Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
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Friday, January 18, 2013
Dent: An Argument For Bi-Partisanship
LV Congressman Charlie Dent (as quoted in The Morning Call): "When your house is on fire, you have to stop arguing about the escape routes," he said. "At some point you have to choose one and move forward."
81 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Deep thinker, that fence sitter is.
ReplyDelete-Clem
ReplyDeleteCAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG.
and do what OBAMA want's.
What's needed is leadership. We'll grow old and die waiting for Charlie to exhibit any of that.
ReplyDeleteI sent this article to Bernie. My question is this..does this signal a course change for Dent and is he sincere? I'm waiting to ascertain the answer to my query. Time will tell..
ReplyDeleteWhat a pathetic wishy washy person. Can’t the Tea Party come up with someone with some backbone to run in 2 years?
ReplyDeleteHe’s starting to remind me of Harry Reid’s puppet Bob Casey.
There's nothing wishy washy about being willing to listen. The intolerant right and intolerant left are responsible for the gridlock that has made it impossible to govern.
ReplyDeleteMostly the intolerant right though Bernie. Notice the question is not whether to cut spending or not, the question is how much do we cut and where do we cut it from? That by itself shows that the left has been and is willing to compromise.
ReplyDeleteI dare the Tea Party to challenge Dent. A tea party congressional candidate doesn't have a prayer in this district.
No, the intolerance comes from both sides. Lately, it has been the right, to be sure. But I saw plenty from the left during the Obamacare debate. And I was disgusted by the religious intolerance towards Mormonism during the Presidential race.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, there was little, if any, intolerance towards Mormonism during the election. In fact, the only time I heard any was when you baited it in one of your blog postings. Unlike the "Obama is a Muslim" e-mails that were EVERYWHERE in 2008. As if being Muslim were a disqualifier, even if it was true.
Mittens has the golden tablets stashed away in several of his vacation homes throughout the globe, his refusal to display these holy relics shows his deep seeded avarice praise to be Allah that he did not win the Dictatorship
ReplyDeleteI see. I experienced the Chairman of Bethlehem's Planning Comm'n making completely intolerant remarks, in a post complaining about religious intolerance, and you call it baiting.
ReplyDeleteWhy why don't you ask Colin Powell which party is intolerant?
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteThe meaning of the term Bi-partisan when used used by the media and the Democrats means Republicans must abandon their principles and agree with the Democratic agenda. I don’t believe I remember any such calls for the Democrats to abandon their principles for the sake of agreement when George Bush was president. Can anyone recall any media hand wringing over a lack of bi-partisanship then? Of course not. And who would argue that when it comes to partisanship both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosie are themselves extremist.
Scott Armstrong
Scott I agree with your point, but at some point someone needs to be, to quote a phrase, "the adult in the room."
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Dent is involved in this, and hopefully good will come out of it. If not, at least he tried to lead.
The Banker
ReplyDeleteBanker,
The adults in the room are the Republicans who are refusing to acquiesce to the president's/ Democrats/media’s extremist agenda that is bankrupting the nation through uncontrolled borrowing and spending.
It is “adult” to govern responsibly, to stand against the current populist demagoguery of villains and victims. It is adult to state that we cannot in good conscience borrow from the next generations to satisfy the desires of those who want unlimited government growth and control now.
We are fortunate to have such people who will speak truth to power. They are the adults.
Scott Armstrong
Scott..with all due respect..you are not in Congress..Charlie is! Give him a chance and true bipartisanship a friggin' chance to work. Take a pill!
ReplyDeleteThere can be no bipartisanship until Democrats are forced/or willing to move to the center. There is no pressure for them to do so. Their extreme position is enabled by the media.
ReplyDeleteIt is that simple. For this understanding I need no pill.
Scott Armstrong
I just love how Scott sees the Democrats as the extremists.
ReplyDeleteYa' really got to love this guy.
I just love how Scott sees the Democrats as the extremists.
