THRINOS, perhaps? Obviously, I’m being facetious, and I don’t pretend that, even within the middle grounds of Democrats and Republicans, there aren’t serious differences. My point is that when our country’s system has worked to move us forward, it’s typically because we have has strong statesmen on both sides of the aisle who stronlgy believe in the centerpieces of their ideas and have worked to convince each other to include them in legislation. How the hell do you think we got to balanced budget chats under Clinton?

How different might this health care legislation look if the Republicans had truly stood toe to toe with the Dems, even compromising to get some of their centerpieces into the legislation. This is too important for the GOP to choose to hold their breaths and go away to play a different game. Instead and like children, they have chosen NOT to “brush their teeth before bedtime” in the fervent hope that bedtime, then, will not come. Instead, and like good but ineffective community organizers, they have led their followers into a Fox-news sponsored snit. I mean, it has made media stars out of some of them, and I really should be satisfied with that…Somehow, I am not.

How different this ALL might look if the GOP had grown-ups at the helm who could take the “NO!” they hear from their constituency, build reasoned platforms, and then lead their groups to demand “YES!” Dont’ forget-health care reform was near the top of the Party platforms of both the DNC and RNC in ‘08.

Yes, there is a powerful majority in place, but I am left to ponder whether or not there is a Republican in this country who actually believes in even ONE core provision in their own plan. If they did,, they might choose to use the power demonstrated by the aswesome crowds towards something more significant. Sadly, though, the GOP has gone from the Proud Party of No to the Confused party of “Oh, no they di’n't”.

And it weakens the entire country.

We’re living in a political climate where it’s easier to block out one eye, view reasoned thought as if it were wearing a jumpsuit plastered in all the best bumpersticker slogans of their choosing and classify it all as deep political thought. And we exist in a media climate where that philosophy is not only accepted but boisterously encouraged.

Cheer up! We’re the RINOs and DINOs of the mad, mad world of politics. The first politician-or party- to figure out that there are more of us huddled just left and just right of center than those frantically flapping around on either the left or the right wings wins. And the entire country regains some balance.

I suppose such is the price of being my own man and speaking my mind instead of repeating what was said on Fox News.