Cooperate? OK. It will be interesting to see if Congress really can work together

Sometimes it seems like bipartisanship means different things to different people.

For instance, when citizens say they want their elected representatives to work together, they mean they want them to quit bickering and standing on party lines and come up with a solution that gets the job done.

They do not mean compromise core beliefs. They mean come up with legislation that addresses the issues that Americans see as most important.

It really means we are tired of listening to politicians toot their own horns and spout rhetoric.

When politicians hear bipartisanship, they think it means stuff like sitting together in the chambers and pledging to work together -- and then going about the partisan business of saying and doing whatever is necessary to get re-elected.

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield says he is pledging to be more user-friendly this year when it comes to the Republicans. He says he wants to be part of coming up with solutions -- not standing firm on party grounds. OK. Sounds good.

The reality is there are fundamental differences between Republicans and Democrats -- and there will be some big arguments this year.

We will see if both parties are going to be able to move beyond those roadblocks and get the job done.

We have our doubts, but just in case, watch for the pigs flying by the window.

Published in Editorials on February 3, 2011 10:54 AM