In these depressing economic times, we still have great difficulties in coming together to solve problems facing our great nation.’
Our banks are broke. People are homeless, jobless and even without some forms of healthcare. Across the congressional aisle there has been little cooperation to pass helpful legislation.
President Obama has made clear attempts to practice bipartisan politics. At a press conference held on Feb. 9, Obama discussed some of his goals for working together in politics.’
‘You know, putting three Republicans in my Cabinet, something that is unprecedented, making sure that they were invited here to the White House to talk about the economic recovery plan, all those were not designed simply to get some short-term votes,’ Obama said.
Despite his success so far, time is not on our side and Obama cannot do all of the work by himself.
‘I can’t afford to see Congress play the usual political games,’ Obama said. ‘What we have to do right now is deliver for the American people.’
The action of putting your opponents and opposing political colleagues in your own cabinet, a move Abraham Lincoln made, is a bold step and should generate results.
The act of appointing three opposition members to the Cabinet was unprecedented. No other American president has done so, presidential historian Richard Shenkman pointed out to the St. Petersburg Times. To Shenkman, the move is unlikely to be pandering to the right.
‘I wouldn’t call it tokenism, I think it’s real. (Obama) is making some kind of an effort there and it comes at very little cost. It’s a shrewd political move,’ Shenkman said.
Obama explained his choices as being designed to foster goodwill as well as reach real solutions.
‘They were designed to try to build up some trust over time and I think that as I continue to make these overtures, over time, hopefully, that will be reciprocated,’ Obama said.
Obama has done well in remaining patient and civil, and his efforts are commendable. ‘
Much of congress is still waiting on efforts from the Republican side. In a CBS interview, the President seemed hopeful that eventually his efforts would pay off.
‘Hopefully, the tone that I’ve taken, which has been consistently civil and respectful, will pay some dividends over the long-term,’ Obama said.
Republican representation has been on the decline in politics and they seem to be fighting their losses in desperate measures.’
Minnesota state courts ruled that Al Franken was the winner of the senate race, an election that took place back in 2008. Immediately after the election, his Republican opponent Norm Coleman announced the he would file an appeal after clearly losing. In an article by Aaron Blake, published in The Hill, Senator John Cornyn, (R, TX) threatened to filibuster Franken’s seating.’
‘ ‘This is a very, very serious matter,’ Cornyn said. ‘I can assure you that there will be no way that people on our side of the aisle will agree to seat any senator without a valid certificate.’
The problem and root of all this Republican opposition is not in defense of fairness or for the prevention of injustice. It comes from the inability to make or shape policy. Republican political power has lost most of its might.’
In a column by Paul Krugman of The New York Times, the need for change and bipartisanship is made abundantly clear.
‘One way to get a good sense of the current state of the GOP, and also to see how little has really changed, is to look at the ‘tea parties’ that have been held in a number of places already, and will be held across the country on Wednesday,’ Krugman said.’
‘These parties – anti-taxation demonstrations that are supposed to evoke the memory of the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution – have been the subject of considerable mockery, and rightly so.’
This type of display or protest is known as ‘astroturf,’ a phrase coined by U.S. senator Lloyd Bentsen in the 1980s. The term has become an ironic play on words, defining fake grassroots movements.’
Krugman astutely observed these astroturf gatherings and described the phenomenon well.’
‘Last, but not least, it turns out that the tea parties don’t represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment. They’re astroturf events, manufactured by the usual suspects,’ Krugman said.’
‘ ‘In particular, a key role is being played by FreedomWorks, an organization run by Richard Armey, the former House majority leader, and supported by the usual group of right-wing billionaires. And the parties are, of course, being promoted heavily by Fox News.”
Perhaps the reason we have yet to see astonishing or even truly encouraging economic progress is due to the lack of bipartisan cooperation. The ‘mavericks’ and bright-minded Republicans cannot all be next to the nearest lake throwing tea bags into bodies of water. Wherever they may be, we can only benefit from a greater supply of intelligent ideas and stronger bipartisanship amongst our leaders and government.
Andrew Taylor is an economics junior and may be reached at [email protected].
