lying in ponds
The absurdity of partisanship
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E.J. Dionne Jr.
Washington Post

Columns 45
Words 43115
Normalized Median Partisanship Index 35.57
Normalized Total Partisanship Index 31.79
Normalized Combined Partisanship Index 33.68
Democratic Index 39.32
Republican Index -19.78
Positive Index 41.59
Negative Index 16.74
Neutral Index 41.67



Partisan References

Type Number All References
Positive Democratic 424 Obama(209), Democrats(19), the president(16), President Obama(16), Pelosi(10), president(9), The president(9), D-(8), Democratic(8), administration(7), Deeds(6), FDR(4), Democrat(4), Nancy Pelosi(4), Barack Obama(4), Sebelius(4), Kaine(3), Kennedy(3), Roosevelt(3), White House(3), presidency(3), Edward M. Kennedy(3), Max Baucus(3), Edwards(3), Polis(3), Franklin D. Roosevelt(2), President-elect Barack Obama(2), Democratic Party(2), Peter Orszag(2), Rahm Emanuel(2), David Axelrod(2), Franklin Roosevelt(2), George Miller(2), Axelrod(2), Tom Daschle(2), Mark Warner, Barack, John Tanner, Jim Cooper, Ted Kennedy, the president-elect, Clinton, House and Senate Democrats, Lyndon B. Johnson, Truman, Administration, Ruy Teixeira, President Clinton, Democratic president, Barack and Michelle Obama, Barney Frank, Frank, Bill Clinton, Tim Geithner, Geithner, Baucus, Henry Waxman, Charles Rangel, Waxman, Harry Truman, Ed Rendell, Rendell, Carolyn McCarthy, Emanuel, Jared Polis, Donna Edwards, Raul Grijalva, Grijalva, Clinton administration, R. Creigh Deeds, Obamacized , Jim Webb, Tom Perriello, Obamacize, Obama administration
Negative Democratic 87 Obama(25), administration(19), Geithner(7), Democrats(7), Bill Clinton(3), the president(3), Obama administration(3), White House(2), President Obama(2), Daschle(2), Tim Geithner(2), Senate Democrats(2), former president, Tom Daschle, Sebelius, the Clintons, Tom Foley, Jimmy Carter, president, House Democrats, President Bill Clinton, Clinton
Neutral Democratic 346Obama(132), Democrats(30), the president(27), President Obama(25), administration(21), Democratic(10), Geithner(6), Barack Obama(6), Baucus(6), Obama administration(5), White House(4), presidency(4), McAuliffe(4), Democratic Party(3), president(3), Pelosi(3), Emanuel(3), Tim Geithner(2), The president(2), Kaine(2), Clinton(2), Bill Clinton(2), House Democrats(2), Rahm Emanuel(2), Nancy Pelosi(2), Democratic House(2), Axelrod(2), Deeds(2), Tim Kaine, Democrat, Tom Daschle, Daschle, Harry Reid, Al Gore, Congress, congressional Democrats, Kathleen Sebelius, D, Sebelius, Administration, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Jennings Randolph, Eric Holder, Holder, John Kerry, Kerry, 44th president, Obama Administration, Democratic president, Lyndon B. Johnson, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Lyndon Johnson, Kennedy, Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, Jon Corzine, FDR, Max Baucus, David Axelrod
Positive Republican 48 Hatch(8), Republican(6), Republicans(5), Bush(3), Orrin Hatch(2), Olympia Snowe(2), Kyl(2), Rush(2), Newt(2), Howard Baker(2), Bob Dole(2), J.C. Watts, House Republican, Hensarling, Jon Kyl, President Bush, George W. Bush, David Winston, John Bolton, President George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, 43rd president, Camp
Negative Republican 103 Republicans(27), Bush(14), Republican(13), GOP(10), Cheney(5), George W. Bush(4), President Bush(3), Bush administration(3), presidency(2), Reagan(2), Gingrich(2), Limbaugh(2), Chip Saltsman, president, the president, Ronald Reagan, former president, Thiessen, Hensarling, John Boehner, Kyl, Republican House, administration, Senate Republicans, former vice president Dick Cheney, Steve Forbes, Bob McDonnell, Rush Limbaugh
Neutral Republican 127Republicans(43), Republican(21), Bush(7), George W. Bush(5), Republican Party(4), R-(3), House Republicans(3), Grassley(3), Ronald Reagan(2), Newt Gingrich(2), John McCain(2), Dick Cheney(2), Limbaugh(2), Gingrich(2), Republican National Committee, Reagan, Michael Steele, Saul Anuzis, Katon Dawson, Mike Duncan, Kenneth Blackwell, GOP, the president, Marc A. Thiessen, president George W. Bush, Jeb Hensarling, House and Senate Republicans, House Republican, Jim DeMint, Bush administration, Ron Paul, Republicanism, administration, Jon Kyl, former president, Rush Limbaugh, McCain, Bob McDonnell, Dave Camp, Chuck Grassley



List of Columns

Lines in yellow indicate a substantive crossover column, meaning that the column is of opposite sign to the pundit's Normalized Total PI for the season, and contains at least five non-neutral partisan references.
