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Tuesday, 14 November 2006 14:44 |
 | | Roland Martin |
CHICAGO ÇƒÓ The stunning Texas-sized whoopinë the Democrats put on the Republicans on Election Day was certainly one that chapped the hide of President George W. Bush.
Refusing to actually read the newspapers or watch TV, Bush had deluded himself into thinking that all was well with his party. Yet he clearly overestimated the anger that Americans have with the Republicans when it comes to the war in Iraq. And of course, his base has been none too pleased with the skyrocketing deficits ÇƒÓ long anathema to the GOP ÇƒÓ and social conservatives felt let down by their man in Washington.
What all this meant is that the Republicans now find themselves no longer in control of Congress for the first time in 12 years, and they even lost a majority of the governorsë mansions across the nation.
As a result, Bush no longer can play Mr. Tough Guy and strut around the nationës capital, choosing to ignore the sound advice of moderates in his own party. He can forget trying to keep his own counsel, thinking he is a modern day Neo and Vice President Dick Cheney is The Oracle.
They
are now going to have to truly learn about governing since the
Democrats can now start calling congressional hearings, subpoenaing
papers from the White House, and forcing the administration to answer
the tough questions they have been able to avoid for the last six years.
Bush has said
that he successfully did this while he was governor of Texas. But the
big difference is the governor of the Lone Star state has no real
power. The real power broker is the lieutenant governor, and during his
tenure, that man was Bob Bullock, a conservative Democrat who formed a
true friendship with the man across the aisle.
Yet there is no
doubt that Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic congresswoman from California
who will be speaker of the House, is no Bullock. She wonët be trying to
walk around the ranch doing manly things with Bush, kicking the dust in
their cowboy boots and plotting to do good for Texas.
The president is
going to face a tough politico who will play the rough and tumble game,
and will not forget how she and her party were treated during the
Republican congressional reign.
Yet itës not just Bush who is going to have to make a major adjustment.
The Democrats
are going to have to come to the realization that what took place on
election night had nothing to do with them. Sure, they ran some quality
candidates who were drastically different than their loyal opposition.
But the real issue was Bush, Bush and more Bush.
Ask any of the
winners what the "Democrat plan for Iraq" is, and youëll likely hear 20
different answers. Surf the Internet for the Democratic version of the
GOPës "Contract with America," and youëll come up empty. What Democrats
must face is that they have spent the last six years of the Bush
presidency complaining and whining about how America will be so much
better with them at the helm.
Well, guys and gals, youëve got your shot.
Now is the time
to put up or shut up. With the presidential election two years away,
the party of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama is going to
have to show us that they have the right stuff. They are going to have
to present a unified front and not be so divided that they canët even
reach logical conclusions in their own caucus before hitting the floor.
The time for Democrats to show what they are made of is now.
The American
people are clearly starved for real leadership. They want folks who are
going to talk tough, shoot straight and offer a voice to follow. Weëve
got two years before we have to see the negative campaign commercials
and the charges and counter charges.
Mr. President, we now get to see what kind of leader you really are with an opposition that can hold your feet to the fire.
Democrats, we now get to see you put your lofty ideas into a plan of action that can pass muster and be put into law.
And America, we
now get to see if the decision made on election night was one of anger,
or a willingness to change the direction our nation is headed in.ï
Roland S. Martin, editor of The Chicago Defender newspaper, is author of "Speak, Brother! A Black Manës View of America."
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