November 9, 2008

• What Does Bi-Partisan Look Like?

  There are two cats who live in my house.  They've been elected to important offices which give them the opportunity to serve the Verrette People. 

  They are as different in their perspective as Karl Rove and David Plouff.  Joe is the Republican Cat, he's the one who comes out to meet new people and offers them the opportunity to love him.  He'll climb on your lap, read your mail, listen to your phone calls and stalk you to find out what you're up to.  Joe is also the Attack Cat.  He hides in dark corners, under beds, and on top of furniture.  When Gladys walks by he's fond of pouncing on her and biting her neck. 

  

  Gladys on the other hand is a more live-and-let-live, Liberal kind of cat.  She's not one to impose her affections upon you.  She believes in a more "small government" approach wanting just enough to make sure that none of the People are suffering.  She's around and she'll curl up at the foot of my bed to keep my feet warm, but she isn't going to be doing any lap sitting, thank you very much.  She's pretty sure that the People deserve the right to privacy.  She'll fight if backed into a corner, but she's completely rejected the "preemptive strike strategy."

  On Tuesday, Joe was heartbroken.  He felt that his entire ideology had been repudiated by the election.

  

  Gladys isn't perfect.  She has a tiny little part of her personality that was tempted to gloat.  But the truth is that the People whom these two cats serve, love them both.  We need Joe for the way he keeps Tucker entertained.  We need Gladys for her quiet comfort. 

  So Gladys reached out to Joe.  They know that there isn't going to be anyway they are going to agree on approach, but they both agree there is a job to be done.  There are clothes which NEED to be fluffed with cat hair before the People leave the house.  There is a silk plant in the corner and by golly SOMEBODY needs to knock that puppy over every day to keep it in its place.  There's a lot of work to be done.  Too much for one cat to handle.

    

  So even though they are polar opposites, we are hoping very much that they will try hard to work together.  We know it's fun to make speeches implying or stating outright that the other side is the dark side of the force while our side is sugar and light and fairy dust.  But really, haven't we had enough of that fun?  Sooner or later we need some work to be done. 

  Why there were two days in a ROW during the campaign when I was forced to leave the house with NO cat hair at ALL on the seat of my pants.  It was tragic. 

  And for those of you who are still here but have had enough of Joe and Gladys, I want to suggest that for a picture of what the new America might look like, you take a glance at the Meet the Press segment with Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla, and Rep, James Clyburn D-SC - If I've got it right, you'll find that clip HERE. 

  Tom Brokaw threw out several invitations to bicker, but though there was some difference in perspective, the two spoke as leaders and statesmen. They outlined the seriousness of issues and also demonstrated that when it comes to doing what is right for America, the situation we are in points rather dramatically to solutions which are neither Democratic nor Republican but are the right thing to do.  Both men passed on the opportunity to support the extreme views of their party.  At the end they shook hands with smiles and made me believe that they really can and will work together. 

  What a good feeling to realize that men of this caliber are serving us. 

  • 6:16 pm
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