The Washington Post writes today that:
Gregg’s withdrawal sharpened the already palpable sense in Washington that Obama’s promise of a new era of bipartisanship is seriously faltering. Just days after his historic inauguration, Obama held an unprecedented pair of closed-door meetings with Republicans on Capitol Hill — meetings that, despite the kind words from GOP lawmakers that followed, yielded no results measured in votes.
By the time the president’s stimulus package passed the Senate this week, all but three GOP members of Congress were lined up against it, complaining furiously that Obama and his allies were forcing a bloated, liberal bill down their throats.
“Despite our repeated attempts to work with President Obama and the Democrat Majority, Speaker Pelosi has refused to meet with us, or even include us in key negotiations, choosing instead to stick with a pork-filled bill that even members of her own party do not support,” said a statement from Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the minority whip.
Obama and his top aides tried furiously all week to rebut that cha rge. In his prime-time news conference Monday, the president said his efforts at bipartisanship were “designed to try to build up some trust over time.”
Personally, I’m of the mindset that if Democrats actually work with Republicans as opposed to offering platitudes; actually send up good bills as opposed to fleecing the taxpayer, then they’ll get more support. But, hey, that’s probably just crazy talk.
Of the Republicans running for governor, who is more electable?
- Bill Bolling (52%, 969 Votes)
- Ken Cuccinelli (47%, 872 Votes)
- Other (2%, 31 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,872