Ah, what better way to honor OPPOSITE DAY, January 25th
The members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives have decided to sit with lawmakers from the other party when President Obama delivers his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. The shootings in Tucson, AZ, and the national stock-taking that have followed, persuaded Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colorado, to propose that lawmakers sit with members of the opposite party during the State of the Union Address. The idea has caught fire, even with partisans.
Senator Murray will be sitting with members of the Republican leadership. Just a few months ago, GOP leaders were recruiting and raising money for her opponent Dino Rossi. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., will keep company with moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. The collaboration goes beyond one night. Cantwell and Collins are cosponsors of the CLEAR Act, a climate-energy bill that has sought to break the Congressional logjam over cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., who fought a years-old legal battle with House Speaker John Boehner, will either sit with veteran GOP Rep. Tom Petri of Wisconsin or Rep. Kevin Brady, a very conservative Texas Republican. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., will sit with Rep. Charlie Bass, R-New Hampshire, who last November captured a Democrat-held House seat. Adam Smith, D-Wash., will sit with Rep. Buck McKeon, R-California, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The dean of Washington's congressional delegation, Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., may sit with Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., its longest serving Republican.
The cross-aisle seating has taken hold in all regions of the country. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the Republicans' 2008 presidential nominee, will join Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, Senate Democratic Whip, will join Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, who embarrassed Democrats last November by winning President Obama's old Senate seat. The real union of opposites will be Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the Senate's brassiest Democrat, sitting with Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, the Republican who constantly puts a "hold" on Obama administration legislation.
The only way to finish the night would be to join hands and sing the old Girl Scout song "Make new friends, but keep the old". Who knows, if this works, maybe they could give it a try at the U.N.
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