Speaking of a Bipartisan Effort (Followup)

Despite popular optimism and hip slogans one truth is becoming more apparent with every move the Obama Administration makes, Politics don't change. Behind the cool banter and the intelligent charisma of the new administration, the political wheels are spinning in the same way they always have. There is tyranny in the majority and the party in power has the luxury to ignore the political aspirations of the minority. This is not a debate about the virtue of the Democratic Party, This happened the last 8 years under Republican rule. I am simply pointing out that the dirty inner working of politics have not changed as promised.

While we are still in the first 100 days of the new Presidency, I will admit that they have had little time to focus on ideological goodness and proper politics. We are at a crossroads with our economy, with our foreign policy, and with our health care system. There are more important things to focus on that the nice way to affect change. People are suffering and the economy is failing, I would rather the new administration focus on that.

However, the first few weeks of the Obama administration has effectively contradicted the popular promise of clean politics and change in Washington that was so eloquently promised to us months ago. Change cannot be affected when it needs to be if everyone is to collectively bargain in order to reach a consensus. If more time is spent giving up ground to reach a feel good move to please all sides, then the move itself will be made too late.

The Administration has made massive changes already in its infancy and looks as if it will continue to do so. I just must point out that the manner in which it is doing so does not even pretend to be bipartisan in any way and is totally without any deviation from typical American political practice. The examples of this forceful political practice made infamous during the Bush administration's years range from Obama's stimulus package, to the Iraq timeline, to the stem cell reform.

This political tactic will not go quietly into the night and President Obama cannot affect the change that he wants while adhering to the practices that he promised during his campaign. Ideally everyone should get a fair shake when it comes to politics and all parties should seek some semblence of common ground. However, the President has discovered that when words fail and the real world impracticalilites of his banter become apparent, the change that he has promised, may not be all that possible to achieve.