It would stand to reason that a group that has
consistently posted dismal approval ratings (currently at 15 percent) for years
would eventually be shamed into doing the job they were elected to do.
consistently posted dismal approval ratings (currently at 15 percent) for years
would eventually be shamed into doing the job they were elected to do.
Maybe, maybe, Congress has finally reached that point.
With a wink and a nod the capital press corps is writing
about the sudden breakout of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill. Just as we were
all ready to give up on a group of lawmakers embedded in hyper-partisanship and
gridlock, we received a ray of hope.
about the sudden breakout of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill. Just as we were
all ready to give up on a group of lawmakers embedded in hyper-partisanship and
gridlock, we received a ray of hope.
Sens. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia moderate Democrat, and
Pat Toomey, a solid conservative Republican from Pennsylvania — both of whom have “A” ratings from the NRA — have teamed up
to salvage a little piece of gun safety in the wake of Sandy Hook.
Pat Toomey, a solid conservative Republican from Pennsylvania — both of whom have “A” ratings from the NRA — have teamed up
to salvage a little piece of gun safety in the wake of Sandy Hook.
Sens. Mark Rubio, a conservative Florida Republican, and
Chuck Schumer, an old-fashioned liberal from New York, are among the
bipartisan “Gang of Eight” that appears ready to finally forge a path toward
comprehensive immigration reform.
Chuck Schumer, an old-fashioned liberal from New York, are among the
bipartisan “Gang of Eight” that appears ready to finally forge a path toward
comprehensive immigration reform.
President Obama’s budget offers respectable headway
toward entitlement reforms and a lower level of discretionary spending that,
compared to GDP, falls below the expenditures of both Bushes, Bill Clinton and
Ronald Reagan in that far-flung category of federal programs.
toward entitlement reforms and a lower level of discretionary spending that,
compared to GDP, falls below the expenditures of both Bushes, Bill Clinton and
Ronald Reagan in that far-flung category of federal programs.
In response, the lefty liberals are squealing about
Obama’s plans to limit Social Security payments through the “chained CPI”
method and his effort to keep Medicare costs in check. (Anyone who still
considers this president a socialist or a radical is a fool.)
Obama’s plans to limit Social Security payments through the “chained CPI”
method and his effort to keep Medicare costs in check. (Anyone who still
considers this president a socialist or a radical is a fool.)
And on North Korea’s reckless threats to shoot off a few
nukes, Democrats and Republicans in Congress seem to be rallying around the
Obama administration’s hardline stance, promising a massive military response.
nukes, Democrats and Republicans in Congress seem to be rallying around the
Obama administration’s hardline stance, promising a massive military response.
As someone who has pleaded for years for our lawmakers to
take a more pragmatic, practical, mainstream stance on various issues, I am
amazed at this sudden show of centrist bipartisanship. Perhaps we have inched
our way back from the abyss.
take a more pragmatic, practical, mainstream stance on various issues, I am
amazed at this sudden show of centrist bipartisanship. Perhaps we have inched
our way back from the abyss.
But, well, maybe not. Some pundits have pointed out that
getting a Democrat and a Republican in the Senate to agree on such a basic fix
as closing the gun show loophole is nothing worthy of celebration. In addition, the fact
that the president’s recent dinners with groups of Republican lawmakers is news
at all shows the overall pathetic atmosphere in Washington.
getting a Democrat and a Republican in the Senate to agree on such a basic fix
as closing the gun show loophole is nothing worthy of celebration. In addition, the fact
that the president’s recent dinners with groups of Republican lawmakers is news
at all shows the overall pathetic atmosphere in Washington.
And then we have this: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled
privately that he has no interest in sitting in the same room as his Democratic
counterpart, Majority Leader Harry Reid, to discuss a possible “grand bargain”
on budget and tax issues, according to Politico.
privately that he has no interest in sitting in the same room as his Democratic
counterpart, Majority Leader Harry Reid, to discuss a possible “grand bargain”
on budget and tax issues, according to Politico.
Mike
Allen of Politico, who broke this story a few hours ago, drew this conclusion:
Allen of Politico, who broke this story a few hours ago, drew this conclusion:
“McConnell
is fine with talking to Obama — just talking at this point — but he doesn’t
want Reid there when it happens.
is fine with talking to Obama — just talking at this point — but he doesn’t
want Reid there when it happens.
“Such
is life in Congress, where hope of bipartisanship is giving way to the same old
toxic relationships.”
is life in Congress, where hope of bipartisanship is giving way to the same old
toxic relationships.”
