Bipartisan Bliss?

Possible, though not likely* with Bush at the Helm

D Bro points out some potential parallels to the Clinton Admin's successful struggle in balancing our nation's budget. He reminds us of the acrimony involved, and of the governmental stand-stills which ensued before that historic achievement occurred.

Quite pointedly does he point out how our current Chief Executive needs must get his head out of his own agenda and start paying attention to his own party's elected personnel if he truly wants to get done for America what is good for America.

Check it out.

Can Bush Cross The Aisle?

By David S. Broder
Sunday, October 29, 2006; Page B07

With all the parsing that was needed to make sense of President Bush's convoluted explanations of his Iraq policies during last week's lengthy news conference, it's not surprising that another question -- on another topic -- received little notice.

It was, in the president's judgment, "a tricky little question" that Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times asked -- one that seemingly caught him by surprise.

"With a Republican Congress," Dinan said, "you failed to achieve three major goals of your second term: Social Security reform, a tax code overhaul and a comprehensive immigration bill. Why shouldn't Americans give Democrats a chance to work with you on those issues, especially when divided government seemed to work in the late 1990s on the budget?"

When the president recovered from his surprise at the question from the conservative newspaper's correspondent, he went into his familiar, assertive, told-you-so mode. "First," he said, "I haven't given up on any of those issues. I've got two years left to achieve them. And I firmly believe it is more likely to achieve those three objectives with a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican-controlled Senate. And I believe I'll be working with a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican-controlled Senate."

Bush went on for four paragraphs spelling out his belief that Republicans would defy the pollsters and pundits and win the Nov. 7 election, segued into a rap about the joys of electioneering and wound up by telling the questioner, "Anyway, thanks for asking about the campaign."

At no point did he venture within six feet of the original question -- and it's not hard to see why. He's not yet ready to think of Democrats except as opponents.

[To read the rest . . . ]

* I don't really think that this is Broder's conclusion. It is mine though. He is simply pointing out what is necessary regardless of whether or not the Democrats wrest control of one house of Congress. It's my opinion that George W Bush will continue to Stay The Course even if the Dems should do the unlikely and take back both houses.

But I certainly hope

A: that such happens and

B: he can find some semblance of the occasional bipatisanship which he showed as the governor of Texas. It may not have been much, but it was enough to gain him the bipartisan respect which was necessary to make his first run for the Presidency close enough to get him in there.