General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A little known fact about Virginia's race last night that some people seem to want to ignore. [View all]Qutzupalotl
(14,311 posts)and then see if there is any common ground. If there is, it's probably worth trying to find a way, not to score points, not to obliterate the other side, but to do what elected officials are sent to do; just the work of governing. You might, for instance, allow them to save face with their constituents instead of insisting that they completely capitulate and humiliate themselves. Bipartisan results are accomplishments that candidates can point to in the next election, and which have broader appeal outside of our base. That has the advantage of making the next election cycle less negative, more about who has better ideas and solutions rather than just attacks.
I would add that one-sided solutions are often temporary; when the pendulum of popular opinion swings the other way, the other team comes in and undoes all your work. But if they're invested in a shared outcome, they'd be more inclined work to improve it instead.
All this is predicated on the other side also being reasonable. So this doesn't work with Tea Party candidates, since they seem to have sworn to destroy Democrats and never work together but we are starting to see that strategy backfire in some cases.
As lukewarm as I am about McAuliffe, he did reach out to the other side in his victory speech, which I thought was gracious. We will see if he is met with cooperation. The Virginia legislature is still tilted far to the right; they might feel they can override a veto, and thus have no incentive to work together. We will have to see. But for his part, I think McAuliffe is up to it.