One of the major political developments of the last half-decade is the success of Democrats at capturing “purple” and even “red” districts that were once viewed as unassailably Republican.<\/p>\n
From Arkansas to Wyoming, Dems now control turf where the population tends to be far more conservative and traditionalist than many of the party’s leaders.<\/p>\n
What this means is that much of the “bipartisanship” in Washington occurs within the Democratic movement’s big tent.<\/p>\n
You have fierce negotiations between leaders like Max Baucus and Chuck Schumer, men who’s political stripes are almost unrecognizably different.<\/p>\n
A case in point is yesterday’s healthcare vote, where thirteen Democrats and one Republican in the Senate finance committee voted in favor of a reform bill.<\/p>\n
That 14-9 vote win represents an effort at compromise that encompasses a huge swath of liberal, moderate and even center-right thinking.<\/p>\n
So if the bill is a consensus bill, and largely centrist, why don’t more actual Republicans sign on?<\/p>\n
I think there are two reasons. The first is politics. The GOP has made it clear that it sees healthcare as President Barack Obama’s “waterloo.”<\/p>\n
Defeating him on this cornerstone initiative could weaken his entire presidency, derailing an ambitious and controversial agenda.<\/p>\n
The second reason, though, is ideological.<\/p>\n
As the GOP has dwindled in size, its surviving members are far more conservative than the traditional Republican of the past.<\/p>\n
The party that once included Rockefeller-style moderates and Schwarzenegger-style pragmatists has largely evaporated.<\/p>\n
It was significant a year or so ago when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg canceled his GOP membership.<\/p>\n
For many modern Republicans, government isn’t only a problem, it’s an evil — a force that erodes and degrades the quality of American life.<\/p>\n
The idea that our elected officials might use government action to solve (or at least mitigate) a problem as large as the healthcare crisis is unacceptable to movement conservatives.<\/p>\n
So long as Democrats hold large majorities in Washington, we will see most of the negotiations and compromises going forward occurring within their party.<\/p>\n
In one sense, this is a good thing for our democracy. In 2010, Democrats will own health care reform — and likely some other landmark pieces of legislation.<\/p>\n
Americans will have a clear choice between their leadership and the leadership of Republicans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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