See, this all speaks to my number one concern about Obama. Specifically, the notion that, by virtue of his glorious post-partisanship, barriers will crumble, coalitions will be formed in the interest of accomplishing those things that Obama (and I and you) want to see happen, and we'll all live happily ever after.

It sounds great and all, but I want to know where his 60 senators are going to come from. Or, alternately, why anyone thinks Mitch McConnell will go along with this.

Look, these things we believe in, healthcare for all, good education for all, an end to the war, etc...these are partisan issues. Should they be? No...I like to imagine a nation where everyone believes in these things, because I truly believe that they are just and right, but that's not the way it is. We believe in these things. The Republicans do not, and that makes them partisan. While I deplore the Republicans positions, tactics...heck, basically everything about them, that doesn't change the fact that they believe what they believe every bit as firmly as I believe what I believe.

The idea that the Republicans will just simply back down and let us enact our agenda betrays a breathtaking lack of understanding of the adversary we face. Compromise and post-partisanship and all of us coming together is all well and good, but what part of what you want are you willing to sacrifice? Where is the split difference between "We want to end the war" and "we want the war to go on forever"? Where is the split difference between "we want everyone to have health care" and "we do not want everyone to have health care"?

As much as we all get caught up in personalities and hope and maverickism, and decrying the awful, dangerous partisanship of these times, please remember this: we are partisan because these things matter, and we have very very different views of them than the Republicans. I don't feel guilty about that, and I won't apologize for it.