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Both parties are facing a strong anti-incumbency feeling in this year's election. Or even "anti-Washington." The central party machine on each side has left many in the electorate fed up with politics-as-usual (however they define the term). Both parties will go through a period of redefinition and rededication throughout the course of the election.
Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking: "Chris, it is way too early for baseball metaphors!" You are correct. It is. But "smallball" is the only metaphor which sprang to mind, even in advance of spring training. There's probably a hockey term I should have used, but I don't watch hockey much, so there you are.
Before we begin here, I'd like to humbly propose a new law. No American television station should be allowed to have an exclusive contract for any Olympic games. Period.
I'm going to start off today's column with a chart. I'm doing this for several reasons, not least of which is the fact that it's a really good chart. It is simple, easy to read, and involves very little mathematics (meaning it is accessible to a very wide spectrum of the American public). And it is a very effective way of presenting the facts, free of media spin. The chart comes from the White House, and shows the monthly number of jobs lost for approximately the past two years. It also uses color very well, to separate George W. Bush's term in office from Barack Obama's. Without further introduction, here is the chart:
So for all Bayh's posturing about what a partisan, partisan town Washington is, which needs changing and reforming into some sort of centrist bipartisan utopian paradise -- he has chosen the one route which, no matter what the outcome, will guarantee even more bitterly partisan feelings in the near future.
Because we celebrate the birthday of George Washington today, I offer up for your reading pleasure the briefest of his speeches. This, in its entirety, was Washington's second inaugural address -- which set a brevity record that has never been touched since. In this spirit (and in the spirit of taking today as a holiday), this will constitute the entirety of today's column, as well. In his own words, here is President George Washington:
President Obama this week has successfully put the Republican Party on the defensive. Now, this could be a fleeting thing, or it could be the start of a whole new way for Obama's administration to operate. Time will tell.
President Obama has recently announced a health reform summit, to take place across the street from the White House, with the C-SPAN cameras rolling. He's invited Democratic and Republican leaders from Congress to this summit. Many cynics have dismissed the effort already, either pronouncing it less than worthless, or calling it some form of political Kabuki theater which will do no good. I think these pronunciations (especially the latter one) are a bit premature, to say the least. Because either on a substantive level or a political level, I think there actually is a chance for some limited success for Obama in this exercise.
But what really worries me about the new rules for corporations and unions is what could happen out of sight of the voting public. I can foresee two ways for such invisible influence to happen, although there may be others I have not thought of as well, I admit.
Because Democrats need to realize that they still have the biggest majority in both houses of Congress that they are likely to see in their lifetimes -- and if they can't get things done with this overwhelming power, then they really should consider just folding up their tents and calling it a day as a political party.