USA: Can 'compromise' stop being a dirty word?

Americans have been stunned by the size of the Republican midterm gains. A win was on the cards but not a thrashing. The main concern now is whether a Republican Congress and a Democratic president can work with each other or just ‘face each other off’, producing an impotent stalemate.

Experienced voices on both sides are making warning noises.

“They need to try to reach out to him and find a way to work with him. It’s going to take a lot of give on his part, too. I think he is not been good at that ever, but particularly the last year or two – he just quit communicating, to a last extent not just with Republicans, but with Democrats, too,” said former Republican Senator Trent Lott.

Voter patience is running out according to former Democratic Senator Tom Daschle:

“I think the overriding message is Washington is too dysfunctional and it’s got to get fixed. We have got to find ways to govern better. The American people are frustrated and they want to see some results.”

For most of President Obama’s time in office the partisanship of the two political parties has produced confrontation and gridlock . A dissolutioned American public is bracing itself for more of the same:

Euronews correspondent Stefan Grobe who is in Washington said:

“The day after the big spanking of the Democrats, America remains deeply divided and the political class utterly unpopular, and that includes Republicans. Both parties now need to learn how to compromise again, otherwise the country may become truly ungovernable.”