So, apparently the other human being who lives with me doesn’t agree with my post about the Democrats being big meanies who don’t want to compromise. She says, and it’s certainly a valid point, that the Republicans have shown no interest in compromise, and the Democrats have things they need to get done. So they should just do them. Getting the majority is no small feat, and they need to make things happen quickly or run the risk of losing ground in the 2008 elections, where Republicans will be eager to play up any failures by the new majority.
I think that was Mike‘s point in the comments, too – they need to jump in and get some things done, and then they can worry about compromising.
On some level, I have this optimistic view that the Democrats will rush in and stand on principle, doing things the Right Way even if it means they lose, and then eventually that Right Way will win out, and the country will be better off. Why I think that, I don’t know. I’m not usually that optimistic. I think I hold Democrats to a higher standard than I do Republicans.
In any event, my view has been tempered somewhat. But I still don’t like the sound of what they’re doing.