Even when they agree, politics get in the way of Democrats and Republicans

[CF DolFan]

I read this this morning and came away reminded that politics are so destructive that even when parties agree, it is almost useless. Case in point. The teachers strike in Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is opposed to the strike and is calling for an end


Mitt Romney is opposed to the strike and is calling for an end

Monday, Romney released a statement expressing disappointment in the union's decision to strike, saying the group was putting self-interest ahead of students and parents. He also implicated Obama, saying the president has long sided with the unions, which are reliable sources of Democratic political donations.

Paul Ryan is opposed to the strike and is calling for an end and endorses Rahm Emanual's opinion on the matter.

"Rahm and I have not agreed on every issue or on a lot of issues, but Mayor Emanuel is right today in saying that this teachers' union strike is unnecessary and wrong," Mitt Romney's running mate said at a campaign fund-raiser in Portland, Oregon.

"We know that Rahm is not going to support our campaign, but on this issue and this day we stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel," Ryan continued.

President Obama has yet to make an official opinion according to the White house

White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday that Obama had yet to make an assessment on the walkout, but that the president's chief concern is for students and families affected by the strike.

One would think this is a good sign of finding common ground yet it won't happen. Obama can't attack the Union as he counts on it for support. Emanual doesn't want to accept the Republicans support because he says it is political and an attempt to hurt the president's image.

"While I appreciate his lip service, what really counts is what we're doing here and I don't give two hoots about national comments scoring political points or trying to embarrass or whatever the president," Emanuel said at a news conference

In the end ... there may be some truth to that but the fact they do agree with him gets lost.

The big issue for me is this .... In a world where every decision is based on manipulation (politics) how can we continue to grow and move forward? If every decision is essentially another thing to cause division won't we just eventually eat ourselves?

[Dave Gray]

Yep.  It sucks.



In this particular case, it's probably not Obama's place to take a position.  This is a labor issue for a specific city.  It's not a national issue that Obama has pull over.

[Spider-Dan]

Is this anything like when Republican governors decry wasteful federal spending on disaster preparedness (stuff like "volcano monitoring") right before they ask for federal disaster recovery help?

Or when Republican politicans bash the wasteful and ineffective Obama stimulus... and then request those same useless stimulus funds for their constituents at home?

This is a very simple instance of politics and policy clashing.  As the mayor, it is Emanuel's job to oppose strikes from government workers in his employ, even though (politically) he supports unions.  Similarly, as the governor of Louisiana, it is Bobby Jindal's responsibility to obtain as much federal disaster recovery assistance for the residents of his state as possible, even though (politically) he is opposed to non-defense federal spending.

[Dave Gray]

Good point.

The president and Raam's constituents aren't the same.  They are looking after different interests.

[Phishfan]

Does anyone know the reason(s) behind the strike? is there a new agreement due? I have not read up on it much because it really has no bearing on my life. I don't know anyone in the area so it feels like someone else's problem to me.

[CF DolFan]

Is this anything like when Republican governors decry wasteful federal spending on disaster preparedness (stuff like "volcano monitoring") right before they ask for federal disaster recovery help?

Or when Republican politicans bash the wasteful and ineffective Obama stimulus... and then request those same useless stimulus funds for their constituents at home?

The point wasn't Republicans or Democrats. I think they both are "political" and have agendas. The bottom line is even though they agree with each other they can't work together for political reasons. Emanual even states he doesn't want their approval because of politics. That goes both ways by the way.

Geez .... seems like you guys fall right into line with them.  Your right it's only a Republican thing. Democrats go out of their way constantly to work across isles. Can't believe I missed that.

[Spider-Dan]

Far from it.  I know it works both ways; your example was perfectly legitimate.

There will always be a gap between policy and politics for those who actually have to govern.  That was my point; it's easy to toss bombs from the sideline, but when you are tasked with actually governing the jurisdiction in question, you can't exactly fall on the sword of ideological purity (if you want to maintain your political standing).

[Dave Gray]

Spider Dan isn't busting on the GOP in this case.  You're right, CF.  Basically, what Spider is saying is this:

A governor can be against something, like a stimulus, on principle.  However, once passed (even if they were against it), it's that governor's job to get as much of that stimulus as possible for his/her state.  There's nothing wrong with that.  But it does create what looks like a conflict, but is really not, when you understand each politicians goals.

One thing the left does that I hate is bust on the GOP for taking stimulus spending for pet projects.  I don't think it's a fair criticism.

[Spider-Dan]

Dave, to that end, I think it's important that the GOP be held accountable for requesting the "wasteful" funds they so despise.  When one party insists that a specific bill was useless and ineffective, there is no more poignant rebuttal than "That's not what you said in bed last night."

Note that there is a difference between this kind of statement and the more general hypocrisy claims, such as:

- "If you don't like big government, why don't you stop driving on public roads?"
- "If you think the country needs more tax revenue, why don't you write a check to the IRS?"

Those lines of discourse are not very constructive; they are more of a but-so-are-you! argument.  But in the case of a specific law, it's totally fair and relevant to point out that the law you are railing against as "useless" helped your own personal constituents.