This Divided State

I read stories like this and it makes me realize how the subject matter of "This Divided State" maintains relevance. The senate passed a ridiculous budget proposal 51-50 with Cheney as the tie breaking vote.

If the Bush administration still thinks they have a mandate to force through whatever tripe they want they are crazy. I can't believe they are opposed to the extension on the Patriot Act while it's being debated as well. Well I can. The Administrations position on it is quite politically smart. "We are risking lives if we don't just pass it now. Don't debate. Just pass it." They know that the provisions of the bill that would protect Civil Liberties won't give them the over-reaching powers that they want. And there's no way that Civil Liberties protections wouldn't pass given enough time because that's actually the will of the people. So, if George Bush comes out and says "This is reckless, just pass it how I want it now," it forces people who trust him to say, "screw Civil Liberties."

I just don't think the country is getting any less divided. Steve talks alot about not being red-states or blue-states but purple-states, but seeing votes and debates like this I really start to wonder.

I think the purple state idea is true in that we all want our Country to be better, stronger, safer and more compassionate. The Red-Blue divide comes into play when we try to figure out how to make that happen.