To be sure, politicians who are more focused on advancing their party than the principles for which they stand are not good for the country. So, it's great to hear that the new Democrat leadership in Congress wants bipartisanship. But where was it when the Republicans were in control? New House Speaker Nazi Nancy Pelosi had no problem pointing fingers at every Republican she could get ahold of when she wasn't in power.
This passage from an AP article made me chuckle:
"[Senate majority leader Harry] Reid said he was eager for cooperation, and he arranged for a rare closed-door meeting of all senators before the Senate convened to help set a more cordial tone.
"Leader of a slender majority, the Nevadan said, 'Some may look at this composition as a recipe for gridlock, but I see it as a unique opportunity. ... We must turn the page on partisanship and usher in a new era of bipartisan progress.'"
Unique opportunity? Nothing has changed in the Senate except that the Democrats have taken control. Of course, the self-aggrandizing Senator doesn't see it that way. Reid has been one of the most partisan people in the entire Senate over the last few years!! Both parties have their fair share of partisanship. Of course, I think the Democrats are much worse with it because they carry this idea that anyone who opposes them (Joe Lieberman, any Republican other than Lincoln Chafee) is an idiot and a traitor and they should be hanged.
It would be nice to see more politicians drop their partisan ways. Even a little. But I certainly couldn't blame any Republican, after 12 years of the Democrats throwing fits, if they threw a couple spitballs in the coming months. Hopefully, though, they'll behave with a little more respect and dignity than has the minority party for the last few years.
Cyd,
I think Nancy Pelosi's speech today as her swearing in as Speaker was honorable in how it did speak of bipartisanship. However, I do think that the Democrats need to be less bipartisan on issues like Iraq. For every person who wants to stay in Iraq, the Democrats need to force the President to pull out of that civil war.
P.S. I wanted to say that since starting my blog (now that I have some time to update it daily), you are right about most comments that are left: they are for your laughter and amusement :-)
Posted by: Brian | January 04, 2007 at 06:15 PM
You're nothing if not predictable.
Utterly. Completely. Totally predictable.
Posted by: Karl | January 04, 2007 at 06:02 PM