Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas
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Republican Party defeat - 2006/11/08 12:49
Unpopular war, spending & scandals sink the Republican Party
Whether President Bush was right or wrong on decision-making regarding the iraqui invasion and occupation, many later mistakes and abuses have turned such a war into an unpopular one, if ever a war might be popular at all.
Record breaking spending and deficits are perceived by loyal Republicans as a deviant policy from traditional party platforms.
Furthermore, several high Republican officials have been involved recently in scandal.
Catastrophic election results were thus expected this Nov. 7 for the Republican Party. However, the elections were much milder than expectations. They have shown that the system functions to the point of providing a new equilibrium on the balance of power and that no single party is allowed to dominate the US political stage for long.
That is a good sign to a bi-partisan system that many criticize for its lack of ideological and political diversity. The end results might point to what critics argue, but diversity is allowed and available not only within each of the two major parties but on the political spectrum where more than 20 other parties campaigned on this and past elections.
In spite of the other minor parties not reaching the electoral norm to be seriously considered, they occasionally make a difference in local and state elections, and once in a while even in Presidential elections. It is a fact that this November 7, two of the 33 elected Senators did not run under any of the major parties and that they will be a powerful factor in future decisions on the drawn Senate where neither of the two major parties will have a majority.
On the other hand, not even the power gathered for many years under the executive and legislative control by the Republican Party was enough to steam a radical change in the composition of the House of Representatives. A clear Republican majority has suddenly and democratically turned into a clear Democratic one.
No longer will President Bush have an easy going to further his policy mistakes. A new balance will moderate US policy and make it more consensual. The Democratic Party has a great responsibility now to be a restraining force. Let us hope that it will not turn to a demagogic effort to paralyze Bush initiatives just to pave the road to a Democratic victory on 2008.
It is a good thing that President Bush has offered the olive branch today to the Democratic Party by congratulating their leaders and expressing his wish to work together for a better country. Let us hope that he is sincere in his avowed wish.
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