Whether you believe people were voting for Democrats or against Republicans, no one will argue with the statement Democrats had an incredible year. Gaining control of the Senate, the House and picking up a majority of Governorships without losing a single seat is an historic achievement.
If 2006 hasproven anything it is the American electorate demands moderation. History is littered with the platforms of politicians and political party leaders who thought they had a “mandate” to cram their far left or far right ideology down everyone’s throats. Each time the American voters have sought to bring those politicians and parties back to the center, kicking and screaming if necessary, and 2006 was no exception.
The new Democratic-led Congress has been given the opportunity to do what Republicans could not: govern with an eye toward moderation. Karl Rove’s “Move to the Far Right and Win with 51%” strategy has been shown to be a disastrous plan. This election was neither an embrace of liberalism nor a total spurning of conservatism. Voters picked Democrats over Republicans because they believe Democrats are more likely to be middle of the road than the out of control neoconservatives running the Republican party.
If we want to not only maintain control of Congress, but increase our majority, we must govern with an even hand. To shove our own agenda down voters’ throats will only prove hypocrisy and lead to a one-way ticket back to Minorityville in 2008.
