Musical Chairs

Via The Caucus we learn about a recent press release with Senator Collins' name on it:

In the last election, the voters said they were sick of the partisanship that produces gridlock. They want us to work together and get things done. So, as a start, instead of sitting on opposite sides of the room like a house divided, we want the American people to see us sitting side by side as our Committee members work together make our nation more secure and our government more efficient.

A couple of points are in order.

First, since when was the election a referendum against partisanship? It may be pretty for Collins to think so. But back here in the real world, we all know that the midterms represented a stinging rebuke to President Bush and his enablers in Congress.

Voters didn't want less gridlock. The wanted to check the power of a Republican party intoxicated by power.

Second, while there's nothing wrong with shaking up committee seating assignments--can you think of an emptier gesture? If gridlock were the main problem in Washington, does this get us any closer to the solution?