They trust him, and he has to be willing to tell them the truth.”
With Tuesday’s vote, Democrats deepened gains in the West and breached GOP bastions in the Old South, while all but closing Republicans out of New England.
On the Senate side, Democrats are projected to pick up five seats, giving them a majority of 56 to 40 seats, with four too close to all. GOP incumbents in Alaska, Minnesota, Georgia, and Oregon are fighting off strong Democratic challengers. Meanwhile, former Gov. Mark Warner (D) easily won the seat of retiring Sen. John Warner (no relation) in the new battleground state of Virginia. In North Carolina, another new battleground state, newcomer Kay Hagan, a Democratic state senator, toppled Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a two-time GOP cabinet member. Reps. Mark and Tom Udall (cousins) won open seats in New Mexico and Colorado. Former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) defeated Sen. John Sununu, who had defeated her in the 2002 Senate race.
On the House side, Democrats increased their majority to at least 251, with 173 seats for Republicans; 11 House races are still too close to all. With the defeat of 11-term Rep. Christopher Shays (R) of Connecticut, they also voted Republicans out of their last House seat in New England.
Democrats picked up a net of at least 16 seats in the House, including winning 10 open seats and ousting 10 Republican incumbents. As of press time, four Democratic incumbents were defeated. After losing to the incumbent by 329 votes in 2006, high school teacher Larry Kissel defeated five-term Rep. Robin Hayes (R) of North Carolina. Two GOP incumbents, Reps. Tom Feeney and Ric Keller, were ousted in Florida.
“Tonight the American people have called for a New Direction. They have called for a change for America,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a Democratic victory rally in Washington on Tuesday.
“An important part of that change will be bipartisanship, civility, and fiscal responsibility,” she said.
Comments
2. John A. Maxson | 11.05.08
Well, welcome to the Socialist States of America! Or is it the Marxist States of America.
Eight years of this will have TOTALLY destroyed the country as no war and no terrorists have been able to.
Thanks folks!
3. robert hegwood | 11.05.08
The Republicans have been soundly spanked for their duplicity, corruption, and abandonment of the core principles and vision for which they were once voted into power. They got spanked hard, but it is America that is going to feel the pain. Hard core liberals and neosocialists are now firmly at the helm of state. Americans are going to pay long time for this short sighted calamity. The best that can be hoped for is that now we will get an unvarnished look at Democrat policy and principle in action and that it will so outrage the nation they will be the ones swept from power in 4 years.
4. Arthur | 11.05.08
Ellen Malcolm’s (president of Emily’s List) statements were ludicris. I doubt if here organization was able to turn out even a tenth of the 6.5 million votes that she claims. Also the comment that “We saw it with [hurricane] Katrina: The government is broken.” shows a fundemental misunderstanding of both the government and of hurricane Katrina.
5. Jimmy | 11.05.08
Your mention of Speaker Nancy Pelosi brings to mind her antics of the past few years, another person that does not serve the people of the United States or the Democratic party well.
She needs to be replaced by someone that is not as cripling or as undermining as she is. The are some wheels in motion for this but it needs to gain momentum and eventualy get her ousted. “HER WATCH” as she calls it, does not need to continue.
6. Jeff Fisher | 11.05.08
Voter trust is an illusion, just as the image of a candidate projected by a campaign is an illusion. And just as the campaign image will necessarily evaporate in the hard reality of governing, voter trust can evaporate just as quickly as heady celebrations fade and reality sets in. Worse, voter trust can be a double-edged sword. If voters feel they have placed their trust in an illusion they may feel far more betrayed than if they had mereley accepted what they saw as a lesser evil. Also, most Americans saw the media as being in Obama’s corner–even if they didn’t necessarily reject that fact. If voters feel betrayed by Obama they may well blame the media for it and move from feeling that the media is biased to feeling that the mainstream media cannot be trusted. If the new administration and new congress over-reach, the scope of the damage they do to their cause may be even greater than in the first two years of the Clinton administration.
7. Don Guillermo | 11.05.08
People are fickle. If President Obama fails to meet the high expectations that he has raised, the same people who love him today might hate him tomorrow. I dislike Republican militarism and cowboy capitalism. On the other hand, I dislke Democrat support for legalized abortion, Affirmative Action, gay “marriage,” and unisex feminism. I also dislike Democrat’s identity politics, “celebrate diversity” mantra, and deep hostility to orthodox religious. Thus, this election I voted for “John Doe” (seriously). I am disenfranchised. There was nothing “historic” about this election for me.
8. Michael Temple | 11.05.08
Our economy just took a major step backwards. I feel for all people in the middle class. Bailouts are not the cure for this. All a bailout does is weaken us as a country. It also proves how spoiled one country can be. The is the bed we picked now we will be forced to sleep in it regardless of what it brings.
10. Brian | 11.05.08
Ted Stevens should not even be running. He is a convicted felon and needs to step down. I just got a new job, and trust me, there is no way I would have been hired if I was a felon. This man is corrupt and his time has come to retire.
