Freshmen Senators need to be quick learners, especially since they aren't all here yet

BE-ELECTED
by Chad Rubel

Yea! It's the first day of school. And of course, everyone is checking out the new kids. Ha ha!! Freshmen.

Look, it's Mark Warner (D-VA); he gave that speech back in Denver during the summer. And there's the Udall cousins, Mark (D-CO) and Tom (D-NM). And over there is Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the guy who beat out their distant cousin. Boy, that's going to be awkward.

There's the new female freshmen: Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kay Hagan (D-NC). And thank goodness for Mark Begich (D-AK). Otherwise, that Sarah Palin might be here today.

There is the awkward freshman, Ted Kaufman (D-DE). We already know he's not sticking around long. But at least, he does know where things are. Kind of like a sixth-year senior in college.

Then there are the two off in the corner. There's something different about Jim Risch (R-ID) and Mike Johanns (R-NE). Well, at least, they have each other.

Well, are all the new freshmen here? Let's have a show of hands. 96, 97, 98. Only 98? Oh well, Guess the first day of school isn't that important.

The presidential campaign pounded into our heads the importance of being ready on Day One. And yes, it would be nice to have 100 senators ready to go on Day One. But this is the 2008 election season, so expectations are extremely low. And as strange as the Al Franken and Roland Burris shows are, we still have two unknown chapters.

Michael Bennet (D-CO) is all set to go, even if the slot isn't open. And there is the New York opening when Hillary Clinton leaves. Will it be Caroline Kennedy (D-NY)?

Due to the built-in fluke, there is a 14-day grace period where senators could ease their way in. But whether Franken, Burris, Bennet, and NY TBD will even be here on January 20 is still a huge longshot.

There is the lost seniority: Warner, the Udall cousins, Merkley, Shaheen, et al have their time clocks started today. And the fight for 60 senators becomes even more difficult, though Nate Silver argues that 58 is as good as 60.

The Senate lost a lot of experience in the last election, mostly on the Republican side. And several freshmen, most of whom within that group are only on a two-year probation, are going to be under a lot of pressure to contribute, yet will be sharply behind the curve.

For President-Elect Barack Obama, this presents yet another headache on an already mounting list of worries. And this will require a bit more grace in wooing a few Republicans to Obama's side on important pressing legislation. The economic package needs to be bold and extensive, two words not normally in the GOP playbook. The right package can help stem a tidal wave of economic issues. The wrong package throws blame all around. It would be a real tragedy if the problems of the Senate interfered in getting done what needs to get done.

But to paraphrase an infamous statement, we go into battle with the Senate we have, not the Senate we want. We have to hope the new people are quick learners, especially the ones who aren't even here yet.