It is, in short, a fine time to be a Democrat.
The American two-party system has swung back and forth like a pendulum over the last century, with neither the Democrats nor the Republicans putting more than two consecutive candidates in the White House since 1928.
Sometimes, the two parties run neck-and-neck; Tuesday, it was little short of a Democratic free-for-all, as Sen. Barack Obama won the presidency in a landslide, and his fellow party members decisively took the House and Senate.
Caught up in that euphoria were the area’s newly elected — and reelected — officials, as Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman handily beat their Republican challengers, Assemblymen Paul Krekorian and Anthony Portantino prevailed over the GOP, and State Sen.-elect Carol Liu, also a Democrat, won election for the first time. Rep. David Dreier, who overcame Democratic and Libertarian opponents, was the area’s lone Republican victor.
As people across the world celebrate Obama’s victory, it’s easy to get intoxicated by all the revelry. The excitement, though, will fade before long, and when our elected leaders take office again, they’ll do so not as icons, but as hardworking politicians.
Our state and our country still face trying times, particularly in terms of the economy, which continues to sag as the state Legislature weighs budget cuts and the White House does what it can to mend Wall Street.
Obama, both during and after his campaign, has called for Democrats and Republicans to set aside their differences and seek solutions together, and we strongly advise our local officials to adopt the same attitude.
The victors in Tuesday’s election already have shown signs that they can work harmoniously with the other side. Schiff and Dreier both supported the federal government’s controversial $700-billion plan to bail out ailing financial institutions. Krekorian, who was elected to his second term, submitted 16 bills during the last two years that were signed into law by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Schiff may have a valuable supporter in Obama, who has vowed to support a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, a cause that Schiff has advocated strongly. Following his reelection, though, Schiff pledged to step across the aisle and work with House Republicans on a number of measures as well.
Tuesday was a glorious night for Democrats, to be sure. The temper of the times, though, calls for more than a partisan celebration. Let’s hope that our elected leaders, in Burbank, Glendale and elsewhere, will work to ensure that it’s a bountiful time for America.
