Looking past the election: Can they work together?

Conciliation was the order of the day today for President Barack Obama.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, the man likely to be the next Speaker of the House, if polls are to be believed, sounded a similarly conciliatory note.

The two men showed in their weekly addresses that the next two years in Washington won’t be easy, but may not be the gridlock many expect. There could be common ground on taxes, on spending and on economic recovery, even if it isn’t easy to find.

Boehner made clear that his party was committed to a break from its own past of wild spending (the only time since at least the 1970s that the budget has been balanced was when Democrat Bill Clinton was in the White House and Republicans controlled Congress). Here’s some of what he had to say:
 

To cut spending, we have to change Congress itself. This is a new way forward that hasn’t been tried…Frankly, it’s a break from the direction that Republicans were headed the last time Americans entrusted us with the reins of government. The American people are in charge and they deserve nothing less. Together we can do these things and in doing so we can begin the drive to a smaller, less costly and more accountable government that honors our Constitution and respects the will of the American people.

The president, meanwhile, is also clearly looking to a Congress where it won’t be so easy to get his own way. But he, too, was making the case for comity in the future. He said:

Whatever the outcome on Tuesday, we need to come together to help put people who are still looking for jobs back to work.  And there are some practical steps we can take right away to promote growth and encourage businesses to hire and expand.  These are steps we all should be able to agree on – not Democratic or Republican ideas, but proposals that have traditionally been supported by both parties. We ought to provide continued tax relief for middle class families who have borne the brunt of the recession.  We ought to allow businesses to defer taxes on the equipment they buy next year.  And we ought to make the research and experimentation tax credit bigger and permanent – to spur innovation and foster new products and technologies. Beyond these near-term steps, we should work together to tackle the broader challenges facing our country – so that we remain competitive and prosperous in a global economy.  That means ensuring that our young people have the skills and education to fill the jobs of a new age.  That means building new infrastructure – from high-speed trains to high-speed internet – so that our economy has room to grow.  And that means fostering a climate of innovation and entrepreneurship that will allow American businesses and American workers to lead in growth industries like clean energy. On these issues – issues that will determine our success or failure in this new century – I believe it’s the fundamental responsibility of all who hold elective office to seek out common ground.  It may not always be easy to find agreement; at times we’ll have legitimate philosophical differences.  And it may not always be the best politics.  But it is the right thing to do for our country.

It seems pretty clear that the man who already holds the most power in the United States, and the one likely to wield a pretty big stick himself, are looking ahead to a time when they have to work with each other. That’s actually a heartening thought. I certainly hope I’m reading it right.