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Why Bipartisanship Matters - Printable Version

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Why Bipartisanship Matters - Ted King - 09-16-2009

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2009/09/why-bipartisanship-matters

A snippet:

Bipartisanship is in bad odor these days because it's associated with a knee-jerk, David Broderish tendency to assume that the answer to any policy dilemma is automatically halfway between the liberal position and the conservative position. But that sells bipartisanship short. Where it shines is its ability to allow politicians to make tough decisions.

If all you want to do is hand out goodies — tax cuts, prescription drugs, defense contracts — life is easy. Everyone loves goodies. You don't need help from your opposite numbers to get stuff like that through Congress.

But what if you want to pass something tougher? Something that takes as well as gives? If you have bipartisan support, you can do it right: you can stand up to special interests and K Street lobbyists and enact real reform. But you can only do this if you have political cover and plenty of votes. If, instead, you have to do it in the face of implacable partisan opposition, then you can't afford to make any more enemies. Every vote is precious, and that means instead of standing up to special interests, you have to buy them off. All of them.



Re: Why Bipartisanship Matters - OWC Jamie - 09-16-2009

Cheer up Sleepy Jean.


Re: Why Bipartisanship Matters - davester - 09-16-2009

That was interesting and confirmed my suspicions that the republicans are simply being obstructionists on any and all healthcare reforms as a power tactic. They should all be voted out of office for such behaviour, but unfortunately they have a powerful propaganda machine going that doesn't reveal their M.O.


Re: Why Bipartisanship Matters - swampy - 09-16-2009

It's a right wing conspiracy, I tell you!!!


Re: Why Bipartisanship Matters - MacGurl - 09-16-2009

swampy wrote:
It's a right wing conspiracy, I tell you!!!


Wow, swampy's right for once!


Re: Why Bipartisanship Matters - $tevie - 09-17-2009

MacGurl wrote:
[quote=swampy]
It's a right wing conspiracy, I tell you!!!


Wow, swampy's right for once!

(Tongue)