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You learn all sorts of things in an election year, and
lately I have been exposed to the hitherto unsung virtues
of divided government.
The definition seems to vary, depending on the contest. Here in Chaffee County, all three commissioners are Democrats. Only one seat is up this year, and the incumbent is running for re-election.
His Republican opponent says we should support her
because she could provide balanced representation in the
office of the commissioners.
While there is an argument to be made for that view, I
have some doubts about its sincerity here. That's because
back when all three commissioners were Republicans, I never
heard a local Republican say that we should elect at least
one Democrat because we'd be better off with balanced
representation in the office of the commissioners.
Move up the political ladder to our state government.
Many observers believe that Democrats will retain control
of both houses of our General Assembly. That lead the Rocky
Mountain News to state that the most powerful argument
for electing Beauprez may be to preserve a divided
government in a state where the legislature is likely to
remain dominated by Democrats.
Even so, the News went on to endorse Democrat Bill
Ritter, but Republican Bob Beauprez has raised the issue
himself: Do you want to hand the reins over to one
party?
he asks.
Funny, he didn't ask that question back in his 2002
congressional campaign. He never said You really ought
to vote for Mike Feeley, not me, because as an old dairy
farmer, I know it's just not right for one party to control
the White House, the Senate and the House of
Representatives while in the process of re-aligning the
federal judiciary. It can lead to all kinds of problems
because politicians tend to put party loyalty ahead of the
public good, so I just don't think it's wise to hand the
reins over to one party. It really would be best to send
Democrats to at least the House.
Nor did he talk about the benefits of a politically
divided federal government during his 2004 re-election
campaign. His current change of position in this regard
will just augment his reputation as Both Ways Bob,
this time standing both for and against one-party
government.
Until recently, I was prepared to argue that divided government would be a good thing. On the state level, Colorado managed pretty well with a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature for many years. The United States did well in the 1990s with a Democratic president and Republican congress, and it survived the early 1970s with a Republican president and a Democratic congress.
Further, if Democrats got control of either the House or Senate, they would control committees that might then hold hearings that would expose some of the horrors of the Bush regime while derailing some of its more odious proposed legislation.
But that may not make much difference. Last week, I could have walked across the street to see our Democratic U.S. senator, Ken Salazar, at a local youth club. I decided against it because I didn't think I could control myself after learning of his Sept. 28 vote in favor of the Bush administration's military tribunal bill.
I'd have doubtless been arrested, or at least detained,
after shouting something like What the hell was the
point of electing you instead of Pete Coors, you
torture-supporting wiretap-loving hater of habeas corpus?
Are you such a wimp that you're afraid of being labeled
'soft on terrorism,' even when this isn't your election
year? What Bush power grab will you support next?
If we'd have wanted another Bush rubber-stamp in the
Senate, we'd have sent one. Don't you know the duty of the
opposition is to oppose, especially when it comes to
assaults on our constitutional rights and
liberties?
I didn't want to disturb what was doubtless a pleasant session with our esteemed junior senator offering pleasantries about how Salida youngsters are the future of our nation. But I have to wonder whether it will make the slightest bit of difference if Democrats get control of the federal House or Senate, if our spineless Ken Salazar is any example.
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