Bipartisanship...As Long As Democrats are in Control

"Hopefully we're entering a new bipartisan era. But it's up to the Republicans -- who ought to be happy because they have a Republican speaker -- to decide whether they're going to be petty or not." -- Rep. Henry Fincher (D-Cookeville)

One thing that should be crystal clear from this whole debacle with Rep. Kent Williams' back-stabbing ascendancy to Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives is that Democrats cannot be trusted. They will do anything--even vote for a Republican--to keep their power.

You would think after close to 140 years in control of the House, Democrats could be magnanimous and pass the gavel to a new majority, just as power is transferred from one party to the other in other state governments. That for once, Jimmy Naifeh would do something that doesn't benefit Jimmy Naifeh. Oh, but not Tennessee Democrats. Like the stubborn jackass that is their party symbol, they cannot unselfishly relinquish their power. They cannot step aside and allow the majority to run the show for two years. As much as we've heard them preach "Change," "Change," "Change," it doesn't apply when they are in control.

Now Democrats are suddenly advocates of bipartisanship after using so-called political "gamesmanship" to gain the upper hand again. With smiles still on their faces from their sabotaging endeavors, they want Republicans to work with them and their puppet Speaker and just forget about what happened. Let bygones be bygones. We got a Republican after all, didn't we? (Ha ha)

Bipartisanship cannot exist if both sides don't trust each other. As the Jackson Sun points out, Democrats have destroyed whatever chance there was for it by their schemes:

Clearly, Democrats pulled a fast one on the unsuspecting GOP majority. But while they may have gotten what they wanted in the short term - someone of their choice as speaker and favorable committee assignments - they likely have hurt themselves in the long run.

By sabotaging Republican plans, they have destroyed the already tenuous trust that existed between the parties. How does that help them when they have a legislative issue they care about and need Republican help to advance? It doesn't. How does it help manage the serious financial problems facing the state that need bipartisan cooperation? It doesn't.

Because of the arrogance of House Democrats, the chamber will be in gridlock and nothing significant will be accomplished for the next two years. Until Republicans can gain a significant majority in 2010, the people of Tennessee will continue to be susceptible to these back room deals because Democrats will do absolutely anything to stay in power. After 140 years, it is time for this kind of politics to end.