Politics Mayberry  

Shortly after President Bush invited President-Elect Obamato tour the White House he noted that Mr. Bush was being “bipartisan’.  With all due respect, bipartisanshiphas to do with opposing parties working out differences to come up with bettersolutions.  It is pretty much atradition for the out going President to invite the President-Elect over for ameal and a tour.  Mr. Bush wasbeing cordial. Bipartisanship is going to have a lot more to do with awillingness to work with all sides to find the best solutions and less to do whogets invited over for dinner.

There are some things that may surprise Mr. Obama as hetakes office.  He may be surprisedto find that the current administration will be cordial and most likelycooperate to the fullest to make the transition to his administration a smoothone.  Mr. Obama is unlikely to findletters missing from computer keyboards, vandalisms, and the unsightly graffitiMr. Bush and his family found littered about the White House when he tookoffice.  In addition to this, there will be no “keepaway” in regard to handing keys over to the Obama transition team.

Power peacefully changing hands is the way of democraciesand that is what President-Elect Obama is likely to find as he takesoffice.  He may also be surprisedto find that the people who didn’t vote for him, the folk he described asclinging to guns and religion, are going to refer to him as Mr. President andrespect him as such.  He may besurprised to find that we will care less about chads, hanging chads, pregnant chads, election or selection, and more for how well this incomingPresident runs our country.  Therewill be a number of us praying for him, our troops, and our economicrecovery.  Most of us here in“fly-over country” believe in the American way.  We accept election results and hope for the best.  We respect the office of President,believe in freedom and revere our beloved Constitution.  Our hope is Mr. Obama that will return thefavor. 

Toppie Lincicome