Correspondent of the Day: Democrats Have Been Anything but Bipartisan

Shut Up, He Explained
By Staff Reports

Published: September 16, 2009

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/opinion/editorials/article/ED-BICK16_20090915-181204/293027/

This is the ongoing story of bipartisan co-operation.

If you read the above story from last week’s RTD “staff reports” (as this story is, probably the same writter) you will see what the problem of being bi-partisan on Health Care is:
The Republicans want the STATUS QUO.

Can you admit that?  Is that an accurate statement, because I am really trying to find some common ground for meaningful discussion on this subject.  Do Republicans REALLY truely want “CHANGE”. Do they really want health care reform? They say they do, but on every occasion they said unless you take out the public option, there is not going to be any “bi-partisian” ship. It seems to me that everytime a see a conservative Republican talk they ridcule the word “CHANGE” and they add a tone and temper to their voice that indicates that the word “CHANGE” has now become a bad word, that should be associated with Communism, Socialism and all things EVIL and anti-American.

Once, there was a time that America used to thrive on change. Such as in the pursuit of electricity for all homes, automobiles, interstate hiways from coast to coast, space exploration, radio broadcasts, phone and television were all methods to enable change. Now we have the internet and computers, that allow even faster change…but we haven’t figured out yet…is how do we want to “change”.  In fact, like I said before some don’t even believe in “change” and think it is a bad word. Tell me how can you find common ground for change, when one side was voted in to office for change, and the other side wants nothing to do with it.
Do we settle for something in the middle? Some halfway measure, that in the end doesn’t really do anything except stave off the next battleground. Similar to what happened in our history over the idea of slavery.  Let’s face it this country has alot of hard work and soul searching to do, and name calling isn’t the answer. Maybe I am naive, but if Congress would work harder, and together they could get us a better plan, but I don’t blame Congress for everything, the media and the people back home aren’t helping out much either fanning flames that make crossing the aisle that much more difficult.

I resoectfully disagree with Mr. Nolin. A large majority of the country voted President Obama into office. That means they supported his plans and if they don’t like it they will be given the chance to vote him out.

However, the idea of the Republicans wanting to be part of a bipartisan effort is a nice thought, but not accurate. During the stimulus debate Obama included provisions designed to appeal to Republicans and they, to a man, voted against it. You negotiate and make concessions after a plan has been presented.

And Reverend, the argument is not “it’s okay because the previous administration did it” but “where was the outrage during the previous administration?“ It is quite disingenuous that Republicans are complaining about spending when they were so quiet during the previous administration. Where were the massive protests when Bush was spending?

Rather than resort to name calling, let’s explore another posibility.  Could it be that current Republican overtures seem disingenuous because the same valid concerns were not expressed when there was Republican control?  If one raises the red flag only when one is not in control, then how seriously does one expect to be taken? 
I don’t think that this is a left or right issue either; it seems to afflict both sides.  I’m no great political theorist, but I do know that in my daily life I must remember not to be hypocritical, alarmist, or a shrill-naysayer if I want to taken seriously.

Face it, John Nolin is correct.  So, why not talk about the present, not the past?  Bush and Rove are long gone. Time to stop beating that dead horse.  It’s Obama’s turn to act now.  And the sarcasm is really not needed.

And Republicans under George W. Bush, Carl Rove, and Rush Limbaugh are models of bipartisanship? Give us a break. Evidently someone fell off the turnip truck when it passed through Louisa.