We’ve been down this road before, with BOTH parties. Hopefully, when the Republicans come back, they’ll be a kinder, more moderate party that will be more appealing and in step with how most Americans think and feel today. It’s wrong to count them completley out. They’re just down, perhaps for a decade, but they’ll be back.

What people are overlooking, in all this talk of bipartisanship, is that there is a great variety of viewpoints within the Democratic party.  In fact, the way that the Congress was won, in part due to Raum Emanuel’s leadership, was to look in Republican districts for Democrats who were conservative enough to win in those districts.  It is a big tent philosophy. 

If the Republican party wants to go curl up and die in a purity purge of their party, purging everyone who is not antiabortion, neocon, fiscally irresponsible and disrespectful of the Constitution, I say it is a good thing.  

 There is a reason this nation elected a President who got his feet wet teaching Constitutional law.  We saw the harm caused by a President who routinely disregarded the Constitution.  

As for Arlen Specter, he has always represented Pennsyvlania, and so he has always been independent.  Whether he is a RINO or a DINO, it doesn’t matter.  He represents his state.  

There are more than two parties anyway.  We have actual independents in Congress, and there are Greens and Peace and Freedom and other parties across the country.  

I believe we will continue to have two parties with one or the other stronger at any particular point in time.  Remember, it was just eight years ago that Carl Rove was seeing a future where Repbulicans would always be in charge.

My hope is that we grow more independents.  People who actively participate in the political process.  Who look at the candidates individually, not just through a party lens.  People who can think for themselves and choose wisely.  Wouldn’t that be real democracy in action?

I have to wonder about "independents". While there is a lot of individualism with both parties, what about the party platform? It seems to me independents can be fence-sitters. And, being a registered Repbulican or Democrat doesn’t mean you vote mindlessly.

Rita - I don’t agree with either party’s "platform" totally.  So I’m an independent.  Not a fence-sitter at all.  I vote for the individual and for the approach to issues I believe in.  That is thoughtfullness, not fence-sitting.

Laura Ward you said exactly what I feel.  My family will always vote and probably always disagree but having two parties is what will keep this THE LAND OF THE FREE.  We know everybody is trying to get in and very few want to leave.  We must be doing something right.

I am an Independant because no one tells me what to think or who to vote for.  So wonder no more.  I’ve never been a follower and don’t plan to start now.  

If by bipartisan you mean the constant petty bickering that we see daily from both parties right here (another reason I am Independent), I’d say it’s alive and well.  If you mean a healthy exchange of ideas about what is best for our country, we haven’t had that for a very long time, if ever.

B Clark you are correct one party would be the end of America as we know it.  Checks & Balances is what makes this country great.  As to Belinda’s comments which were excellent I think the last eight years is more than just Bush but maybe Dems as well as Reps went the way the wind instead of what is right vs wrong.  Here is my take on this.  Who wants to be Senator or who wants to be in Congress.  We’ll in this economy I would.  $300,000 for life along with Medical Hey I’m in and if I have to vote to keep someone happy hey I’ll do it.  My point being is that along with some good intentions lies Greed, Self entitlement, Etc, Etc.  Now I know someone will post that my facts are wrong about their pension and healthcare but I think I remember readiing something to that effect.  I know I’m a movie buff and I love the old movies, but my favorite movie was American President with Michael Douglas.  After watching that movie I turned to my husband after MD Speech and said why can’t all our Presidents be like him.  So as long as Americans have dreams we need checks & balances

We all have had a part in "ruining" this country and its politics.  Our tolerance of substandard behavior is going to be the ruination of the country.  We cannot afford to lose bipartisanship.  It’s bad enough that the Democrats are in now and they are promoting socialism, but if there is no middle of the road we will die.

Ummm make room for the 32096832 OTHER parties that get snubbed?