Even as we wait for a new president amid threats of a “constitutional crisis,” American voters have already been declared the winners in this year’s election.
Several trends have appeared as we inch closer to the moment when a winner will surface as the 43rd president of the United States.
First, the winner loses. According to some Washington insiders and even a few elected officials, our next president won’t have a lot of room to maneuver. He will take office without a mandate, facing an evenly divided Senate and House. Couple that with an economy already in the process of cooling, and you have a president-elect whose greatest challenge will be surviving the inevitable fallout from Clinton nostalgia.
If the presidency goes to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, look for him to once again follow in his father’s footsteps, this time suffering the wrath of a public that loves turning on those it once elevated.
And if the office goes to Vice President Al Gore, he will face a public almost certainly ready for change, having had the same party in office for eight years.
The good news for us is that things couldn’t have turned out better. While a divided government sounds difficult, it’s exactly what our founding fathers had in mind. What it means for America is a prescription drug plan, a balanced budget, fair tax cuts, thoughtful military spending and moderate Supreme Court justice appointments — all the things the two candidates promised, but neither would have delivered had they won on a sweeping mandate.
At this point, only one thing is certain: Republicans will retain control of the House for the next two years. Depending on which party captures the Oval Office, Congress could see a dramatic backlash like the one that put Republicans in control in 1994. In the Senate, the GOP also maintains a razor-thin majority. With Washington state Senate results still coming in, Republicans currently hold a 50-49 edge. However, even if Democratic candidate Maria Cantwell prevails in her race against Republican Sen. Slade Gorton, control of the Senate will remain in Republican hands.
In the first scenario, the Senate is tied 50-50, with the deciding vote falling on the newly elected vice president. A Bush-Cheney administration would have the vice president casting his deciding vote in favor of a GOP
majority.
In the second case, a newly elected Vice President Joe Lieberman would be forced to resign his Senate seat, where a Republican governor has already promised to replace him with a GOP appointee. In that case, the tally goes back to 51-49, with Republicans in control.
Outside the two major parties, there is plenty of excitement in the election’s aftermath. Green Party candidate Ralph Nader failed to gain the 5 percent that would have guaranteed his party federal funding in the next election. While it’s a disappointment for Green supporters, it’s far from a defeat. After all, the Green Party isn’t about big money. Their victory came in the foundation of a nationwide alliance of progressive voters. If they stay united, they are the future of American third-party politics.
As for the Reform Party, they are finished. The only consolation in this sad demise of a once-promising movement is the hope that Pat Buchanan will sink with the ship.
The best thing for the country to do right now is to wait. When you turn on the TV and hear politicians or media analysts talking about a crisis sweeping the country, don’t be fooled. There is no constitutional crisis concerning the future of the White House. In fact, the Constitution is simply running its natural course and solidifying the strength of our republic. The next great wave of political change in our country is at least another four years away.