Staff Editorial: Grand old nation

As the dust settles from Tuesday's midterm elections and Republicans storm into Senate control, the nation is headed for two years of unified Republican leadership. The GOP's sweep of contested Senate, House and gubernatorial races was nearly complete, as they gained control of the upper chamber and won a few additional seats in the House. Of the few highly watched races that the Democrats' did win, the result tended to be far closer than expected; Gov. Gray Davis' re-election in California was just one telling example.

Either because of President George W. Bush's continued post-Sept. 11 popularity or the Democrats' inability to excite their base, the GOP was the voters' clear preference Tuesday and they will likely set the national political agenda for the next two years.

High on the president's agenda will be a continuation of issues he has pushed during the first two years of his administration: lower taxes, the creation of a Department of Homeland Security, a regime change in Iraq, and a prescription drug plan for senior citizens. In addition, he will likely seek progress on other Republican priorities, such as an expanded education bill and partial privatization of social security. With the first unified federal government since former president Bill Clinton's first two years, Bush has the opportunity to make sweeping changes. The success of those changes will have momentous consequences for the nation and for the 2004 elections.

Bush's success will depend on a number of externalities. The national economy is still lagging and is in dire need of some stimulus; the Federal Reserve's aggressive cut in short-term interest rates Wednesday is just the latest sign of this. The economy's health will affect how much Bush can increase spending or change tax policy.

Regardless of such factors, however, Bush and other Republicans should use their new-found majorities wisely and work toward productive change. This can only be done through compromise across party lines. To take just one of their top priorities, prescription drugs, Republicans and Democrats differ somewhat on what the best plan is, but on an issue that they have repeatedly used as a political football, both sides will need to compromise in order to pass a sensible plan.

Equally apparent after Tuesday's voting is the Democrats' lack of leadership, direction and a strongly expressed agenda. One of the most important factors in the election was their inability to energize their core constituencies, and if they want any hope of competing in 2004, they will need new leaders and a refocused message. Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., has rightly stepped down from his party's House leadership, and others may follow suit.

Above all, both parties need to act as the government for the whole nation, and not serve only their specific constituencies.