Here at the Capital Hyatt Regency, the Democratic Congressional leadership -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer -- came out and delivered what is more or less their victory speech, celebrating what looks to be substantial expansions of both majorities. What was most interesting, though, was that each speaker managed to make reference to bipartisanship, working across the aisles, and the fact that the new members were elected by Independents and Republicans as well as Democrats -- and the crowd went wild, cheering the concept. Barack Obama came up often, and more than once the crowd broke into chants of "YES WE CAN" -- even the podium the various members of congress spoke behind had a "Change We Need" sign hanging in front of it.
The leadership was also interested in claiming a broad mandate, arguing that the American people had voted for change, for new ideas and for their agenda -- and now that CNN has called the presidency for Obama, it seems that one-party government will have to deliver on that agenda, or face the consequences in two years.
-- Tim Fernholz