Title/
Date
words Norm
PI
Partisan References
Obama Needs to Intervene on Health Care Bill
29 June 2009
1061 2 7D+: The president, Obama, Max Baucus, Democratic, Obama, Tom Daschle, Obama
4D-: Bill Clinton, Obama, Clinton, Democrats
3R+: Olympia Snowe, Bob Dole, Howard Baker
2R-: Republican, Republican
13D=, 6R=
Politics on Display in Voting Rights Decision
25 June 2009
889 0
Iran Poses Dilemma for Obama
22 June 2009
936 38 7D+: Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, The president, Obama
1D-: Obama
8D=
Bipartisanship Is a Worthy Goal, But Health Care Reform Is More Important
18 June 2009
979 19 9D+: Tom Daschle, White House, Rahm Emanuel, Obama, Democratic, Obama, Obama, Obama, Democrats
5R+: Howard Baker, Bob Dole, Republican, Camp, Republican
5R-: Republicans, GOP, Rush Limbaugh, Republicans, Republicans
8D=, 6R=
Obama and the Politics of Short Memories
15 June 2009
915 62 11D+: Obama, Obama, Obama administration, Obama, Roosevelt, Obama, president, Obama, FDR, Obama, Obama
3D=, 2R=
Can Obama Win Virginia Again in Fall?
11 June 2009
1089 42 21D+: R. Creigh Deeds, Deeds, Democrats, Deeds, Obama, Democrats, Democratic, Obamacized , Democrats, Obama, Obama, Obama, Democrat, Jim Webb, Deeds, Deeds, Tom Perriello, Democrats, Deeds, Deeds, Obamacize
2D-: Democrats, Obama
1R+: Republican
5R-: Republican, Republican, Bob McDonnell, George W. Bush, Bush
16D=, 7R=
Harry and Louise Sit Down at the Negotiating Table on Health-Care Reform
8 June 2009
864 34 5D+: Clinton administration, Edward M. Kennedy, Max Baucus, Obama, The president
1D-: President Bill Clinton
4D=, 1R=
Rush and Newt Are Winning
4 June 2009
1019 28 16D+: President Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Jared Polis, Donna Edwards, Raul Grijalva, Edwards, Polis, Obama, Polis, Edwards, Grijalva, Polis, Edwards
2D-: Democrats, Obama
4R+: Rush, Newt, Rush, Newt
5R-: Gingrich, Steve Forbes, Gingrich, Limbaugh, Limbaugh
9D=, 7R=
Sonia Sotomayor Is No Leftist Supreme Court Nominee
28 May 2009
953 36 6D+: Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama
7D=, 2R=
President Obama's Third-Way Express
25 May 2009
1006 52 11D+: Obama, president, The president, Obama, Obama, the president, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama
1D-: Obama
6R-: former vice president Dick Cheney, Cheney, Cheney, Cheney, Bush, Republicans
14D=, 2R=
Divisive Issues Force Their Way Onto President Obama's Agenda
21 May 2009
1027 24 8D+: David Axelrod, Obama, Axelrod, Obama, Democrats, Obama, Obama, Axelrod
8D-: Obama, Obama, administration, the president, Democrats, Senate Democrats, Senate Democrats, Obama
7R-: Republicans, Bush administration, Bush, Bush administration, Republican, Bush, Cheney
20D=, 4R=
Obama Confronts Foes With Faith
18 May 2009
1004 63 21D+: Obama, President Obama, Obama, Obama, the president, Obama, presidency, the president, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, the president, Obama, Obama
1D-: administration
2D=, 4R=
The Right Fight Over President Obama's Supreme Court Nominee
11 May 2009
969 7 2R+: Kyl, Kyl
1R-: Senate Republicans
9D=, 7R=
The Stakes at Notre Dame for President Obama and U.S. Catholics
7 May 2009
976 41 7D+: President Obama, president, Obama, Obama, Obama, Democratic, the president
2D-: Obama, administration
2R-: Republican, Republican
9D=
The Obama Administration Is Buying Time on Immigration
4 May 2009
933 10 4D+: President Obama, Obama, Obama, Emanuel
1D-: Obama administration
23D=, 1R=
Barack Obama the 'Devout Non-Ideologue' Approaches 100 Days
27 April 2009
951 44 13D+: Obama, Obama, the president, Obama, administration, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, president
2D-: Obama, Obama
8D=, 1R=
Will Barack Obama Face Down the Gun Lobby?
