Bi-Partisan Time? Fagetaboutit!

I've heard it said that Democrats fall in love, and Republicans fall in line.



Clearly that's happening again. Not one single Republican in the House voted for Obama's stimulus plan.



I write this post, not as a defense of Obama's plan, since after all, several Democrats voted against it also. So there must be legitimate and justifiable room for objections and thoughtful and considered differences of opinion.



What seems apparent to me is that the GOPher leaders in both houses have successfully convinced all of their members that there is a crucial need to put Obama in short pants.

If they can beat him right off the bat at his first major attempt to get his legislation passed in Congress they will have humbled him, which apparently is what they feel they need to do.



Two things stood out for me last week. One was that the GOPhers with whom Obama met in hopes of teaming up with them said that though they disagreed with him, they found him to be a really nice guy. As it's said in their win/lose world, nice guys finish last. They don't appear to care that the real losers are those really hurting financially, the American people virtually across the board, with the notable exception of those who are so wealthy that they can lose billions and still be financially independent of any and all discomfort, let alone hardship.



Another was the quote attributed to Obama in the media, apparently directed at his GOPher antagonists, "I won". That was a stark departure from his campaign and inaugural rhetoric which had emphasized "you", not "I". Maybe he thought they needed a dose of their own medicine, but I suspect it didn't sit well with them.



It also bothered me in that it seemed to indicate that he had been sucked into playing their win/lose game. Obama has shown a remarkable strength to turn problems into opportunity. I look forward to what he will do with this one.



Then again, it just might be that he will have to rely on Reid and Pelosi to deliver the goods, push his stuff through Congress by main strength and swallow the awkwardness.



Of such is the stuff of politics, it seems; people disagreeing while being disagreeable. Perhaps that's as good as it gets. Now and then human beings manage to disagree without being disagreeable. Based on my experience of life on this planet that rarely happens above the level of deciding where we should go for lunch.

Leanderthal, Lighthouse Keeper