The rub is that the Republicans don't want that to happen. The Republicans have no interest in cooperation for the sake of getting things done. Indeed, they want exactly the opposite: If nothing gets done, even if it is the fault of the Republicans that nothing gets done, that redounds to the Republicans' benefit, because they can falsely blame it on the Democrats. And if it also inures to the detriment of millions of ordinary Americans, that doesn't matter to the Republicans.
In a recent interview with the National Journal, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell let the cat out of the bag:
One might think that the most important thing that the Republicans want to achieve is an increase of jobs (a reduction of unemployment). One might think that the most important thing that the Republicans want to achieve is a reduction of the federal budget deficit, and even a reduction of the national debt. One might think that the most important thing that the Republicans want to achieve is "tax relief". Or a reduction of the regulations which are supposedly strangling small businesses. Or anything else substantive.The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.
But no.
As the highest-ranking (soon to be second-highest-ranking) Republican holding public office has said publicly what everyone has long known: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
Pure politics.
The bottom line is simple and clear: The Republican leaders -- very much distinct from rank-and-file Republicans whom the Republican leaders simultaneously deride and exploit -- have no real interest in reducing unemployment or the budget deficit or the national debt, in "tax relief," in regulatory reform, or in anything else of any substance that might make ordinary Americans' lives a little better in this time of hardship.
So what do others here think? What should the Republican leaders do now? What should the Democratic leaders do now? Will any of them actually do it? If not, what should we voters do in 2012?