Biannual Congressional Elections Essay Research Paper type

Biannual Congressional Elections Essay, Research Paper

type: Term Paperbody:The biannual Congressional elections offer a number of insights into the principles and practices that guide our democratic system. They are a major barometer of the attitude that the American people have toward the government. The level of confidence that people have in the system and the stance that they take on particular issues are often discernible through an examination of the election results. The recent, 1998 election offers us a number of facts and a tremendous amount of information concerning our government today, while being effected by the biggest sex scandal of the year. This issue seemed to have not only a significant effect on President Clinton himself, who was directly involved in the dirty mass, but it also happened to touch the two major parties, mainly for the purpose of victory. Both Democrats and Republicans hoped to aim the Lewinsky matter towards their individual goals to help themselves win the elections, but did not quiet achieve anything concentr!ating on the scandal. So, what really happened on Tuesday, November 3, 1998. As the latest results show, Republicans did gain victory, once again holding the majorities of both chambers this year, while Democrats on the other hand won many election battles, gaining five seats in the House. Nevertheless, Democrats being the losers, still celebrated their unexpectedly good showing in U.S. midterm elections as Republicans weighed the political fall-out from the key losses in New York, California and the South. Democrats scored across the board, picking up seats in the House, blocking any Republican gains in the Senate and winning the election’s single biggest prize — the governorship of California. They certainly fought the Republicans to a standstill in Tuesday’s Senate election, defeating veterans like Senator Alfonse D’Amato of New York and Lauch Faircloth in North Carolina, and re-electing most of their own endangered incumbents. When all the races were called, Republicans had a 55-45 lead o!ver Democrats in the Senate and 223 to 211 in the House – the same margin they held before the campaign began, although they had high hopes of increasing their lead by 5 to a filibuster-proof 60(1998 Elections 1). Many Democrats, including Randy Tate, who viewed Republicans’ victory unfavorably, thought they did not have an agenda of “burning” issues to present to voters and that is exactly why they did not do as well as they expected to. This complain meant that some agenda will beat no agenda every time(Gorin 2). Therefore, the election results proved that issues do matter; issues make a difference and that is just what worked for Democrats. They came out because they had issues that they cared about, simply put. Things like education, health care, Social Security and jobs counted a lot. Over half the voters said this is what they care about. Republicans on the other hand ran to the short sight of the field. They mainly ran on scandal, grabbing some moral vote and l!ittle bit of taxes. But as the election statistics showed 58 peISSUES ‘98:The debate over the Social Security this fall was different from years past, when the major political heat came from seniors worrying about cuts in benefits. All sides in the debate said today’s retirees will be affected little by the change under consideration. What’s driving the debate now is the worry that the program can’t meet the demands of today’s workers when they retire in the next century. In addressing this problem it was suggested to adjust the tax rates, but many said the payroll tax is already high and disproportionately paid by lower income workers. Instead, it was pointed out that the answer lies in allowing people to use some of their own tax money to prepare for retirement. Polls have found the public receptive to this idea, and even President Clinton has held out the possibility he might support such an opinion. As for candidates, it is evident that both parties are talking about the problem. But even though, many Republicans have only talked up the i!nvestment option, many Democrats have said the budget surplus should be used to preserve Social Security rather than to finance cuts in the income, capital gains or inheritance taxes(Welch 1).The defense issue is something that two parties have totally opposite views on. Threatening new missile tests in North Korea and Iran boosted Republican hopes that defense issue would work against Democrats this fall. But the GOP has tried and failed for years to exploit military issues at a time when the Democrats have a president with no military record(Komarow 1). Some of the popular strategies that have been used by Democrats in addressing this problem are that military has performed well in every recent mission, from invading Haiti to sending missiles against alleged terrorist sites, and that without the immediate threat of the Soviet empire there simply isn’t much to worry about. Afterall, there are many other things that could be considered for help from the defense spending. The abortion issue splits the Republican party among conservatives who want to ban the procedure, moderates who favor various limits and supporters of abortion rights. But nearly all Republicans have united behind legislation that would ban a particular late-term abortion procedure that foes call “partial birth” abortion unless the life of the mother is at sake(Lee 1). Many Democratic