Why the Midterm Elections May Help the Democrats
In many circles, both in and out of the Capital, there has been growing unease among Democrats as to their chances in the midterm 2010 election. Conventional wisdom has it that because of President Obama's handling of the health care bill, as well as his perceived lack of bipartisanship, this fall will mark the beginning of a dramatic change in the make-up of congress-with the Republican party reaping the benefits.
This all sounds reasonable, but its not exactly time for the Democrats to break out the lifeboats yet.
Much of the tax burden from the Health Care Reform Act is being phased in (won't anger the voter base as much) and constituents will start to see that health care reform, while not perfect, is not the bogeyman they were led to believe it was (abating somewhat the voter anger about this bill). Also, the way the Democratic Congress handled the bill by going it alone when necessary may prove a plus to the voting public. We voted for change, President Obama promised change, and the Democrats did exactly what they promised. Not a bad way to lead into the midterms!
The Democratic-controlled Congress will be able to point to any number of triumphs, from easing us back from the edge of a depression, to ratifying President Obama's new nuclear non-proliferation treaty with the Russian government, as signs that the Dems have actually gotten some work done this year.
And that they deserve time to accomplish more.
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