Yeah, But What Happens When The Prom Is Over?

In the pantheon of silly stunts this has to rank up near the top. I am talking about the plan to have our congress critters mingle the seating during the State of the Union address. To me it is yet another example of how Democrats can propose some sort of feel good story and then get their way all based on appearance instead of substance.

“It’s a little like prom,” joked one Democrat, who asked not to be identified. “You just hope they don’t turn you down.”

As of this weekend, nearly 60 lawmakers had pledged to sit with a member of the opposite party, according to Udall’s office. In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the lawmakers said that the bipartisan seating arrangement would remind members of their common commitment to serve the American people.

Why do I think this is silly? A couple of reasons come to mind. The first is this is an attempt to protray graphically that the drubbing the Democrats got in the last election wasn't nearly as bad as it was. By having members mixed together the scope of the victory is diffused. Americans won't be able to see a large majority on one side of the aisle. I would think that after years of being told that they had tried to stop every Democrat effort while being the minority party the Republicans would be eager to show that they were indeed now the majority, at least in one house of congress.

Second, what does being chummy with a Democrat get you? They won't respect you in the morning, and in fact will probably use you as an example of being a jackbooted thug on a morning talk show the very next day.

There may be a good purpose for this however for Republicans. Simply note the pairings, and make a mental note of who may not be worthy of support in the next election. Sort of a case of the RINO's self identifying themselves. There are of course the usual suspects such Collins and Snowe of Maine, who probably didn't asked to the prom in high school, who will jump at the chance, but what other lonely wall flowers are going to want to be with the kewl kids?

The only ones I can give a pass on this stunt are the leaders of House and Senate who might sit with their counterparts. It should make for some good theater, if like in the past they engage in their stand up, sit down, rah, rah, rah antics like they have done in the past.

Lastly, it will allow Prezbo to scold them, like he did the Supreme Court justices, while diluting the image of contempt.

The Democrats are desperate to put as good a face on the results of the last election as possible and a big part of that is all about appearance, and God knows they are good about staging events to draw attention. Have you ever stopped to wonder why so many liberals tend to be in the entertainment business?