WJ this morning - How Important is Bipartisanship?

[malaise]

I don't remember seeing this topic once between 2001 - Jan 2009.

[Nictuku]

1. Yea, this whole topic

... leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It is in very bad taste, in my opinion.

[iamtechus]

2. Since there is no mention of political parties in the constitution ...

I would say that it is unimportant and a distraction. The very existance of a 2-party system causes an unhealthy polarization which often prevents compromise.

[KharmaTrain]

3. C-SPIN Framing

Speak of 2001-2009...how come we don't see the phone lines divided between "Support The President" and "All Others". I used to bristle when I saw that. When booooshie's ratings tanked, so did that meme.

BTW...I don't remember the Democrats dictating what was "bipartisan" during those years. Seems the definition remains agreeing with the GOOP talking points.

:hi:

[malaise]

4. Too true

Of course CSpin represents the corporations who are very upset about the idea of giving up their tax havens and have lots of war toys to sell.

[Uben]

5. Bipartisanship is necessary when..............

....the house and senate are split between the parties or if either are virtually even in representation. When one party holds power, we will never see bipartisanship from either because it is not needed to get legislation passed.

As it stands now, the republicans have nothing to offer. They do not want any compromise because they know they will not get it, thus, the party of "No". Their choice to obstruct was/is their only option, so they go that route. Unfortunately for them, it has driven citizens away from their ideology, furthering their loss of power. Until they find a message that resonates with the majority of the people, they will continue their decline into the abyss. Their lack of leadership has severely limited their ability to recruit new followers. When you have all your oars on the same side of the boat, you go round in circles, nonstop, as we have seen

[KharmaTrain]

6. Being Out Of Power Has Made Them More Partisan...

Yes...they have no original ideas or solutions to the problems. They can't as the mess we're in are the end result of their past "ideas". The concept of "supply side", the party of "morality" and keeping the country "strong" are all laughed at now. Thus they have only two things left in their trick bag...what they always have...fear and hate. It's how they built their party since the 60's and the only thing that holds it together.

Call it a race to the bottom...but without any true leadership or vision, the only thing that distinguishes one GOOPer from another is their rhetoric. It's a shoutfest where each wingnut amps up the hate and fear as the "tolerance" level on the right goes higher and higher. Any attempts to show partisanship is shown as a "weakness"...and in the parallel universe that means never being accountable or attempt to truly be bipartisan or accomodating.

[Echo In Light]

7. G.Carlin's definition of bipartisan: "A larger than usual deception is being carried out...

...against the American populace."