Anybody out there a "West Wing" fan?
OK, stupid question.
More importantly, remember Season Two when Aaron Sorkin introduced Republican-blonde-kitten lawyer Ainsley Haines into mix?
Today, watching the blog, I'm reminded of one of Ainsley's quotes.
After being offered a job as an associate White House counsel, Ainsley's having lunch with some Republican cronies. One of the Republicans is telling jokes about the Bartlett White House and calls them all "worthless".
Ainsley strongly disagrees:
Don't say that. Say they are smug and superior. Say their approach to public policy makes you want to tear your hair out. Say they like high taxes and spending your money. Say they want to take your guns and open your borders but don't call them worthless. . . . The people I have met have been extraordinarily qualified. Their intent is good. Their commitment is true. They are righteous, and they are patriots. And I'm their lawyer.
I was reminded by this quote because of the the "they're traitors!/no they're not!" debate brewing on the blog today.
The quote's important, because it captures snippets of each side. On one side is the voice much like Ainsley, saying "don't call them traitors" because all Republicans aren't as bad as you say. On the other side is the voice that says, "Damn right, call them traitors", primarily because unlike Bartlet's White House, we haven't met a group of Republicans so bereft of extraordinary qualifications, good intent, and true commitment in a long while.
In each case, it's a matter of this polarizing nature of politics today. Many of the old timers here in D.C. don't recognize the Congress as it stands today. It used to be a place where people worked together to get shit done. Now, it's no more two ring circus (the two rings being the "House" and the "Senate") for bloviating personalities. Rarely are there any more true patriots left it seems. Of course, many here think Russ Feingold is a true patriot. But...news flash...there's a lot who think a guy like Tom Tancredo is too.
Regardless, whatever our Exhalted Leader said he would do in 2000 to "heal the wounds of partisanship" in Washington went out the door the day he had the Supreme Court tidy up the election for him. Washington has gotten more devisive since 2000, not less. Our nation has become less united since 9/11, not more. Instead of tending to the nation's business, we will have Bill Frist providing us with votes on flag burning and gay marriage constitutional amendments this summer.
And so, having enough with being beaten down like a cage animal, we fight back. We lash out. And we call the Republicans in Congress "traitors".
Is there merit to the claim? Probably. Are we right to make sure we're not including well-meaning "true patriot" Republicans under that rubric? Absolutely.
What's my point, after all this, you ask? I'm not sure I have one. I just wanted to share my thoughts...
...and my sincere wish that we can restore some civility to our politics one day, once and for all.
Unfortunately, I don't that will happen until those who divide us are out of power.