Senator Mark Udall Recommends Mixing it Up in the Seating Arrangements

[Theresa Collins]

Last week, Senator Udall, in an extraordinary attempt to bring about a perceived sense of unity, recommended that Dems and Republicans don't necessarily sit on their "party" side. Instead, Senator Udall wants to help promote a sense of cooperation between the two parties.  While this is indeed a nobel gesture in light of the Arizona shooting event, I for one tend to wonder if there isn't an ulterior motive here.  Call me cynical, but in further thinking about this, this action just seems so far removed from what he has demonstrated  based on past history.  I wonder if this recent overture has anything to do with the number of seats lost to the Republican Party in the 2010 elections.  Maybe they do not want the mass public to 'see' how much smaller the Democratic party will now look compared to the Republicans.

[W. Branstetter]

While I would prefer not to be cynical about the Senator Udall suggestion, one cannot but look for the downside to the suggestion.  My recommendation to the mixed seating arrangement or status quo would be to limit applause to only when the President enters the House chamber and at the conclusion of the speech.  Otherwise the House rules that there should not be any display of "emotional outburst" should be "in order."  The rules of decorum that the Supreme Court Justices have observed would be quite appropriate for all persons present and would eliminate much of the partisan displays as well as our viewing time.