WASHINGTON ? Two senators from different parties say they'll skip tradition and sit together during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
The decision by Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York comes amid calls for greater civility in political discourse following the fatal shootings last weekend at a political event in Tucson, Ariz.
Schumer says he and Coburn hope other lawmakers will follow their example and skip the partisan seating arrangements that usually come with joint sessions of Congress. Schumer says it's a symbolic move but one he hopes will help set a more civil tone.
The State of the Union address is set for Jan. 25.
Coburn and Schumer spoke Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Call me crazy, but I want to buy the Dallas Cowboys end zone and have the star right at the foot of my bed. That way when I score, I can spike the ball right on the star!" -Woody Paige, Around the Horn 10.9.08
GREAT news, the country needs more of this. There is way too damn much party politics and letting the party line hold king over everything else.
Partisan politics are dividing this country and you know the old saying, united we stand, divided................
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I don't really see it as anything special, not close, I actually like the sitting on opposite sides during the speech. Bipartisan doesn't exist, it never really has, it never will and this won't do anything. And partisanship has gotten pretty bad as we've seen just these past two years and we know who I'm talking about, but it's not all bad, can't expect everyone to agree on big things and sometimes it can lead to good changes - sometimes. What really needs to be stopped is the constant lying and fear mongering trying to scare the public to move on your agenda.
You don't think its good to try to work together?
Where did I say that? Two senators sitting next to each other for a speech isn't going to spark anything, on Wed. Coburn's party is going to do what? Vote in the House to attempt to repeal the HC bill, not because they have better ideas or are going to replace it, just because they have the votes in the House and want to continue their "party of no" tradition. This isn't working together, it's exactly what it says, sitting together for a speech....whoooooopeee.
Real progress from these two, huh?
Coburn: Health care debate will continue – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs
More bipartisanship too...
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...t-tell-repeal/
It's pretty bad on both sides, but there's one party that attempts to block every single thing no matter how common sense it is or how good it is for the country. Of course it's happens with some pieces of legislation on both sides just voting no for the hell of it, but never has it been this bad with one party.
Just from your post it looked like that was the way you felt.
Unity has to start somewhere whether it be sitting next to each other or whatever. I think that it is a great thing and both sides should be commended for trying. Neither side is the PERFECT side and BOTH need to learn a lot more about communication skills and compromising. It never helps to point the finger (blame) at one person or side because the one pointing will always have two fingers pointing back at them.
It's politics, I know politics and how it works, it's just being realistic. And you can point fingers when it's clearly one side taking partisanship to a new level, yes it's on both sides and I get that, but there's one side that's made their reputation on it and was taken to insane levels these past 2 years.
I know its politics. I also know you know EVERYTHING about it and also about whatever else you look up on the internet. Regardless of what side you are on, both sides are at fault for a number of things and whatever they can do to try to come together ( no matter how small of a gesture) should be commended.
Here we go, make some point and say something you don't like, it's the "you know everything" lines. It's something I do know about, of course I don't know everything or close to it, but I work in it, I study it and live, eat and breathe it...so I do know somethings about how it works. I didn't say it was a bad thing, it's not a negative thing, then you see Coburn blathering on about repealing thr HCR and it shows how little it was and how long it will last - which is as long as the speech lasts.
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