The post-partisan era

[mcurry]

Originally published at Wake Up. You can comment here or there.

What happens when you make concessions to the Republicans so you can have “bipartisan” support for the stimulus bill? This:

The stimulus package just passed the House, with the billions in corporate tax cuts, without the money to re-sod the National Mall, without the money for family

Comments

[dirkcjelli]

But what about the good he has done!

Cutting off military aid to Israel until they open their borders, placing Rumsfeld, Chaney, and Bush under arrest, pardoning nonviolent drug offenders, using the Presidency as a platform to discuss what we'll do in place of capitalism, nationalizing banks with an intent to own rather than flip at a loss...

[princejvstin]

It's clear that, after this party line vote, that Obama is going to have to take the advice of fictional Chicago character Jim Malone in "The Untouchables"

Malone: You said you wanted to get Capone. Do you really wanna get him? You see what I'm saying is, what are you prepared to do?
Ness: Anything and everything in my power.
Malone: And *then* what are you prepared to do? If you open the can on these worms you must be prepared to go all the way because they're not gonna give up the fight until one of you is dead.
Ness: How do you do it then?
Malone: You wanna know how you do it? Here's how, they pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way, and that's how you get Capone! Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that?
Ness: I have sworn to capture this man with all legal powers at my disposal and I will do so.
Malone: Well, the Lord hates a coward. Do you know what a blood oath is, Mr. Ness?
Ness: Yes.
Malone: Good, 'cause you just took one.

[dirkcjelli]

Is there any evidence at all that he's figured that out, though?

I prefer the more parsimonious explanation: That democrats privately agree with republicans, and choose to disagree publicly to save face.

[princejvstin]

There is no evidence either way--yet.

There are a few possibilities--he was giving the Republicans a "chance" to do it bipartisan, and he'll beat them like a drum for going lockstep against him from word one. He could also really not "get it" and we'll have 4 years of this Kabuki theater. You could also be correct.

I am reminded, as well as the Untouchables, of the poker scenes in Casino Royale

Now who is Bond and who is Le Chiffe (or for that matter, who is hapless Felix) in this scenario remains to be seen.