In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
Gridlock. Partisan bickering. Do-nothing Congress.
We've heard it all before. From AOL's Politics Daily:
Some Capitol Hill lawmakers have decried the increasing poisonous atmosphere on Capitol Hill characterized by the partisan standoff between the two parties, and the public has certainly noted that themselves: Three-quarters say Republicans and Democrats are bickering more, a big jump over the number who felt that way last year, according to a Pew Research Center/National Journal poll conducted Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
So, um, the problem with Congress -- and the reason the Democrats are facing a drubbing next month -- is because of a "partisan standoff?"
Stimulus boondoggles. Health Care reform. Financial System reform. Cascades of new spending. What about the past eighteen months has seemed gridlocked? Where, exactly, is the "standoff?" in a government controlled decisively by one party? From where I sit, it looks to me like the Democrats got every major piece of legislation they wanted. Anything they didn't get isn't the fault of partisanship, but of insufficient resolve within their own party.
The American people like gridlock, which is why they vote for it so often. They like it when Congress is stymied and inactive. People who are bickering don't have time to nationalize health care.
The Democrats aren't in trouble because of things they didn't do, things they didn't accomplish. They're in trouble because of things they did do.
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Comments :
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
In ordinary circumstances, gridlock may have its virtues. But we need firm Republican control -- at least for a time. Otherwise, Obamacare will remain on the books, and taxes will go up and up and up -- gradually, perhaps, and unobtrusively (VAT, anyone?).
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
The people allegedly didn't like government gridlock during the budget impasse in the fall of 1995 to April 1996. But I agree with Mr. Gingrich: "Everybody in Washington thinks that was a big mistake. They're exactly wrong. There had been no reelected Republican majority since 1928. Part of the reason we got reelected ... is our base thought we were serious. And they thought we were serious because when it came to a show-down, we didn't flinch."
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
When there's bickering, Republicans are standing up to the opposition. When there ain't bickering, which happens way too often, then the Republicans are playing nice and voting with the Democrats.
More partisanship, please.
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
Actually, it was the Bob Let's Make a Deal Dole manoever to pull the rug right out from under Newt and the Congressional Republicans that caused public opinion to shift. A deal that is decidedly NOT Gridlock. A Deal that was another straw in the cammel's load leading to the Tea Party, why do you think they defy Establishment Republicans at every opportunity.
Quote Phil Graham, "Bob Dole said it doesn't matter that he's not here tonight. Maybe it doesn't. But it does matter that he's in Washington cutting a deal with Bill Clinton. And I'm not going to do that."
Aug '10
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
Rob Long:
The American people like gridlock, which is why they vote for it so often. They like it when Congress is stymied and inactive. People who are bickering don't have time to nationalize health care.
The Democrats aren't in trouble because of things they didn't do, things they didn't accomplish. They're in trouble because of things they did do. ·
Amen.
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
Jaydee_007
Actually, it was the Bob Let's Make a Deal Dole manoever to pull the rug right out from under Newt and the Congressional Republicans that caused public opinion to shift.
Thanks for the reminder. Lord, I loathe Bob Dole.
Aug '10
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
I, for one, rest a little easier when Congress is gridlocked. Better still when they are on break. Frankly, serving in Congress should be a part-time job. The less they do, the better.
May '10
Re: In Praise of Gridlock and Bickering
When the other guys are in power, viva la gridlock.
But whatever you do when you get the reins back, be deliberate and discreet. Don't announce things that can be exploited by the other side, as Gingrich did in bleating repeatedly about shutting down the government. Shut up- but just do it, and publicly make it clear that this was done in sorrow, not anger. The independents whom you need on your side scare easily, and they like discretion, they don't like anger.
So yank money out of the ObamaCare appropriations quietly and cleverly. But do it. Style matters.