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The B-word: is bipartisanship even possible?
It’s the latest and greatest buzz word: bipartisanship. President Obama spoke of it in his State of the Union, calling out both Republicans and Democrats, saying this country expects its representatives to work together to get things done. But is there enough political pay off for bipartisanship to ever work? What about ideologically; is there sufficient common ground between the two parties to achieve real reform? Or are lawmakers simply too polarized? And if that’s the case, are we just doomed?
It’s the latest and greatest buzz word: bipartisanship. President Obama spoke of it in his State of the Union, calling out both Republicans and Democrats, saying this country expects its representatives to work together to get things done. But is there enough political pay off for bipartisanship to ever work? What about ideologically; is there sufficient common ground between the two parties to achieve real reform? Or are lawmakers simply too polarized? And if that’s the case, are we just doomed?
Guests:
Ken Rudin, NPR Political Editor; writes the Political Junkie Blog
Dan Schnur, Director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and adjunct faculty at USC Annenberg School
Darry Sragow, attorney and long time democratic strategist