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This just affirms what Noam Chomsky and Ralph Nader and others have long said: we do not have a two party system, but a one party system, featuring a party that might be called the "corporatist" party. Why keep up the pretense of a real two party system? There are probably many reasons, but certainly it serves to maintain the illusion that we are actually a democratic republic, making decisions through the synthesis of different ideas and by voting for those ideas as represented by the parties who personify them. This pledge by the Dems to seek "bipartisanship" is a necessary ruse; they gained majority in Congress in 2006 by claiming they would remove the blank check from Bush, yet they proved only too eager to give him ever more of what he wanted. Now that they have gained even greater majority in Congress, as well as gaining the White House, how else will they be able to explain to a puzzled public--eager for change--why there seems to be very little change at all? Well, because of "bipartisanship," of course! The Dems won't be like the bad Republicans and use their majority to push through reform policies they claim to stand for...why, that's tyrannical! They will work with the Republicans to craft policy that is agreeable to all!
In short, we'll get more of the same.
I know it's premature to be so cynical, and perhaps the Obama administration will actually help bring about needed reforms, but given Obama's own stated opinions and votes, not to mention some of the old Washington hands with which he's surrounding himself, I think anyone expecting significant change will be sorely disappointed and disillusioned.
