I think we dangerously misunderstand Republicans if we believe they will constructively respond to bipartisan outreach of a new Democratic administration. It should be clear to us by now that Republicans view politics as war. For them, politics isn't some Gentleman's game, it's not even a blood sport. It's flat out scorched earth warfare. Competing honorably is a non-sensical notion, for them, the opposing side must be destroyed. In war, the enemy is demonized, therefore, Democrats are demonized. Isn't that exactly what we are witnessing from the McCain campaign and the GOP? Isn't that what we have always witnessed from the GOP since Nixon, with only the level of escalation varying as was needed for victory?

Republican rank and file have, do, and will view any attempt at bipartisanship - whether originating from our side or theirs - with contempt and as a sign of  weakness. Republicans may feign cooperation when out of power because that is the best way to have their agenda represented, but, once back in power, is there any doubt that reciprocity does not await the Democrats? The Republican party has become a party greatly comprised of zealots, and zealots hold beliefs not opinions. Opinoins can be changed, beliefs rarely so. Let's not fool ourselves in to thinking that the Republican base can be persuaded through rational argument and discourse, they cannot. Why? Simply because rational argument was never employed in the creation of their beliefs.

tmpgary, in his related post, argues an interesting point, that civility in tone precedes civility in behavior and, ultimately, cooperation. No doubt, that is true regarding rational human argument and discourse, but that's not what we have from the Republicans. Didn't the tone of the McCain campaign and the Republican party self-escalate about a month ago? Didn't the McCain campaign brazenly announced they were unilaterally changing the tone of their campaign to one that was is wholly negative? This change in tone was not a response to any coarsening in the Obama campaign's tone or in the tone of the Democratic party. This change in tone was for the purpose of cynically mobilizing the GOP troops. Again, for Republicans, politics is war and in war you demonize your opponent so that you can feel morally justified in destroying him. Any change in our tone, for better or for worse, will have NO EFFECT on their thinking or behavior. NONE. 

How, then, can Obama lead the country? The same way he is winning this election, by demonstrating to liberals and moderates alike that we share certain common values. Values which Republicans have ususally been good at obscuring. Obama's prudent and pragmatic brand of liberalism is the way of the future, I think. Many seem to misunderstand how he intends to govern. Obama has always talked about the importance of having a governing majority in the Congress, so, he is not planning to bipartisan concessions to the conservative agenda. I expect Obama to effectively lead our divided nation by enacting our common American liberal values via a liberal pragmatic solution approach. Such solutions would address conservative concerns without adopting conservative solutions.

For example, Obama talks about reducing abortions by reducing unwanted pregnancies. The conservative solution would be to target the abortions directly. The liberal pragamtic solution would address the causes of unwanted pregnancy, not the affect. In another example, this approach can also be applied to the problem of crime. Insufficent early childhood education and lack of adult economic opportunity (among the causes), instead of the societal costs of crime and of new prison construction. The end result would be a  reduction in crime achieved by a liberal pragmatic solution.

Obama's liberal pragmatic solutions seek common ground with moderates without betraying core liberal values. That's how, I think, Obama plans to lead a a nation divided without violating core liberal principles. Republican hearts and minds may not follow but that isn't a necessary component of a successful Obama administration.