Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
As we all know, the Democrats underwent a shellacking in the last election, largely because the 111th Congress was the most partisan and ideologically-driven in US history. So as sure as night follows day, the nation is now crying out for bipartisan civility--just in time to consolidate that fundamental transformation of America we've all been enjoying so much. The first tangible step is a move to bipartisan seating during the State of the Union address later this month. Politico reports:
Momentum is building to mix the traditionally partisan seating arrangements at the State of the Union later this month, even though there’s no clear plan for how to actually make that happen.
Several Senate Republicans have signed on to the effort, along with a few key House leaders, who have endorsed Democratic Sen.Mark Udall's proposal to head across the aisle – literally – and sit with members of the opposite party during the annual address on Jan. 25.
I suppose Americans will be spared the image of a greatly enlarged group of representatives sitting quietly while a diminished number wildly cheer the latest quixotic presidential proposal to restore economic growth by means of magical thinking and unsustainable spending, but will mixed seating actually accomplish anything? Is this just a feel good post-Tucson symbol of national unity or some crafty stratagem to defang Republicans before they get on with the uncivil business of reining in spending and dismantling Obamacare?
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Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
In the absence of partisan principle, the natural tendency of those in Congress is to spend money in response to the requests of constituents. So anything that smacks of bipartisanship in the current environment is an invitation to go along with what Obama has done.
Oct '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
As an unabashed moderate, I don't think this is a strategy to defang Republicans.
Besides, plenty of Democrats want the health care bill fixed--nothing will change what's going to happen there. Whether it's this "repeal and replace" PR move, or simple modifications and amendments, something will happen.
Jul '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
Everything Democrats do is a strategy to Defang Republicans!
Oct '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
You forget, not all of them are lefties. The progressives may dominant now, but there is still a substantial centrist faction (and some center-lefties, though they're, you know, lefty).
Sep '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
When they were in complete control of both Houses, some of the Dems sat in with the Repubs during these types of events, uninvited, to ridicule them. Now they want to mingle to be seen as "wanting to get along to 'get things done' for the American people."
Edited on Jan 16, 2011 at 7:24amMay '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
Larry Sabato raised the interesting point that the segregated seating serves an important public education function by highlighting, through standing and cheering, the policy differences of the parties. I can understand why democrats would wish to muddy up the waters right now.
Oct '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
Professor Rafe, with respect, what about the nineties? We got welfare reform and balanced budgets, in an era of divided government. I dunno if Obama will cooperate, but I'd wager the New Democrats will--after two years of lefty hell, I suspect they're sick and tired of taking second place to the progressives.
This may be the optimist in me, however. But a trillion dollar deficit is a pretty big stick to kick people in line. With the output gap evaporating, our economy will begin stagnating from a deficit-induced shortfall of domestic savings--and that means no job growth (with all that implies for politicians).
Oct '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
What this stratagem is designed to accomplish, beyond defang the Republicans, is to begin the process of demoralizing the Tea Party Conservatives.
As Ronald Reagan would have said, "There You Go Again". We always believed that in their heart the leadership of the party were Rockefeller Republicans (ask anyone over 50). Now the confirmation.
The acquiescence of a quisling GOP would drive home the idea that the above statement is decidedly true.
May '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
I believe this is time to reintroduce the concept of wedgies.
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
Just watch: When legislative work recommences, Udall's mixed seating proposal will be presented by the MSM as a major concession, as reaching out, rebuffed by far-right, hyper-partisan Republicans intent on doing what most American voters want them to do. Oh, wait a minute! Strike the last phrase and then I think we've got the template.
Jul '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
If the Republicans go for this they will retire the title as the Stupid Party. The Democrats are good at political ju-jujitsu because this is what they do for a living. This is literally how they put food on the table. Politics is not a first interest of Republicans, which is why they are always getting outfoxed.
Dec '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
No, there aren't. I could go through the individual House members, but let me give a single data point. After their shellacking, they still overwhelmingly elected Pelosi as minority leader.
Jun '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
You can always tell who's in the majority--they talk policy--and who's in the minority--they talk process.
Aug '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
It's Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown again.
The GOP's serial offenders - and we know who they are -will end up on their backs again, looking at the sky again, sabotaging serious reform initiatives.
It wish it weren't true, but the track record is undeniable.
Edited on Jan 16, 2011 at 8:35amDec '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
Sabato is exactly right. (I guess there are some Democrats who wonder what would happen when they will not be in power.) It'll naturally lead to more "you lie" events during the SOTU.
And, of course, it's mindless symbolic pap. If the Democrats want to restore civility, then they ought to support the repeal of the legislation that got us to this point, at the very least the Health Control bill.
Then we can get back to the civility of the Bush years when there was no violent political rhetoric whatsoever.
About the media, one of the victims of the shooting (not seriously hurt) was arrested for making threats at a tea party leader at an event sponsored by ABC news:
http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13849741
The video of the outburst is being supressed and the lede in the accompanying story is buried.
Dec '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
Oh, I like that. That's very good.
Though, I've noticed that Democrats talk process even when they are in power. It's almost as if they think their policy prescriptions won't be persuasive.
Dec '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
I think this is correct, and that the sole purpose of this ridiculous idea is to obliterate those distinctions. Essentially, if this is carried to its logical conclusion, and there is a D-R-D-R-D-R seating arrangement in the room, every 'applause line' will appear to show a whole roomful of cheering politicians, and the fact that more than half of them are sitting on their thumbs will be missed . . . it's just another PR stunt. How can the Republicans be so naive? Or stupid? Or blind?
Sep '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
A Republican spokesman should say something like,
Despite what Democrats would like to believe, the 112th Congress won't be like sixth grade with the idea that sitting next to each other will help America pay its debt, win our wars or create jobs. This Congress will be serious and free of meaningless theatrics. If they insist on the metaphor, we will be happy to send them to the corner for a while to think about what the 111th just did.
Jan '11
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
A message to the Republicans in Congress:
The wary conservatives and conservative-leaning independents who voted for you did not elect you to reach across the aisle to the Democrats.
We elected you to make the Democrats crawl across the aisle to you.
Let's get on with it.
Oct '10
Re: Time to be Civil, the Democrats are in the Minority
Franco: A Republican spokesman should say something like,
Despite what Democrats would like to believe, the 112th Congress won't be like sixth grade with the idea that sitting next to each other will help America pay its debt, win our wars or create jobs. This Congress will be serious and free of meaningless theatrics. If they insist on the metaphor, we will be happy to send them to the corner for a while to think about what the 111th just did. · Jan 16 at 9:00am
Beautiful, Franco.