Chief of Staff Andy Card and the President sent the White House culture and they have created a wonderful environment to work in. Karl and I don't sit around a lot talking about each other's greatest fears. We are focused on implementing the President's agenda to help all Americans, especially low and middle-income citizens and families. That's a full time job for us all. All I heard for 8 years of Clinton was how Clinton won on Republican issues.
Political scholars write about the decline in political party unity.
Take tax relief, or defense spending, or protecting the environment. Members of both parties have diverse opinions on these issues, which is why you see dozens of Democrats joining the President in the HOuse in support of tax relief, and you see the President willing to work in a bipartisan fashion on issues like education. Lately, it seems the President is having more problems with members of his own party more so than from the Democrats. The Democrats have been very supportive of the President on his China action, while some Republicans in Congress have made inflamatory statements about China. He is able to do this because he has close, warm personal relations with the HOuse and Senate leadership.