In spite of the warm feelings one may feel looking over the glossy photo-ops of Republican and Democratic leaders holding hands, the bipartisanship that takes hold once in a while is more in the interests of the politicians advancing their careers than safeguarding the nation's institutions.
Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill pushed through massive tax-cuts, which led to massive deficits. We all won a short-time high from having to pay out less to the government, yet the government continued to pay out more than it took in. So much for bipartisanship as caring for the ship of state.
George H. W. Bush and House Speaker Tom Foley crafted deficit reduction plans for the nation, only after Bush reneged on his promise: "Read my lips: No new taxes."
Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich did accomplish major cost-cutting and tax-cutting reforms, but only after intense acrimony from both sides of the aisle, followed by two government shut downs. A balanced budget resulted, in part from Clinton's political savvy that he would have to tack to right of his party if he wanted to win a second term in office.
If bipartisanship ever accomplished anything, it followed one partisan shifting a little to acquiesce to the political realities of the moment, never the two parties coming together and giving a little from each side to meet in the middle.
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