Bi-partisanship and Cooperation . . . are you serious? By Michael Shelby
"Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are...a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." -President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 11/8/54-
From President Eisenhower's warning to the electorate's hearts and minds in 2008 . . . it is vital not to forget who put the Bush administration in power, supported its vile agenda, and carried its water through three elections and six years. It was the Republican Party, anyone still registered as a Republican, and the coalition of the brain dead X-tian right, neocons, and various hate groups. "Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it," should be intoned every time Democrats are tempted to think in terms of conciliation and bi-partisanship with these deviates and demagogues.
Oh sure, we are going to have to work courteously with civility toward "those on the other side of the aisle" but that by no means we have to work cooperatively. If their ideas align with ours so much the better. If they are willing to support the Democratic agenda that will facilitate a safe and rapid redeployment from Iraq, international cooperation and reconciliation, diplomacy, global environmental responsibility, an effective management of the terror threat, reconstruction of Iraq, investigations into war profiteering and mismanagement, completing the 911 Commission investigations as promised, answering questions raised by the Downing Street Memo's, raising the minimum wage, universal healthcare, increasing education funding, repealing tax-cuts for the wealthiest 1%, ending corporate welfare for oil companies and "Big Business," and painful but necessary spending cuts, then fine.
This is our time for healing and restoration, the American people's time that we must never relinquish again to enemies of our freedoms, the Constitution, the rule of law, and virtuous governance ever again!
Being wary of the cabal of neonuts and Republicans is not only necessary, it's smart. Extending blanket forgiveness just so we aren't perceived as petty or vengeful would be as foolish and counter productive as retribution for past wrongs.
I'm not calling for getting even, which will never happen for almost 3,000 brave soldiers, sailors, and Marines, their loved ones, or over 650,000 murdered Iraqi children, women, and men. We are compelled to look forward, to effectively manage the future, repair what damage we can, and not repeat the mistakes of our past. Spending time on "tit-for-tat" revenge would only serve to make this sea change in Congress a mere two year respite.
So, we'll allow the minority party to get on board or get the Hell out of the way. I hope the new leadership focuses on the greatest good for the American people in the immediate and, quietly, behind the scenes, without distraction the Democrats conduct the necessary investigations to expose the near Fascist takeover by the Republicans. We can never, never allow ourselves to get that close again!
The number of right-wing talking heads and pundits that have had sudden awakenings that they were wrong all along, that they were carrying water for those who didn't deserve it, that want a party that will have them now that they are newly birthed social liberals and fiscally responsible independents; who claim they never really were that much different from moderate Democrats, who were really closeted Libertarians, is nothing less than disgusting and disingenuous. But then again, they are Republicans.
Don't be fooled by these hypocrites and spineless cowards who haven't the integrity or courage to stand up to their own evil. They are only being who they are . . . Republicans, supporters of Republicans, funders of Republicans, the same people who put the Bush crime family in office, who voted for them time and again. These are the same people who tacitly supported or facilitated stolen election after stolen election. And, if the tide changes direction they will float like the turds they are that way again.
The nature of the Republican, the authoritarian archetype personality as identified by John Dean in his book, Conservatives Without Conscience, is why we must never let the tide change back to that black, brackish, sewage we've been forced to swim in the past six years.
Let me illustrate:
A turtle and a scorpion are standing on the bank of the river. The scorpion asks the turtle, "Would you let me ride on your back and take me to the other side?" The turtle replies, "Why would I do that, you'll only sting me and I'll drown." The scorpion says, with all sincerity, "Why would I do that, I would drown, too?" The turtle thinks this reasonable, that indeed it would be in both their mutual interests and in the spirit of cooperation for the scorpion not to sting him, "Okay, hop on," says the turtle. Half way into the river the scorpion stings the turtle. "Why . . . why would you do that, now you'll drown, too," gasps the turtle just as he sinks to his watery grave. The scorpion simply replies, "I'm a scorpion." Never, never forget that they are Republicans!
There is absolutely no reason or rationale for the newly elected majority Democratic Party to a priori trust the repudiated and vanquished Republican Party. If Republicans want respect, they must get it the old fashioned way, they must earn it! Frankly, the number of moderate and conservative Democrats, and one particularly odious self-described Independent/Democrat, elected this time has some of the faint odor of the Republicans and neo-conservatism! The American people must stay exceedingly vigilant in these next two years. We must take the initiative and responsibility to watchdog over the old leaders and the new members of Congress.
It remains up to us to hold their feet to the fire, even if our own hands get blistered. Anything less than service to the greater good of the American people, increasing peace, reducing poverty, elevating the middle class, etc., is cause for us to rise up and throw the bums out . . . again!
Take action -- click here to contact your local newspaper or congress people: Make 'em earn your trust
Michael Shelby serves democracy as an aggressive progressive and "equal opportunity abuser". An independent election integrity activist in Arizona, he is also an active member of Progressive Democrats of America. A veteran of Vietnam era antiwar protests, Mike serves in the 82nd Pajamahadeen/101st Keyboard Division continuing the fight against war and Republicans.
