TIME EUROPE
December 4, 2000, Vol. 156 No. 23
Two-Headed Senate
With a potential Democratic victory in Washington State, the likelihood of gridlock and bickering looms large
By DOUGLAS WALLER
The last time control of the U.S. Senate divided equally between the two
parties was in 1881. And it wasn't a pretty sight. Democrats and Republicans
each had 37 seats, with two held by independents. The Democrats managed
to persuade one of the independents to join their ranks, but then
Republicans peeled off the other independent, Senator William Mahone of
Virginia, by dangling before him the Agriculture Committee chairmanship
and the power to pick the Senate's Sergeant at Arms. Republican Vice
President Chester A. Arthur cast the tie-breaking vote so the G.O.P.. could
take over the chamber. But legislative business quickly ground to a halt
when angry Democrats refused to show up for any floor votes.
If Maria Cantwell's 1,953-vote lead over Republican incumbent Senator
Slade Gorton survives a recount that begins in Washington this week, and if
George W. Bush wins the presidency, the Senate will again be split — this
time 50-50. And politics in the world's greatest deliberative body may not
be any prettier than it was 119 years ago.
Don't expect any Senators to change their party stripes for a committee
chairmanship from the enemy. Democrats have already quietly sniffed for
defectors but have found no prospects. The only opportunity for a tilt in
their direction would be if the Senate's two oldest Republicans, who are in
poor health — South Carolina's Strom Thurmond, 97, and North Carolina's
Jesse Helms, 79 — suddenly left and the Democratic Governors of their
states picked replacements.
Barring that, the Democrats want the Senate treated like community
property. Minority leader Tom Daschle will probably meet with majority
leader Trent Lott this week to demand that the two sides share power in the
chamber. Even if Al Gore ends up President — which would mean Joe
Lieberman's giving up his Senate seat, Connecticut's Republican Governor's
appointing his replacement, and the G.O.P..'s getting a 51-49
majority — Democrats still want to be considered almost as equals, and
Republicans realize they don't have room to run roughshod. "With this
narrow margin in the Senate, there's going to have to be bipartisanship,"
concedes G.O.P. moderate Senator Arlen Specter.
Daschle is proposing far more bipartisanship than Lott will ever swallow.
The Democratic leader will begin his summit with Lott by demanding that
committee membership be split evenly — if that turns out to be the case in
the full Senate — and that Democratic vice chairmen serve alongside
Republican chairmen. Lott has already ruled that out, and even Democratic
Senators say privately they wouldn't be charitable if the tables were turned.
The best Daschle will probably get is a one-vote Republican majority on
committees instead of the current two, and more influence over legislation
that gets to the floor for a vote.
A one-vote Republican majority on committees, however, would give
Democrats considerable clout to clog up pet G.O.P. legislation, such as
cutting taxes and privatizing Social Security. Whether the Senate gets
anything done will depend on the relationship between Lott and Daschle.
Unlike House Speaker Dennis Hastert and minority leader Richard
Gephardt, who are barely on speaking terms, Lott and Daschle have a
private phone line so they can bypass aides and talk directly to each other.
Even when partisan rancor in the Senate was at its highest this past year,
they would drop by each other's Capitol offices regularly to chat. Both men
are pragmatists who understand "they've got to make the institution run,"
says a Democratic Senator.
But with Florida engulfed by a political wildfire, partisan flames are already
flaring in the Senate. Lott declared last week that the Florida Supreme
Court's ruling that hand-counted ballots must be included in the state total
for the presidential race "cannot stand." Daschle joined the highly partisan
Gephardt in a statement complaining about "overheated rhetoric and
political threats." Pragmatism may be the first casualty if the Senate joins
the House in a fight over who will represent Florida as electors.
And the game could get a lot rougher. The new Senators will be sworn in
Jan. 3, 17 days before the new President and his running mate take the Oath
of Office on Jan. 20. During those 17 days, Gore, as Bill Clinton's Vice
President, is still President of the Senate and Lieberman is still a Senator.
Gore could cast tie-breaking votes to settle disputes over electors. He could
even give Democrats a brief majority so they could oust G.O.P. committee
chairmen and name their own. Daschle's aides don't expect to engage in that
kind of hardball. But then nobody thought the presidency would be snarled
in a dozen lawsuits over dimpled chads.
This edition's table of contents
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COVER STORY
Bush's Contested Lead
Now it goes to the courts as Gore challenges Sunday night's Florida tally
Heart Murmurs
Dick Cheney's brief but sudden hospitalization raises questions about fitness and truthfulness
Just How Bad Was It?
TIME's Christine Gorman on the vice-presidential candidate's diagnosis
Mob Scene In Miami
We look at the players behind the 'spontaneous' protest that preceded the shutdown of Miami-Dade's recount
Two-Headed Senate
With a potential Democratic victory in Washington State, the likelihood of gridlock and bickering looms large
EUROPE
Ready, Aim ... React
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In a Legend's Steps
Shackleton's brave Antarctic trip still awes the world. On his trail are three Britons
MIDDLE EAST
Into the War Zone
Palestinians are now directly attacking Israeli settlements. It's a new - and dangerous - tactic
THE ARTS
Full-Screen Press
French television program Arrêt sur Images entertains audiences by taking the media to task
Pictures From An Exhibitionist
Elton John has put together a big, brainy collection. Now Atlanta, his adopted city, is showing it off
The Vulnerable Woman
Jessica Lange tackles O'Neill's Long Day's Journey and shows she is more than just a great ape's date
Some More Good Men
The plot's predictable, the characters are clichés. Yet this naval drama sails through with flying colors
Fallen Angels
The stars of 'Charlie's Angels' try to soar, but the plot clips their wings
DEPARTMENTS
Techwatch
Worldwatch
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