Posted Oct 26th, 2010 4:33pm: “Bridging the partisan divide in Washington” takes builders from both sides working toward a common goal so that the ends meet.  Only then is the result a finished and connected  path for progress.  Isn’t it safe to expect that the partisan spread in both chambers will be much narrower than now?  Shouldn’t this encourage more openness and compromise for finding solutions?  It is incumbent on the parties to focus on how good progress is for all, not just is it good for their particular point of view.  It is incumbent on us voters to make sure that only those who work effectively for solutions will earn our future votes.  The media’s job is to showcase where and how solutions are found and to report on cases where there is any anti-progressive conduct.  The piece fails to acknowledge the most influential players on a day-to-day basis - the lobbyists and interest groups that outnumber our elected representatives.  How do we get their consciousness of the common good to be raised to the level needed to also contribute to solutions?  Without them in the “meet up” you were not playing with a complete deck.  What about that?

Now today, someone else noticed: Lobbyists Court Potential Stars of House Panels

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/us/politics/27chairs.htm