|
DarkSteven -> Byrd and Stevens - thoughts (8/10/2010 7:00:29 PM)
|
Robert Byrd and Ted Stevens are no more. They came from a different age, when you got bills passed - you cut the backroom deals and loaded them with pork, and sent them to get signed by the President.
It's a different game now. It's Party Uber Alles. Pelosi spent her last two years opposing the Bush agenda because it was better for her party than to work with the GOP. The GOP is now returning the favor.
Opposition politics is everywhere. Obama's lack of a record was a positive because there were fewer votes to dredge up from his past and publicize. Same with Kagan. Almost every single Republican voted against Kagan, even though it made no difference. Three decades ago, almost nobody would have opposed a nomination that was a foregone conclusion.
It's good to see that pork politics is not allowed as much as before. But the era of hyperpartisanship is a heavy price to pay.
I don't see things improving. I see each party railing against the other to frighten constituents into making contributions TO THE PARTY. And elected officials will owe allegiance to the party, over constituents, over country.
I see gridlock if either party gets a significant enough minority to filibuster.
|
|
|
|
