Hope for Comity
Norman Ornstein pointed out some encouraging rhetoric coming from Congress and makes a few suggestions to encourage Comity. I excerpt liberally:
From Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio)…If there is one lesson that stands out from our party’s time in the majority, it is this: A Congressional majority is simply a means to an end. The value of a majority lies not in the chance to wield great power, but in the chance to use limited power to do great things.
“We refer to the gavel I’m holding as the Speaker’s gavel. But like everything else in this chamber, it really belongs to the people. It’s on loan from the real owners. This is the people’s House. This is the people’s Congress. And most of the people don’t care which party controls it; what they want is a government that is limited, honest, accountable and responsive to their needs. The moment a majority forgets this lesson, it begins writing itself a ticket to minority status. . . .
“Republicans will hold the incoming majority accountable for its promises and its actions. But we also want to work with the incoming majority for the good of the nation we were all elected to serve.
“Fundamentally, democracy is a battle of ideas. The battle of ideas is essential to a healthy nation. But it’s a battle that can take place respectfully. Republicans and Democrats can disagree with each other without being disagreeable to each other. Sometimes what people call partisanship is really a deep disagreement over a means to a shared goal. We should welcome that conversation–encourage it, enjoy it and be nice about it. Madame Speaker, may the best idea win.â€?Mr. Ornstein Suggests:
*After achieving the “Six in ’06â€? the Minority Bill of Rights might be reconsidered.
*Re-establish regular meetings of majority and minority party leaders.
*Encourage an open-door policy for minority Members with the Speaker –opportunities to raise issues and even grievances–and perhaps even a regular session in which she meets with rank-and-file GOP Members.
*Major committee should consider bipartisan retreats
*Committee staffs should get together regularly across party lines.
*Reconstitute genuine Oxford-style debates, in prime time, on the House and Senate floors.These meetings can help head off misunderstandings, end gratuitous high-handed or sadistic treatment by a committee chairman and maybe even produce dialogue on issues where Democrats and Republicans can find common ground. And they will make it harder for the minority to lob cheap shots at the majority with “gotcha� amendments or outrageous press releases.
Having a Congress we can be proud of will be a challenge, given the internal dynamics, the history and the external environment. But there is reason for encouragement.”
Relationships take work, time, open mindedness, and commitment. But anyone who is in a satisfying relationship knows that it is worth it.
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5 Responses to “Hope for Comity”
“These meetings can help head off misunderstandings, end gratuitous high-handed or sadistic treatment by a committee chairman and maybe even produce dialogue on issues where Democrats and Republicans can find common ground.”
Sure they could. But more important is now that Republicans get a healthy dose of their own medicine. Tit for tat. Now it’s the Dwems turn to be mean. Everything else would only be viewed as weakness by Bush and his gang of right-wing hardliners. Maybe in two years the GOP has learned its lessons and ‘normal’ procedures can resume again. But not now.
Oh yes, they so believe in bipartisanship and compromise, now that they aren’t the ones in charge. How bloody convenient. I really think they do deserve a dose of their own medicine, but I’ll sacrifice that if it means they can get things done in a bipartisan way. It’s tough to suck it up and take the high road, especially when you know the other party would never give such a speech if they had held the majority, but our country would be better for it.
a quote I read today:
Boehner’s graciousness–and his honesty about his own party’s failings–stood in stark contrast to the behavior of former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), who sat stonily on his hands through most of the proceedings, including the moments, such as the call for ethics reform, that brought nearly all of his GOP colleagues to their feet to applaud (even if some did so grudgingly, as did some Democrats).
Mr Boenher’s A little late an convenient for me. But hey maybe the next the GOP is in a majority and if he’s still around will get to see if walks the talk.
How can we afford to have our political parties at each others’ throats at a time like this? We have to bring civility back, and elect representatives who will have the courage to put country over party.
After having said that, the GOP does deserve a dose of their own medicine, if for no other reason having run some of the dirtyist campaign ads we’ve seen to date in 2006. Maybe they’ll finally realize that holding onto power for its own sake is less than a worthy goal.
Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.