In 1858, standing before the Illinois Republican Convention, Abraham
Lincoln lamented the intensifying rancor between the North and South over
a subject that would, ultimately, pit American against American in the
bloodiest war this nation has known. The divisions over slavery were
deep, steeped in acrimony, and fervent. Worse, they threatened to destroy
the Union. Lincoln knew that and warned the delegation of the impending
consequences.
"A house divided against itself," he said, "cannot stand."
Those words were too true then and hauntingly prophetic today. Ours is
a nation so divided it can't elect a president.
Al Gore and George W. Bush have dispatched their partisans and lawyers
and surrogates to the precincts of Florida to fight for a handful of
votes, and thus the presidency, like a couple of schoolyard boys slugging
it out for the last M&M in the bag. The brawl is petty and bitter, but is
unfortunately not surprising in a caustic political divide void of
civility.
It appears to be too much to hope for an icing of the rhetoric, for
Lincolnesque statesmanship. The schism is too wide and the stakes too
high for that.
Sir Al and Good Ol' George are The Rock and Hulk Hogan of the
Presidential Wrestling Federation, and they'll not stop until one holds
high the other's head to the foaming cheers of their "disenfranchised"
constituents. But at what cost?
As journalist Carl Bernstein said, the victor's presidency "won't be
worth a pitcher of warm spit" when all of this poisoned warfare is over.
Nor will our nation's ability -- if not desire -- to engage in civil
debate.
The Newport-Mesa community is at least partially afflicted with the
same polarized politics that dog the national stage. Yet there is one
significant difference. The electoral fate of the candidates and issues
within our twin cities is not what's in question. Rather, uncertainty
persists as to whether the opposing sides can bury the hatchet -- and I
don't mean in the forehead of their enemies -- and work together.
But there are bad vibes in our house divided, and I'm not encouraged.
Here's why.
After an exceptionally bitter campaign, the Greenlight initiative
passed without breaking a sweat. Ironically, Greenlight cheerleader John
Heffernan was the only pro-Measure S candidate to win a Newport Beach
City Council seat. That means when the peddlers of Greenlight begin their
noodling sessions with the City Council to figure out how to implement
the slow-growth edict, they'll be across the table from a majority of
