Is America stepping back into the light?

In a wonderful night for the Democrats, the Party took control of the House of Representatives and is within two seats, both too close to call at present, of taking control of the Senate. Under the, to the British, slightly strange American system, this means that the President of the United States is effectively neutered on many of his policy initiatives unless he can get support from the Democratic majority in Congress.

This is rather like Tony Blair trying to remain Prime Minister while faced with a majority of Conservatives in Parliament. It couldn't happen here, of course, because although Blair is our political leader he is not, unlike George Bush, also head of State. Non Americans might think that this US system is a bit stifling for the Executive - which is probably the idea - and which, in many circumstances, would be a bad thing.

I'm sure most Europeans will share my view though that, regardless of what we perceive to be a political idiosyncrasy, last night's result can only be greeted with a roar of enthusiasm and a sign of relief - given that the stricken President is George Bush. If he cannot be removed then at least he can be put in a strait-jacket.



Maybe, with the new leader of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who is nobody's shrinking violet, prepared to stand up to Bush for a change in foreign policy, we might at last see a United States which begins to move back towards the middle ground, away from this confrontational military machine which has so alienated most of the world over the last 6 years.



It is heavily rumoured that as part of the conciliation talks which have to take place between Congress and the Executive, one of the first casualties will be Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Few tears will be shed on this side of the Pond if that turns out to be the case and, indeed, the one regret is that the man will not be facing a war crimes tribunal.

The American electorate has, thank goodness, finally given the thumbs down to more of the same reckless squandering of human life, American and other, which has been the trademark of the Bush administration and hopefully these steps back into the light of a more rational United States, the one that used to be admired by so many, will be completed in 2008 with the return of a Democratic Presidency. One can but hope!