It appears that the Democrats will win enough of a majority to control the agenda in the House and to enforce cloture in the Senate and even over-ride a Presidential veto. The deep problems facing the U.S. on so many fronts suggest that maybe the Democratic leadership should begin to create a "contract with America" similar to what was done in the 1990's by the Republicans.

Back in 1994, when Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House, along with Dick Armey, Tom deLay, John Boehner, et al, the House leadership published the Contract With America. The "contract" detailed the actions the Republicans promised to take after they became the majority party in the United States House of Representatives during the 104th Congress. The Contract with America was introduced six weeks before the 1994 Congressional election and was signed by all but two of the Republican members of the House and all of the Party's non-incumbent Republican Congressional candidates.

Proponents say the Contract was revolutionary in its commitment to offering specific legislation for a vote, describing in detail the precise plan of the Congressional Representatives. Its provisions represented the view of many conservative Republicans on the issues of shrinking the size of government, promoting lower taxes and greater entrepreneurial activity, and both tort reform and welfare reform. The Contract's actual text was a list of actions the Republicans promised to take if they were in the majority following the election. During the construction of the Contract, Gingrich insisted on "60% issues", intending for the Contract to avoid promises on controversial and divisive matters like abortion and school prayer.

The Republicans did gain control of the House for the 104th Congress and along with the Senate which was also controlled by the GOP formed the first Congress in almost 50 years that was controlled by the same political party. The Republican-controlled House did vote on virtually all the bills outlined in the Contract during the first 100 days of the Congress. Some of the bills passed both the House and the Senate and were signed by President Clinton. But many of the bills originated and passed by the GOP House died in the Senate.

So, coming back to 2008 and the upcoming 111th Congress, it would sure appear to me that the Congressional Democratic leadership should begin planning the legislative agenda that would quickly address many of the problems currently facing the nation. They would have the political power to pass just about anything the wanted and if Barack Obama is elected, it could quickly become law. Does that sound like a reasonable expectation? Who thinks that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid could pull it off?

Hmmm, maybe that suggests the need for some change at the top of the Democratic Congressional leadership, don't you think? I don't think we have time for the leaderless ship that we call the United States Congress to continue for the 111th and 112th Congresses.