I put this on the election thread, but it might stimulate discussion here, too:
A lot of things are doable with Clinton gone. Clinton sold the rhetoric to the media, which sold it to much of the public, that the "Gingrich" (and then the "Delay") "wing" of the Congress "created Gridlock", and prevented the noble liberals from "doing the will of the people". The pure reality was that it was the Clinton veto and his lack of integrity that prevented all compromise. With that obstruction removed, the congress will find common ground that our public has been conditioned to forget is there:
Marginal tax reforms: Estate tax reform and marriage penalty correction actually enjoy bi-partisan support and were prevented by the Clinton veto. Capital gains reform and possibly a few other tax code patches can be traded for a minimum wage increase, thus giving moderate Dems a "victory" to hang their hats on.
Campaign finance "reform": One of the worst ideas to come out of government since the Smoot-Hawley tariffs. Bush can offer to support, if a restriction on union political machine money is added. Failing that, he can tacitly support McCain-Feingold with a reasonable assurance that the USSC will flush it all down the sewer where it belongs.
Medicare and prescription drug reforms: Enough Democrats can be talked into accepting individual choice, expanded medical savings accounts, etc. to get a congressional majority. As for suing HMO's-a terrible idea-this can be made to fly by simply limiting attorney's fees. Success in this would also provide the groundwork for a tort reform bill, which would wind up as a major Bush PR victory.
Missile defense: The high-powered Bush foreign policy and defense teams could change the debate on this. The Congressional Dems don't owe nearly as much to the "disarming Left" as Clinton did. Look for a re-thinking on missile defense strategy, followed by greatly-expanded funding.
The above is not a complete list of what a Bush administration can achieve by old-fashioned horse-trading politics in its first year. By 2002, the posturing for the off-year election will require a slightly different approach by each side, but the opportunity for accomplishments will still be there. |
