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What's different about 2008?By Seymour Kliery Happy New Year! As the calendar year increases and the temperature decreases in Washington D.C., one can detect a sense of civility and optimism in the air. Even the traffic is better. There are fewer crazies cutting you off, honking their horns and giving you that "special" wave. It's almost as if the difficulties and frustrations of the last year have been swept away and that 2008 will be different--full of courtesy, productivity and, dare I say, bipartisanship. As I was basking in the wonderment of my record time thirty minute commute, I realized why this feeling of euphoria wouldn't last. It's 2008, election year. Traffic was speedy because a good number of folks are in Iowa for the caucuses; next, they'll be in New Hampshire and so on. With eight or nine members of Congress running for the presidency, traffic could be light for a while but eventually my commute will return to its normal snail's pace. Then I thought a little bit deeper about the year ahead and whether this mood of bipartisanship will be sustained in the halls of Congress. My conclusion: I think a snow ball has a better chance of lasting all year in the deep, deep South. If you thought 2007 was bad, just wait until 2008. It has been eight years since the last open presidential election and that was no picnic . . . the phrase "hanging chad" should refresh your memory. This election could be just as close and the balance of power has swung significantly over the last year. With Democrats now in control of both houses of Congress, and control of the White House within reach, expect them to pull no punches, legislatively. Republicans will do all they can to hold on to the one branch of government they control. With so much at stake, Congress will be lucky to get anything substantive done this year. Neither side will want to give the other the opportunity to claim a victory. Each side will claim the other is holding up progress and each side will use inaction as a mantra for their candidates on the campaign trail. Democrats will urge voters to keep them in the majority and give them the White House so they can finally overcome Republican obstructionism. Republicans, realizing they likely won't have the votes to take back congressional control, will encourage voters to return a Republican to the White House to protect against total Democratic control. It's strange that, in the backwards world of D.C. during an election year, progress may be something both parties try to avoid. Hopefully, I'm wrong. 1/7/08 Date: 1/2/08
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