Alone in the Middle

The President is likely to find the new Congress a sharply divided body, resistant to deal making

Voting in the midterm elections was still a few days away, but Republican Senator John Chafee of Rhode Island was already feeling lonesome for the old gang. Surveying the voluntary departures of such Senate moderates as Minnesota's David Durenberger and Missouri's John Danforth as well as worrying about the loss of several others on Tuesday, a mournful Chafee said, "I'd like to say we're going to have some unforeseen support, but I must say, the middle is shrinking."

If any prediction about the elections this week could be considered safe, it was that Congress, paralyzed by bitter partisan warfare, was about...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!