Bare-Knuckled Bipartisans

With the Congressional sweep only a day old, with conciliatory words issuing from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, ladies and germs – we are about to get a view about what 21^st Century Bipartisanship looks like. First, the Chief Executive speaks of finding common ground. He served sandwiches for the new Speaker and eggs and grits for Harry Reid, the presumptive Senate Majority Leader, with a reputation as an infighter with sharp elbows and a powerful jab. At the same time, he announced that the lame-duck Senate must put its blessing on the appointment of John Bolton as U.N. Ambassador, thus throwing the first punch.

You may recall that Mr. Bolton was a controversial nominee, a bully who uses a bazooka where a stiletto will suffice. His appointment was stalled in committee, but when Congress was in recess, the President made a “temporary recess appointment,” which has lasted more than a year. The Democrat minority cried foul, but had no choice but to swallow it.

You would think that the President would view Mr. Bolton’s permanent appointment unlikely by a Senate about to switch seats. Ok, not unlikely – impossible. When the Senate fails to push through the Bolton mandate, the President will decry the end of bipartisanship, so that we can get to lack of business as usual. Mr. Reid and the Decider will then lock horns for the next 24 months, with the President aggrieved that he offered his hand in friendship, only to be spurned by the new majority.

“Bipartisanship,” said Mr. Bush, “is a two-way street.” But the President has begun veering out of his lane, hoping to force Congress into oncoming traffic.