Did you hear? Bill Frist is now a proponent of an independent Senate!
Frist's commentary is at the same time satisfying for us who railed against Bush and the Republicans and a warning for the Dems. Read on...
One of the more satisfying exerpts from Frist's commentary:
I encourage Democrats not to repeat the missteps made by Republicans by excluding thoughtful debate.
It cant be more plain that Frist is saying that the Republican controlled Senate was bothing more than a rubber stamp for the Bush Administration. Add to that this week's NY Times Magazine cover story about W's Imperial Presidency:
...in recent years, you could set your watch by the arrival of Vice president Cheney's motorcade on Capitol Hill for the Republican caucus's weekly strategy sessions. He was at times known to bring Karl Rove with him as well. "You can imagine the amount of dissent that goes on with the two of them sitting there," [Senator Leahy told the reporter]
Now, this is not news to us at the DK. Its not news to any political observer with half a brain. But its nice to see it in print. Its nice to see that a person who has some stature in the Republican Party ranks is speaking about the Republican congress's complete abdication of its duty as a co-equal branch.
Another satisfying quote:
I encourage Republicans to rally behind this president-elect and openly express support for the call for change throughout our legislative and executive branches.
Never thought I'd say this, but Frist is right. In our current state, Republicans must put partisanship aside and work across the isle. An obstructionist Senate will only further to cripple the US more. I hope that for once, Repubs put country over party- something that was sorely lacking in the Bush years.
But we have to be wary. Frist's commentary is a preview of how the Repuiblicans are going to act in thir new minority status. Take this quote:
The Senate is a strange animal. Unlike the House, it is weighted to give the minority party exceptional power.
And this one:
That unique Senate legislative experience of the president- and vice-president-elect -- with the understanding it brings both to lead on principle but govern with compromise and to respect uniquely the minority's participation"
In other words, the Repubs are saying, "we are going to be as obstructionist as possible. And we are going to hide behind the separation of powers doctrine to do it." Obama and and the Dem Congressional are in a unqiue position to defeat this rhetoric. Circumstances are such that the Dems can portray the Repubs not as being champions of the Constitution, but as out of touch politicians who dont care about the suffering of the people. The Dem frame must be, "we need all government to quickly work together in furtherance of the President's effort to get us out of the economic crisis we are in." Obama and the Dems must utilize a economic version of the "rally around the flag" notion.
Progressive agandas, angendas that fundamentally change the way government operates require a mandate. They require majority control of government. We have that. We must use it. As Obama's campaign has said, change is now. the Dems must not allow the Repub minority to derail us from achieving that change.