Posted by
Icarus on Saturday, November 08, 2008 3:45:45 PM
David Brooks has a dream. He dreams of a place of "
a happy place. [Where there are] flowery meadows and rainbow skies, and rivers
made of chocolate, where the children danced and laughed and played
with gumdrop smiles." It is a wonderful "postpartisan" Candy Land where the word of the day is always "bipartisanship". ... screeeech ... Wait a minute ... Postpartisan? ... Bipartisan? ... Huh?
A Partisan, according to Merriam-Webster.com, is "a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person". Let's read "postpartisan" as similar in meaning to "postmodern", that is, "relating to, or being an era after" a partisan one. Therefore, "postpartisan" is an era in which people are no longer firm adherents to a party, faction, cause or person.
So if we are all no longer adhering to our political parties or causes, then how do we become "bipartisan", which is defined as " involving members of two parties [that is, two
partisans]
; specifically: marked by or involving cooperation, agreement, and compromise between two major political parties."
It strikes me that we are either living in the wonderful happy land of "postpartisan" America or we are all partisans but living in the warm glow of cooperation, agreement and compromise. How is one both Modern and Postmodern? How is one both Postpartisan and Bipartisan? I don't understand. But then I'm not a "conservative" writing for the Democrat Times of New York.
Bipartisan has one meaning that everyone recognizes, but most, especially elites living and working in the New York - Washington D.C. corridor, refuse to admit. Bipartisanship is when Republicans give in to Democrat demands.
David Brooks "dream" for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid regime, is just that, a dream. It is pure fantasy. Where has Mr. Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, John Kerry or any of the other numerous radical Lefties now running Congress and the White House ever shown themselves as bipartisan, let alone "postpartisan"? In the midst of a "bipartisan" financial market bailout boondogle what did Speaker of the House Pelosi do? Launched herself into a bitter partisan tirade against Pres. Bush and Republicans. What did Mr. Obama do in the middle of his first news conference? Throw an ignorant insult at former First Lady Nancy Reagan.
But these are the folks that Mr. Brooks think will be "postpartisan" or at least bipartisan enough to appoint Republicans like Robert Gates at the Defense Department or
Diane Ravitch or
Jim Talent to "important jobs" not just "marginal jobs" (how about any job?).
They must put something in the water at the Democrat Times of New York offices.
Either that or Mr. Brooks is making a bid for a new career as an author of fantasy fiction.
Art above by
Egor Malygin.