20 April 2009
956 9 7D+: Obama, Ed Rendell, Rendell, Democratic, Carolyn McCarthy, D-, Obama
5D-: President Obama, president, Obama, House Democrats, Democrats
10D=
The Obama Doctrine in Action
16 April 2009
1016 36 22D+: Obama, President Obama, Obama, the president, Obama, Obama, the president, Obama, Obama, Obama, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, the president, Obama
5D-: Jimmy Carter, administration, Obama, Obama, Obama
4R+: John Bolton, President George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, 43rd president
3R-: administration, George W. Bush, Bush
1D=
Nancy Pelosi's Balancing Act
9 April 2009
1018 38 17D+: Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic, Pelosi, Pelosi, president, Pelosi, Barack Obama, President Obama, Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi
1D-: Tom Foley
2R+: Republicans, Republican
3R-: Republicans, GOP, Republican House
8D=, 6R=
Health Care's Year
6 April 2009
948 68 16D+: Democrats, Max Baucus, D-, Baucus, Edward M. Kennedy, D-, Henry Waxman, D-, George Miller, D-, Charles Rangel, D-, Waxman, White House, Obama, The president
1D-: the Clintons
3D=, 1R=
E.J. Dionne -- Obama's Economic Agenda Marries Boldness and Caution
2 April 2009
932 12 9D+: Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, administration, Obama, Obama, Tim Geithner, Geithner
6D-: Geithner, Geithner, administration, administration, administration, administration
9D=
Neither Capitalist Nor Socialist
30 March 2009
913 8 3D+: President Obama, Obama, Obama
2R+: David Winston, Republican
1R-: Reagan
3D=, 1R=
Cutting Deficit Will Require Tax Increases
26 March 2009
915 28 7D+: Bill Clinton, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama
1R+: Republicans
5D=, 2R=
President Obama Fighting the Politics of Evasion
23 March 2009
984 0 6D+: President Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, the president
6D-: administration, Obama, administration, Obama, administration, administration
9D=
A Wave of Populism, a Test for Obama
19 March 2009
954 25 6D+: President Obama, Barney Frank, D-, the president, Frank, administration
2D-: Obama administration, Obama
8D=
Left and Right Come Together on Service
16 March 2009
939 34 9D+: President Clinton, Democratic president, Barack and Michelle Obama, Edward M. Kennedy, Democratic, Kennedy, Kennedy, George Miller, Democrat
1D-: Democrats
11R+: President Bush, George W. Bush, Orrin Hatch, Hatch, Hatch, Hatch, Hatch, Hatch, Republicans, Hatch, Hatch
1R-: Republicans
A Left of Center-Right Country
12 March 2009
992 0 2D+: Obama, Ruy Teixeira
2D-: Democrats, the president
5D=
Obama Steps Gingerly Into the Culture Wars
5 March 2009
871 30 9D+: President Obama, Obama, Democratic, administration, Sebelius, Sebelius, Sebelius, Sebelius, Obama
1D-: Sebelius
11D=, 3R=
Obama's Pitch for Faith in Government
25 February 2009
883 82 13D+: President Obama, Obama, Obama, Franklin Roosevelt, Obama, Peter Orszag, Obama, Obama, the president, the president, administration, the president, Obama
1D=, 1R=
Barack Obama's 'Nothing to Fear' Moment
23 February 2009
930 42 10D+: Obama, FDR, Democrat, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Administration, Obama, Obama
1R-: Republican
9D=, 4R=
Will Detroit Get Totaled?
