European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 the stars and stripes columns Haynes Johnson Dickens syndrome appears at work in capital Call it the Dickens syndrome. It takes feat of the worst of times to bring out the Besl of behaviour. Something of that paradoxical condition seems to be a work in Washington. One month a tier an emitter ing presidential election waged against a backdrop of the most ideologically motivated and divisive presi Dency of inc cd Iury the capital is experiencing per haps its most optimistic snood in years. There is a feeling tentative to be sure that the Prospect exists for less Ion and More cooperation Between the democratic controlled Congress and the Republican White House in inc Bush administration. Foremost of Many reasons for this is the cold dash of reality thai has settled Over Washington since the election left the capital even More divided politic Nelly. Political people arc acutely aware is Lincoln warned thai a House divided cannot stand especially Given new economic storms stirring heavy unpaid National Bills arc coming due and every one on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue knows it. They know too that the time for political posturing and easy mane vering is past. Realism dict pics cooperation. But that s not the Only reason for the improved Politi Cal climate. In his initial dealings with key members of onges. President tied George Bush has been states manlike lie hat demonstrated a desire to reach across party ints o establish a practical working relationship. In turn the democratic congressional leaders House speaker Jim Wright of Texas and newly elected Senate majority Leader George j. Mitchell of Maine have responded positively. Judging from recent conversations i have had with them Here is carry reason to believe thai a genuine spirit of Guod will exists. In addition. Bush s initial appointments have won bipartisan support and Praise. James a. Baker Ilkic Hiiro g. Darman and Brent scowcroft among others Are people of proven competence and Long Washington experience and arc solidly in the Mains Tream of Public servants. As such they present a Wel come contrast to the ideologues of the Reagan years the Walls Burford Mecsics whose collective confrontational manner bred such hostility Between con Gress and the while House. Other signs of a new spirit oils. The recent report submitted to Bush by former presidents Ford and Carter reflected a laudatory degree of bipartisan consensus on Deal ing with difficult National issues. Their report including recommendations for policy priorities and actions in the Bush administration is titled american Agenda and is he product of Citi Eddie Mahe or. a we Rwy one Bort of we Zens who have served in key positions during Republican and democratic administrations. It is refreshingly candid and realistic. Perhaps most encouraging it demonstrates that the nation s political system As expressed by diverse leaders can produce agreement on solving critical and Complex foreign and Domestic problems including the question of taxes. Finally there clearly is a new tone on Capitol Hill. Despite another dismal defeat at the presidential level democrats will begin the next administration in Posi Tion to exercise a greater role in governing the nation. They seem to Welcome it and from what i be been hearing among members arc approaching heir responsibilities with greater Unity. Their new leadership Structure bodes Well for them. In selecting Mitchell As their Leader Senate democrats made a major move toward establishing a More promising political future for their party Mitchell was picked Over two distinguished senators a amyl k. Inouye of Hawaii and j. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana primarily because his Peers believed he could Best revitalize the party and provide inc requisite Forward looking leadership. There is every reason to believe Mitchell is capable of fulfilling these Hopes. At 55, he is energetic determined and possessed of ideas. He has vision and is practical. The Prospect is hat he and Wright will collaborate in creating a democratic congressional Agenda to be considered along Side the one Bush must propose. A test of democratic government is Haw Congress and the president work together. Considering the prob lems facing Bolh the alternative to cooperation is chaos. Then everyone loses and these truly will be the worst of limes. A Vii Nin Oton poll. Republican party must change its Public image what can the Republican i any do to match its dominance in recent presidential elections with similar Suc Cess in Congress. A serious Effort to find answers to this question will require party leaders Loac Knoll do Elul tinkering Al the margin in t going to be enough. No Combina Tion of non gerrymandered districts and better candidate recruitment would have resulted in the republicans winning control of the House of representatives in the last election simply stated the problem is one of substance and message not process and mechanics. First and most fundamentally there must be a recognition that Only when voting for president and to some lesser extent for senator or governor Are voters Likely to react to a great Deal of new in formation actually gleaned from the Campaign itself. Virtually ill other voting decisions reflect a cumulative total of everything the voter had Learned before inc Campaign Ever started. By and Large this is a collection of images and words ascribed to each party and the Perccy lion thus created is then attached to All candidates of thai party subject Only twosome very compelling information to the contrary. Sadly he perceptual advantage run overwhelmingly to the democrats in areas Likely to have the biggest Impact on most voters people problems and is sues As contrasted with global and institutional problems and concerns in which the republicans Are seen As More competent. Technique often used by Politi Cal pollsters is to ask respondents which party can Best Deal with different types of problems or issues. On questions such As helping senior citizens or working people or inc Middle class or even Small business owners the democratic party is always selected by More voters As the party in which they would have the most Confidence. Which ones do the republicans win on As you would expect those questions dealing with the Rich and big business. This same pattern holds on different types of issues. When the question involves an Issue hat could have tin Impact on people s own lives such As protecting the environment or improving education they choose the democrats conversely on less individual oriented problems such As the defense of the country or managing government they choose republicans in 1980, a successful election was pos sible for republicans seeking congressional scats because the global and institutional problems were so overwhelming that they were creating problems for individuals in 1988, people could continue the satisfactory stewardship of these global and institutional problems by Vot ing for George Bush but Ihen switch to Vilirie for democrats who they believed would worry about their personal Wel fare. Thus if Republican candidates for inc tens of thousands of other offices arc going to Start out and finish on equal terms with the democrats party communications efforts the resources allocated to them and the role of elected officials in these communications efforts must be totally rethought. If As is fervently believed by Many the Republican party is positioned much closer to the mass or the american electorate than is the democratic party on most issues and underlying values the party has obviously failed to make peo ple aware of what that Means to them i their daily jives. Cd Carlo some part of the solution Nusl lie in ensuring that Republican positions get translated into programs that offer real solutions to real problems that people have not merely philosophical statements thai have Little or no meaning to most americans. The Republican party must educate americans As 10 Why its approach to governing will mean better lives for them. And that must include All americans Minori pics the disadvantaged Urban an Rural citizens. For too Long Loo Many diff Cronl americans Haven t been Able to Sec themselves fitting into the Republican picture As someone the party cared about. -. If we believe what we say we ought in come up with the solutions for the Terri ble problems of the inner cities Bank nip City governments inc homeless or inadequate school systems for example but even As a National Campaign to reposition inc Public s perception of the Republican parly is necessary parly activists must also be far More sensitive to former House speaker Thomas p. O n Eill s admonition ail politics Are the democrats have not forgotten Thailand Ihal Why despite their National message problems their candidates can run nocal campaigns reinforced by. Their Pany s perception and win even when unaided of incumbency. On the other hand during the past 15 years there has been a massive shift of focus by republicans in centralized cookie Culler campaigns run from Washington. Those who will be leading the Republican Campaign in the next Cycle 1990, Musi begin what will be Avery painful process of weaning slate and local parly organizations from depending on Washington Tor every solution. The Challenge will be to Aid these parties even As the Washington dependency is Bro Waw Nylon Pou inv Swett cot Montil Mph i Havu brio my rum Tow mum or. & aug Timi i
