Bipartisanship only works if both sides do the "bi" part. Furthermore, it is not always appropriate. I do not advotate bipartisanship when the opposing force happens to be, for example, the Nazi party.

We have seen a concerted effort by the right wing, initially from a fringe group of the Republican party, to destroy all bipartisanship. Democrats have, in general, favored bipartisanship where possible...and often have been called sell outs when they have. There is some truth that in compromising with Gingrich, Clinton sold out somewhat and that in compromising with Bush, Congressional Democrats sold out a little. But that was Democrats holding up their end of bipartisanship.

They got nothing in return. The Republicans dominated by what was once their right-wing fringe has even refused to cooperate with the moderates within their own party. They barely even tolerated dissent WITHIN their party.

In that atmosphere of increasing intolerance and oppression, there was little room for bipartisanship. Democrats won big this last year because they told the American people that they did NOT want to work with what Bush was offering but wanted to give an alternative. They wanted to restore some balance to the pretty disgusting crap that Bush and the fringe-dominated Republicans have been heaping on America.

They made a promise to the voters to offer that sharp alternative to Bush's policies. Compromise with Bush was NOT what the voters voted for.

Within the first month of taking office, not only do we see Democrats fulfilling their pomises to the voters, something they deserve full credit for, but for the first time since Bush took office you see some moderate Republicans feeling they have the freedom to break ranks. By establishing the opposition position to Bush, rather than giving in to his threats and the BS of the right wing spin machine, Democrats allowed a moderate bipartisanship to emerge within DAYS of taking control of Congress.

I consider that amazing.

And I have to say that one thing I find disturbing is the continued accusation that somehow Democrats are as much to blame for things as Republicans. Democrats are far from perfect, but in my mind there are stark differences in policy, strategies and tactics that all make Democrats on average far more palatable. You have seen me criticize Democrats when they go wrong. But I will not, in the name of some kind of bipartisanship, claim that Democrats are in any way "just as bad" or just as much to blame for what is going on. There IS a difference between the parties and I personally side with the party that favors minimum wage increases rather than the one that favors tax breaks for the wealthy, the party that favors fighting people who actually attack you rather than the party that is picking fights with every Muslim nation on earth except Saudi Arabia, the party that favors alternatives to oil and coal over the party that favors nothing but oil, oil and more oil, etc. And when that party that I favor does what it promises to do, yeah I'm going to offer praise.