I seems to me there once was a thread of common sense that ran through the political parties that allowed them to cooperate on important initiatives in Congress. I seem to recall that there were actually Republicans willing to vote for the impeachment of the criminal Richard Nixon. Can you imagine a similar circumstance these days.
What happened? What's wrong? Why can't we get the slightest cooperation from the Republicans on an issue as obvious as Health Care?
more over the fold....
I think the Republican party is getting ideologically exclusive to the point that no variation is allowed. No pro-choice allowed, no pro-gun control allowed, etc. It has largely been in the area of social conservatism that the rigidity has been used Rove and his ilk to unite the base. This strategy has served them well in keeping the troops in line so far. The disadvantage for them and the nation is they have become the party of no and are impotent at matters of governance. IOW, they have picked up their toys and went home to complain to the parents about the nasty old Democrats. I don't need to imagine this happening I have seen it in action in my own Republican Congressman, "Randy, Randy, why can we pass x, y and z?" "Because the Democrats won't let us." Not once during this exchange did I ever hear the word "compromise" used.
Until the Republicans cast off this ideological purity test and learn the meaning of the word compromise again, we will have a one party system in D.C.
As far as, the Republican chances in 2010, I would rather vote for a comatose patient than a modern Republican.
So, don't buy the bullshit that it's all Barack's fault.