The death and services for former President George H. W. Bush have had an interesting effect: politicians, in this time of bitter partisan divide, have had to behave in a mature manner. It's been instructive to see who has stepped up and who has stayed in the shadows. Graciousness is often dismissed as trivial in the rough-and-tumble political arena but I think it's a valuable quality.
It probably does some good to bring them all together in a situation that does not encourage childish sniping. They have plenty to disagree about, substantial and important issues, which too often are submerged by the cheap shot, the snide comment, histrionic outrage and posturing for the press. None of that's easy to pull off at a solemn memorial service.
Maybe it won't help matters much. Still, it can't hurt.
Ffffttttppptttt.
ReplyDeleteThey'll be back to their old 'tricks' in short order...
I think there is a very short list of things that need to happen to restore civility in Washington.
ReplyDelete1) Forbid anyone in government from using social media -- stop the sly, catty, nasty posts where seemingly nobody has any filters.
2) Take the cameras out of the House and Senate -- stop the grandstanding and get back to the people's business.
Unfortunately #1 isn't going to happen, and #2 would only work if the press were actually objective and neutral.
I see in Michigan that our Republican lame ducks are trying to pass a batch of laws so that the incoming Democrats will have their hands tied behind their back. Such laws will take much power out of the incoming government, and instead, have it go to an "Independent bi partisan body", or some such nonsense, who will better be able to serve the public.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing, politics. The Republicans haven't learned from what the Democrats did with federal issues. The Democrats found that it was all well and good to change the rules to benefit themselves, when they were in power. But once the Republicans got power, the Democrats got the shaft, big time.
And yet politicians continue to be short sighted about most everything they do. I guess they count on the public having short memories. Sadly, I think they are right.
Cameras in the House and Senate have an interesting history. Prior to C-SPAN, grandstanding was for the Congressional Record, hometown newspapers and the wire services, and the visitor's galleries.
ReplyDeleteBut now it’s grandstanding all the way down.
ReplyDeleteI’d also like to see the Code Duello brought back for Members of Congress, and gutta-percha canes should be available for purchase in the Senate gift shop.
ReplyDeleteFuzzy, this time, let's not limit the caning to Senators.
ReplyDelete