ReplyDeleteYa' really got to love this guy.
Scott question - what did you think of the Simpson Bowles plan?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you re extremism by the way.
The Banker
Scott, you do know that president Obama just won an election, right?
ReplyDeleteCharlie is a traditional conservative R with a soft spot for his local people. He is not a tea bagger. I for one..a Dem..will give him a chance to forge some new progressive alliances.
ReplyDeleteScott and Mr Banker,
ReplyDeleteYou fellas really should move to Mississippi. A lot of your ideas are already in place there. I think you would feel quite at home.
The Simpson Bowles plan is a perfect example of the president's failure to compromise.Did Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi pressure the president to support this? Did any major Democrat criticize the president or Democratic leadership for their failure to support this plan? Did the main stream media criticize any of the same for the failure to support the plan? No, no,and no.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is the no compromise stand is coming from the top. Despite his bipartisan rhetoric who would argue that he has never demonstrated a propensity to bring the two sides together.
Scott Armstrong
12:03
ReplyDeleteClearly the president does as well and acts on that Knowledge to pressure Republicans to surrender rather than compromise.
Scott Armstrong
The tyranny of the majority is not working. It is a by product of the democratic process but a dangerous one. Forget the political monikers and work the problems. It ain't rocket science!
ReplyDeleteParanoia and fear reigns supreme, Bernie, in the minds of the far right. What a terrible way to go thru life. I truly feel sorry for them.
ReplyDeleteIdeologues like Mr. Armstrong are not capable of that.
ReplyDeleteThe far left is just as pitiful. There is room in the middle for all of us.
ReplyDeleteRuby Ridge..Oklahoma City..David Koresh..The American far right is armed to the teeth and ready to take on the government if and when they decide to make a stand. It will happen again and we will all scratch our heads and say why? The second amendment has been co-opted and bastardized to suit the nut jobs purposes. Arms dealers are lower than bottom feeding bloggers!
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of commendable things one could say about the Mormon people. Mormonism, on the other hand, is bizarre and irrational. That other religions have ludicrous components doesn't change this fact.
ReplyDeleteHarry R. Mit R. may be judged on their individual merit.
Do your own research on the LDS and the charlatan and con man who founded the sect.
And do check out the web site Ex Mormon or look for them on YouTube. Very impressive and sobering testimony--no hate,no bigotry, just personal recollections from everyday people.
BYU Grad.
It's about how you live your life..not what faith ,if any, you follow.
ReplyDeleteWhat far left? You must be kidding me. The modern Democratic party is center right by any historical or international standard.
ReplyDeleteWTF!
47% voted against Obama and despise him. That's a large enough sample to justify attempting to thwart him at every turn. He hasn't done a bipartisan thing in four years. Reagan worked with O'Neal, Clinton with Gingrich, Bush with Ted Kennedy! Obama wants his opposition to ride in the back with Rosa Parks. That's fine. But he's the leader of the country and very Nixonian in his my way or the highway approach. He has no interest in bipartisanship and likely thinks Dent is the biggest asshole in DC, but available for useful idiot duty if needed.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to take it then Scott that you would support the Simpson Bowles plan, and so would I.
ReplyDeleteMy hope then is that this group Charlie is joining could be a catalyst for that kind of approach.
You're right, we won't get that from leadership, frankly on either side of the aisle. But if we can get an insurrection going, perhaps we could force their hand.
That's what I mean by adults in the room.
The Banker
Superstitious and irrational beliefs systems, with their attendant biases, bigotry and propensity for dividing and separating people, add nothing to our culture or our body politic.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time in Western culture when religion reined supreme.
We call that period the Dark Ages.
Keep the faith, pass me the reason please.
Mr Banker, if Mr Armstrong has ever uttered a bi-partisan word on this site could I trouble you to point it out.
ReplyDeleteNow the President is using Charlie as a puppet? WTF are you drinking..corn squeezings? Move to SC and buy yourself a white robe and hood. What a jerk..
