The Do-One-Thing Senate
March 5th, 2008 by Wiley CodyDemocrats had a great time with the “Do Nothing Congress” label during the 109th Congress. Not to be outdone, the new majorities of the 110th Congress have been overwhelmed with partisan bickering and oversight campaigns aimed at the Bush Administration. “Do Nothing Congress” is rearing its rhetorical head once again.
But it turns out that “Do Nothing” isn’t exactly accurate. These Congresses are doing one thing predominantly: They are using parliamentary procedure to gain a political advantage in the next election cycle. Forcing the other side to take ugly votes - at the expense of accomplishing anything - for sensationalized headlines about children or the middle class or veterans or body armor or whatever.
Well hold onto your butts because we are in for a treat this year. If you thought the the vitriol was counterproductive to the process before, just wait until the ante is raised to the American Presidency. For the first time ever, the Presidential Election will be between two sitting United States Senators.
Largely because of its volatile political environment, The United States Senate is a very difficult platform from which to run for President. Unique to the Senate is the parity of power between the majority and minority and the ability of either to make life hell for the other. Consequently, only two sitting US Senators have ever won the Presidency - Harding in 1920 and Kennedy in 1960. Eight others have lost (remember how that pesky voting record burned Kerry in 2004?).
As the Second Session of the 110th Congress plows ever-so-tentatively forward, it looks like the Democrat majorities in the Senate and House don’t expect to and won’t try to accomplish much until they have a friendly ear in the White House. The First Session - an off-election year - was disappointing for them, and this year is a much higher hurdle. The Second Session of the 110th Congress is going to be about political posturing, and with two of their own going head-to-head, the Senate is going to be a bloodbath of difficult votes. Ultimately, it is Congressional Leadership that will play the most important Role in the 2008 Election.
From the relative safety of the minority Reid and Pelosi were quite adept at this game - running circles around Frist and DeLay. The result contributed to the dramatic election of 2006. But both have proven ineffective as majority leaders and the new Republican leadership has adapted quickly. Even in the House, where the minority has virtually no standing, Boehner has stymied Pelosi at every turn. In the Senate, where the minority has a real power, a years worth of blunders by Majority Leader Reid have taken their toll.
So here’s the scenario. Two college football teams with decent records. No BCS Bowl this year, but each team has a Heisman favorite on the roster. With a National Championship out of the question, the goal of the program centers around winning that trophy. And the two teams are suiting up against each other in the final game before the Heisman ballots are cast.
Reid is a quarterback coming off a season of interceptions, fumbles and field goal attempts on drives that should have been touchdowns. Even so, he’s the quarterback and the Democrats are playing offense. Reid has structural power to determine the agenda - to call the plays and to run audibles. Reid will call his game to run right over the top of John McCain and he’ll get the ball into his nominee’s hands as often as he can.
On the other side of the ball, McConnell is fielding a technically proficient defense with a killer game plan. When they’re not intercepting the ball or forcing fumbles, they are driving the offense into long-yardage situations and forcing punts. McConnell and the Republicans have to play a reactive game, but they can sustain a filibuster and force votes on germane amendments. Used wisely - and in conjunction with the self-imposed PayGo rules that force Democrats to curb their spending addiction or support tax increases - amendments can steal the rhetorical thunder from a policy. McConnell is going to spy the Democrat nominee is while sending McCain wherever the action is to boost his stats.
2008 in the Senate won’t be about winning any games; there’s always next season for that. This year is about winning a Heisman. So now you’ll know what I’m talking about when I identify a “Heisman Vote”
Heisman Vote (n): a politically motivated vote forced upon the opposing party not intended to achieve implement of the policy. ex: The Democrats called a Heisman Vote on the SCHIP Veto Override.
