The War Within!

There is a fight in Capitol Hill and it is not between Democrats and Republicans. Surprised? Do not be. This is the classic outcome when a party regains power and different factions within the party claim credit for the win.

Currently, the fight is between Old School Democrats versus New School Democrats. The Old School Democrats have been fighting the Republicans since Ronald Reagan and momentarily achieved success during the Clinton years but once W descended upon Washington, their clout diminished. These Democrats feel that seniority and loyalty to the party warrants them privilege and access to the higher echelons of the government.

The New School Democrats that rode in the tide of success with Barack Obama feel that they are to credit for the paradigm shift that occurred in America. Their message of hope and change is what got them elected into office and it is their duty to deliver for their constituents. These Democrats feel that the older generation of Democrats are out of touch with the base and the people and that is why they have been unsuccessful all these years.

An interesting almost Shakespearean tragedy with elements of comedy thrown in to humor the masses. What shall the outcome be? The power struggle is not that simple to explain either.

"We’re not just talking ideology here. The broader your majority, the more you’ve got different regions of the country that have different economic and social interests that you have to take into account," said Norman Ornstein, a scholar with the American Enterprise Institute.

CNN reports, "Obama has pledged to work in a bipartisan fashion, and his transition team said it is dedicated to building a well-rounded administration. " Let us hope that any bickering within the party will not interfere with the challenges the Obama administration faces in the coming months.