ReplyDeleteThose R's you mentioned were not insane like Boehner is.
ReplyDeleteBipartisan usually means go-along-get-along government. You know, the kind that has delivered the current mess. When they're all getting along, it's because they're tag-teaming us from behind.
ReplyDeleteYou can only dance if your partner gets up and moves to the floor and approaches you in mutuality. Boehner is a slug..
ReplyDeleteThere's no need for bipartisanship when you can write executive orders. Elections have consequences. Congress is easily bypassed.
ReplyDeleteHistory lesson again needed..Georgie Bush got us here with his R compatriots..Obama trying to fix the crap left on the floor.
ReplyDeleteBoehner controls one half of one third of the process. He's nearly irrelevant. The D Senate killed Obama's only budget 99-0. Talk about bipartisan. Harry Reid isn't going to let any meaningful gun legislation reach the Senate floor either. Whatever Boehner is, he's an amateur compared to the oily, gun-obsessed magic underwearer from Nevada.
ReplyDeleteBernie, you going to let him get away with that magic underwear smear?
ReplyDeleteGeorge W Bush is a great man, and history will judge him a great president.
ReplyDeleteBanker,
ReplyDelete"My hope then is that this group Charlie is joining could be a catalyst for that kind of approach."
The president and Democratic leaders will never let this effort go anywhere.It is their way of the highway.Wish it weren't so.
Scott Armstrong
If only Obama would have co-operated early in his administration when the Republicans reached out their hand and offered to work with him in collaboration for the greater good of the country.
ReplyDeleteThink what could have been accomplished!
A historic oppertunity missed.
What a tragedy.
Sadly,many of our leaders lack Mr Armstrongs ability to find meaningful compromise and common ground.
ReplyDeleteIf only Obama would have co-operated early in his administration when the Republicans reached out their hand and offered to work with him in collaboration for the greater good of the country.
ReplyDeleteThink what could have been accomplished!
A historic oppertunity missed.
What a tragedy.
dems perfected the underwear smear. it's it a problem, now? is it more hurtful to be made sport of for your religious garments or what anderson cooper dangles in your face? occupy fleabaggers have no sense of humor and very thin skins
ReplyDeletewarm regards,
goose/gander
Oh Goosey Gander don't stop.
ReplyDeleteI love it when you talk to us that way you big hunka manhood you-------and your name, Goosey!
Please, tell us more.
I'm not voting for anyone who believes the earth is flat. Regardless of which party they belong to.
ReplyDeleteMay the Republic be spared from religious zealots and believers in voodoo big brothers in the sky.
Go ahead Bernie, call me a bigot.
The GOP spent four long years attempting to advance bi-partisanship and a spirit of cooperation. Where did it get us?
ReplyDeleteI say enough Mr Nice guy tactics.
We tried and we tried and got nothing in return.
Healthcare reform is all bullshit. The system was working fine just the way it was before this Socialists tryed to force this down our throats.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteIf only Obama would have co-operated early in his administration when the Republicans reached out their hand and offered to work with him in collaboration for the greater good of the country.
Think what could have been accomplished!
A historic oppertunity missed.
What a tragedy.
1:18 PM"
Love the attempt at sarcasm but that form of humor works best when the statement reflex the exact opposite of the truth. When Obama won his first term there were the usual Republican suspects in the senate who would have been willing to work with the Democrats to craft bipartisan health care legislation. They too were frozen out of the process with with all of the other Republicans. "Republicans can come along but have to sit in the back seat" was one of many Obama bipartisan lines. (note correct use of sarcasm).
Scott Armstrong
Pray tell Armstrong, who were those willing Republican collaborators?
ReplyDeleteAnd Sotts knowledge of the Civil Rights struggle---very impressive dude.
ReplyDeleteR's willing to work with Oboma on health care?
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness Scott, how can you say that with a straight face?
