Moore's movie makes me question the value of bipartisan legislation all the more.

[JDPriestly]

I noticed while watching Capitalism: A Love Story that that one of the most recent pieces of bipartisan legislation was the act repeal of Glass-Steagall. Clinton and the Republicans including Phil Gramm worked together quite harmoniously. Be sure to get a good look at Clinton's and Robert Rubin's eyes in pictures showing their joy at the signing of the repeal.

That one scene is worth the price of the ticket. Bipartisanship is not necessarily good for our country.

[fasttense]

1. I found the scene with President Reagan and Merrill Lynch's CEO

very disturbing. Donald Regan, former Merrill Lynch CEO, was at that time chief of staff to President Reagan.

Regan interrupts a befuddled President Reagan and tells him to speed up the speech (paraphrasing) and then snorts as if with disdain. The President's response was "Oh" in high pitch, sing song voice that sounded like a little boy being disciplined by his father.

Then when the bush was shown reading from the TelePrompter, telling us we had to bail out Wall Street, it seemed as if the bush was unaware of what he was saying and simply serving as a mouthpiece of the uber wealthy.

Very chilling.

[JDPriestly]

2. I found that disturbing too. What arrogance.

[Echo In Light]

3. United we FALL ... and in more ways than one

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Clinton: "I don't care if you call it the Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge

Herbert Hoover bill, just pass it".

Telling and Chilling.

[kenny blankenship]

5. Bipartisan is just a quick way of saying

Democrats enacting the Republican corporatist agenda. Nothing more.

If something is "bipartisan" there is a 99.9% chance it is very bad for ordinary Americans.

[rudy23]

6. This needs to be its own post. Possibly a sticky?

I think Obama's rush to "bipartisanship" is curiously unprompted by anyone but himself.

[leftstreet]

7. +1

[Individualist]

10. +2

"The Democratic Leadership Council's agenda is indistinguishable from the Republican Neoconservative agenda," - Dennnis Kucinich

[unblock]

8. calling for "bipartisanship" usually means negotiating against yourself.

bipartisanship has a good name when everyone is coming together for something non-controversial, which is increasingly rare these days. maybe declaring baseball the national pasttime. nah, the nfl would lobby against that. apple pie? orange growers of america. mom? ok, mom, that would probably get genuine bipartisan support.

but when we're talking about something controversial, something that entrenched interests have fought for decades, seeking bipartisanship is folly. if a genuine bipartisan solution were readily available, it would have happened years and years ago. it HAS to be partisan in achievement.

the bipartisan support only comes later, when the (republican) losing party reluctantly realizes that they have constituents who like the new program.

[Romulox]

9. It's just another name for Good Cop/Bad Cop. nt

[Soylent Brice]

11. nail meet hammer.

[Hidden Stillness]

12. Progress is Only Made When Dems Unite and Rule; Bi-Partisan Kills Everything

I have not seen/heard the new documentary yet, but I'm sure that all of the cooperation was sickening--remember that Clinton also signed the merciless Republican cuts to poor women on welfare, A.F.D.C., etc., and also killed a program that Medicare used to fund, for in-home visits by a nurse, so disabled people can stay in their homes and not have to be put in nursing homes, etc.; an actual money-saver. Damn prick killed it and gave the usual smug grin and Republican handshake. Remember also, it was Al Gore who fought so hard on a public campaign for NAFTA and GATT (which Harry Truman refused to pass), and the stock market's "carbon exchange" crap.

If you read at all about the history of great legislation, you will find that not only are they not cooperating, but there are bitter, vicious fights, Republican/corporate lying and slander campaigns, and hate (Republicans and media did not refer to Franklin Roosevelt as "that cripple in the White House" because they were so friendly and bi-partisan). The only times great things have been done--from the New Deal to Lyndon Johnson's jobs and anti-poverty programs, from Lady Bird Johnson's campaign against commercial signs on highways to all anti-discrimination laws for all oppressed groups--it has been when Democrats have gotten themselves braced for an ugly, horrific fight, united with only liberal Republicans (there actually used to be such things), and twisted arms, made deals, called on favors, and did all the rest of the real work.

Remember, the late beloved Ted Kennedy could have gotten some shitty, corporate-scam "health care" (insurance) bill passed many years ago, just with all the friendships Kennedy had in Congress--but never did! Kennedy wanted real, universal health care treatment, like Medicare/Medicaid/S-CHIP, etc., and not just any facade. Progress is only made when Democrats are the total, controlling majority, and they act like Democrats and get things done--and Clinton didn't have it, and Obama doesn't have it, I now believe.

[mdmc]

13. --