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Democrats, while being careful not to count their electoral chickens before they're hatched, are privately worried about winning without enough of a majority in the Senate to really change things.
The enduring theme of Obama's campaign has been fundamental change. But, with victory within sight, the question becomes: How much change can he deliver if Democrats don't reach a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate?
If the recent past is prologue, the answer is: not nearly enough.
In the just-ended 110th Congress, obstructionist Senate Republicans, led by human roadblock Mitch McConnell, mounted a record 104 filibusters (and that was with Bush in the White House; imagine how much more intransigent they would be with Obama). To put that number in context, in the previous Congress, the 109th, in which Democrats were in the minority, there were just 54 filibusters.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called the GOP tactic "obstruction on steroids." McConnell countered by deeming the filibuster flood an "ordinary procedure." And he makes it clear it's going to become even more "ordinary" if he's allowed to wield it in the 111th Congress: "I think the Senate works best when it makes things happen in the middle and that happens when you have 41 or more people who resist an idea to the point where you can compromise." In other words, to the point where you can derail, shut down and gridlock real change.
The specter of Democrats controlling both the executive and the legislative branches of government has become a useful late-campaign boogeyman for Republicans. In John McCain's version, voters need to elect him president to balance out a Congress led by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
Senate Republicans, facing potential losses in New Hampshire, Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky and Georgia, are making the pitch as if an Obama White House is a foregone conclusion.
Elizabeth Dole, in a neck-and-neck fight with challenger Kay Hagan, has a new TV ad warning that if she loses, it will hand Democrats "a blank check."
Norm Coleman, currently running behind Al Franken in Minnesota, ominously told voters: "If I lose this seat and one party has control across the board, then you'll see changes."
Coleman's quote should go right into a Franken commercial, and commercials for every other Democratic Senate candidate. "Want real change? Put Democrats in control."
Republicans aren't the only ones warning about one-party rule. On Sunday, the New York Times, falling into be-careful-what-you-wish-for mode, warned that gaining a 60-seat majority would put Democrats "at risk of overreaching."
For the sake of the country, that's a risk Obama and Senate Democrats need to take. As Rhode Island Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse puts it: "I think we are in enough trouble in enough areas, that I would rather own it and then have to perform than continue with this back and forth, back and forth with Republicans, particularly while they are engaged in this absolute determined policy of obstruct, obstruct, obstruct."
Obama, of course, needs to stay focused on winning the White House, taking nothing for granted. And he definitely should not repeat John Kerry's mistake in 2004, when he ended the race with over $14 million sitting in the bank.
The Obama campaign clearly recognizes that while 50 percent of likely voters prefer one-party rule, among the independent swing voters they are so avidly courting, only 34 percent do. Which is why the campaign has been treading so carefully.
But here's what he can and should do. Today. He should immediately guarantee a loan to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that will allow Democratic Senate candidates to spend whatever amount is necessary to secure a 60-seat majority. With Obama's donor list, he'll be able to wipe out that loan with a single post-election e-mail. Money should not be the reason Democrats don't put themselves in a position to defang the obstructionists.
Indeed, a significant chunk of that money should be directed at Kentucky, where challenger Bruce Lunsford is running just a few points behind McConnell. Want real change in America? Imagine a Senate without McConnell in it.
This is one of the times when deficit financing is definitely in the public interest. The Obama campaign should spill a little red ink to turn a few more red states blue.
Arianna Huffington Recent Political Commentary
Barack Obama Wins: Why All Americans Have a Reason to Celebrate President-Elect Obama
Arianna Huffington on Politics & President-Elect Barack Obama
Even if your candidate didn't win Tuesday night, you have reason to celebrate. We all do. Ten months ago, when Barack Obama won in Iowa, we had a glimpse of what was possible and what became real Tuesday night.
What I wrote then about one state is now true for the whole country: Barack Obama's impressive victory says a lot about America, and also about the current mindset of the American voter.
Barrack Obama Closing Arguments Election 2008 Eve
FactCheck.org & the 2008 Election
With the finish line in sight, Obama serves up familiar, pie-in-the-sky promises.
