1115.org – (5/18/07):

The main theme of Obama’s campaign is of course, compromise. And that sounds great, and has obviously sent legions of impressionable young voters swooning, but none, not even Obama himself has been able to explain why, in practical terms this is desirable, or even provide a substantive example where compromise would yield a more desirable outcome than the ideas the Democratic party already espouses. I’ve been over this here many times, and my questions have always been “What is there to compromise on?” and “Who is there to compromise with?” These aren’t rhetorical questions, and despite an audience numbered in the mid-four digits, no one has made much of an effort to answer either one. While I’d be more than happy to hear thoughts on this from Obama supporters, who probably constitute more than 1,000 of the people reading this, I’m going to assume for a moment that I’ll be waiting in vain because deep down, even the most fervent Obamaniacs know that there’s no compromise with Mitch McConnell and Trent Lott in the Senate, John Boehner and Roy Blunt in the House, and large swaths of the constituents they and their ilk represent.

Obama faces first test of bipartisanship pledge – USA Today (1/28/09):

The measure is sure to pass because the House and Senate have overwhelming Democratic majorities. The Senate takes up its version next week. Republicans hope to make changes before it reaches Obama — possibly by adding more small business tax cuts or road and bridge spending.

While GOP lawmakers said they appreciated Obama’s visit, their leaders urged a “no” vote because of the bill’s price tag. “All it does is burden our kids and their kids with more debt,” said House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio, citing a non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimate that the plan would add $347 billion in interest on the national debt over 10 years.

Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., said there could be as many as 10 to 15 Republicans supporting the package, but added, “If I had to bet, I would bet zero.”

So if no Republicans are going to vote for the “stimulus” even though a third of it is tax cuts they wanted, can we re-purpose that $350 billion for transit and infrastructure? There’s no such thing as a compromise the other side doesn’t take.