Now, Sarah Palin has to pay her back taxes.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/909156.html
Why party affiliation and partisanship matter
Americans, when polled, will usually say that that are tired of things like ‘Washington acting as usual’ and ‘partisan bickering’ what they really mean is they are tired of gridlock, of nothing getting done.
A lot has been made over Senator Judd Gregg‘s (R-NH) decision to change his mind about taking the Commerce Secretary post. Even more has been made about how President Obama’s efforts at bipartisanship have failed because so few Republicans voted for it. I applaud him for trying. Senator Gregg is the perfect example of why ideals matter, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) is the perfect example of why partisan bluster hurts America. You think I am splitting hairs and will say something like “that depends on what the meaning of is is.”
Bipartisanship is, despite the ridiculous manner in which Senator McCain presented his view, exactly what McCain said it was. It is when two groups of people with opposing views come together and work out their differences so that they can craft a bill they both think helps America. During President Clinton’s two terms, he would call Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and ask what he thought of Clinton’s ‘short list’ of judicial nominees. These called served two purposes: they expedited the process and made the Republicans feel included. Both men should be applauded for their ability to work together. I should add that a lot of people were really upset when Dubya said he wanted to drill in ANWR. I wasn’t at all. Not because I think we should drill there but because he campaigned saying he would just that. I think if you say you are going to do something – regardless of how I feel about it – and then bother to follow through, that’s the reason we have campaigns and these actions should be applauded.
The problem is that people forget a number of things about Democracy. We are so used to being lied and pandered to that we forget the promises candidates make mean something. The no longer matter as much because we don’t enforce the rules of the game. The idea was that two candidates would get up and say “I believe in the following, if you agree, please vote for me.” What has happened is that like-minded individuals got together and formed, what are now, political parties. And then things got sticky.
There are two ways to think of this situation. There is the ideal and then there is the reality.
When I step into a voting booth and vote for a candidate of one party, and yes, for me that is always (almost anyway) going to be a Democrat. Not because they believe in everything the Democratic Party does but they agree with most of it and as I support that, too, I support them. If they were to then change parties – as many have done – I would demand a recall. Former Senator Phil Gramm did this and he then requested a special election because he knew people voted for him because he had been a D. That’s probably the only thing I think he did correctly in his career. So when Senator Gregg decided the post wasn’t for him, I think that was the right decision.
The second part is the practical part. When you join a party, it’s like joining a sports team. You do not expect Niners’ players to help Giants’ players win a game and more often than not, governing is viewed as being the same game as politics. It isn’t but that’s what happens in Washington. According to some, it wasn’t always this bad but I’d bet this problem waxes and wanes like everything else. This is where one party does whatever it can to a, make the other one fail and b; make themselves look good in the process. While I do not question that some well-intentioned Republicans did not like President Obama’s bill, their arguments against it were all bluster and no real substance. Hearing the party that spent more, expanded the government more and gave away tax breaks to the wealthy like that was their only job, -- hearing them complain about the deficit, well really. It’s beyond ridiculous. John Boehner should be ashamed of what he said, but then again he should be ashamed of a lot of things and I bet he sleeps like a kitten at night. After all his job is not to help his constituents – well that’s supposed to be his job – but in his role in the leadership, he is there to rally the GOP troops, whose only position now seems to be to oppose our new president.
What’s my point? Good question! We have to remember that ideology still matters. Principle matters. We need to really pay attention to what people say and do – and remember when they have not followed through. It isn’t always easy to read through the rhetoric – on both sides – and listening to only people who agree with you won’t help. My advice, watch a station other than MSNBC or FOX News. Watch some BCC. Read a new newspaper. Get the real facts and then remember what you were promised and what you weren’t.
