Talk of bipartisanship is just that: Talk
ByDec 28 2009
Democrats and Republicans talk a lot about bipartisanship, about “reaching across the aisle” to build coalitions for legislation that puts the country’s needs above political agendas but, in the end, is mostly talk.
Neither side has any real interest in bipartisanship because working with the other side does not fit the political agendas of either party.
Democrat Steny Hoyer admitted recently he intentionally voted against a Bush administration proposal during the previous administration not because it was the right thing to do but because it would help put Democrats back in power.
Now Democrats are back in power and Republicans pull the same stunts in the hope that their efforts to undermine bipartisanship will restore the party of the elephant to the top jobs in Congress.
It’s an old game that puts politics first and the country second.
It was a startling admission. A top congressman revealed that he had voted against an administration priority as a way to score political points as his party battled to regain power.
The penitent was not a Republican confessing to a political stance against the health care overhaul or the economic stimulus measure this year. It was Representative Steny H. Hoyer, the House majority leader, conceding that he had irresponsibly opposed increases in federal borrowing authority during the Bush years in order to impugn Republicans while Democrats were fighting to regain the majority.
Mr. Hoyer’s frank acknowledgement that he had “demagogued” Bush-era debt-limit hikes, like the intense partisanship that has surrounded virtually every major Congressional matter this year from the stimulus plan to the health care overhaul, was illustrative of how the running battle for control of Congress is impeding cross-party cooperation.
Keenly aware from recent history that political missteps can cause big swings in the make-up of the House and Senate, members of the party out of power increasingly see little advantage in working with those controlling Congress to help them achieve victories that could come at the minority’s expense.
Republicans have dug in almost unanimously this year against legislation that at least some should have been able to vote for, whether it was the economic stimulus, health care changes or a crackdown on Wall Street. Democrats did the same thing in the run-up to the 2004 and 2006 elections, with a new Medicare drug benefit providing an example of a policy many backed but did not support with their votes.
“Once you get in these battles where you break into camps, every vote is about the next election,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who occasionally works with Democrats on difficult issues. “As soon as the last election is over, those who lost are thinking, ‘What can I do to get back in power?’ and those who won are thinking, ‘What can I do to stay in power?’
“When you try to solve problems from the perpetual campaign mind-set, it is very difficult,” he said.
Duh!?
And the cycle continues…
No bipartisanship?
Thank God for small favors… just think of the damage they’d do if openly working together for – er, against, us.
Al, are you a Louis Black fan ?
In other words, America comes second to party according to Republicans and Democrats. Therefore, both should be replaced by other parties willing to work for the good of the country and not just the good of their party, or outlaw parties altogether.
Outlaw the underground at your peril..
dig deep into our footers foundered by greed and notoriety,
capitulate nothing but the fools too their demise.
Welcome them home whilst giving begrudgingly an appearence of deportment.
Really a cypher we’ve got to go…..with attention to what is added..
Lest the obviousness a lesson holds..The morrow same is an immposible concept that I blame on eight track tapes.
I don’t know much about him, Bryan.
Your sense of humor tells me you might enjoy his shtick. Few comedians are as poignant yet hilarious when it comes to politics.
thanks – i’ll check him out.
Saw him last year in Syracuse. Hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCDZMWVWuc
Thanks Griff for the link. Truly brilliant humor! I watched a subsequent one titled “Queers” and damn near busted a gut laughing.
He’s one “bright bulb” when it comes to standup comedy.
Many people don’t realize this, but the average I.Q. of highly successful comedians is over 165. I don’t care for some of Robin Williams humor at times, but his measured I.Q. is in excess of 185 which I find interesting.
Maybe comedians should run for the U.S. Senate, they’d surely do us better performance and justice than the wealthy, certified morons we have currently in place…no?!
Carl Nemo **==
Considering Al Franken, I’ll say the jury’s still out on that theory. Perhaps a larger sampling couldn’t hurt. Stay tuned.
I didn’t know the thing about I.Q. and comedians, though. Nice.
I particularly like Black’s suggestion for presidential elections at the end of this clip…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3_EwUERW1U
Thanks Griff…! I’m two sheets to the wind tonight and your supplied link damn near caused me to snork my bourbon and branch through my nose…! :))
Truly, a brilliant comedy routine. You can feel the audience’s bonding with his delivery too, meaning that far more Americans than we can possibly imagine feel as f***ed over as you and me… : |
Nemo **==