The R's will NEVER be satisfied with our level of bipartisanship, by their NATURE

[rudy23]

If there's one thing I've learned, especially over the last 8 years, it's that we just don't view the political process in the same way as the R's---to say the least.

Essentially, we Dems tend to base our views on what we perceive as the truth. We criticize our own when they don't seem to be truthful.

The Repugs tend to base their views on self interest. "What do I have to believe to get what I want here?" The ends always justify the means. They are inherently much more result oriented than process oriented.

So when Repugs scream for bipartisanship, it's not because that fits their ideals for how we work best as a nation. It's to "work the refs", to cry until they get what they want.

Do you honestly ever see a day when Republicans are satisfied with our level of bipartisanship? If their whining works even a little bit, they're just going to whine louder and claim that we're further and further left, as the reptilian voice inside their head whispers "It's working!"

We've seen how they make their own reality. As Obama delivers a speech, sincerely pleading for unity and bipartisanship, the cries of SOCIALIST from the right just get louder and stronger.

Let's not fall into the trap of giving credence to the meme that we will EVER "heal" our country, that we will EVER "appease" the right by meeting them in the middle. It's their nature to keep working the refs as we move further right to appease them. Let's heal the country by showing how well OUR ideals work, and by DOING THE RIGHT THING.

(eta bold)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Your mistake is that you think we need to convince Republicans.

It's the independents that we need to make a good-faith effort on behalf of. You're right - the morons on the RW will never accept any show of bipartisanship, but who cares? Dems+Independents=Permanent majority.

[Baldameer]

2. Good analogy. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

3. Your error is in thinking that it's the *right* we're convincing when we act bipartisan.

Instead, it's the voters in the center-right, the center-left and the true center, who are sick of partisanship and just want to see sensible reforms.

[zbdent]

4. Republicans' ideas of "bipartisanship" are

that we agree with every one of their demands ...

[unpossibles]

5. There is some truth here, but I don't completely agree

it's not the hard core base we need to win over - it's the moderate republicans and centrists. The base are the ones you describe, although I will agree that the moderates have let the lunatics drive far too much lately. But those are the ones who think that the media is liberal unless it is pro-right 100%.

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

6. Obama said as much...

In an interview with Rachel Maddow, he identified a specific subset (or mindset) within the Republican Party that has been allowed to become all too powerful--and must be rejected. John Dean also did that...talked about the "authoritarian" (read undemocratic) way of thinking that has ruined the Republican Party. I think Thomas Frank also had a book about this (Wrecking something?). As you said, these folks have no desire to "play well with others"...it's more "our way or the highway." No, there's no way to deal with these folks. No direct assault will work, because, frankly, we speak a far different language...one they'll never understand. Instead, the best you can do is chip away at that paradigm at its edges. As you say, work constructively with the moderates...the independents.

[rudy23]

7. I do agree that we should cater to independents--but let's watch out for the slippery slope.

If all we are doing is meeting independents in the middle, I'm all for it.

I just see a dangerous meme developing that we should meet whiny conservatives in the middle, when as soon as we get to the "middle", they move the goalposts.