The 'Americans Want Bipartisanship' Myth

[Better Believe It]

The 'Americans Want Bipartisanship' Myth
by Glenn Greenwald
February 24, 2009

In 2006, the Democrats ran on a platform of opposing -- not embracing -- the Republican agenda, and American voters handed them a resounding, even crushing, victory. In 2008, much the same thing happened: Democrats ran on platform of “change” from the Republican approach to governance -- not replicating it -- and resoundingly won again.

What possible reason is there, then, to argue that Democrats ought to adopt Republican ideas -- regardless of what those ideas are -- simply for the sake of “bipartisanship”? Americans elected Democrats to implement Democratic ideas and will hold Democrats responsible for the success or failure of their policies. Democrats should therefore use their majority power to carry out the polices that they think are the best ones for the country, not dilute those ideas and incorporate discredited Republican approaches in order to fulfill some vague bipartisan ideal.

The political establishment has never come to terms with, and the media establishment just refuses to acknowledge, how deeply unpopular and discredited the GOP is among most Americans in the wake of the eight-year Bush disaster. Political and media elites don't want to acknowledge that because they lent their continuous support for eight years to Republican power, yet -- even with Bush gone -- it's scarcely possible to imagine how a major political party could be held in lower esteem among voters. By huge margins (63-29%), Americans believe the GOP opposed Obama's stimulus package for political reasons, not because they genuinely believed it would be bad for the economy; they overwhelmingly disapprove of Congressional Republicans (38-56%) while approving of Obama (68-25%) and even Congressional Democrats (50-44%); trust Obama over Congressional Republicans to handle the economy (61-26%); and trust Democrats over Republicans "to do a better job in coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years" (56-30%). Those are enormous margins.

Of course, nobody embraces this bipartisanship myth more than Democrats do, even when (perhaps especially when) they're in the majority. When Republicans controlled the White House and Congress during most of the last eight years, demands for "bipartisanship" -- even from Democrats -- were virtually impossible to find. Instead, Democrats were more than happy to meekly assume the complicit posture for which they became known, using their minority status as an all-purpose excuse as to why they couldn't stop -- and usually supported -- even highly unpopular Bush policies (such as the Iraq War). Yet now that they're in the majority, "bipartisanship" suddenly becomes not only the supreme Beltway religion, but the battlecry of Democrats as well -- the phrase that justifies everything from embracing GOP positions to allowing flagrant Bush war crimes and other lawbreaking to go unpunished.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/02/24/bipartisanship/index.html

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. Americans want rough consensus and working code

IETF heads holla back.

[Egnever]

2. This American wants thoughtful reality based representation

regardless of the label you want to put on it.

I want pragmatism and deep thought not knee jerk ideology from either side. I want all ideas expressed and thoroughly examined before deciding on a course of action. I want an end to d = bad because its a D or R= bad because its an R.

You can keep your tired partisan bullshit if you want. I want integrity and I don't care what side of the isle they are on.

[Better Believe It]

3. You're in a tiny minority. Most people voted for change and partisanship!

They are not interested in continuing the failed policies of George W. Bush and the Republican party.

The real problem isn't partisanship by Democrats. The problem is the Democratic Party and most of its leadership has not been very partisan at all .... especially when they win elections!

It's time for some real partisanship, don't ya think?

Only the Republicans have been effective partisans .... and now they are pursuing their partisan agenda in the name of "bi-partisanship"!

[Occam Bandage]

8. They voted for a change from partisanship. Obama never ran as a hyperpartisan. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Actually, they voted for a change from Republican policies.

They did NOT vote to continue Republican policies under the guise of bi-partisanship.

[Egnever]

9. You are in dreamland

never once did obama express anything but a desire to put aside the partisanship and get back to reality. He still isnt.

Anyone voting for him with the idea he was going to be a hyper partisan D was deluding themselves.

No I don't think for a second its time for real partisanship. I think its time to stop playing childish games and get to work on reality based solutions to our problems. The time is long past for scoring political points. If Democratic ideas are sound and republicans are not then the dems ideas should float to the top.

I am all for vigorously supporting good policy but I am sick and tired of spinning reality to fit your agenda from all sides. If the dems can remain honest and straight forward while the republicans keep attempting to twist reality in the end the people will continue to reject the Republican agenda.

The only partisanship i want to see at this point is on the side of truth and honesty from our government..

If the dems use the power they now hold to enact nothing but partisan ideology I will be done with them. They have a golden opportunity here to regain the public trust and retain power for years to come but it will not be done with ideological partisan ship. It will be done with an open mind and an honest commitment to the best outcome with no thought to personal or party gain in the mix.

[Better Believe It]

13. Now that's fantasy land!

"never once did obama express anything but a desire to put aside the partisanship"

Well, if Obama isn't partisan why did he run for President as a Democrat? If that's true, Obama should have run as an independent for President unless you believe the Democratic party is or should be a non-partisan political party that really doesn't have any principals or stand for anything.

What Democratic partisanship are you writing about? We had Democratic "Bush enablers" in Congress and far too few Democratic partisans for 8 years.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Please, give me five examples of R = good - five examples of

republican integrity.

