Nowhere is compromise more difficult than in the current Congress.
Senator Barbara Boxer, a Democrat from California, joined Alex Wagner Monday to discuss partisan gridlock on The Hill, and what effect the 2012 election will have on toxic attitudes on both sides of the aisle.
Boxer argued that the focus on liberal versus conservative politics “misses the entire point" and that lawmakers should instead ask “are we going to come together, meet each other half way, and make sure this economic recovery continues?”
Of course, it’s hard not to frame the discussion in terms of partisanship with statements like Mitch McConnell’s one-term president promise still fresh in the memories of Boxer and her Democratic colleagues.
“When Mitch McConnell came to the Senate floor and said his highest priority was making President Obama a one term president, I gasped audibly," Boxer said. "Because whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent, that’s not our job. And so if that was his intent, that explains why they launched over 200 filibusters and, yes, we made some progress but not enough and it’s gotta stop and we have to meet each other half way.”
That Americans agree with that sentiment is clear in Congress’ current approval rating of 21%. Tom Brokaw echoed this idea in a discussion with The Cycle hosts, stating, "people just want the government to work together again."
While it’s no secret that Republicans have done their fair share of gridlocking and partisan blocking, the other side of the aisle is not blameless. As Alex Wagner points out, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), made some partisan promises of his own. On November 2nd he said:
“Mitt Romney’s fantasy that Senate Democrats will work with him to pass his ‘severely conservative’ agenda is laughable.”
Which leaves us wondering, will the partisanship ever end? Watch the interview and tell us what you think.