By Tan Copsey
So this might not exactly be news to you. But just stop and think for a moment. It’s really quite a shocking prospect. After years of America being a one-party state. Separation of powers becoming less meaningful as Republicans supported a President striding boldly towards oblivion. We are now faced with the possibility of a changed political landscape, and already it seems to be having positive effects. Members of the GOP are now free to question the President, even over Iraq. While Democrats are openly acknowledging that investigations into the conduct of the Bush administration over the last 6 years are a necessity.
I was watching one of the numerous senatorial debates over the weekend and, in Montana of all places, the possibility of impeachment was openly discussed. Alright it was a Libertarian with about as much chance as me of being elected who went as far as actually calling for it. And in all reality even if the Dems took back the Senate as well as the house, there would be hesitancy about being seen to pursue impeachment as this could roundly back-fire. (Plus anyone who watched ‘Death of a President’ on Channel 4 in the UK last week doesn’t want an angry Dick Cheney to be President. Think of all those poor-flightless birds… and lawyers).
So back to reality. Already commentators are envisioning a post November 7th world. There is already considerable pessimism that we will see a coherent Democratic party that genuinely proposes an alternative vision for America. However you can’t help but think that actually winning something might just be the breath of fresh air the Dems need. An incentive to really begin rebuilding their identity as a party. They may win on the basis of simply not being quite as corrupt and hypocritical as the Republicans, but don’t assume that means they will be toothless. A Democratic house (if not a Senate as well) could balance the potential excesses of a fading President keen on entrenching his ‘legacy’. Yes they might just do some good, at least before blowing it completely and letting a McCain-Romney ticket sweep all before them in ’08 (pessimism dies hard).
