Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Sid Salter: Biden's 'Reach Across the Aisle" is Pragmatic Approach

Among most of his supposed 2020 Democratic presidential primary opponents – particularly those hitching their political wagons to the New Left – Joe Biden’s recent comments on the days when those with significant differences within their own parties and certainly with those in the opposing parties could reach out and work together for the common good have been denounced as political heresy and compared to “dog vomit.”


Joe Biden’s record on civil rights, other than on the topic of busing, certainly in no substantive way compares with those of Georgia U.S. Sen. Herman Talmadge or Mississippi U.S. Sen. James O. Eastland. Biden was also a protege of sorts of Mississippi U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis, but Stennis was up until his final years on Capitol Hill an opponent of civil rights legislation.

The rest of the 2020 Democratic presidential field saw Biden’s musings on how he coexisted and interacted with political opposites like Talmadge, Eastland and Stennis as evidence of a sort of betrayal of the views of modern day New Left Democrats who are at best hyper-partisan and who speak the politically correct language of the young and angry wing of the Democratic Party.

Biden’s recent remarks closely mirror those made in the past by Teddy Kennedy, who famously drank whiskey and smoked cigars with Eastland in his office during the days when Eastland controlled the Senate Judiciary Committee. Biden was clearly closer to Stennis, but he maintained a working relationship with Eastland as well.

Unfortunately, we have reached a point in this country where hyper-partisanship – blind, unyielding devotion to one party or another at the expense of all else – has become virtuous while bipartisanship has become ignoble vice. It’s not enough to disagree politically, but the new partisanship almost requires that political combat ensue and that there be clear winners and losers. Both parties are guilty of it and neither of the major U.S. political parties can claim much moral high ground.

The castigation of Biden for giving countenance to bipartisanship and the notion of reaching out to political foes shows how deeply political gridlock grips Washington, D.C., now at a time when legislation that passes the Republican-controlled Senate is virtually guaranteed to be dead-on-arrival in the Democrat-controlled House.

The proliferation of political “purity” TV news coverage makes the rejection of bipartisanship a virtual certainty. Conservatives are told on Fox News about the supposedly dangerous strategies and motives of liberal Democrats. Liberals get the same political indictments of conservatives MSNBC while CNN carries on a running battle with the Trump White House.

And what the political affinity news networks don’t accomplish in terms of undermining bipartisanship, social media accomplishes with great precision. The steady torrent of social media posts and Tweets designed to sway voters is a big part of the economic collapse of traditional media outlets and leaves readers to fend for themselves in the marketplace of ideas. In far too many cases, the loudest voice dominates the conversation.

Biden offered the fair point that governing is about finding common ground with political adversaries and negotiating for public policies that generate buy-in from both sides of the political aisle.

Gridlock in Congress is clearly part of the dynamic driving Donald Trump’s rise to power and his appeal to voters who are sick and tired of traditional politicians who can’t seem to make the process work. In the absence of working bipartisanship that can lead Congress to get the people’s business done, voters will likely continue to gravitate toward political leadership on the extremes of both major parties.

And before Republicans take too much glee in the internecine warfare among Democrats, the GOP has their own problems between those solidly on the Trump train, the Tea Party wing and the mainstream Republicans. Many of Trumps supporters appear more supporters of him in an almost cult of personality rather than traditional partisans.

Biden pointed out something that should be elementary to both sides. There is an independent group of voters in this nation looking for a functional government that can actually govern. For them, bipartisanship is a good thing and desirable. Their goals run deeper than trading social media barbs and exchanging insults.

They want government to solve real problems and serve real needs.

Biden is the presumptive Democratic frontrunner, but he has a record that will be examined and may produce obstacles to his campaign. Calling for mutual respect and bipartisanship on Capitol Hill – even among Americans with vastly different beliefs and values – is not one of them.

Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sid...Fox news doesn't need to tell me a damn thing about how dangerous the left is to this country. I (unlike yourself) have the cognitive abilities to listen the Dem idiots and understand that for myself. You have devolved through the years to a two bit, left wing, condescending political hack. But keep up the good work, people of your ilk are who keep us poor dumb conservatives energized. I doubt this gets posted but it made me feel good just typing it.

Anonymous said...

Tune in to the Cartoon Network 7 cst tonight if you want to watch the dem debates. Tune in 6:30 if you want to see the clown car unloading.
My bet is Pocahontas and Spartacus get out first. Biden will stay inside to cop a feel

Anonymous said...

Biden is trying to have it both ways - he shamelessly panders to lawless, far-left extremists while attempting to beguile moderates in a desperate struggle to appear reasonable.

Joe will ultimately be his own undoing with his constantly evolving stances on everything from trade to climate change to border security...everything I've come to expect from a Democrat.

Anonymous said...

Biden...LOL. Trump wins in 2020, period. Probably a landslide.

Messick said...

His old boss is a Marxist.

'Nuff said.


Similar topic: Is that Mayor Pete a top or a bottom?

Anonymous said...

Sid, this is not an example of bipartisan negotiations.
Eastland and Tallmedge were of the SAME PARTY as Biden, Democrats.

The party of Jim Crow, KKK and Citizens Council was the Democrat Party.

Anonymous said...

Simply on moral grounds Trump is done, the people who claim to support him today actually have morals and will either not vote or write in someone else.
Clinton lost not because of who voted but who didn't vote. The same thing will happen to Trump. Their aren't enough people who can hold their nose!

Anonymous said...

It has been said that politics is “the art of compromise “. Currently there is no compromise, only name calling and hate between the parti. The division between the parties has gotten too wide for compromise and until there are sensible and honorable individuals elected it’s not going to change. Biden isn’t either.

Anonymous said...

Joe Biden issued a public apology for daring to call vice-president Mike Pence a "decent guy." Where I come from "decent guy" is hardly laudatory praise.

Joe Biden cannot pontificate on the need to reach across the aisle.

Then again, Joe Biden thinks the word "jobs" is composed of three letters.

Anonymous said...

Reaching across the aisle is what got us gun control, human poo in the streets of San Francisco, drag queens reading filth to children in public libraries and a massive flood of 3rd world invaders.

Anonymous said...

The average at least semi-intelligent voter has long come to the conclusion that neither party really represents his interests, so the party power was left to the fringe crazies and interest groups. Those groups wield their power isolated in the party primaries, so the candidates pander to them. They promise damn near anything to get the nomination, free college education, medicaid for all, a border wall paid for by another country, etc. When the general election comes around you can choose between Satan and Lucifer. Unless this party crap is reformed it will only get worse!

Anonymous said...

Biden may be the only candidate who is as mentally challenged as is the current occupant of the WH. A genuine Hobson's choice awaits us.

Anonymous said...

Remember when candidate Obama, and later President, talked about bipartisanship and reaching across the aisle? It was bunk. Same with Biden. If elected, he will be as bipartisan as Obama was, which means he will not be bipartisan. His party will not let hem be, even if he were genuine, which is doubtful.

Anonymous said...

I beg to differ, the current office holder is a league on his own.
He lost the popular vote the last time. If it wasn't for the electoral college, Clinton is President. He hasn't did anything to Expand his base. I just don't see how he wins either.

Anonymous said...

If it comes down to Trump and Biden, I'm with Biden! Couldn't bring myself to vote for Trump last time (or Hilary!). A decent guy and someone who looks for the common good is priority. Sad that every candidate can't have those two qualities so we can get down to core issues!

Anonymous said...

It's going to be hard for anyone on the left to appeal to the extreme right and why should they? If the people want a lawless, lying, raping, stealing, thug POS, the Republicans already have the best man for the job.

Anonymous said...

12:03 He wins unless the Democrats can somehow select a nominee who has not made a buttload of outrageous commitments to the young and vocal far left to win the nomination. People will simply stick with the liar we already have rather than start all over with a new one. It's a ridiculous situation.

Anonymous said...

