Yep. I'm the ass hatchet who wanted at least three Republicans in the cabinet...I wanted a President who would try to lead all of us, not just the half or so of the country who supported him or her. I wanted someone who would appeal to our better selves.
Do I love the Gregg appointment? No. But I can kinda see where the President (God how do I love writing that title nowadays) is coming from. He's not just making noise about being inclusive. He's ACTUALLY being inclusive.
I'm an unabashed lefty. I want universal health care. I want to bring our troops home from Iraq. I want a MORE progressive tax code. I want to see those who have disgraced our Constitution to suffer for what they have done (not looking for blood or a scalp, but there must be consequences). On most every issue you could name, I am with you.
But we aren't THAT numerous. There are millions of Americans who believe that the government that governs best is that which governs least. That is a perfectly reasonable and honorable position to take. It just isn't mine, or probably yours.
We spent eight hellish years not only feeling disconnected and disowned by our government - we actually WERE disconnected and disowned by it! No matter how angry, full-fucking throated enraged I might be I simply do not want to inflict that on our countrymen. We need to be better than they were.
I need to be better than that, anyway.
I fully expected Hillary Clinton to bring down the angry fist of justice on the Right were she elected. I emphatically did not want that. I bought the Obama Premise. I haven't forgotten WHY I grew to know hope. If President Obama can give honorable Americans with whom we disagree (which excludes many Republicans, but by God that doesn't exclude them all and you KNOW that) then I'm all for it.
Fuck tokenism. It's their country too. Let's find the ones with whom we can work and get shit done. Yes, we should exclude those who operate in bad faith. Guess what? The last few weeks have been pretty effective in smoking out such folks.
This is our President. I knew this would happen if he won. He is a progressive, yes, but he is far more inclusive than most of us Kossacks. Frankly I'm glad of that.