11. jim W | 11.05.08
With the sarcastic,offensive and partisan retoric of the Nancy Pelosi of the real world, making a comment about bipartisanship, civility and fiscal responsibility, it makes me want to throw-up!
12. Sean | 11.05.08
Change!!! What a big word, everyone and there mother is talking about the word “CHANGE” I want to know change to what? We are heading to a direction which will defeat all the great things the Four Funding Fathers of this great Nation vision for us. It was Jimmy Dumb Carter who started this Economic “Cardiac Arrest”, Jimmy Carter’s Policies and his views were the worse thing ever happened to this great nation. I didn’t vote Osama nor will I ever vote for someone with such horrific associations. Yeah change is coming USA, change of the life time make sure you have your seat belts on. God Bless all of us, and what is coming to us.
13. Joseph Womble | 11.05.08
I’m hoping that the country can go in a new direction, and that Republicans won’t grow bitter and refuse to help Obama on issues that will help Americans.
14. Dr Bloodaxe | 11.05.08
To lump ‘liberal Democrats’ together and say they’re pressing for another ‘Gov’t handout stimulus package’ is irresponsible. Liberal or not, Democrats across the board want the country to return to a more than balanced budget that will eat away at the National Debt that was doubled by President Bush in only 8 years. Any such ’stimulus’ would have to be offset by cuts in spending or increases in income. President Obama will hopefully have the political clout he needs to stop the reckless redistribution of wealth from the bottom 95% of Americans to the top 5% that has been the only ’solution’ offered by Republicans since Reagan, and finally start actually increasing the real wages of the vast majority of the country, so that once again all of America prospers, and not just the hedge fund traders and CEOs.
15. Mr. Dangerfield | 11.05.08
Obama deserves all the respect (or lack thereof) that the liberals have given to George Bush.
16. Rproulx | 11.05.08
I agree with Ms Pelosi statement that change will require “bipartinsanship, civility and discal responsibility”. I hope the new Democratic congress understands that bipartansanship does not mean Republican bowing to the will of the majority party. But a true building of a consensus that will probably result in a compromise from both side of the isle. Unfortunately from previou statement from Ms. Pelosi I do not believe this will occur. Because this type of compromise requires one to review the action and laws inactrd by our own party and admit that problems the country is incurring are not just the other guys fault. I do not belive any of or legislatures democrat or republican have this sort of courage.
17. Daryl Atamanyk | 11.05.08
Listen to me: President-elect Obama has arrived just in the nick of time to incur the mounting anger and eventual rage of a population of a nation that at this very moment daily slides ever more quickly into a state of depression….economic depression….a state of economy that will only be bottoming, if we are lucky, towards the end of President-elect Obama’s first term. I say “lucky” because the depression could last longer. My point is this: President-elect Obama will be the focus of the population’s scapegoat seeking anger: the population will believe by that time that it is their President who is to blame for not turning things around; when the reality is that juggernaut economies just take time to turn around. The only exception will be if the populace turns their anger of frustration on an external scapegoat, and go to war again on a matter for which the populace feels fully justified: then they will support their President no matter what; and they will blame their depression on something external to themselves, namely the entity against whom they war: you see, populations tend to do much the same as individuals….they tend to pat themselves on the back when doing just fine; then when things don’t go so fine, they tend to externalize (shirk) responsibility by trying to blame “somebody else.” In any event, these next four years will be historic, and very, very interesting. We live in interesting times, my friends.
Yours sincerely,
Daryl Atamanyk
19. stay dunn | 11.05.08
thank God for all of this that has been going I love the lord cause look what he has done for us. I live in this small state called ketucky and man it is bad that swe have to have our children black and white listen to the mouths that speak drity things about people that are trying to make this world better for them.
Go! OBAMA!
20. Robert Anderson, NY,NY | 11.05.08
“Tonight the American people have called for a New Direction. They have called for a change for America,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a Democratic victory rally in Washington on Tuesday.
“An important part of that change will be bipartisanship, civility, and fiscal responsibility,” she said.
>>>>Ahem, errr pssst Nancy….the big problem with the Democrats is they have always been too bipartisan, too civil and waaay too spendy…..get it?
21. Kehaulani Kea | 11.05.08
This is the first time in my voting career (fifty years) that a candidate I have faith in brings real hope to the world and the Nation by becoming President of the United States. President Obasma’s spiritual demeanor has touched my heart and his clarity of thought for a better country based on the highest good for ALL People in our Nation is very clear and direct. He is a global thinker and leader and will be an example for our Nation and our planet to dhange its direction.
22. Dr John Anderson, Jr. | 11.05.08
Whomever sits in the oval office will find their path to repairing the damage strewn with boulders and potholes from the past. Without the support of congress, as we all understand, the fixing of America will be difficult.
The disturbing thing is that groups giving support to a canidate expect special consideration. If an individual supports someone with a large gift of cash or labor, does that individual deserve more than another, and why.
These contributions should be given for America. It is not just a nation, but an idea, a concept and a way of life. If our governmentleaders would consider themselves to be Americans first and party members last, this situation could be less dire.
