Posted on 01/19/2011 6:05:08 PM PST by jazusamo
The kumbaya quest for peace and love in American politics has hit a new low. Sen. Mark Udall, Colorado Democrat, has proposed that as a symbolic stab at the "nasty partisanship" in government, members of Congress should abjure the tradition of sitting in party blocks during the State of the Union address and instead intermingle. Perhaps they all should hold hands while the president is speaking too.
A letter to congressional leaders signed by proponents of this exercise in musical chairs claims, "the choreographed standing and clapping of one side of the room - while the other side sits - is unbecoming of a serious institution. And the message that it sends is that even on a night when the president is addressing the entire nation, we in Congress cannot sit as one, but must be divided as two." Mr. Udall is clearly focused on the wrong problem. Presumably orgiastic clapping, not sitting stonefaced, is what offends the seriousness of the august institution.
~snip~
The congressional love letter states, "There is no rule or reason that on this night we should emphasize divided government, separated by party, instead of being seen united as a country." But while Mr. Obama is addressing the entire nation, he will be presenting his personal, partisan views. The State of the Union address is not simply an annual status report, it's a major political event where presidents establish their agenda for the year. Nothing about it is bipartisan, and it is an appropriate time to call attention to the robust differences of opinion that exist in America over public policy.
Mixing up the seating arrangements in the congressional chamber will simply reduce the State of the Union to the level of another pro-Barack pep rally, minus the "Together We Thrive" T-shirts.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I agree.
That’s a possibility that I never considered and it might just be what the GOP should do.
 Together We Thrive. |
Thanks for your compliment. The Dems would never let an opportunity like this pass. GOP should say flat out we are trying to be civil to the other side, despite all the dirty rhetoric they spew out. Then today on the House floor the “gentleman” from Tenn. calls us nazis and engages in some sleazy name calling. We will NOT allow bipartisan seating at SOTU. The elites and the “news” media would go wild but it just might resonate with their base, and independents will be turned off by this shocking show of incivility by a congressional Dem.
I think the democrats are trying to pull the ole oke doke.
I said back in ‘06 that the Republican Party was going to have to get a lot smaller before it gets bigger. That may still be true.
Tell me. Are the Republican's actually going to go with the leftist seating arrangement scheme? I've heard it was proposed but didn't think they were actually going to do it.
Republicans should all wear red seersucker suits!
I have seen zero evidence the Rep have taken the bait on this, with the exception of possibly 3 of them who have made favorable comments.
I don’t see this happening at all.
And then there is the story in “The Daily Caller”, this A.M. claiming the Rep are readying a long term plan to cut over TWO TRILLION from spending.
What say rather then being knee jerk defeatists as so many here are on such a regular basis, we give them more then 15 or so days to begin to accomplish what they have indicated they would.
And why should Boehner announce in advance all he will do and the methods he will use? All that does is allow the media to jump on it in an effort to turn opinion against it using their own interpertation of the facts (rather then the truth) before it is even made public.
Yes, I remember that now that you mention it. I was appalled when that happened and really ticked, the Rats have no class.
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