Democrat control of the U.S. Senate

The Democrats have taken control of the Senate. For optimists, Wednesday's changeover could presage a new era of bipartisan progress in Washington. The danger is that it could equally usher in a period of legislative gridlock.

Trent Lott, leader of the Senate Republicans, has called on his troops to wage war for the election of 2002. Such rhetoric indicates that lessons have still to be learned. The defection of Sen. James Jeffords was no "coup of one," let alone a subversion of democracy by a backroom deal, as Mr. Lott has suggested. Republicans should not forget the close result of the presidential election, or that their control of the Senate rested on the vice-president's casting vote.

Republicans could respond to the new Democrat majority by filibustering initiatives. An early Republican threat to block a deal on the membership of Senate committees was not an encouraging start.

President Bush, though, will not want to see his administration paralyzed by trench warfare in the Senate. He would be wise to find common ground with Tom Daschle, the new majority leader, and to work closely with John McCain and other moderate Republicans. For their part, exuberant Democrats should avoid liberal tub-thumping.

-- Financial Times, London