Gene Lyons: No need to meet GOP half way

[CatWoman]

For President Obama to treat individual Republicans with civility is one thing. Etiquette, however, has its limits. Embracing bipartisanship as a political goal can be a snare and a delusion.

It has certainly seemed so of late, as GOP congressmen responded to Obama's friendly overtures by voting unanimously against his desperately needed economic stimulus, persevering in their party's cultlike faith in tax cuts and aligning themselves with a bombastic radio talker who brags that he wants the president to fail.

In response, the mannerly official scorers at ABC's "The Note" awarded the president "a goose egg in the first inning of bipartisanship," although the stimulus package passed in the House by a vote of 244-188. Never mind that the White House had dropped a couple of spending items-subsidized contraceptives and refurbishing the National Mall-that Republicans disliked. Washington Post editors lamented that "Obama had the controversial provisions removed, but too late to win over Republicans."

Too late? The new administration was one week old. The changes preceded the vote. Persons more concerned with substance than manners might suspect that hopeful chatter about bipartisanship is a sucker's game. How often did pundits urge President George W. Bush to be sensitive to Democrats' delicate feelings? The Post's idea of centrism appears to be the balance of opinion at a K Street lobbyists' cocktail party.

The last time we had a new Democratic president, essentially the same thing happened. Republican congressmen voted against Bill Clinton's 1993 tax and budget proposals, uniformly predicting doom. Raising marginal income tax rates a few points on the wealthy, they charged, would lead to economic ruin. Instead, the exact opposite happened. Over the ensuing eight years, the nation witnessed the creation of 25 million new jobs, a balanced federal budget and steadily rising prosperity.

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/251419/

[MarjorieG]

1. We didn't have 24/7 media back then, with media promoting the GOP's 2010 campaign.

I watched Gibbs press conf., and media was eager to promote the worst. And snide Jake Tapper could just disappear; horribly rude to Gibbs.

Unfortunately the stakes and conditions are worse than what Clinton had to do, and could produce then. Too many fires at once, and people still don't have a handle on the stimulus plus relief parts.

[democracy1st]

2. I've always said treat everyone the way they treat you! to hell with the GOP

[Hydra]

3. GOP Strategy: Stonewall and disrupt

Favored outcome: Failed first 2 years on which to blame Obama and the Congressional Dems.

Bipartisanship was NEVER a good idea. These were the people who ran the ship aground.

[CatWoman]

4. I'm watching the debate on C-Span 2 right now

and I have so much contempt for the GOP.

Worthless fucks -- each and every one of them.

[Hydra]

6. I don't know how you can, frankly

The little I'm seeing here and there is pukeworthy. They're casting themselves as the defenders of the common man while destroying any attempts to fix what they screwed up during Bush's illegal occupation of the WH.

[CatWoman]

7. your'e right; I'm making myself sick

time to turn this shit off!!

[dgibby]

10. Did you see Lindsey Graham?

What a basty nastard! He and Demint and our doofus governor (Mark Sandford)are such an embarassment.

[calimary]

5. Yes, these WERE the people who ran the ship aground. And they still want say-so?

More of their shitty ideas - the same shitty ideas that got us into this mess in the first place? And we've got to take their "ideas" into consideration? And we have to be nice to them?

FUCK THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just FUCK THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would plead with President Obama - about the change we can really believe in:

Tell the fuckers on the other side of the aisle that - that was your best offer. You went way out of your way to listen to them and accommodate them. You met them MORE than halfway and gave in on their demands. AND THEY STILL DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOUR PROPOSAL - even when you changed it all around to suit them.

So the next step, I'd argue, is to say "FUCK YOU THEN." I tried. I met you MORE than half way. You spat in my face. So screw you. And let's remember who won last November, and which party got HOSED, shall we????

[blurp]

9. How can the GOP do ANYTHING?

Jeez. I don't get it. There is nothing left to debate. Republicans got slaughtered. They have no power.

[blurp]

8. DEMOCRATS OWN THE GOVERNMENT

What the hell are they screwing around with Republicans for?