Similarly, their post-election demand that President Bush extend a bipartisan hand to heal the nation's wounds really means that he should adopt major parts of their agenda or greatly dilute parts of his own.
And the Democrats' claim that President Bush doesn't have a mandate means that they refuse to accept their defeat. President Bush won the popular vote 51 percent to 48 percent. Under our constitution, that means he has as much authority as if he'd won by a 30 percent margin. He won running on his agenda -- not 51 percent of it -- and against Kerry's agenda.
His victory doesn't mean he should only try to implement 51 percent of his agenda. It means that he's entitled, indeed obligated, to try to achieve 100 percent of it. Any less would be a fraud and a breach of his campaign pledges. His supporters didn't vote for him believing he only meant half of what he said. We have representative government, not government by plebiscite.
Under our system it is up to the Democrats now, as the opposition party, to lobby for their position through the process, which does not mean employing dirty tricks such as the filibuster, but vigorously advocating and exercising their rights within the system.
And when the president does try to implement his agenda, it will not mean he's being divisive, but that he's fulfilling his constitutional duty and honoring his trust with the voters.
For all the slander President Bush received from Democrats during the last four years, do you remember him ever reciprocating with comparable displays of disrespect for his opponents? You don't, because he was always a gentleman.
It's time for Democrats to quit berating him and falsely accusing him of lying. It's time for them to start heeding their own advice and getting used to the fact that he won, fairly and squarely.
They would do well to understand that the highest goal in politics and governance is not to hold hands and get along, but to govern according to the principles and positions upon which you were elected.
But if it's healing they want, perhaps they should stop inflicting harm.