Voters didn't suddenly fall in love with Republicans, they fell out of love with Democrats: Mitch McConnell
Even not so keen observers of American politics are aware that a major promise of candidate Barack Obama in 2007-08 was to end the partisan gridlock of Washington and moderate its harsh partisan tone by bringing people together.
No one pointed out at the time that George W. Bush had repeatedly made the very same campaign promise back in 1999-00 when everyone thought the word Chad referred to a country in central Africa. Of course, that idea of D.C. harmony had as much real chance of success as the Beagle Boys and Scrooge McDuck helping the same charity.
Still despite their numerous disagreements, Bush had Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to the White House regularly and they joined on education reform, for example.
So it was quite surprising to learn the other day that despite the ongoing appeals for bipartisanship President Obama, he did not have the time or inclination to seek a face-to-face Oval Office with the Senate's top Republican Mitch McConnell until Aug. 4 of this year, fully 561 days into his presidency.
The Kentucky senator obviously survived that sinkhole in his social schedule just fine. And Thursday he....
