MrSpkr's random thoughts . . .: Note to GOP: Nobody likes a whiner

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Note to GOP: Nobody likes a whiner
Apparently, house Republicans are upset that the Democrats are using their House majority to -- surprise -- pass legislation they favor and shut out the minority.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi publicly and repeatedly pledged before November's election that if Democrats won a House majority and she became speaker they would treat Republicans with respect and comity and would foster bipartisanship.

Instead, three weeks into a session in which the strong-willed Pelosi has rammed through important legislation and major rule changes, increasingly exasperated and angry Republicans are asking when the new Democratic speaker and her leadership team will keep their pledge to create a less-partisan, more-open atmosphere.

Listen up, GOP: this is how you act when you are in the majority. You pass bills supporting issues on which you were elected. If you claim to be the party of fiscal restraint, then you pass bills exercising that restraint. You shut out members of the opposition and legislate. If the country doesn't like the legislation you generate, they'll let you know at the ballot box.

That's the way the Founders designed the system.

And its the way many conservatives (myself included) wish the GOP would have governed over the past twelve years. Had they done so, I suspect they would still be in the majority.

What can the Republicans do about the situation? Not much, so long as the Democrats remain unified. All the Republicans can do is take on the role of the loyal opposition, standing up for conservative principles and values where they can, and forging alliances with conservative Democrats when possible.

Oh -- and the Republicans can stop the whining. Nobody likes (or respects, for that matter) a whiner.
- posted by MrSpkr @ 09:51

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