"Ex Malo Bonum": Out of Bad Comes Good

[OmahaBlueDog]

Note from the poster: This is an interesting piece on HuffPo from Michael Burns, a self-described "moderate Republican." There are some items I agree with, and much that I disagree with. I think what will strike most DUers is that, in spite of views that are light years ahead of other Republicans, there are some jaw dropping blind spots (particularly with regard to abortion, as well as the need for "Democrats reaching across the aisle to actually get something done&quot . The reaction posts at the bottom are also worth skimming.

Being a moderate Republican can be very lonely. I supported Mitt Romney for the simple reason that I believed that he would accomplish more than our current president.

In truth, there is no real Republican Party today. Will Rogers famous line -- "I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat" -- better fits the fragmented state of today's dysfunctional Republican family.

My father, who landed at Iwo Jima and recently passed away, used to tell me that if your point of view doesn't upset the zealots on both sides of an issue, then it probably doesn't come close to solving the problem at hand. I agree with him.

Women and Hispanics voted overwhelming for Obama's second term, and they should have. I agree wholeheartedly with my dear friend Susan Collins of Maine who told The New York Times this week that the "Republicans cannot win with just rural, white voters." That said, neither Democrats nor our country can win without Democrats reaching across the aisle to actually get something done. And it better be quickly.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-burns/ex-malo-bonum-out-of-bad-_b_2092357.html

[66 dmhlt]

1. What about the need for REPUBLICANS to reach across the aisle???

I'm tired of us reaching, only to have our knuckles thwacked.

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. My thought as well

McConnell was committedfrom day 1 in 2009 to make this administration fail. I see no reason to work with them until they stop regurgitating Ayn Rand and Grover Norquist and actually bring workable ideas to the table. Hint: Anything not involving raising taxes on the top 25% of wage earners is a non-starter.