In the last few days, Obama has wrapped up his pitch to the electorate with some misleading claims we've
heard before: He continued to ask voters to believe he can pay for every dime of an ambitious health care
plan and other spending proposals while cutting taxes for all but the most affluent. Budget experts say
that's unlikely. He also kept up the drumbeat on a promise to end "tax breaks for sending jobs overseas,"
as though that could do much to keep jobs at home. Experts say it can't.
John McCain Closing Arguments Election 2008 Eve
FactCheck.org & the 2008 Election
John McCain and Sarah Palin close their campaign with a new set of dubious attacks. In the final week, the
McCain-Palin campaign unleashed some all-new misleading attacks on Obama: McCain strained to tie Obama to a
Palestinian professor whose views on Israel are quite different from Obama's. McCain and Palin both distorted
a seven-and-a-half-year-old radio interview with Obama concerning the court system and civil rights. McCain and
the GOP ran ads claiming Obama's military budget would mean huge job cuts in Virginia, despite Obama's proposal
to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps – and McCain's own calls for ending wasteful weapons programs.
Barrack Obama It’s Official Obama Born in the USA anf The Truth About Obama's Birth Certificate
FactCheck.org & the 2008 Election
Of all the nutty rumors, baseless conspiracy theories and sheer disinformation that we’ve dealt with at
FactCheck.org during campaign 2008, perhaps the goofiest is the claim that Barack Obama is not a
"natural-born citizen" and therefore not eligible to be president under the constitution.
There has never been anything but rumor and speculation to support such a claim, and zero hard evidence.
John McCain The Internet and the Death of Rovian Politics
Arianna Huffington on Politics & the Internet's Impact
Age has finally become an issue for John McCain. But the problem isn't the candidate's 72 years; it's the antediluvian approach of his campaign.
McCain is running a textbook Rovian race: fear-based, smear-based, anything goes. But it isn't working. The glitch in the well-oiled machine? The Internet.
What McCain May Be Planning & What Obama Can Do to Ruin It
Arianna Huffington on Politics & the 2008 Debates
Political horse-race fans are focusing on Obama's 11-point lead in the new Newsweek poll. But I'm focusing on the 10-point lead McCain has on national security and terrorism -- the only remaining issue voters believe the Republican candidate would be more adept at handling.
As the one arrow left in McCain's quiver-- other than appealing to racists -- national security becomes the likeliest playing field for that GOP fall tradition, the October Surprise.
The Winner of Presidential Debate II? 'That One'
Arianna Huffington on Politics & the 2008 Debates
In Debate II, John McCain twice laid out the criteria for how the American people should judge the candidates: In tough times, we need someone with a steady hand on the tiller. By that measure, Obama was the clear winner.
Does John McCain Still Agree with Ronald Reagan that Government is the Problem
Arianna Huffington on Politics & the 2008 Economic Crisis
Ronald Reagan, in his first inaugural address, famously declared that "government is not the solution to our
problem; government is the problem." Twenty-seven years later, in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and
seven-plus years into the reign of Bush and Cheney, Reagan's anti-government battle cry should be on trial.
But, stunningly, it is not. This needs to change. The presidential candidates' view of the role of
government should be one of the central questions of the last 36 days of the campaign.
The Bailout Plan: Welcome to Economic Shock & Awe
Arianna Huffington on Politics & the 2008 Economic Crisis
Welcome to Economic Shock and Awe (or as some have dubbed it, according to Paul Krugman, "the Authorization for Use of Financial Force").
Even the amount of taxpayer money being bandied about -- $1 trillion -- is similar. Think you got your money's worth for the Iraq war? Congratulations -- you're about to buy another pricey debacle.
We've seen how negligent the Bush administration is with our money -- flushing billions on wasteful, mismanaged Iraq reconstruction and Katrina recovery projects.
The Palin Doctrine: Why the Neocons are So Excited
Arianna Huffington Politics & the 2008 Presidential Elections & Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin may not have known what the Bush Doctrine was, but we're getting a pretty good idea of what the
Palin Doctrine is. Or will be -- because it's still currently under construction. And what is it going to look like? Let's just say, it's going to seem familiar.
According to London's Daily Telegraph, the architects of the Palin Doctrine are a group of people who have been singularly wrong about virtually everything in the last decade -- the neocons, who have been briefing Palin for weeks.
As predicted, the fact that she didn't know anything wasn't a bug, it was a feature.
She's perfect for the neocons: likeable on the outside, a blank slate on the inside.
