Obama: Where does he go from here?

The Republicans have finally lost.

It's obvious, and it was expected. Ever since the Democrats overthrew the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, every sane person who followed politics knew that the Democrats would sweep Congress in November. Although it may not have been the massacre some pundits have predicted -- the Republicans can still cherish their right to a filibuster -- Obama crushed McCain in the electoral college and the Democrats now have an overwhelming congressional majority.

Now Barack Obama, as our new president-elect, faces an interesting choice. Does he change the nation merely in terms of left and right? Or does he follow his rhetoric and cause change by bipartisan means?

Throughout his campaign, Obama has been lauded as - and has couched himself as - a "post-partisan candidate." The best example of this is his victory speech in front of a colossal, jubilant crowd. When he could have gloated over the stunning victory he had accomplished, could have so easily reveled in a massive win for his party, Obama said this:

"while the Democratic party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility, and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress."

Great words, but does he mean them?

The idealist in me -- the idealist that wrote the open letter to Mr. Obama -- believes that he does. Though that piece was written in the immediate aftermath of Obama's speech (which is in my estimation the greatest of my lifetime so far), and is thus rooted almost entirely in emotion instead of logic, a part of me really believes it. Certainly all of me hopes it is true.

Yet the rationalist -- the cynic -- in me is not convinced. We are, after all, talking about a junior senator who has not once challenged his party on major issues. We're talking about a legislator who's biggest non-partisan bill is creating a Rosa Parks postage stamp. We're talking about a relatively new politician inheriting the reins to our government, whose workhouse is a decidedly partisan congress lead by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, some of the most entrenched partisans in the system.

With these kinds of factors, what chance does the nation have of a truly post-partisan government?

Although it is a deeply held tenet of mine that a post-partisan future is the only one that can remedy what is broken with our government, such a government is rooted in self-interest as a disenfranchised independant. What then, is Obama's interest? To whom is he accountable? In what direction should Obama go to achieve the most reform and, more realistically, in what direction does the most political benefit lie? Is the right path for our new president the left or the center?

The easy answer is the left. It would be easier for Obama to fall into step with his party and merely force the political pendulum back towards the left. Attempting to push anything but a strictly Democratic agenda is bound to mean fighting his own party, which means a great deal more effort and expenditure. But more importantly, doesn't the overwhelming support for Obama and his party mean a drift in public opinion to the left?

Not necessarily.

Whether it's deconstructing exit polls or looking for tides in public opinion, pundits and politicians alike should be wary of interpreting the Democrats' landslide victory as a significant swing to the left. Instead they should interpret it as a reaction to a wildly unpopular Republican president. Let's face it, any candidate running under the Republican label did so with a 300 lb. weight across their neck. Except for maybe 3 or 4 states, every single state in the Union went more Democrat this election than the previous one.

The entire nation doesn't suddenly like the Democrats -- they hate Republicans, or specifically, Bush.

In the next series of elections, the Republicans will not be the incumbents, so the overwhelming advantage that the Democrats had in this race will not exist. If the Democrats have any inclination to hold their power for more than one term, they need to court the center.

Yes the center. Remember us?

What both parties seem to have forgotten in recent years is that a center does exist within the American electorate. Although it is true that the Democrats won partially because of a rabidly excited base, its no coincidence that Obama won the election handily among undecideds. McCain attempted to follow the outdated strategy of firing up the base, his choice of Sarah Palin for Vice President being the most desperate attempt to that end. Yet the once-mighty socially conservative base finally failed the Republicans, and their neglect of more moderate voters -- even less devoted voters in their own party -- left them with no recourse.

All of the exit polls indicate that Obama obliterated McCain in terms of the independant vote.

The reason is simple: Obama's message of post-partisanship and cooperation speaks powerfully to the considerable portion of the electorate that isn't religiously partisan. For people tired of divisive politics, a unity candidate like Obama was the perfect choice.

If Obama drifts far to the left, as his party leadership likely proposes, he will be committing the same mistake that has led to the collapse of the Republican party.

If the new president maintains the partisan status quo -- if he attempts conventional Democratic solutions to the problems of our day -- he exposes himself as just another politician. His mantras of fundamental change and post-partisanship ring hollow, and those that supported him begin to question his legitimacy. The only people who would whole-heartedly support a partisan Obama would be the staunch Democrats - moderates and the young voters that so heavily bolstered his ranks would be disillusioned, and would be at the very best apathetic to re-electing him.

As the Republican party self-destructs, Obama and his party can do one of two things: they can revel in its chaos and attempt to push through a highly divisive, far-left agenda while the opposition recovers. Or, they can analyze the fundamental factor in the party's collapse, learn from their opponents mistakes, and avoid making the same error themselves. If the Republican part is to survive, it can, must, and will cease to rely as heavily on its fundamentalist base, and become more moderate; when it does, the Democrats better have done the same, or the Republicans will take back the power that they lost because of their folly.