No Dave, Stick To Your Guns!

Rockford columnist Chuck Sweeny promotes the Bob Michel strategy:  Republicans should kow tow to Democrats in order to get scraps off the table:

"Oh, no, this is not good news. Tuesday, state Rep. Dave Winters, R-Shirland, got into a shouting match with state Transportation Secretary Tim Martin during a Springfield meeting Martin was having with some local Chamber of Commerce folks. Winters argued with Martin over Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s $3.2 billion capital projects budget, which is stalled in the General Assembly because Republicans won’t support it without the governor saying how he’s going to pay for it.

Is verbal brawling a good idea considering that the House and Senate will remain in Democratic hands next year? Plus, I can’t see how Blagojevich, a Democrat, gets beat unless U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has him indicted.

Let’s see. That leaves us with four more years of Blagojevich and the Democrats running the state. I dislike unchecked power as much as the next guy, but that’s political reality.

To receive any consideration for vital transportation and development projects in northern Illinois, our Republican legislators will have to deflate their monstrous egos and learn how to work with the Democrats. I know that will be difficult, but they are public servants, not grand potentates. School starts today.

Lesson 1: Quit whining.

Lesson 2: Do not administer a drive-by dissing to the secretary of transportation at the secretary’s own meeting with Rockford-area people."

That's a strategy for the permanent minority.  When Republicans fight we win.  The lesson was pretty clear in DC when for forty years Republican incumbents accepted Democratic rule and, "worked with Democrats." The Democrats in DC learned that message and instead of being rolled for forty years, they are the verge of making a come back in just 12. 

This state could use a little more partisanship and few good fights.

Hat tip:  Rich Miller
Link: Rockford Register Star - Rockford's Newspaper and Website - Local & State News.