Obama came into office tauting bi and post partisan politics. The bipartisan pipe dream is an American creature. Other democracies resort to wall to wall coalitions only under emergencies such as wars or colossal natural disasters.
In the US there is a consensus within the Washington media that bipartisan politics will solve all political is and by implication all economic ills. There also a substantial group of centrist, mainly Democrats, who believe passionately in Washington's media bipartisan belief. Prominent among these centrists are two reactionary, i.e. Blue Dogs, Democrats: Boren and Nunn.
The bipartisan pipe dream stems from a belief of getting along with everyone that the affluent and the influential feel. Once these people reached status, sufficient wealth and fame, it appears to them that their relationship with their fellow status sharers should be the order of the whole world. Bipartisan utopia should cover us all.
In a political reality were the Republicans have moved to the extreme right and the Democrats are firmly in the center, one wonders why would anyone think about coming together. The Republicans are resembling the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh who was hit time and again and wasn't willing to change.
The financial collapse of the economy, although a major emergency, doesn't affect the Republican Pharaohs exactly the way it didn't affect their fellow Egyptians. Instead of learning form what happened to them in the last two years, Republican continue to belief in tax cuts, discriminating against everyone different from them, gays in particular, and still see the world as a zero sum game.
One would thinks that the oracles of bipartisanship should realize the mirage their idea is. Such thinking assumes that logic, objectivity and independence should easily prevail and drive bipartisanship away. That of course is a small pipe dream by itself. Neither the Washington media nor the reactionary segment of the Democratic party are either objective or independent.
The bipartisan tribe is dedicated to its own rituals and dogmas. As such their view is narrow and tribe-wise and their behavior and beliefs follow strict lines they will never abandon.
The belief in bipartisanship is also a major failure for Obama. If it isn't a failure than it is a cynical move on his part. In any event, it does constitute a major flaw for the new President.
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