The word "bipartisan" gets dusted off. Demands come for Republicans to "reach out." Of course, what this translates to is "abandon the principles of your party and adopt ours."

Maybe everyone has a very short memory. Maybe nobody remembers Bush glad-handing Democrats after he was elected, writing bills with Ted Kennedy, and "reaching out" like nobody's business. Conservatives were livid at the time. Liberals probably didn't even think it was unusual. When a Republican "reaches out" he usually pulls back a stump. This time was no exception. How much political credit did the Left give Bush for his Bush/Kennedy education bill?

Try and imagine a Democratic House, Senate, and White House, and the Republicans coming up and asking for a move towards the right in legislation precisely because the Democrats have so much power. Could we discuss some issues like partial-birth abortion? Missile defense? The Democrats would laugh until they got the hiccups.

Talk to some old Republicans in the House and Senate about "power sharing."

There are a lot of opinions in America, and almost half of America thought Kerry was the answer. This can't be ignored. So I say that Republicans, especially Republicans on the state and local levels, should go directly to them and work with them. Go over the heads of the Democrats. Forget working with the politicians.

Some attention to the voters who voted against you is not uncalled for. Heck, that would be a hell of a lot more than I get now from my Democratic representatives in Sacramento and Washington.