The New America
No more partisanship?

Congress is back in session. They had the privilege of seeing Tea Parties in their districts and were away from Washington were the Obama Administration released what are being called the “torture memos”. With all the talk of pulling the nation back together, little has been seen of good old fashioned Tip O’Neill/Ronald Reagan working together to accomplish what the nation needs. Polarization is still on the rise. I thought our new President was looking ahead and bringing unity where partisanship reigned?

Witness the Senate and Congressional elections in MN and NY respectively. The “victory” margins are razor thin. Yet, the election moves out of the ballot box and into court rooms. I am not making un-American accusations toward those who are appealing voter decisions where there are serious questions of voter fraud and disenfranchisement of voters in an inconsistent manner in one jurisdiction. Interestingly, in MN the winners call the loser a sore-loser when it was that party’s Presidential nominee who sought the aid of courts in his quest to be President. Litigation following close elections is only indicative of the unwillingness to set aside partisan differences and move forward.

Our President is attempting to change the policy of discourse outside the country. He was apologetic in Europe and in the southern Americas he listened to anti-American screeds and shook hands with a sworn enemy of the USA for the world to see. Our President said this was what the electorate voted for…more dialog with those who have heretofore hated us. He has certainly succeeded in having world leaders, friends and foes, like him, but whether that will translate into better relationships abroad is still an open question. What happened with the Iranians and North Koreans does not bode well for success. Biden said Obama would be tested. There is one place Delaware Joe has been spot on.

Unfortunately, all the overseas angst and friendship to American haters has not helped. While he is right, there was discussion on the campaign trail of talking to enemies, I don’t think voters…for or against BO…believed he would be quite so apologetic for what others say the USA stands for without being more forthright and affirming in what “we” say we represent. He is, possibly unintendedly, giving photo ops and positive reinforcement to American haters who pummel the USA. And, without taking any steps to defend the country he represents. That does not help the division at home.

Millions are upset with a US President who sits quietly by while his and their country is bashed by the likes of Daniel Ortega. Who readily admits the shortcomings of the USA but fails to defend the USA. Who bows to Saudi kings, shares a warm handshake with tinpot dictators and generally takes the position that what happened in the past was not on his watch. So if you do not like it, don’t blame me, blame the country’s misguided policies by lesser lights than me. And, by the way, things will be different now that I am in charge. [Smile].

Obama is insufferable about his ability to change things. He proposes massive spending and deficits, expanding programs where government has failed to previously tread, yet promising to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term [Note to BO: No one is guaranteed a second term.]. Add to this is overseas machinations and the hint yesterday that he may permit prosecution of the authors of the “torture memos”. So, there is a looking forward for the man…forward to bigger government programs. That leads to division. But, there is a dwelling on the past too…policies of predecessors to bash and people of the same forerunners to prosecute. This too leads to division. Seems like partisanship still reigns supreme in the new America. Has it been one hundred days yet? When does the healing begin?