Democrat Gwen Graham promised much when she ran against incumbent Republican Steve Southerland to be our representative in the U.S. House.
Graham said she was tired of the seemingly intractable divide between both parties and promised to support new leadership that would change the atmosphere. In particular she vowed to vote against Nancy Pelosi the former Speaker of the House and current minority leader — when the Democrats were in charge — and current minority leader.
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Graham kept her word in a mostly symbolic gesture and became one of the four Democrats who voted against Pelosi.
We doubt there will be any hard feelings in Democrat circles over a politician keeping a campaign promise.
Next, Graham said she would reach across the aisle and work with Republicans on a variety of issues including changes to Obamacare. Some scoffed at the idea of the hyper partisan atmosphere changing given just how large the divide has been since President Barack Obama took office six years ago.
Here again, Graham has in the first few days of her term, kept her word. She voted with Republicans on changes to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Keystone Pipeline Bill and is working with them on an environmental bill that both parties say will protect Florida’s Everglades.
It seems clear that Graham is making a good faith effort to work with Republicans on the important issues of the day.
What isn’t clear yet is whether any of these efforts will be successful. On Thursday and Friday House and Senate Republicans will take part in an annual retreat. Their mission seems to be finding common ground with themselves as the party has quickly discovered how fractious things can get in the majority.
And of course, even if everything goes according to plan, President Barack Obama has his veto pen ready.
Still, Graham’s work so far is a solid start to her new life as our representative. Honeymoons never last and we’re certain she will eventually differ with us and her other constituents from time to time.
When that happens we hope Graham follows her conscience and does what she believes is best for her constituents.
The Old Fashioned
Recently, The Editorial Page editor has become enamored with a waffle cone that can be purchased at a certain old fashioned drive-in eatery.
The eatery has new, shiny screens that come to life after an order has been placed and give several options to pay including with a smart phone. While he has successfully purchased items in the past with the phone this particular attempt went awry.
First, the editorial page editor waived his phone around near the display and felt just a bit foolish. Then, the screen changed from the amount owed to advertising for more tasty treats. When the car hop arrived she and the editorial page editor found themselves at an impasse on whether or not the delicious waffle cone had, in point of fact, been purchased.
Eventually, the manager got involved, the editorial page editor gave up on living in the future and used a debit card and got to work savoring his tasty treat.
We have now come to the point in the story where a moral of some kind should be thrust upon the reader.
Instead, we offer a quote from Mark Twain.
“Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.”