European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 19, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes saturday november 19, 1988 cd Luikim James Kilpatrick Vita Lulf Nikhil republicans Greaf on top hurting at grass roofs or since the election the democrats have been significant difference Between a 34-46 Senate and a 55 Virginia went 60-40 for Bush bul in its general a in ions of advice. Rep. Tony Coelho of California 45 Senate. The democrats advantage in the House has Sembly the democrats hold the slate Senate by 4 tothe Narv should look to the Wesl in 1992. Sen. Increased from merely ii use to  humongous. The House of delegates by 2 to t. Louisiana fell Ieve to getting says in party. Sam Nunn of Corgia says the party must find a unify ing theme. Jesse Jackson urges undiluted liberalism. Other helpful Fellows want to broaden the  on the other Side of the political aisle similar questions also need to be asked. Never mind the democrats future. While her the republicans now that the balloons of presidential Victory have been popped and All the confetti has been swept up some disconcerting facts have to be faced George Bush won the while House decisively. He carried 40 Stales in the electoral College and claimed 54 percent of the popular Vole. Bul what else is there for republicans to cheer about not much. Yes Connie Mack squeaked to a senatorial Victory in Florida. In Montana Conrad Burns overcame an 18-Point disadvantage and Defeated Doc mulch or. In Mississippi Trent loll edged Wayne dowdy. But re publicans failed to take Senate scats they had hoped to win from the democrats in Wisconsin and new Jersey they never Laid a Glove on sen Howard my Tannbaum in Ohio. They lost seals in Virginia Connecticut Nevada and Nebraska. When the spotlights went out the gop Hud lost ground in both the House and the sen ate. This is not the overriding concern. There is no Ted Vandyk significant 54-4 4 increase y huge regrettably humongous what should worry the grand old party is not the returns of 1988 bul rather the prospects for 1989. The prospects arc not encouraging. The republicans Are great up top. They arc not much Down below. In key areas of the country most notably the South they have failed sorely in devel Oping the kind of party organization hat wins elections at the local level. This failure will be keenly Felt after the census of 1990, when the boundaries of House districts must be redrawn. Consider the South. At the local level in remains unreconstructed. Georgia Alabama and Mississippi went for Bush by landslide margins of 60-40. Bush look 61 percent in Florida 62 percent in South Carolina. All very heartening. But when one looks at the state Legislatures the picture is something else entirely. Mississippi will now have two Republican senators bul the legislature is 165-9 democratic. In Georgia the imbalance is 201-35, in South Carolina 132-37, i Alabama 115-16. In Florida 109-51, the figures Are for 1986-87, bul they change Little year by year. What this Means party simply promoting a Virgini l i As Sembol i the i 10 Bush 55-45, but How Are things in Baton Rouge democrats 156, republicans 15.this is the area in which party efforts have to be concentrated Over the Nam 10 or 15 years. If the House of representatives Ever is to become a closely con tested chamber respectable Republican candidates must be discovered and helped Down at the grass roots. A part of the problem in the South ties with in grained democratic tradition part of it lies in the hold thai democrats have on the Black vote part of in perhaps the most important part lies in the steady decline of political parties As such. There was a time and it was t so very Long ago when our polities turned upon yellow Dawg democrats and Rock ribbed republicans. There were party Bosses Crump in Tennes see Pend Toast in Missouri Daley in Illinois Byrd i Virginia who could Roll out impressive majorities. The parties cultivated attractive candidates raised Money for them dispensed rewards and imposed punishments. Those Days probably arc gone forever. Party labels mean less and less As the years Roll by. But in Congress where the action is labels arc vital. The republicans have a right to savor Bush s Victory. They had better Brood upon i hair own  presi a Fth Ciao pres dense eco Bush has a go Den Opportunity now that the miserable presiden tial Campaign has ended George Bush and his democratic opposition face whats always h difficult task they must cat their respective Campaign words and quickly in order to address several can l Wail National issues. Most urgent of All. The president elect and the democratic Congress must agree on a Compromise budget package thai will keep Federal budget deficits coming Down steadily within the Gramm Rud Man Hollings guidelines without Chok ing off economic growth. The package can be assembled Only by combining de sense and Domestic spending cuts tax increases and entitlement program discipline All politically painful. That will mean that Bush will have to renege promptly on his read my lips pledge of no new taxes at the same Lime he Wilt have to keep Airi Cri Ca Strong without Benefit of Pentagon budget increases one or More currently budgeted weapon systems will have to be cancelled. For their part the democrats will have to drop their sanctimonious defense of social Security and other entitlement programs and agree to some for Mula most probably taxation of Bene fits above Middle income level that will alack the deficit on that front the first Steps clearly must be taken by  could gain great ground by doing two things immediately. ,. First he could put aside his pre Vious hostility toward the bipartisan National economic commission which i scheduled to Issue an interim report next month on deficit reduction and support its invaluable role of Public education in could help him prepare Public opinion for 1989 policy changes. Second he could meet immediately. With democratic and Republican con Gressional leaders to begin a Good Faith Effort toward a mutually acceptable Bud get package to be presented in january. Both of those Steps would be bolstered if having named James a Bakeras his Secretary of state he additionally were to name without delay his Prospect live secretaries of defense and the Treasu  by King feat by the chairman of the Council of eco nomic advisers and the director of the office of management and budget. If As anticipated he designates experienced serious and moderate people for those jobs and tells them to begin working now with congressional leaders he will win himself a head Start on the presiden tial honeymoon period. -. Would the democratic Congress re Spond to such initiatives the answer is an unequivocal yes. -. Immediate presidential congressional cooperation also will be necessary to address several other looming issues All economic. The savings and loan Industry requires a 1989 bail out that will consume Many billions of taxpayer Dol Lars. The so called Baker plan for the management of third world debt has run its course a new bipartisan plan inevitably involving debt while Downs must be framed. The Uruguay round of multilateral Trade negotiation in the general agreement on tariffs and Trade must be successfully pursued lest new International Trade wars break out and the executive Branch. Congress and fed eral regulators must with the recent re cmdr Genic of merger and takeover activity ensure that financial markets Are Sta Bre and that dangerous Levels of new Pri Vale debt Are not being accumulated. George Bush has a Good Chance of gel Ling in done. Unlike Ronald Reagan he is not an ideologue. It is not his nature at least it has t been to draw lines in the ground Between himself and con Gress. In addition he should not have to worry about swallowing Loo soon one or More Campaign season pledges. Our hit Lory indicates that the american people Are willing to forgive a new president for anything during the first 100 to 120 Days of his term. The american memory is Short and ils spirit is hopeful. Lot Amon. Ruh Capri butling Wiir Toj Van Dak up Metal i  potty Tofu in la in Lurn