If there is one thing worse than a two party system, it is a one party system. This is something to keep in mind as we embark on what stands to be an election of historic proportions, for reasons less obvious than others. A perfect storm of political domination is upon us. After tomorrow, it is conceivable that the Democrats will have complete control over the Executive Branch in addition to both Houses of Congress. The fundamental concept of checks and balances will be rendered moot at the hands of a supermajority.
A federal consolidation of power will bring about a unique set of opportunities and challenges to our nation. Depending on where your political beliefs align the new sphere of influence may represent an overdue revolution of ideals or the red dawn of socialism. Either way, full control of the government is not some mere oversight, although certainly few are made to be aware. The fairness of balance, facade or not, is an ideal the American Republic is built upon.
What will the Democrats do with their power?
This is the crux of the situation. However, I contend its course is one that all citizens will benefit from, regardless of political allegiances. Either the Democrats will be able to make good on their promises, work together and accomplish great works of reform to the benefit of our infrastructure (energy, roads, and transportation being the cornerstones), economy, and leadership on the international stage. This will assuredly land a second term that will lead to a fundamental overhaul unseen since the New Deal.
Conversely, the Democrats, under the stewardship of Barack Obama, may drop the ball completely; spinning their wheels in what is a political machine that will be proven broken beyond any argument. Should this result the supermajority will be rendered a total failure and a Republican will be gifted the keys to the White House in four years. At which point we will be left to place hope in another to mend the torn fabric of America’s belief and trust in its own government.
As an American, hold your leaders accountable.
Whenever either party governs with the power of a supermajority, the vested influence of our government, its people, has a responsibility to hold our government to an even higher standard of conduct and performance. If in the service of this country our elected officials fail to deliver on empty promises despite the full support of Congress, the people must hold these failed leaders accountable. To strip them of their office, and replace them with others more suitable to the job. This is our duty regardless of Party.
As this play unfolds, the question to ask of yourself over our next four years is simple: Is there any wisdom left in the protectors of our freedom? Let that be the notion that guides your will instead of allegiance to Party.
Image Used in this Post
Donkeys image courtesy of Flickr user Dave-F published under the CC license.
18 Comments
Obama, Pelosi, and Reid…oh my! A Democratic Kingdom/Empire….awesomeness!
Only 10 times (20 years) since 1945 have both branches of Congress and the Presidency been controlled by the same party.
Don’t forget that if the Dems pick up enough seats in Congress, then Republicans will not have enough clout to block Supreme Court Justices – no matter how liberal – that will be appointed by the President. Justices serve for life remmber.
The Democrats will control all three branches of the federal government if America is willing to hand it to them – which unfortunately, I think they are.
However, I am no whinning Democrat and thus I pledge to remain a citizen of this country through even the most liberal of governments.
The citizens of the Angry-Kerry-Lost Nation will undoubtedly be disappointed.
This is going to sound selfish but I now care most about my new salary (btw, I am now a programmer for the Ocean County Government and I finished my master’s degree a few hours ago with a 3.7 GPA).
If in January, the taxes on my salary go up, I will have serious beef with whoever is responsible.
I am with you Jack…I am not going to move to Canada if Obama wins. I will stick it out with my wife and family like a man.
Maybe our country needs a Democratic White House, Senate, House, and Supreme Court. They way, they will be completely responsible for everything that happens. They might prove exactly why it was a mistake to hand them absolute power…who knows…
From 2003 to 2007 the Republicans had a Supermajority! That’s 4 years of almost absolute power from the all-knowing Bush/Cheney team.
A orangutan administration and a chimpanzee majority in Congress could get better job approval rating than a Bush Supermajority.
Even you steadfast Republican’s can admit this fact of evolution. Monkey vs. Bush? The winner is a no-brainer.
Keep in mind that a 60% majority in the Senate would yield a filibuster proof Senate. No Supreme Court appointments could be blocked.
Andrew,
The Republicans lost both houses of Congress in 2006 and BARELY held the majority before that.
Andrew,
The Republicans lost both houses of Congress in 2006 and BARELY held the majority before that.
By the way – that Congress is the only thing in America with a lower approval rating than Bush.
It’s true that the Republicans have rarely pulled off a supermajority in the last fifty years.
But having a Republican supermajority right after 9/11 was a crucial factor in allowing Bush that much more flexibility in his decision making.
One party politics is always bad, now suck on it.
DON’T LIKE IT? GO TO IRAN.
In 2000 I was told by a babler I will not name that because the republicans had the super majority this would cause the Democrats to fight for power with the green party. Thus making them powerless.
Eight disastrous years later we’ve come full circle. I’m not a gloating republican so I won’t claim the same. Hopefully tomorrow I can can gloat just a little bit.
Keeks,
The Democrats swallowed up the Green Party. Most Greens and many Libertarians decided they hate Republicans more than they liked their guy and voted against Bush instead of for someone else.
In my opinion that is bipartisan politics which most former Greens or Libertarians once falsely claimed they had risen above.
Again you are changing the topic. We can discuss the fall of the third party at another time.
However, this post is focused on super majority. The democrats have a shot at it and the republicans had it and blew it. I only bring up the third party because someone once told me after the republicans got the super majority the democrats would become a fringe political party much like the third parties. Is this the case now with the republicans?
The Republicans have done a horrendous job – not becuase of policy but becuase they have made no effort what so ever to combat the false image that they are a party of nothing more than rich, white, racist, bible thumping rednecks and it has now cost them all three branches of government.
Although I thought McCain would have made a fine president, I did not think his nomination was the right call becuase anyone who looked at both men could tell that a wrinkly old man, regardless of character, could never out manuever the image a young newcomer with a slick tongue. I would think the ’96 election would have taught them that.
In short – yes Keeker, that is entirely possible that the Republicans could be split down the middle and two conservative parties emerge much the same way two or even three Liberal Parties emerged after Clinton.
In the mean time, I now seek new tax shelters and shall tiddy up my resume as I feel there is a good chance I will be out of a job come April.
Jack we agree. I think what the republican party has been historically is a group of people who want a small government that guides and does not interfere. While I disagreed with them I can see where they are coming from. However, unfortunately there has been a change in the party and now there is a growing number of republicans who want the government to tell you who to marry, and what to do with your body.
I hope the republican party is split. I also hope the democrats would split to. Even though I am an unapologetic Obama fan I disagree with some of his policies. I would love a party that wanted us to get out of Afghanistan too or a candidate who wanted to make drastic changes for our education system. With a bunch of parties this could have been possible.
With regards to your last two points. Yes I would advise you to look at new tax shelters because the economy will get worse before it gets better. Hold off on the resume though. He might surprise you.
The Democrats won themselves a Supermajority.
But their power is not filibuster-proof.
The Democrats lost their supermajority very quickly under the Clinton administration (just 2 years) and the current approval ratings of the current Democratic-majority House are 10% less than W’s.
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[...] Greet BoxA while back, my esteemed colleague and fellow Babeler, Greg Molyneux, warned us about the Democratic super majority only moments before the November Presidential and Congressional [...]