Candidate Obama, on the importance of bipartisanship

[Irish_shark]

"The only way to end the petty partisanship that has consumed Washington for so long and make a difference in the lives of ordinary Americans is by bringing Republicans and Democrats together to get things done. That's what I've done throughout over a decade in public office."

--Barack Obama, September 18, 2008 http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/09/unite-the-ameri.html

Please comment on this quote.

[kenny blankenship]

1. we hoped he was lying, because if he really believes it

he's a naive amateur.

[Ian David]

2. Bipartisanship with Republicans equals date-rape.

'Bipartisanship Equals Date Rape'

Asked what he hopes students will read in future history books about his Administration, President Bush replied, "I hope they will read that our country and our politicians were able to discuss differences in a civil way; that there was not a lot of anger in the political process; that you and I might disagree, but we can respect each other when we disagree. So I hope I will be able to help change the tone in Washington so people respect each other."

This whole "change the tone" shtick was always hideously cynical, as Michael Tomasky has laid out in the American Prospect. So in a sense it's refreshing to hear it finally, gleefully turned on its head by Grover Norquist, a conservative who has the ear of the Bush Administration and is an old College Republican buddy of Karl Rove, the White House political strategist. Norquist contradicts the President, saying what we already know: Republicans are working to make political discourse uglier, not more civil. "We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals -- and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship," he tells the Denver Post. "Bipartisanship is another name for date rape."

More:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/bivens_outrage/699

[anonymous171]

3. I had hoped that he was lying about that.

Like his opposition to mandates.

[rug]

4. It's either clueless or cynical.

[calico1]

5. That would have worked as recently as

the 80's when the two parties could still work together.

It does not work now and the fact that he has pissed away a whole year seeking bipartisanship is unbelievable to me.

[Gin]

6. How's that workin for you Mr. President?

g

[DJ13]

7. Obama believed that rank and file Repubs were sick of the partisan politics

Nothing wrong with that so long as he reassessed that position after a few rebuffs by the GOP in Congress.

It was his lack of recognizing reality after it was obvious what they were up to that he's responsible for.

[Joe Chi Minh]

8. a) Bush's partisanship was not petty. Mean? Yes. But it was not petty. It was immense.

b) It also made an enormous difference in the lives of ordinary Americans....

What is it Obama doesn't understand about irreconcilable polarity? The ease with which his blandishments can be deconstructed is becoming embarrassing.

[timeforpeace]

9. He meant for repukes to go along with everything is bipartisanship. And it would be.

[brettdale]

10. Nothing has changed

That is all I will say.

[MissDeeds]

11. Sad

Kinda makes me wonder where he was for the eight years of the * administration, and the Clinton years before that. You cannot deal with these people - it's like trying to pet a snake and hoping it will make nice. Sorry, but this just shows how ill prepared he was to be president. The lessons of history should have meant something to him. The 'team of rivals' meme was a pipe dream - this new breed of Republicans is cutthroat, and Obama should have know that.