I'll keep my partisanship, thank you.

[Egnever]

10. go to it

good luck with that.

if you havent figured out the two party he said she said bullshit by now five examples arent going to do it for you.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. You keep harping on 'reality' -

the reality is, those who you wish to be bi-partisan with have been WRONG about EVERYTHING for the past 8 years (and much, much longer, truth be told).

If by 'bipartisanship' you mean adopting, implementing, or conceding to Republican ideas, you are talking about adopting, implementing or conceding to WRONG ideas.

I don't want us to do the wrong thing in order to placate those who NEVER played nice with us. We have the opportunity now to PROVE that Democratic ideas work. Let's not fuck it up in the name of 'bipartisanship'.

[firedupdem]

4. Bipartisanship is not adopting ideas you don't like from republicans...

it's working together and making good decisions for the country. It's not lying and making up false claims like the rethugs are doing. Americans do want bipartisanship. The people that steer clear of politics completely usually state the reason is because of all the pointless fighting. Obama is doing the right thing. Extend a hand and keep it moving if they don't go along. It's making him look better and better and the republicans look like petty idiots.

[Better Believe It]

14. Americans do not want bipartisanship

Read the polls in the original article.

[firedupdem]

18. Yes they do..it's called cooperation and that is why Obama's

ratings are so high. He keeps reaching out and they keep acting like assholes. He's keeping up with every campaign promise so far. He's doing great. Read those polls.

[DevonRex]

6. America wants a government that works. Sometimes that requires bipartisanship.

Sorry you and Greenwald don't like the facts but they're facts nonetheless.

Now, if you want to start your own government on Pluto so that you don't need bipartisanship, feel free.

But right here, right now there are some things that DO require it.

[depakid]

7. "will hold Democrats responsible for the success or failure of their policies."

Yep- and unlike what the "bipartisan" fetishists or so called "centrists" want to believe they WILL vote them out if they continue to embrace failed Republican policies like those which got us all into this mess.

2010 can easily become like 1994.

And perhaps it should- because that might be what it finally takes to get some folks to finally learn their lesson.

[damonm]

15. Still at this no matter how many times you get spanked, hm?

You are still determined NOT. TO. GET. IT.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/damonm/12

[Better Believe It]

16. What? I'm not bi-partisan. I'm partisan. I believe in progressive policies.

Forgive me.

[sampsonblk]

17. Agreed. This is the myth that keeps the GOP in business

To put all this together: the only reason they had their recent heyday was because of the "war." They used it perfectly to gain power, and our side allowed it.

People who say they want bipartisanship are really saying they want an end to the bickering and name-calling. Fine by me. But bipartisanship isn't the way to get there. Common decency is what's needed.

If bipartisanship means incorporating GOP ideas, well that's more injurious to the nation than a few unkind words.

[Juche]

19. I think bipartisanship is just a metaphor for putting country first

ie, it is anger at people of either party who reject and block good ideas for political reasons rather than because they are bad for the country. I don't think (at least I hope it isn't) a desire to see all the politicians agree on everything. That'll never happen. It is probably/hopefully a desire to see more intelligently honest debate and putting good ideas ahead of party.

[genna]

20. Quibble: Bipartisanship has not been the SOLE driving force Obama's tactical map

Rahm was right when he said the American people want to see the attempt at bipartisanship without the rancor which has characterized the gridlock of Washington between Bush I and Bush II.

They (the author and people who stick to this) have been able to move some legislation but on the things that matter to us---social benefits (retirement, health, and personal safety)---Washington blew it.

Obama has had a media and Republican assault on the who's up who's down b.s. but it has not stopped him from passing or getting passed a term's worth of legislation.


If they want to talk about hype as substance, why not spend time on the concentration of media around solitary issues? If there is news happening everywhere, why do we need all newspapers, tv news, and bloggers directing their attention on one issue to the exclusion of everyone else?

[mmonk]

21. To those who have come to the conclusion touted by the politicians,

you forget Obama ran on CHANGE. CHANGE is not bipartisanship and incorporating Republican ideas. The party ignores this reality at its own peril. If Americans wanted conservatives, they would have not voted the Republicans out in the numbers they did. They went with the label of Democrat for a reason and it wasn't conservatism or any approximation in similarity of policy. They thought it meant change in direction.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Bi partisanism means

the other side gets part of your victory, but remember they will refuse to share part of your failures. Come 2010 and 12, how bi-Partisan will anyone be? Will Obama and Kaine be urging us to vote in a bi-partisan manner? If not, all the talk is empty rhetoric. If they expect Democrats to vote for Democrats in elections, they are not bi or post partisan at all, in any way.

I am partisan, or to be more exact, I am opposed to Republican policy and to all Republican candidates. Never vote for Republicans, ever.

[Jennicut]

23. I think people want to see the Repubs trying to give Obama a chance

They don't want the Dems to cave into the Repubs if Obama has the better ideas and was elected with a majority. Rahm is right, they want the attempt but it does not mean Dems need to go along with them if they are wrong. After all, Obama won and the public is behind him right now. The Repubs don't get it.