Sen. Evan Bayh retires

Centrist Democrats running for the exits

Add another centrist or pragmatic democrat to the list of members running for the exits. The Democratic Party has been able to keep retirements fairly low (14 House members, 3 Senators), but the type of members leaving is interesting. Blue Dog Democrats in Kansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas are choosing not to run again or are switching parties. The conservative Democrat, a member that is fiscally conservative, socially moderate, is becoming an endangered species.

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) was a respectable democrat, a centrist, and someone many thought was going to run for President in 2008 and still might in 2012. He states that the partisan fighting in Washington has worn him out and that he would rather do public service in some other capacity. Ironic considering his party dominated both Houses and actually has little need for bipartisanship of any kind to get things done. He is, in effect, stating that his party has become hyperpartisan, refusing to negotiate with moderates or conservatives, and has pushed such a radical agenda that the Republicans only real move is to filibuster. Massachusetts also changed things. The people there spoke clearly to Washington, yet none of the Democratic leadership has heard. The people WANT the minority party to have the power to block legislation if it is repugnant. If they were frustrated at the paralysis from the filibuster, they would've voted in the heavily favored Martha Coakley.

In the end, bipartisanship is an empty concept. In one instance it is passing a mixed law with ideas from both parties with minimal controversy. In a second instance it involves compromise between the party leaderships, forcing tough decisions on controversial issues. In another instance it may involve simply listening to leaders of the other party, the appearance of pragmatism. But in the end it is more about accomplishment then actual procedure.

Bipartisan approval of bills is reliant on the nature of the legislation itself, the political strength/weakness of either party, the popularity of the legislation, and the negotiation skills of the players. There is no "acting" in a bipartisan manner, it is results based. Legislation is only bipartisan if members from both parties actually vote for it in significant numbers. Until then it is just another bill and the Congress is acting as "business as usual".

Politicians are also notorious for using bipartisanship and compromise against each other. Democrats in particular have used it on the deficit. They cite the expensive Prescription Drug Benefit Plan of Bush, No Child Left Behind, and the big deficits of 2008 and 2009. They fail to mention a number of democrats voted for the Drug Benefit Plan (including the liberal lion Kennedy) and that many liberals wanted a BIGGER and more expensive plan. The NCLB was also supported by some democrats (Kennedy again), but dems love to smack it as an underfunded failure. They also neglect to mention that democrats controlled Congress from 2007 until now, meaning they voted for and approved the Bush deficits of 2008 and 2009. Keep in mind, the House writes the budget in reality, not the President.

Bush and Republicans acted in bipartisan fashion, working compromises that went against conservative values in these instances but democrats actually use it AGAINST THEM in rhetorical exchanges on the Floor of Congress and on television. The lesson here is clear. Do not compromise with the opposing party for the purpose of bipartisanship (getting a few of them to support legislation) or the appearance of bipartisanship. It is bad policy and bad politics.

Sen. Bayh was skilled at working deals with Republicans on numerous issues, as well as joining with them on legislation. I am willing to bet he was more successful in getting his legislation through prior to 2008 than he is now. His party has shown a disinterest in non-controversial mixed legislation, in negotiation, or in listening to the other party let alone dissension within its own. Bad governance, bad politics.

The Democratic Party is in deep trouble. If it cannot change course, we may very well witness a miraculous comeback by the Republicans, retaking the House and moving to within a vote or two of a majority in the Senate.