This week, two candidates, Hilary Clinton and Jeb Bush, made statements saying that the opposing party is not the enemy. Hilary had been criticized for calling the Republican party the "enemy" during the Democratic debates, however recently has clarified that the statement was just a little "tongue and cheek" and that she in fact has "great relations with Republicans." Furthermore, she added that she would do "whatever I can" to find common ground for the two parties to stand on. This, in addition, to Jeb's statement at the Kent Country GOP in Grand Rapids that "Democrats are not our enemies" give light to what may be a positive future between the two parties.
Unfortunately these improvements may not come soon enough. The most immediate threat of government shutdown is result of the two-year budget deal that Obama has signed but has not been passed through Congress due to disagreements between the Republicans and Democrats over Planned Parenthood, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Obamacare. Obama signed the deal last week, ensuring that the government won't shut down until at least mid-December. However, Congress must agree on how to allocate the funds by December 11th otherwise a shut down will take place. As a result of the shutdown in 2013 and the potential for another this December, it is encouraging to see candidates, such as Clinton and Bush, that are actually addressing the issues in government, particularly in regards to the lack of cooperation between the two parties.
Do you think that the 2016 President will make more efforts to improve relations with the opposing party, whether it he or she be Democrat or Republican? If so, how successful do you think he/she will be? Do you think a compromise will be met even earlier, in time for December 11th? What may that compromise be?
ttp://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/12/exclusive-republicans-in-congress-prepared-for-possible-government-shutdown-fight/
http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Bush-Democrats-aren-t-the-enemy-Washington-6628185.php
http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/09/politics/hillary-clinton-republicans-enemy/index.html
5 comments:
Although I believe the new president will make an effort to incite cooperation between the two parties, i don't think it is a realistic prospect. Party competition is something deeply rooted in our government and does not seem to be going away any time soon. It is a necessary evil of sorts. Being a democracy we are granted the liberty of having multiple parties who can freely express their beliefs, but at the same time that means competition between the two is inevitable. Congress is divided and that is a problem that cannot be solved. The only hope for more cooperation is to let time do its work and allow it to bridge the gap between the democrats and republicans. As the older members leave and the new members join, it is possible there could be a change of pace and even a joint effort between the two parties to do what's best for the country, not just for what their party believes in.
I agree with Jack that the competition and tensions between the two parties is certainly deeply rooted. However, I wouldn't say that is institutionalized or necessary in any way. Some of the greatest periods of reform (Reconstruction, New Deal) happened when there was at the very least uneasy cooperation between the two parties. However, it is important to keep in mind that this is election season after all, and both Clinton and especially Bush are losing the early leads that they had and are becoming less certain of victory. Many other candidates, such as Sanders, seem to channel an American agitation with the era of divided government that we talked about in class. It is very possible that these are more empty promises. However, I do think that a more centrist, establishment candidate like Clinton or Bush will be more likely to pursue cooperation.
In fact, the most likely situation in the current era of divided government for a period of large governmental changes is the domination of one party. If a Republican president is elected in 2016, there could very well be a new party era.
I do believe that the 2016 President of the U.S. will make greater efforts to improve relations among their party with the opposing party regardless of their own party. In recent years, the government has realized the greater importance of being one whole nation with similar ideas and goals in mind for the development and future of our great country. For example, a national tragedy, such as 9/11 shock-waved our nation and caused the government to come together more to improve national security and provide all the guidance and preparation for any future terrorist attacks or violence against the nation.
I think that the new president will be successful in their ideas and ways because it has never really been a concern of any other president or presidential candidate. I think that a compromise will not be reached by the deadline because of magnitude of the issues and the deep rooted feelings and sides associated with making a decision.
If a compromise were to be reached by December 11th, therefore preventing a government shutdown, the compromise may include ways to not evenly, but fairly distribute the funds and to allocate money towards some programs over others.
I agree that the 2016 President will make more efforts to improve relations with the opposing party, whether it he or she be Democrat or Republican. However, it will be difficult. Of course the Democrats and Republicans can attempt to cooperate, but their basic values are different, and that will always cause controversy and antagonism. I don’t think the compromise over Obamacare will happen in time to prevent a government shutdown. Republicans in Congress say they won’t back down from a fight over the budget and will make sure conservative policies are put in place, despite warnings from Democrats that they will reject the bill and shut down the government. Yet, Republicans are not worried about having a confrontation with Democrats over attaching appropriations that are in line with conservative principles. They say they’re ready to fight. If this is the opinion now, it is hard to tell whether the government shutdown will take place, but none of the parties are willing to back down as of now. I predict that the governments shutdown will take place.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/12/exclusive-republicans-in-congress-prepared-for-possible-government-shutdown-fight/
Americans are fed up with the cut-and-dry, two party system we currently have in place: "The result leaves millions of voters frustrated by the lack of wider choices. Our politics is stagnating into an exquisite deadlock that only benefits major party incumbents, who relish blaming the other party for their inability to move the country forward even while they collude in keeping out newcomers" (Sifry). In a time where centrist votes are so important, it is essential for candidates to appeal to them any way they can.
With a major campaign going on, candidates are saying and doing many things in order to get votes. Mia, you mentioned that Hillary has called the Republican Party the enemy before. Could it be that, by revoking her former statements, she is just trying to win over centrist votes? By being all buddy-buddy with her Republican opponents, Hillary is attempting to revamp her image. However, I could be wrong. It does seem that she really does want to work toward a stronger relationship between the two parties. Despite her big plans, though, I have to agree with Steve Irwin; party competition has been too well established in the American political system to go back now. With this in mind, I do think that the 2016 President will have some luck [should they actually try] in reducing the rivalry between the two parties. Whether or not this compromise will be met before or after December 11th is beyond me, but I do not think that it is out of the question.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/09/09/the-power-of-third-party-campaigns/americas-political-duopoly-stifles-the-competition-of-ideas
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