Our Broken System, No. 2

At least one White House aide seems to understand and can colourfully describe what's going on in politics today.

In David Ignatius's column in today's Washington Post, the White Houser drew an apt analogy.

Perhaps there is a structural problem caused by congressional redistricting, this aide reflects, with most Republicans and Democrats in safe one-party districts where the biggest threat is a challenge from their extreme wings. The aide pauses, and then offers a devastating analogy: "We may be the Israelis and Palestinians here, each trying to avenge the latest outrage." If so, that's not good for the country.

In a country where the ability and desire to strike a deal [once a notable accomplishment, and used to "sell" a candidate], to compromise, is viciously attacked as a weakness, where legislators are driven to avoid making things work, I think he gets it.