Biden’s attempts to cater to the extremist right vote is beyond misguided. The right wants a pussy grabbing doofus, and there is no way they can compete with the king of grabbing pussies.

Anonymous said...

9 million more jobs now that at the exact time in Obama’s presidency. Obama told us 2.6 million of those jobs were gone and not coming back. Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians have the lowest unemployment rate in HISTORY. America has more than 1.6 job openings than job applicants. Minimum wage is up 16% on its own. The average hourly wage in America is $26.00. Texas has negative unemployment as does 7 other states. Yet dems want you to believe the sky is falling and to be frozen in place because Trump is mean. Vote America First not hysteria first. And for damn sure if you have been on the same bus for 50 years and it has not gotten you any where near where they promised - get off. Particularly if that bus’s previous stops included slavery, poll taxes, Dred Scott, segregation, the eugenics movement and mandatory sentencing.

Anonymous said...

Biden is not the solution; he and his ilk are the problem. This lifer has been in DC for 50 years!

How many of those years has he been a pervert? Asking for a friend.

Anonymous said...

Hey put me on 3rd when I hit a single and it's a home run. Just about every economist will tell you this is still Obama's economy that Trump's tax cuts and tariffs are going to screw up.

Anonymous said...

Sid, you make some good points while at the same time use the word 'bipartianship' to describe Biden working with Eastland, Talmedge, Stennis et.al. That was not bipartianship - it was Democrat to Democrat. And it was not so much of a stretch for Biden to reach his other civil rights opponents as partners - because Biden in his almost pure white conclave of Delaware was not beating the drum to integrate their facilities either.

Biden's problem is that he has been all over the board with his policies and positions, not to mention his 'ethical breeches. His son's billion dollar deals done via AF2, along with Kerry'a son being the most visable. But once brother Jim's 'transactions' done solely by the last name association all come to light it will take years to investigate them all. (And several of Jim Biden's operation can be seen right here in MS - using another 'brother' to help grease the wheel - Tom Espy while Mike was AG Sec. (And as usual when dealing with nasty Democratic politics, there is always a 'brand' left on the deal to help identify it.)

Rod Knox said...

When a Democrat is back in the White House I can imagine the stink raised complaining about the national debt. But for now all that's important is tax cuts on easy money income. If the Fed is forced to raise the prime rate to 4%+ while Trump is POTUS what will he do?

Anonymous said...

If you are on third and you hit a single you are playing some whacked out game just like those so called economist that know everything about money but somehow are never millionaires. Obama had the SADIM touch ( opposite of Midas) everything he touched turned to shit. Only people that got rich were his globalist buddies. He murdered small businesses with mounds of regulations and certifications. He destroyed the middle class. The lower class was constantly under cut by cheap illegal labor. That is why you are seeing Obamavilles sprouting up in Democrat strongholds all over America. He was an economic nightmare.

Anonymous said...

Sid...Fox news doesn't need to tell me a damn thing about how dangerous the left is to this country. I (unlike yourself) have the cognitive abilities to listen the Dem idiots and understand that for myself. You have devolved through the years to a two bit, left wing, condescending political hack. But keep up the good work, people of your ilk are who keep us poor dumb conservatives energized. I doubt this gets posted but it made me feel good just typing it.

And its comments like that, that keeps my disgust for Mississippi Republicans going strong!!! Yee-haw!!!!!

Anonymous said...

God help us!
Our " greatest generation" and their children who were born before WWII understood there were things more important than their personal preferences, selfish interests and ambitions.

There was not only cooperation across the aisle but each side actually thought that the country had to come first and that what was good for the country was good for their party.

Now, it's whats good for the party and the party's biggest contributors and getting rich while in office.

And, those of you who believe the simplistic drivel and propaganda and don't bother to get the facts or educate yourselves about how government works so as to know how easily you can be duped, have sold this Nation down the river.

You believe what you want to believe out of convenience or to go along with your group of identification. Thinking for yourselves or imaging what you may not know or been taught would never occur to you.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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