The Democratic Tidal Wave

The 2008 election has given serious power to the Democratic Party. On January 20th, the Democrats will control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. This sweep presents an opportunity to change the face of America, but it also presents the opportunity for the Dems to overreach.

With total control comes a responsibility to the American people to act on the promises made. Opposition to the policies of the Bush administration got these new leaders elected, and now those who put them in office expect the rhetoric to manifest in policy. Voters are looking for swift changes in economic policy to begin restoring the soundness of Wall Street and Main Street. Voters are similarly concerned with the war policies, and are seeking a deviation from the aggressive politics of the Bush/Cheney era. These leaders are charged with these expectations.

It is a difficult time to be burdened with these responsibilities. The morning after the election is a sobering time for these Democrats. After the zeal of victory and vindication has worn off, these leaders are faced with unprecedented and far-reaching problems. The success of the country depends on the leadership and decisions made in the next 6-12 months. The task is quite grave, and the work is nearly insurmountable.

As President-elect Obama's transitional team begins to form, the new leadership is similarly developing new strategies to combat the struggles ahead. New policies, initiatives, and programs will certainly be rolled out in the first few weeks of the new Congress convening. Obama's new tax and energy plans will most likely take priority after steps to manage and execute the economic bailout are taken.

The Democratic leadership must be very careful as they take the helm, especially in the first few weeks. While the American people have seemingly given a mandate to them, it does not represent a blank check or a release of bipartisan balance. Coming off a bitter election season, the nation is once again deeply divided, and resentments (especially over the Presidential campaign) are harbored. The new Democratic leadership needs to contain their pride and continue to work across the aisle with the GOP.

If the lopsided Congress begins to over-spend and break from promises made in the election, they will find themselves as disoriented and isolated as the current Bush administration. The country is reeling and it chose the Democrats to pull it up from its bootstraps to fix the pressing problems. Americans are quite fickle and electing new leadership two years after a Presidential election is far from unprecedented, and quite likely in the event of failed policies and continued hardship.