This is great to see open, and honest communication going on again on Capitol Hill. Emanuel is a smart politician, and he knows what will work to succeed. This is the first positive start in moving our nation forward. Good communication will lead to cooperative team work. No one party or individual has all the answers.  That is fact!

I'd say it's real if he gave them his personal cell phone number.  But I never doubted for a second that Barack didn't mean it when he said he wanted everyone to work together.  How refreshing, for a change.

Rahm is asking for trouble letting the politicos of Congress have his cell phone number.  He'll never get a moments rest as his cell will be going off 24/7.  I give Rahm a lot of credit for trying to be bipartisan in ways that the current deadbeat administration never was.

I certainly hope that the other party decides to play nice with the Obama administration and realizes the only way they're going to get some of the things they want is to not block what us Democrats want.

This is exactley what I expect from all the representatives of an Obama administration. We are going to see a new type of politics, a govening style that is meant to accompolish the peoples business. I hope to see some honest republicans admitt to being deepley ashamed of what they have been responsible for.

marty

The Repubican members of Congress would do well to embrace the bipartisanship being offered by the Obama administration, particularly in light of the latest Gallup findings:
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"Just 34 percent of Americans in a Gallup Poll released Thursday say they have a favorable view of the party, down 40 percent from a month ago, before the election.

What’s worse: 61 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party."
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Translation:

Dear GOP, it's time to start acting like grown-ups.  We expect that the serious problems facing our nation will receive more of your attention than your usual agenda of denial, complaining, and finger-pointing.

Sincerely,

"Real" Americans

Here is another idea. A better idea then giving out Rahm's cell phone number to members of congress.

Obama should schedule on-going Town Hall meetings with average Americans picked randomly at various locations across the United States. Perhaps 12 Town Hall Meetings per year. That's one per month. This would show 1) that the President still wants to hear from the Amercian people after the campaign and 2) that meeting once a month with a group of average Americans is just as important as meeting with any person from congress or any international Head of State.  

If President Obama could not make such travel plans then fly 20 to 25 randomly picked average Americans to Washington each month to share in breakfast or lunch with the Presdient and to have a couple of hours for asking questions and giving their opinions and input on the matters at hand.  

What do you all think?

Why is it that we Democrats always have to be the ones to "reach across the aisle?" When Republicans are in the majority they make absolutely no effort at bipartisanship at all...and completely ignore Democrats. We should be civil and entertain their comments and then do what "WE THE PEOPLE" want done instead of what Business wants for a change !!!

Learn something y'all in the Republican leadership - this is how government is run - in the interest of the people. And hopefully when y'all get another chance at the controls, you will put these lessons to good use. I hope that won't be for another 16-20 years. That's how long it should take for the Dems to put the country back on firm footing. Sadly, people quickly forget, and as soon as there is some semblance of a return to prosperity, people will again be fooled into voting the Repubs back in office basing on "non" issues like abortion, homosexuality, guns and all the usual rubbish.

Sigh!!

My 76 year old mom says that some "higher power & purpose" shall direct this administration. This is a fundamental belief of most who supported OBAMA. I would say this will be Change We Can Believe.  Now if folks can just give his choices/plans the opportunity to succeed by not thinking Barack should be doing it their way.  

>>>Ensign, who said that he was "very pleased" with today's conversation with Emanuel, was optimistic about the incoming administration's intentions. "His words were basically 'this is not a head-fake on bipartisanship. This is real.' They really want to work in a bipartisan fashion and it's not about just saying it, they actually plan on doing it," Ensign said. "Those are exactly the right words to use."
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Hmmmmm, imagine that.  People from two different parties working together without calling each other childish names.  My God, we won't know what to do with ourselves without all of petty (but entertaining) partisan sniping of the past 8 years.

Oh, BTW, the DOW coughed up another 400+ points today to close at 7552.29.  All a part of Obama's insideous plan to destroy the stock market so that Blacks can take over the country and run it on food stamps.  MMMMWWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Sike! Just scaring the McCain sore losers here, since they're only going to blame Obama for this anyway.  (Yet when the market tanked after Bush first took office, you called it a "correction".)  Seriously, though.  Between poor jobless reports, poor retail sales, the auto industry crisis, and housing starts, the fact that some of you folks want to blame this on a man who hasn't even taken office yet (and currently has NO CONTSITUTIONAL POWER WHATSOEVER) goes way beyond even the most ignorant thinking, to the point of willing stupidity.  If any of you are stupid enough to base your financial future on what a president-elect MIGHT do, or what MIGHT be the result of those actions, then I submit that you are fully deserving of your misery.  Try reading a book on economics sometime.

61 Days Until Inauguration Day!
http://jawillie.blog.com

Okay everyone needs to chill on the criticism on Obama's cabinet choices with people saying this does not represent change.  I think we're missing the point here.  You need to have experienced people in there solving our huge problems.  So yeah you're going to see some of the same people you saw in prior administrations.  But it's how these people do business that is important.  THat will be the change from the past.  This article is a great example.  It's a new day in Washington folks.  Get used to it.  

I didn't vote for the incoming administration, but it would be a win for us all if President-elect Obama actually got Washington to work together.
I say let's all get back to being Americans instead of idealogues...

Great start.  C-H-A-N-G-E that reflects the will of the people.  

I think our elected officials should set an example by takeing paycuts til we are are back on even footing again.

Here's to both sides working together to bring about the solution's American's want and need.

This is just what we, the American public, like to see.

Obama is willing to cooperate, but until I see otherwise, the Republicans still think that 'bipartisanship' means 'getting democrats to capitulate to the republican plan'.  That is not what we need and not what Americans want. You cannot negotiate in good faith with people who have a demonstrative history of acting in bad faith. Until the Republicans prove that they are willing to put the interests of America and Americans ahead of the interests of the Republican Party, then their input should marginalized and their electoral losses will continue to mount.

I am so enjoying watching this team come together.  Intelligent people doing intelligent things.  If Obama and his team continue in this vein, the republicans will be democrats before you know it.  Kill them with kindness.

I am delighted that Obama is insisting that bi-partisan is more than a phrase.  It's great that Rahm Emanuel also believes.  I think it equally impressive that the Republicans are open and willing to try and work together.  The whole attitude is an about face to what we have experienced for a very long time.  Perhaps they've learned.  And there is fresh blood coming into Congress and the White House.  This is one thing that starts at the top and flows down.  Thank you, President-elect Obama!  

I have no doubt that with both parties working together to find solutions that we can't work our way out of this mess.  And it will be work.  And it won't be fun for anybody.  But it can and must be done.

Thank you all for giving us hope.  Now make all of your actions prove your words!

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