Drop the Partisanship People!

 

I'm a Democrat and I am worried.  In the beginning of the year I couldn't wait for 2008.  I couldn't wait for a Democrat to take office and turn this nation around.  I knew it wasn't a matter of if, but when.  Unfortunately, the tides have turned.  American citizens are sick and tired of the partisan bickering in Washington.  They are tired of waffling politicians who promise one thing, but don't deliver.  It is evident in the polls.  Only 11% of Americans approve of the job the Congress had done.  Only 10 months into a Democratic lead Congress and the nation already wants us gone.  If we are going to win the White House, we need to clean ourselves up and stand at attention.  We need to get our people to do their jobs and serve the American public.  The biggest challenge we face is partisanship.  Though it may be the Bush Administration’s fault America and our leaders are so divided, it is our job, as Democrats, to fix the problem.  There was a time, not long ago, that Republicans and Democrats worked together, ate together, discussed issues together.  We need to return that era of respect and goodwill and leave the partisan stabs behind.  The only way we are going to move this nation forward before 2008 is by getting Republicans to vote for Democratic bills.  The only way to do that is to show respect and integrity.

 

As voters in a democracy, we have a voice and we must stand up and use that voice.  If we are going to end the division in Washington, we need to show our leaders that we are willing to work with Republicans.  We shouldn't criticize a fellow Democrat when he or she reaches their hand across the aisle and asks for a Republican's support.  Just yesterday, Joe Biden, a liberal Democrat, and Sam Brownback, a conservative Republican, came together and held a town hall meeting to share a plan to end the war in Iraq.  Though the two Presidential candidates share nearly no political opinions, they do share one, and that is how to get out of Iraq.  Because they came together and showed unity, they were shunned by the bases.  Democrats have called Joe Biden “too conservative” and Republicans have criticized Brownback for working with a “liberal”.  This however, baffles me.  When you build a bipartisan consensus things can actually get done.  We need to stop questioning Joe Biden and all other Democrats when they try to build bipartisanship.  Just recently, Joe Biden enticed 26 Republicans to vote for his federalist solution for Iraq.  He called it the “first ray of hope” while a fellow blogger, desmoinesdem, criticized Biden saying it “annoyed ” him and that Joe Biden was out of line because he “threw Senate Republicans a life raft”.  The only thing Joe Biden did was be the first person to be able to convince Republicans to publicly rebuke George W. Bush and his policies in Iraq.  Besides, the only people who need a life raft are the Democrats.  I hate to say it, but it's true.  We have been too dead set against compromise to end this war.  If we are going to win the General Election in 2008 we are going to have to 1.) Begin to end the war by adopting the only political solution with the ability of overriding a Presidential veto and that would be Joe Biden’s and 2.) We need to nominate a Democrat with a history of bringing people together.  That is Joe Biden. 

 

As Democrats, we must remember, in General Elections we rely on the independent vote.  Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton, who is currently leading in all of the early states, does not appeal to independents.  During the 1990s, when Clinton gave her began effort to achieve Universal Healthcare, $100 million was spent on the Harry and Louise campaign alone.  This idea of Universal Healthcare is still called HillaryCare by many Republicans and the term was used in the latest Republican debate, not to mention the fact that Clinton's name alone was brought up six times.  Candidates like Clinton are much too partisan to win in a general election.  She will energize Republicans and alienate independents.  Nominate Clinton and we will lose.  Nominate Joe Biden, a man with a solid record going back 35 years, and we Democrats will take back the White House!

 

 

 

For more information on Joe Biden and his Presidential Candidacy, please vistit :

http://www.joebiden….

or

http://www.planforir…

About the Author(s)

rpritchard

  • Agreed on the partisanship

    I truly hate stupid, blind partisanship.  Also, I can’t help but like Biden because of his straight-talking style.  But, if we are looking for someone who could possibly do something about the partisan gridlock in DC, my pick still has to be Obama.  You might remember a recent U of I poll where Obama ran third among R voters.  As much as I like Biden, I have a real difficulty getting excited about someone who has spent the last 35 years in the Senate.

    Of course, we all have our picks in this primary.  But I really have not figured out what all the Hillary backers are smoking.  Who really wants to put this country through another 4 or 8 years of extreme political fighting and going through all the Clinton scandals and issues of the past all over again?  Most importantly, how can Hillary be so selfish that she is willing to put this country through that? – I just don’t get it.

    • No room for on-the-job training

      I understand where you are coming from when you say you can’t get excited about someone who has served in Washington over the past 35 years; however, you must remember that the next President will have literally no margin for error.  We will need a leader who can hit the ground running in 2009 and that person is Joe Biden.  He has never become wrapped up in the special interests and he has always led with dignity and respect.  He is one of the few Senators who has not been corrupted by the system.  As a result I believe he could revamp the system as President.

      With Obama’s lack of experience I’m not sure he is quite ready for the Presidency, but he has potential.  I will tell you this though, after 8 years of being Vice-President under Joe Biden and he would be ready.  America could be looking at a wonderful next 16 years if we could manage a Biden-Obama ticket!

  • If there is no room for error

    then one can make a strong argument for disqualifying anyone, including Biden, who just five years ago made the grave mistake of voting for the Iraq War.  Also, I think the no time for on-the-job training argument is a red herring.  If we use that argument, we have one D in this whole country whom we could nominate (Carter), or maybe two (Gore).

    We all have our reasons to pick our horses in the primary.  This time I’m going with my gut (no more best resume guys like Gore, Kerry), good judgment, ability to inspire, and willingness to work with the other side (pretty much a prerequisite to achieve anything truly significant).

    • Who is your second choice?

      OK, so you’ve made preliminary decision as to who you will support.  Tell me then; which candidate would be your second choice?

      • My second choice

        used to be Edwards.  Now I’m torn between Richardson and Biden.  Right now, I think I would go with Biden because he seems to be more genuine.  Richardson seems to have a little bit of the Edwards disease, appearing to take whatever stand seems politically convenient at this time.

        • Well, at least Biden is on your radar.

          Look deeper into Biden; he really has the “stuff” to hit the ground running in 2009.

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