A Pipe Dream?

President Bush sounded a conciliatory note today as the Dem-run Congress begins its work. Interestingly, he chose the WSJ for his sounding board: safe ground, but hardly bipartisan.

He writes that Dems and GOP can work together -- after all, they worked together to pass the Patriot Act and reform intelligence after 9/11, and worked together to spur the economy with tax cuts.

Was I asleep for the last five years? The post 9/11 harmony lasted about as long as it takes to fly a jet liner through a building; harping over the Patriot Act and intelligence reform began immediately with the moonbats and settled like a shrieking blanket over the Dem leaders shortly thereafter. And tax cuts? Harmony? Please.

Still, it's presidential to offer the olive branch. And that he does, as if the incoming Congress was just fine with him; good folks, folks he can work with. But his piece ends with:

Our Founders believed in the wisdom of the American people to choose their leaders and provided for the concept of divided and effective government. The majority party in Congress gets to pass the bills it wants. The minority party, especially where the margins are close, has a strong say in the form bills take. And the Constitution leaves it to the president to use his judgment whether they should be signed into law.

That gives us a clear challenge and an opportunity. If the Congress chooses to pass bills that are simply political statements, they will have chosen stalemate. If a different approach is taken, the next two years can be fruitful ones for our nation. We can show the American people that Republicans and Democrats can come together to find ways to help make America a more secure, prosperous and hopeful society. And we will show our enemies that the open debate they believe is a fatal weakness is the great strength that has allowed democracies to flourish and succeed.

To the new members of the 110th Congress, I offer my welcome--and my congratulations. The American people have entrusted us with public office at a momentous time for our nation. Let them say of these next two years: We used our time well.

It sounds like there's a pledge to have a veto pen handy at all times. Good. Wishes for bipartisanship are fine; planning for partisanship is essential.

Hat-tip: memeorandum
Related Tags: Politics, Bush, Congress, Democrats, Republicans