Unclear on the Concept--Richard Mourdock

Politics is the art of coming to agreement in order to manage the affairs of groups of people. Since some people have different ideas about the best course of action or the best policies, successful politics requires compromise. Richard Mourdock, who defeated long-time Indiana conservative Richard Lugar in his bid for reelection to the Senate, does not understand this. In an interview with MSNBC's Chuck Todd (see here or here), Mourdock was asked about bipartisanship, something that Lugar warned was severely lacking and the lack would lead to even worse legislative gridlock than currently prevails.

Mourdock responded: 

Well, what I've said is that I certainly think bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republicans point of view.

Is that really what you want to teach young Hoosiers in history class, Mr. Mourdock?

Bipartisanship means they have to come our way, and if we're successful in getting the numbers, we'll work towards that.

No, that's called "bullying."

Even though there were many issues on which I disagreed with Senator Lugar's position, I thought he was well respected. Clearly, Mourdock will not enjoy such respect, if elected. And there is hope that what such a fool will share may be the embarassing loss experienced by other extremists who sought to replace their party's strong contenders for the Senate in 2010--wackaloons Sharon Angle (Utah) and Christine (I-Am-Not-A-Witch) O'Donnell (Delaware).

Illustration is "Congress Voting Independence" begun by Robert Edge Pine in 1784 and completed by Edward Savage ca. 1801.