19 February 2009
851 43 3D+: Obama, administration, President Obama
4D=
Obama in the Eye of the Storm
16 February 2009
936 43 11D+: Barack Obama, The president, presidency, Obama, FDR, administration, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, President Obama
2D-: Tim Geithner, administration
1R-: Republicans
3D=, 4R=
Getting Lost in the Middle
12 February 2009
896 47 2D+: David Axelrod, Obama
9D-: Obama administration, Tim Geithner, Geithner, Geithner, administration, Geithner, Geithner, Geithner, administration
1R+: Olympia Snowe
4D=, 1R=
The Fighting Conciliator
9 February 2009
1022 74 19D+: Barack Obama, presidency, Obama, Obama, Lyndon B. Johnson, the president, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Truman, Obama, Obama
2D-: Obama, Obama
6R-: Republicans, Republicans, GOP, Republican, Republican, Republicans
2D=, 2R=
Rescue for the Stimulus
5 February 2009
1008 4 3D+: Obama, Obama, Obama
9D-: President Obama, Tom Daschle, the president, Daschle, administration, White House, Daschle, Obama, Obama
1R+: Jon Kyl
3R-: Republicans, Kyl, Republicans
13D=, 13R=
The Obama Stimulus: Bipartisanship at What Price?
2 February 2009
1019 26 9D+: Obama, Obama, The president, Obama, Obama, Obama, The president, president, Rahm Emanuel
1D-: Obama
3R-: Republicans, GOP, Republicans
16D=, 11R=
The Stimulus Debate That Matters
30 January 2009
901 72 8D+: President Obama, Democrats, Democrats, Obama, Obama, The president, House and Senate Democrats, Obama
5R-: Bush administration, Republicans, GOP, Republicans, John Boehner
5D=, 1R=
Ready-for-Disaster Republicans
26 January 2009
1062 39 14D+: President Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, president, Obama, Clinton, Democrats, Democratic Party, Obama, Obama, president, White House
4R+: J.C. Watts, House Republican, Bush, Hensarling
12R-: Republicans, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Republicans, GOP, Bush, former president, Thiessen, Hensarling, Republican, GOP
12D=, 10R=
Obama's Vision: Old, True and Radical
22 January 2009
908 88 14D+: President Obama, Obama, president, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama
1D-: Obama
5R-: George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Cheney
1D=
Bush's Biggest Mistake
19 January 2009
842 46 1D+: Barack Obama
2R+: Bush, Bush
8R-: President Bush, presidency, Bush, presidency, Bush, Bush, the president, Bush
3D=, 2R=
Audacity Without Ideology
15 January 2009
922 67 14D+: Obama, Obama, the president-elect, Obama, Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Peter Orszag, Obama
3D=, 2R=
Heath-Care Reform: Start With SCHIP
12 January 2009
961 11 6D+: Ted Kennedy, President-elect Barack Obama, Kennedy, Democrats, Democrats, Obama
4D-: Bill Clinton, White House, former president, Bill Clinton
4R+: Republicans, Orrin Hatch, Hatch, Republican
5R-: Bush, president, President Bush, Bush, George W. Bush
8D=
Obama's Big-Tent Stimulus
9 January 2009
940 41 12D+: Obama, Obama, Democrats, Nancy Pelosi, John Tanner, D-, Jim Cooper, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama
1D-: Obama
10D=, 2R=
The Party of Tomorrow
6 January 2009
1091 52 17D+: President-elect Barack Obama, Democrats, Kaine, Obama, Kaine, Mark Warner, Democratic Party, Obama, Barack, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrats, Democrat, Obama, Kaine
1R+: Republicans
13R-: Republicans, Chip Saltsman, Republicans, Republicans, Republicans, Republicans, Republicans, Republicans, Bush, GOP, Republican, President Bush, GOP
12D=, 11R=
President Obama -- When Bolder Is Better
9 March 2009
934 22 9D+: Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, the president, FDR
3D-: administration, administration, administration
15D=