According to Dictionary.com the definition of “bipartisan” is the following:

bi-par-ti-san /[bahy-pahr-tuh-zuhn] - adj. representing, characterized by, or including members from two parties or factions.

In the Obama Dictionary Version 2009 the definition is:

bi-par-ti-san /[bahy-pahr-tuh-zuhn] - adj.  a one-way street representing, characterized by, or including members from two parties or factions embracing every presidential agenda item with open arms.

Sen. John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain on Twitter) highlighted the lack of bipartisanship today in a tweet.  He said, “Yesterday President Obama said GOP’ers have decided to just ‘be against whatever the other side is for.’ So much for bipartisanship!”

For a president that came to Washington preaching about a new day of bipartisanship, he’s definitely done the complete opposite.  When Republicans wanted to help craft the stimulus bill, Democrats on the Hill locked the door and swallowed the key.  It wasn’t until Republicans were finally let in that the bill passed and landed on Obama’s desk.

At this time in 2001, President George W. Bush was working with members from both sides of the aisle to craft solid economic and education legislation that garnered wide support.  There were no “my way or the highway” policy proposals, but instead sitting down at a table and hammering out ideas that both sides viewed as beneficial. 

For President Obama bipartisanship has been a slogan lacking in concrete action. 

The good news is we finally saw some bipartisanship on the Hill today!  Democrats and Republicans are banding together to oppose the toxic assets plan put together by Obama and Geithner.  Probably not the way Obama expected it.