Whatever the outcome of today’s election, it is clear that this election is likely to shake up Washington. And one trend that is refreshing is the number of candidates who have pledged to work across the aisle to help deliver Washington from its currently dysfunctional state. Many Republicans like Chris Shays and Lincoln Chafee have separated themselves from Bush, by saying they don’t like his with us or against us leadership style. And many Democrats have taken sharp aim at Bush’s divisionary style, saying that it’s not just his policies, but his ideological process that is disturbing.

My hope is that these leaders continue to sound these tunes even after the election when their parties start putting pressure on them to satisfy the base. It is somewhat ironic that such a nasty election might bring bi-partisanship to Washington, but my hope is this just might be an election that begins to build a bi-partisan movement.

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