Divided Government 2.0

This winter's edition of The Economist's annual predictions issue, The World in 2011, is on the shelves. Arianna Huffington's contribution is "The Year of Hope 2.0," an article that appears to be too short for the size of its ideas, whatever they may in fact be. Here, I will only address the supposition that "Hope 1.0," and its accompanying President have failed irredeemably.

Hope, for all the posters, was and is just a word; much of what Obama was really selling in 2008 was bipartisanship. Unfortunately for everyone, Americans bought too much of Obama and not enough of his product, returning a Democratic majority whose tent was far too big to stand for long. The result has been two years of Democratic shoegazing and a lack of bipartisanship in projects like the health care overhaul.

But now there is new hope for Hope. The Republicans' mixed success in the midterm elections may already be having positive effects on the mentality of Congressional leadership. Senate Republicans allowed the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Obama worked mainly with Republicans and against his own party to pass the Bush tax cut extensions, and the Senate appears to be is close to passing New START, long the subject of Republican scrutiny. Obama's bipartisan debt commission has brought up changes to Social Security for a long-overdue national debate.

When the new Congress convenes in January, bipartisanship will be unavoidable. With the Senate and House split, the parties will be forced to work together if any bills are to be passed at all. Additionally, the pressure of public sentiment will be on. The Republicans must pursue compromise if they are to shed their reputation as the "party of No," and Democrats must do the same lest the unwanted moniker be foisted upon them next.

It is easy to predict that the blame game of the past four years will continue. Indeed, such arguments may carry more weight now that each party can point to the other's majority as the problem. But this will not stand long, on Capitol Hill or with the American public. It will not be politically profitable for either side to completely scuttle the 112th Congress.

Naysayers would do well to remember that the six years of divided government under President Clinton were some of America's most successful in recent memory, and forced bipartisanship certainly played a role in this. Here's Hoping (that's "1.0") that this new round of divided government can deliver on its potential - and maybe strike the first blow against Social Security.