Teamwork

I've read this week that the GOP now has a mandate for something.  They ran on some very generic platitudes, so I am unsure of the specific policy prescriptions that they are about to feed to the ailing patient, our struggling economy.  I think we are in store for low taxes, reduced spending, more guns, fewer Muslims.  Beyond that, their mandate as legislation is a bit vague. 

I question how this mandate differs from the 2008 mandate, which according to the Republican Party, was not a mandate.  2010 is completely different from 2008, right?  So let's look at the numbers:

After the 2008 elections the Democrats had control of:

59% of the Senate (up to 60% after Arlen Specter switched.)

59% of the House

100% of the White House

How did the Republicans treat the Democratic mandate of the 2008 election? They accepted the will of the people, worked with the majority to find common ground, and reached across the aisle to save our economy.  Not exactly, if you recall.  As John Boehner said “Hell No.” The Republicans obstructed and demagogued.  Death panels and socialism became the GOP talking points for cooperation. 

After the 2010 elections the Republicans have control of:

47% of the Senate

55% of the House

0% of the White House

When comparing 2008 to 2010, I have to ask - why would the Republicans think they should get to call the shots with a just a House majority after they blocked everything the Democrats tried to do with a greater House majority, a big majority in the Senate and the Presidency? 

I believe that the GOP is interested in following the will of their people, not the will of all the people.  That's just politics, I guess, but one only needs look back 2 short years to see the blatant hypocrisy rattling around the echo chamber.

This "mandate" period in history could be just the fertilizer that feeds the growth of a third way.  So now I ask: how long before Michael Bloomberg shows up at an event in Council Bluffs, Iowa?