The rice has been thrown, the 104th Congress is packing for its political honeymoon, and the American public is watching expectantly as the politicians prepare to tackle their campaign promises.

Both the Republican-led Congress and President Clinton must put aside party bickering without compromising their constituents' ideals.

For the first time in 42 years the Republican Party has assumed the majority, and new Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has stepped in to lead Congress through its first 100 days.

Gingrich hopes his Republican-dominated Congress will have enough bipartisan support from the Clinton administration to push the Republican agenda smoothly through Capitol Hill. Clinton, faced with a possibly stubborn legislature that could make the rest of his term and a re-election bid exceedingly difficult, has become much more Republican-friendly.

Clinton and Gingrich have created a user-friendly honeymoon, but they must remember to remain responsible to their respective politcal parties. The apparent "chumminess" by both parties is encouraging, but possibly dangerous. To see a politician put aside partisan issues in order to benefit America is admirable, but a shadow still lurks around Clinton's recent change of heart.

Clinton expresses interest in cooperating on a line-item veto, welfare reform and curbing federal mandates to the states, but he may be compromising too much for the sake of continued political life.

Gingrich's Republican Congress could possibly run into trouble through its own pledge to America if the new Republican legislature fails to live up to its promises and the people choose not to re-elect them. The majority party may accomplish small parts of its agenda, such as reducing congressional staff size, but more significant issues, such as the balanced budget amendment, will get pushed into the background when the marriage becomes old hat. Gingrich must remember that a honeymoon is just that -- a short period of bliss before the inevitable return to normality.