To borrow from an old cliche, if Sarah Palin didn't exist, the neocons would have had to invent her.
Sarah Palin: A Trojan Moose Concealing Four More Years of George Bush
Arianna Huffington Politics & the 2008 Presidential Elections
Did Sarah Palin wrongfully push to have her ex-brother-in law fired? Was she really against the "Bridge to Nowhere?" Did she really sell Alaska's plane on eBay, or just list it on eBay? Did she actually have any substantial duties commanding the Alaska National Guard?
The correct answer to all these questions is: Who cares?
Saving the GOP & The Unbearable Lightness of Being Sarah Palin
Arianna Huffington Politics & the 2008 Presidential Elections
You can see why Sarah Palin is such an appealing pick for John McCain. Along with all the things she brings to
the table -- fresh face, mother of five, hockey mom -- Sarah Palin is notable for what she doesn't bring: a track record.
If John McCain had picked any of the far more experienced candidates on his short list, they would have come fully equipped with a long paper trail
McCain Vs. Biden: Not All 'Foreign Policy Experience' Is Created Equal
Arianna Huffington Politics & the 2008 Presidential Elections
What's great about the Biden pick isn't just that he has "foreign policy expertise," it's the kind of expertise
he has, how he uses it, and how useful his expertise is for the unique challenges we currently face around the
world. His approach favors diplomacy and engagement. Contrast that with the approach of John McCain, who also
has "foreign policy experience."
It's a Three-Man Race: Obama Versus the Two McCains
Arianna Huffington Politics & the 2008 Presidential Elections
"How honest are we if we tell the truth most of the time and stay silent only when telling the truth might
get us fired or earn us a broken nose? We need moral courage to be honest all the time." Those words were
written by John McCain in his 2004 book "Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life." I couldn't agree
with them more. I just wish John McCain did. Not the John McCain who wrote them in 2004; the John McCain
running for president in 2008. There's a big difference.
Making The Case That McCain Isn't 'Ready To Lead' on National Security
Arianna Huffington Politics & the 2008 Presidential Elections
What I'm really hoping is that Obama will use this downtime to regroup, recharge, and come back ready to relentlessly make the case to the American people that McCain isn't "ready to lead" on national security. Voters trust McCain on the war on terror; Obama needs to show them every day why they shouldn't.
"Swing Vote": What It Tells Us About the Race, and Why Obama Needs to Put Kevin Costner on His Ipod
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
The makers of "Swing Vote," the new film starring Kevin Costner, have pulled off a rare double play, producing a smart political satire that is also heartfelt and moving. It's also a film that turns out to be remarkably relevant to the 2008 race.
Obama's Trip Bounce - Media Obsession With Polls Leads to a Bad Case of Premature Pontification
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
Isn't it strange that Barack Obama didn't get a bounce from his wildly well-received overseas trip? Of course, almost all of this analysis is based on polls taken before the end of Obama's trip -- a serious case of premature pontification.
Tell Me Again, Why is Obama's Popularity With Our Allies A Bad Thing?
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
I understand why John McCain's campaign is desperately looking for negatives in Obama's overseas trip. But why have so many in the media internalized the McCain campaign's claptrap?
Here is the McCain line on Europe, delivered via Politico by a nameless campaign aide: "I don't know that people in Missouri are going to like seeing tens of thousands of Europeans screaming for The One."
The Latest Media Blind Spot: Viewing All Criticism of Obama Through a Right-Left Prism
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
In the last two weeks, there has been a flurry of stories that has tried to portray criticism of Barack Obama's recent stands as the sole province of disenchanted members of "the left" -- also referred to as "the far left", "left-winger bloggers", ...
Surge Amnesia : The Media's Newest Affliction
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
John McCain, aided and abetted by his loving protectors in the media, is running a victory lap on Iraq. Buoyed by a reduction in violence in Iraq, war supporters are crawling out from the shadows and beating their chests
McCain's Campaign Funding Hypocrisy: Why are the Media Looking the Other Way?
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
Isn't it interesting how, after largely ignoring the issue for the last 30 years, during which the GOP consistently outfundraised and outspent Democrats in election after election, the media are suddenly all atwitter about whether the campaign finance system is "basically fair"? How dare Obama inspire 1.5 million donors, giving an average of $197 apiece, to help him raise more money than McCain?
