The Fetishization Of Bipartisanship

I just want to make sure I have all this straight. In order for legislation on, say, healthcare, or carbon cap-and-trade to be passed, any bill must be “bipartisan.” By this we don’t mean Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) voted for it. We mean that a much more substantial number of Republicans, maybe 4,5, or 6 at a minimum, voted for it. Otherwise it is a mean, partisan bill, not done in the true spirit of Chistmas bipartisanship, without legitimacy, and not representative of the will of the American People.

Keep in mind that the president, who ran explicitly on a platform of universal healthcare (with a “public” plan) and cap-and-trade for global warming, trounced his Republican contender, who was against these things. Likewise the Democrats won a resounding victory in the House of Representatives. They also won a historical victory in the Senate, and with the defection of Specter and the (eventual) seating of Al Franken, they will have a filibuster-proof 60 votes. Meanwhile, the popularly elected president commands a 60-something percent approval rating while the Republican Party is approved of by less than 30%.

We are told, though, that it is undemocratic now for that popularly elected president, popularly elected House, and overwhelming Senate majority to enact the legislation they were elected to pass if they DO NOT FIRST compromise with the LOSERS?? Even when they command overwhelming majorities? Even when the legislation they propose is supported by the majority of the population (over 50% of Americans support the “public option”)?

And even when those with whom they are supposed to compromise have utterly antithetical positions on these issues (i.e., the solution for healthcare is tax cuts, and global warming doesn’t exist)?

This would mean that any bill would have to carry the support of almost 70% of the Senate to pass, losing the support of only the 30 most conservative members. On issues such as healthcare, on which conservative Republicans have an ideological objection to doing anything!

Somehow, when the Democrats hold power, “democracy” gets redefined to mean the party that just got slapped around in elections holds equal power – that is, the election doesn’t really count.

We hold elections for a reason – to find out what the majority of the people want. They wanted Barack Obama, healthcare reform, the Democrats in charge of the legislature, and the Democratic Party policy agenda. The Republicans lost. The end.

And yet, I have to hear John Boehner endlessly telling me what the “American people” want – and guess what? They don’t want the guy they elected! No – you see, apparently in this country, the guy that was elected by the national vote to run the country and the party that won the national vote have no idea what the American people want. Who does? The guy who represents Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, John Boehner (largest city in the district is Dayton).

Makes sense, no?