Scott's too ideologically bound for Fox news.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeletePray tell Armstrong, who were those willing Republican collaborators?"
Collin, Snow, Graham, and McCain for starters.
Scott Armstrong
While we are at it let's remind the good readers here of George Bush's bipartisanship.
ReplyDeleteNo Child Left Behind legislation
Prescription Drug Bill
War in Iraq(Dem's voted twice to support)
Scott Armstrong
Snow,yes.
ReplyDeleteGraham. How's he faired with the Tea Baggers?
What is a "Tea Bagger"?
ReplyDeleteA hostile smear, perhaps?
No, of course not.
My bad.
On reflection, let me add Dick Lugar and our own Arlin Specter(although he demonstrated his bipartisanship by changing parties).
ReplyDeleteScott
Way fuckin' hostile. Make no doubt about it. Doesn't quite rise to the occasion but it will have to do for now.
ReplyDeleteCharlie has been in Congress long enough to start making a name for himself and the Lehigh Valley. Its about time that we start seeing him on TV, national radio showing some leadership!! He is a moderate Republican. He is what the party needs now. Not the nutty right wingers. He and his likes are the future of the party. I want to see more of him out there on National issues. Come on Charlie, get out of your office and start leading!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell said 7:03. It's as simple as that and now we wait to see if he has the courage of his supposed new convictions.
ReplyDeleteThere has not been much cooperation between the parties for a very long time now. America is a divided country on many different levels. Is it too much to hope for rational government? I'm not giving up and I hope there are others who feel the same way and are willing to do some heavy lifting.
ReplyDeleteCouple your post with the article in today's Express "Dent joins the 'No Labels' movement."
ReplyDeleteI went on their website, where they proclaim "No Labels does not expect anyone to shed their identity when they join our movement. We are a community of proud liberals, proud conservatives and everything in between who are united by the conviction that people with different beliefs really can set aside the labels and come together to solve problems."
The Express (Washington Post) piece concludes, "we can begin tapping our potential the moment we stop taking the score and begin taking steps to start solving problems."
There will always be the "my way or the highway" crowd on both L and R, many of whom often dominate discussion on LVR, but I think its time to stop following them off the cliff.
I congratulate Charlie for having the backbone to risk the ire of the Tea Nut crowd that pushed many of us moderate center-rights away from the Republican party. Considering the $8 a vote Dent spent compared to the pennies per vote Dougherty spent, the election-while comfortable enough-was closer than one would have expected. His new district may be pretty safely Republican, but not so safe. Rediscovering the old Dent is a positive.
Scott,
ReplyDelete"W" was just all around wonderful as a president in every way!
Thanks for reminding us.
ReplyDeleteDUMMY
The teabaggerds have declared themselves the adults in the room and anyone who disagrees is anti-
ReplyDeleteAmerican.
Not since the "Know Nothings" have we seen such a self righteous, non credible politcal force.
Fortunatley, the American people are seeing them as an extreme political fad and are paying less and less attention to them.
You can only bitch and whine so much before you are seen as a child, impotently stamping your little feet becaaue you didn't get your way.
The teabaggers are a strange awray of racists, biogots, anti-tax, anti-goivernment, uber-Chritiaan, pro-gun, anti-woman's choice formed into a coaltion.
An amazing thing.
Ritchie
Ritchie, you are an imbecile.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you are on some sort of government relief (or work for the government.
Well done Ritchie. You just hit a home run..
ReplyDelete... for stupidity!
ReplyDelete..for intelligence!
ReplyDeleteanon 9:55, we need government employees to get your disabilty check out as well as your Mom's social security.
ReplyDeleteHooray for dents staff.They must have done a new poll in his new geremandered district.Mennonites are a hardworking gentle bunch.Their inspiration hopefully will do Dent well.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be quite the expert on free money from the Gubmint, Anon 3:38 AM ...
ReplyDelete... I'm impressed.
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ReplyDelete