From Silver Springs to Alexandria, harmony reigns. If a camera light is on, warm coos of accord emanate from whatever politician happens to be in frame - Democrat or Republican. We're "putting things behind us," "getting on with business," and "finding common ground." Clichés abound. Reconciliation threatens to detoxify the atmosphere.
Or does it?
This is more than the usual puffery, than the oratorical collegiality of House or Senate floor speechifying, with all its "I respectfully disagree with my good friend from the great state of...." This is, at its root, panic. It's the panic of temporary indecision, like a gambler pondering whether to take another card with everything riding on it. Democrats are stuck between gracious winning or disemboweling the losers; Republicans likewise twixt whistling past the graveyard or launching a desperate, last-ditch Inchon assault.
Their indecision comes from not knowing precisely how angry the public is. Does it really want a fresh start? Is it quietly out for blood? No one could be happier or getting richer right now than party pollsters filtering the numbers, cultivating a grand design. Till all the pieces are in view, unnatural consanguinity will have to do. At least that's the plan.
The failings of human behavior, though, are likely to preempt reason and patience. Recent events have forced Republican politicos against the ropes, and none knows how to break loose. Simple, honest admissions of stupidity rarely occur to tacticians. Sadly, the real power in the Republican Party - the Right - will likely resort to the tired routine of attack, accusations, and scandal mongering. It may not be much, but it's home.
Preempting reason on the Democratic side will be, as always, an utter lack of organization or any discernible game plan, except that in the mind of Dick Gephardt and perhaps a few other party brass. On the night of impeachment, Gephardt surely dropped to his knees and thanked Jehovah for endowing Tom Delay with good health and bad vibes. The morning after, I imagine, he was gripped with the frenzied realization that behind him were Democrats, a pitiful bunch legendary for disorganization, complacency, and "Every man a party strategist." Tom Jefferson's progeny will proceed willy-nilly with 435 plus 33 plus 1 campaigns, making it easier for Gephardt to herd cats than advance with calm unity of purpose. All he can hope is that voters are taking their ginkgo biloba and will remember what they've been put through.
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