Have Republicans "reached across the aisle" to us?

[ruggerson]

Not just no, but Hell no.

Are we naive enough to think that these people will become sane and nice if we "reason" with them, offer to "work" with them, and appoint them to high positions, should we regain the WH?

I understand that many of us have Republican friends and family members, and I am in no way demonizing them.

But, you have to separate them, the average Republican voter, from the institution - the Republican party and the Republican National Committee and Republican elected representatives.

Institutionally, Republicans have, and will continue to have, a take no prisoners attitude when it comes to both getting elected and governing.

If we "reach across the aisle" to them, they will laugh and take what they can get from us, and try to cripple us in the process.

What we need to do is take our power seriously, drive our agenda through, play politics as well, and as strategically as they do, and govern from strength of will, not from compromise.

Our two party system means that our country has been tugged in two directions for two hundred and thirty years. That is not a bad thing. Partisanship is not a bad thing. Fighting for your agenda is not a bad thing.

Besides death and taxes, the only other sure bet is that Republicans, institutionally, are not about to become reasonable and accomodative.

We need leaders who understand this, not ones who mouth platitudes about "unification" and "healing."

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Not only do they NOT reach across the aisle,

they sit on their side and fling poo at us.

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. And we can't live w/o 'em. Go figure n/t

[polichick]

2. Nope - our side is the one that acts like a battered spouse...

...always going back for more abuse.

[Nite Owl]

4. Good description. n/t

[EFerrari]

5. The only time they do is to pick your pocket.

No. They have so thoroughly demonized Democrats, the left and liberals, I'm surprised no one has been physically lynched yet for being a liberal. That's next, I guess.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Yes, they have. McCain has, with campaign finance reform and

immigration reform. Gordon Smith, Chuck Hagel, Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe have on the war. Chimpy and the neocon majority are dicks when it comes to cooperation, but there are exceptions--Repubs willing to act in a bipartisan manner on some issues. Why not use those folks to help us get things done in Congress during a Dem administration?

[gateley]

7. One example I can think of is Brownback working with Biden and Boxer on the

Iraq exit strategy. On almost every other issue he's diametrically opposed to their views, but on this he did what he felt was right. I'm not sure who reached out to whom, but the willingness to work together regardless of party lines should be acknowledged.

There are more, too. There are some good people sprinkled among the assholes, and I'm hoping with a Dem president more will be comfortable in doing what they think is right.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Yep, forgot about that example.

[opihimoimoi]

8. We have the better Philosophy of US, WE, All of US......The Common Good if I may...

Them PUBS ARE STUCK ON lEVEL 1 AND 2....ITS ALL ABOUT them AND meISM....SELFISH BASTIDS....oops

K&R'd

[Occam Bandage]

10. Yep. Repeatedly. Freepers whine about sellouts and RINOs all the time.

[ruggerson]

12. Genghis Khan

is a RINO to the Freepers

[bowens43]

11. NO they haven't and I don't want cooperation.

I want nothing less the complete and utter defeat of the republicans. I want Democrats to be so firmly in control that whatever the cons have to say, will be totally irrelevant. No compromise, no reaching across the isle except to smack them in the head if they dare open their mouths.

[madrchsod]

13. only when we take the whitehouse

then they`ll be all lovie dovie. actually the failure of the house and senate leadership has given the "moderates" no cover to switch their votes. if i were a republican i certainly would`t trust the leadership that throws it own members and the people who voted them in under the bus. would or do you trust them? i sure do`t

[goodgd_yall]

14. They'll have to answer to a new "higher power" though

--the Democratic President. I think Olympia Snowe and Chuck Hagel would not be a danger to the integrity of a Democratic White House.

[Cheap_Trick]

15. i want to reach across the aisle to the republics

and choke the fucking shit out of the assholes.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

16. There is one, and only one, thing I trust about Hillary

At heart, she hates the Republican party.

Even if she came by that attitude only because of the way republicans have treated her personally, at least it's there.

[TheCowsCameHome]

17. If so, it's a dandy chance to break a few elbows....................

[HughMoran]

18. Yes

With loaded guns.

I say "fuck em".

[Quixote1818]

19. This is why I support Edwards and not Hillary and Obama

This is no time to be nice to the Republicans. We have already seen enough of that with Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi.

[stillcool]

20. Not across the oil...

..under the table...
wow...Freudian slip...meant to say aisle, not oil.

[Seabiscuit]

21. They just fart across the aisle at us.