John McCain: The Second Coming of Bob Dole
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
"Prominent Republicans . . . have been for the first time openly critical" of John McCain's "floundering campaign."
An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week asked the question, "Who do you think will win?" The answer: Barack Obama 54; John McCain 30. Obama is unlikely to win in such a landslide, which means that millions planning to vote for McCain expect him to lose -- as was the case with Dole.
Scotty Come Lately - Seven Takes on Scott McClellan's New Book
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
In his book "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," Scott McClellan offers withering portraits of George Bush, Karl Rove, Condi Rice and Scooter Libby, confirms that we went to war in Iraq under false pretenses, and that we were serially lied to about the outing of Valerie Plame.
Hillary Clinton's Defeat: A Historic Triumph
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
A front page story in Monday's New York Times wonders whether Hillary Clinton's flagging run for the presidency is "a historic if incomplete triumph or a depressing reminder of why few (women) pursue high office in the first place."
Unmasking McCain: His Reactionary Record on Reproductive Rights
American Politics Presidential Elections 2008 -- Arianna Huffington on Politics
We've seen the exit polls. I get the anger and the disappointment. Really? In Clinton vs. McCain. And nowhere is the difference more profound than with reproductive rights.
Arianna Huffington's e-mail address is arianna@huffingtonpost.com.
(c) 2008 Arianna Huffington. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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Arianna Huffington Political Commentary presented by iHaveNet.com - Swing Vote: What It Tells Us About the Race, and Why Obama Needs to Put Kevin Costner on His Ipod by Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington is a passionate partisan who doesn't mince words and takes no prisoners in her fight for social justice. Her straightforward, unabashedly liberal commentary speaks the language of average Americans. She freely attacks the conventional wisdom of both Democrats and Republicans and, in the process, gives voice to readers frustrated by politics-as-usual.
Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of 10 books. She is also co-host of "Left, Right & Center," public radio's popular political roundtable program. Her weekly liberal commentary is syndicated in newspapers across the country by Tribune Media Services.
Originally from Greece, she moved to England when she was 16 and graduated from Cambridge University with an M.A. in economics. At 21, she became president of the famed debating society, the Cambridge Union. Her books include:
"The Female Woman," on the changing roles of women, was published in 1974 by Random House and translated into 11 languages.
"After Reason," on political leadership and the intersection of politics and culture was published in 1978.
"The Woman behind the Legend," published in 1981, a biography of Maria Callas quickly became an international bestseller.
"The Gods of Greece," celebrates the power of myths as guides to forgotten dimensions of life and ourselves. Atlantic Monthly Press republished it with paintings by Francoise Gilot
"Picasso: Creator and Destroyer," a biography of Pablo Picasso was published in 1988. It was a major international bestseller, translated into 16 languages. The book was made into a film starring Anthony Hopkins as Picasso and produced by Merchant-Ivory for Warner Bros.
"The Fourth Instinct," on the longing for meaning in a secular world, was published in 1994.
"Greetings from the Lincoln Bedroom," a political satire, was published in 1998.
"How to Overthrow the Government," on the corruption of our political system and the need for reform, was published in 2000.
"Pigs at the Trough: How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption are Undermining America,"a New York Times bestseller, was published in 2003.
"Fanatics and Fools: The Game Plan for Winning Back America", offers a scathing portrait of our contemporary political landscape with a bold, inspiring and practical approach to restoring America to the promise envisioned by our greatest leaders. It was published in 2004.
Huffington has made guest appearances on numerous television shows, including "Charlie Rose," "Oprah" "Nightline," "Real Time with Bill Maher," "Inside Politics," "Larry King Live," "Hardball," "Good Morning America," The Today Show, " "Countdown" and "The O'Reilly Factor."
In May, she launched The Huffington Post, an Internet publishing venture featuring an innovative group blog where some of this country?s most creative minds will weigh in on topics great and small, political and cultural, important or just plain entertaining.
She serves on several boards that promote community solutions to social problems, including A Place Called Home that works with at-risk children in South Central Los Angeles. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Archer School for Girls, the advisory board of the Council on American Politics at George Washington University, and the board of the Reform Institute that works on campaign and election reform issues.
Arianna Huffington lives in Los Angeles with her two daughters.
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