With the Democrats falling short of a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate on Tuesday, his agenda will probably require some modicum of horse trading for Republican support. Further complicating the picture, Mr. Obama’s winning coalition includes new voters who will be watching him closely but may not have patience for the deliberative give and take that accomplishment in Washington often demands.
I often tell non-American friends that one point not very well understood about American politics is how weak the Presidency actually is compared to many European governments with large parliamentary majorities. This is a point related to the system of checks and balances at the heart of American politics. The task is made even more complicated by Bush's 8-year legacy on public debt and international law. I hope the effect of the lame duck transitional period will be minimal.
No comments:
Post a Comment