Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Look Past the Letters: Its Non-Partisanship People Want

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Just wanted to quickly rant about how bipartisanship is stupid as an end in itself.  Of course, Obama needs 60 votes to pass things so getting a couple votes from GOP Senators is necessary at this point.  But, that’s just math.  What has been annoying about the Obama Admins outreach to Republicans and the policy concessions his team have offered periodically is how it has seemed a goal of his for its own sake – as if the American people really give a damn whether some unknown small state congressman or Senator with an R in front of their name votes for the bill.  

The fact is people don’t care. What most people want is pols to be letter-blind and non-partisan.  Where Obama and Co. missed the boat to some degree was focusing on the R’s in front of the oppositions’ names and not the substance of the debate.  He has of course finally realized this and has gotten out there speaking directly to the American people on this issues.  Speaking to the people is his gift and the presidency is an office more powerful in its ability to persuade public opinion then cajole individual lawmakers.  Move the public and Congress will follow.

Going forward Obama needs to get the f–k out of DC as much as possible; engage and inspire the people as no one else can; speak to the issues with no regard for people’s political identification but out belief and based on what he thinks right.  

Judd Gregg in the Cabinet is not the change people voted for.  Susan Collins vote doesn’t mean much in the scheme of things.  Bipartisanship should never be an end in itself. The presidency is bigger than that, Obama’s most especially.

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Comments

  1. People do want non-partisanship. People want results and I don’t they really care what party the help comes from. Although I do disagree with you that where Obama missed the boat was not being more involved with the Democrats when they unilaterally wrote the Stimulus bill. That was his chance to be non-partisan and instruct them to write something that showed he was serious. Instead he gave them the wave to write what they wanted in it came out as a 100% democratic bill full of shit the regular people didn’t want. Obama tried valiantly to ram this through with his “economic fear mongering” and Republican cajoling but what he should have done was meet with the Democrats and asked them what the fuck were they thinking. Don’t you think things would have gone smoother if they didn’t fill the bill with pork spending? Wouldn’t it have been easier for him to push the bill with the Republicans and the American people if it was a good bill. Now, because of the A-holes in the House and Obama’s misguided support, we’ve had a delay and the American people are now moving to opposing the bill.

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    p>The stock market is tanking again (time to buy) and now the House and Senate will debate/compromise. Republican Senators have basically said either pass the Senate bill or they will vote against it. Partisanship is at an all time high while Rome is burning…

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    p>And remember partisanship is by definition a 2 way street. People have focused on the unison of the Republicans as partisan but I’d like to point out the unison of the Democrats in support of the bill as equally partisanship.

    • Opinion polls consistently support the House stimulus bill.

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      p>There is not a single earmark in this bill

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      p>Eleven House Democrats voted no; zero House Republicans voted yes

    • Opposition and obstruction are more partisan attitudes than support and initiation of legislation.  Don’t just look at the numbers.  Democrats are trying to get something done, whereas as far as I can tell Republicans are just saying no, no, no, without offering any real alternative.

    • Little of what you assert is true. Not even the 100% Democraticness of the bill.

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      p>Public opinion is running strongly against the Republicans now.

      In that poll, 67 percent of Americans said they approve of the way the president has handled efforts to pass an economic recovery package, while far fewer gave good marks to congressional Democrats (48 percent) or congressional Republicans (31 percent).

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      p>Look at approval-disapproval of the parties in Congress. Democrats in Congress, despite the handicap of liberal frustration with them, score +2. Republicans score -17%.  58% disapprove of Republicans in Congress and 31% approve.  

  2. What most people want is pols to be letter-blind and non-partisan.

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    p>In the most recent two elections, this is not how people voted. In fact, people were very sensitive to whether the person they voted for had a “D” or “R” next to their name.

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    p>There was a reason why the several dozen Congressional layoffs in the past two elections didn’t affect the parties equally. People weren’t voting for non-partisanship.

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