…Pelosi claims that “the House has had a remarkable level of achievement over the first year, passing 130 key measures — with nearly 70 percent passing with significant bipartisan support.”
That figure is achieved by setting the bar conveniently low — measuring as bipartisan any issue in which even 50 House Republicans broke ranks to vote with the Democrats. Thus, a party-line vote in which Democrats supported but most Republicans opposed criminal penalties for price-gouging on gasoline was converted, in Pelosi’s accounting, into a “bipartisan” vote because it was backed by 56 Republicans.
Jesus Christ, David! It’s bipartisan when Chris Shays (alone) votes with the Democrats. You are going to complain that 56 Republican votes are not enough to make a claim of bipartisanship? Tell it to the president. He thought Zell Miller bestowed bipartisanship on everything he touched…like a crazy, craggy King Midas.
It would seem the math is pretty simple. When Democrats are the majority, bipartisanship is attained only when the majority of Republicans sign on. When Republicans are in the majority, bipartisanship is attained when Joe Lieberman signs on.
Exactly.
It’s only bipartisan if Broder says it is.
If it were for liberal bloggers looking for a laugh or a little outrage, who actually reads dickwads like Broder?