23. John Anderson, Jr PhD | 11.05.08
As a member of the pre-baby boomer generation and beibg disabled, I fear fo the future of health care. For many of my generation, a fair health care system exists. What changes will effect us. An even geater concern is fr my son, his generation and those younger.
Many have no insurance or inadequate insurance. What will happen to them?
24. John Anderson, Jr Phd | 11.05.08
Obama made history with this election, so? Now that he’s won will he be able to back up the rhetoric. Everything said, everything promised has been heard before. He asks for patience. I can’t recall FDR or JFK calling for patience. FDR simply stuck a new cigarette in its holder and went to work.
We’ve been patient but now need action right out of the slot!
25. KDogg | 11.06.08
Xander, I think it’s you that is ignorant. You think the weather alone caused NO to flood. Perhaps you should read what the Army Corps of Engineers said about it in their report… and ponder the responsibility of a government to its citizens, especially when maintaining levees that are only there to increase nationwide commerce through a local area.
26. B Roskelley | 11.06.08
I live in a state that lives in the past. I hear “socialism” spoke all the time when referring to democrats. We are already there and have been for years.
Namely Social security,Medicare. the farm bill,Wall street bail out and on and on. Blaming democrats for the present financial dilemma is ludicrous. This did not start with Bush either, all thou he hurried it along. It goes back to the 1970’s. Many people make up their mind before they have a mind too make up. Check out “Bretton Wood” and then the Nixon Administration. We are all culpable.
We all want low taxes but good roads. New clothes but on a credit card. Big houses but low payments. Good insurance but low premiums. Give me a break.
27. Snerdguy | 11.06.08
Using Hurricane Katrina as an example of a broken government may not be very specific. There were obviously many unpredictable events taking place. What was broken was the chain of command in the government. When it was time to respond, FEMA nearly ground to a halt because their internal managers all had their own agendas. The man in charge had no plan and no clue as to who was supposed to do what. He had let everyone do as they please as long as they didn’t disturb him. That has been the attitude of many appointees in the government.
To the gentleman who used to be in the Marines: I was a civilian worker for Defense Logistics Agency. I saw a lot of problems. Did you ever consider how many enlisted men have died because our government gave them bad equipment. Many weapons systems failed because they were defective. For decades, agencies like DLA have been little more than a bunch of bureaucratic bosses playing politics while the support system was falling apart. The Defense Department is the same way. It leaks money an old car leaks oil. They wasted resources while important needs were ignored. That’s why the troops didn’t have adequate body armor when they first deployed to Iraq. That’s why many of their weapons systems were waiting on parts.
Some people may bad mouth Obama. But the fact is that anything is better than business as usual. The support systems that we depend on are failing while the current administration does nothing. The government is grinding to a halt.
28. Kelly Mahan Jaramillo | 11.06.08
I just signed up for the CS monitor and picked a seemingly innocuous article to read, and the very first comment is a hate filled ex-marine who states he would never serve the country under Obama.
It is so nice to read how many active military men and women overseas showed overwhelming support for Obama.
I am tired of the vile hatred coming out of people that did not want Obama in office - sorry, gang, he won, and he won big. Nobody is expecting him to perform miracles overnight , despite the dissenters painting Obama supporters as “Kool-Aid Drinkers” following their “Messiah”, we’re not stupid, we are aware of the massive job the man has taken on, and we are poised and ready to do our part in any way we can.
It would be nice to see the McCain supporters be as gracious towards Obama and his supporters as McCain was in his concession speech.
29. kg178 | 11.06.08
CS Monitor, I’ve followed your paper ever since I was an enlisted person in the Air Force 30 years ago. I’ve been receiving your on-line feed for about 6 month. Since yesterday, I’ve been surprized by the many of the post on your site. It’s as if I was watching Fox cable channel.
I want to follow the rules of the site; but I must comment that your first commenter is “garage” and glad that he’s no longer respresenting our arm forces. God bless us that we didn’t elect a team dumber than President Carter, McCain and his dumb sidekick Palin!
30. Mary Rene | 11.07.08
Thank God it’s over. Soldiers are getting so scarce that we were about to bring back the draft for men and women.
I’m so sick and tired of hate and devisiveness and fear mongering, and so is the rest of the majority of the country. All of the haters need to go back to Church and really listen to the sermon. It would be nice if the CS Journal republished the famous short story from Mark Twain about the stranger that showed up during a “War Sermon” during the Civil War.
While I was canvassing for this election, I encountered a few young veterans from Iraq that had never ever voted before. During the last election, they were conveniently too busy kicking down doors to be given absentee ballots. I wonder who voted for them.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
1. Xander Perez | 11.05.08
You people are so full of it. The government is “Broken” because a HURRICANE wiped out a poorly designed and engineered city? Katrina was tragic, and were all sad about it. But to blame a politcal party or the president for a natural event? I bet if the next big hurrican comes and destroys the city again, NOTHING will be different. Even Obama cant control the weather. The ignorance in the country is just astouding. Millions of you just pulled the trigger and murdered our once great country. I am only happy I am out of the Marine Corps. I would not EVER serve a piece of garbage like Obama Bin Biden or a country that supports him. Thank you all for killing the Red, White, and Blue.