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The Joys of Transpartisanship

Yesterday, I attended a book forum at the Cato Institute, entitled A Tragic Legacy: How a Good vs. Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency. It featured the author, Glenn Greenwald, with comments by Lee Casey, Partner, Baker Hostetler.

The chatter afterward was, well, interesting. The room seemed entirely polarized, with Bush bashers and boosters. Then there was me. I fell into a conversation with boosters, and I tried my best to be respectful. These stalwarts seemed to recite the talking points one hears on right-wing talk radio. But one finally said: We had to do it (invade Iraq).

I could no longer contain myself. Had to? Like there were no other options?

Yes, he had WMD, was killing his own people, had his eyes set on Saudi Arabia, etc., etc., etc.

Yes, of course, I responded, Saddam was a bad guy. But did the US have to invade?

They backed off, half-heartedly acknowledging that “mistakes were made.” They then changed the subject to the firings of US attorneys. A president can fire anyone he wants, for whatever reason he wants.

Yes, that seems correct, I responded. But don’t you acknowledge that such politically motivated firings don’t play too well with the public? Has it occurred to you that Bush’s high-handed “style” could well lead to a Hillary Clinton presidency?

These fine gentlemen were stunned and silent about that one. It seemed my work was done there, so I slid over to talk with a young liberal. This fellow was working for a liberal lobbying group. He reported that he likes his work, even though some of their clients were “corporate monoliths.”

Last I checked, I said, those companies have competition. Has it ever occurred to you that the federal government is the biggest monolith of all?

The government does some good things, he shot back.

Perhaps, I say, but it’s still the biggest “monolith” of them all, yes?

He deflected the point.

Conclusion: Transpartisanship can be lonely, but it’s a lot of fun.

-Robert Capozzi

Posted by Robert Capozzi on August 8, 2007 09:06 AM |

Free-for-all (frfr-ôl) -- n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

from Dictionary.com



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