5/13/2005 05:21:00 PM|||Joe|||Now this is what I'm talking about.

Hillary Clinton and Newt Gingrich are in agreement on a number of issues. They're being nice and respectful to one another, apparently.

How is this possible? Well, for all the criticism that can be leveled at both for their past actions (Gingrich: enthusiastically pushing for Bill Clinton's impeachment; Clinton: pushing a huge government national healthcare plan), they apparently see eye-to-eye on a number of issues. Defense and health care (which Clinton has softened her stance on) being primary.

I know I have mixed feelings for both. I think they both let things blind them in the past. Clinton saw her husband's immense popularity as almost a mandate to push a healthcare system which probably wasn't quite right for our country. She also occasionally gives in to political mud-slinging. Gingrich, of course, got pretty cocky back in 1994 or so. And then there's the aforementioned impeachment, which I know I'm still bitter over. And on a bit of an ad hominem level, Gingrich wasn't exactly a loyal husband.

However, they both were kind of idealists. I actually really liked some of Gingrich's ideas early on, specifically as they relate to technology. And at least Clinton tried to do something about our abysmal healthcare situation, which is more than can be said for most holders of public office.

But that's all a bit aside the point. I'm more impressed that these politicians who are typically regarded as being at opposite ends of the political spectrum (they're not) are cooperating.

There are some cynical observations being made. That they may be doing it for political advantage. I know it occurred to me that maybe Gingrich is propping up Clinton because he thinks she'd ultimately be a failed Democratic ticket (even given the remote possibility that the DNC would be enlightened enough to be open to a female candidate). But for now, anyway, it's nice to see some people reaching across that so-called aisle to cooperate, given the current political atmosphere.|||111603012945121220|||Hillary and Newt