Political combatants make peace for the benefit of a nation caught in the middle. That's the lead, but it hardly captures the experience. Two men from two warring factions have come together like opposing forces on a battle field to forge a truce. Each side respectful of the wounded and dying have postponed differences to attend to the needs of the needy.
Rather than following the scorched earth policies of America's recent past, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and President Obama have thus far displayed levels of courage, character and leadership rarely seen anymore in this country. It was no small deed to suspend a hotly contested presidential campaign to extend a hand to a sworn foe. It also took a hell of a man to accept help from someone he criticized for being ill suited to lead.
Facing billions in damages, millions left in the dark, and hundreds still stranded, its going to take cooperation from men and women of exceptional integrity to handle the aftermath. We think President Obama and Governor Christie have reset the bar for political engagement in America.
Now that the people have had a glimpse of what bipartisan cooperation looks like, they are bound to want more of it. Sure, many will find cooperation among their representatives strange and even uncomfortable, but the benefits will be appreciated immediately. Things can actually get done. Talk is actually turned into action. Progress can actually be made.
Had Washington responded with this attitude four years ago, the nation may have had more than a hope and a prayer to recover. If this Kumbaya moment can last, not even the sky's the limit for what can be accomplished "Going Forward". If it can't, we're gonna order up a west coast earthquake that'll really shake some damn sense into America. Congress, are you listening?
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