Assessing the 110th Congress, Anticipating the 111th

Barack Obama's triumphant presidential campaign in the 2008 election attracted extraordinary interest and excitement in the United States and around the globe. Following on the heels of sweeping Democratic gains in 2006, this second Democratic victory was driven by a sharply negative referendum...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2009
Main Authors: Binder, Sarah A, Mann, Thomas E, Ornstein, Norman J, Reynolds, Molly
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Government
The Brookings Institution
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:Barack Obama's triumphant presidential campaign in the 2008 election attracted extraordinary interest and excitement in the United States and around the globe. Following on the heels of sweeping Democratic gains in 2006, this second Democratic victory was driven by a sharply negative referendum on an unpopular war and a ravaged economy, but also by a rejection of business as usual in public life: excessive partisanship, ideological rigidity, a constitutional system out of balance, a culture of corruption and administrative incompetence. Most importantly, the 2008 election outcomes heightened expectations for dramatic improvements in the conduct of American politics and governance and in the quality and timeliness of its public policy decisions. Meeting these public expectations poses a daunting challenge for the new president, even with the opportunities provided by the crisis in the financial markets and the serious recession.