Reagan years
Reagan, however, had failed to get the country out of the continued recession. Starting in 1980 and again after the 1982 midterm elections, President Reagan worked with a split Congress with a Republican majority after the 1980 Senate midterm elections and a Democratic majority after the 1980 House midterm elections. The conservatives (whom Reagan backed) lost a substantial number of seats in Congress in 1982.[100] By early 1983, however, the recession had ended and Reagan was re-elected President, in 1984, with a record-breaking 525 electoral votes.[101] The Republicans' six-year control over the Senate ended in 1986, after numerous issues (the Iran Contra Affair,[102] unpopular support for Reagan's aid to the Nicaraga Contras,[103] the cost of the Star Wars weapons program,[103] farming woes[103] and trade gaps)[103] damaged the Reagan Administration's image. By 1988, however, Reagan was redeemed of these scandals and Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush won the 1988 US Presidential election by a landslide.[104]
Clinton years
In the 1992 US Presidential election, Democratic candidate Bill Clinton defeated President Bush (who's image was damaged by economic woes)[105] [while the Democratic Party had a majority after both the Senate elections and Representatives elections of 1992. This shifted the balance of power in favor of the Democrats once a/b]gain. The Republicans, however, finally returned to a majority position, in both houses of Congress, in the election of 1994, thanks in part to: 1) President Clinton's unpopular attempt to establish universal health care;[106] and 2) Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich's Contract with America,[107] which was promoted heavily by the entire Republican Party.[108] By the 1996 US Presidential Election, Clinton's economic programs prevailed[citation needed] and the President was elected to a second term in a landslide victory. Despite Clinton's huge victory, however, the Democrats were still not able to regain control of either the US House of Representatives or Senate.
[edit] The rising influence of the media
Twenty-first century and partisanship
Smiling suit.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was dubbed the hammer for his enforcement of party discipline and retribution against those who did not support the legislative agenda of President George W. Bush.
The Congress in the first decade of the 21st century has been characterized by sometimes rather extreme partisanship, with many votes split precisely on party lines. Some analysts wonder whether fierce political infighting between Democrats and Republicans has prevented lawmakers from tackling tough issues such as global warming and deficit spending and prevented them from finding acceptable bipartisan compromises on issues.[126] In 2009, two former secretaries of State, one Republican, one Democrat, described America in 2009 as "riven with partisan bickering as we confront a range of serious threats — economic, political and military."[126] Congress, itself, has tried to make rulings to reduce partisanship; for example, H.Res.153.LTH discussed how personal choices about ethics were made on a partisan basis.[127] Intense partisanship combined with ethics probes can be a potent concoction; for example, representative Tom Delay was kicked out of the House based in part on his dealings with lobbyist Jack Abramoff.[128] Delay complained afterwards in the Washington Post about what he called the criminalization of politics: "it's not bad enough now to just beat 'em in policy or let them ruin your reputation ... they've got to bankrupt you, ruin your family, put you in jail, put you in the grave and then dance on your grave," said Delay.[128] Congress can still pass bills despite intense partisan opposition, such as the recent health care overhaul.[129]
