While I would normally applaud a college paper like The Minnesota Daily on its ability to stack two columns with opposing viewpoints on the economic stimulus package on top of each other in the opinion section, the only thing Andy Post and John Sharkey managed to convince me of was that neither of them are capable of writing satisfying and coherent columns on the issue. SharkeyâÄôs defense of partisanship is absurd. Instead of prioritizing passing a balanced stimulus package on which both parties could agree, Sharkey somehow seems to think it would be better for the Democratic party to plan out some sort of future groundwork to pass tough legislation âÄî like a more universal form of health care âÄî by pushing a bill through Congress with nearly zero Republican support. With zero votes from House Republicans and little support from the GOP in the Senate, what kind of message would it send across the aisle (and to the American people for that matter) if the Democrats were to just push the bill through Congress and to the presidentâÄôs desk with almost no compromise in its construction? Democrats were about working together when the election was on the line, but when it comes to the showdown, itâÄôs going to be their way or the highway. When that health care issue finally will roll around, I look forward to seeing SharkeyâÄôs logic in action when President Barack Obama canâÄôt get Sen. Mitch McConnellâÄôs, R-Ky., index fingers out of his ears as the debate is brought up. As for Post, I couldnâÄôt help but wonder if his column is consistently lifted from one of those unknown and unbearable conservative Internet blogs for which angry college Republicans write when theyâÄôre bored during the weekend. While he could have brought up many valid points on why much of what the GOP has been saying about the stimulus bill is worth considering (neither vast amounts of spending or simply tax and spending cuts would work on their own), he changes directions two-thirds into his piece. Apparently, the conclusion the reader should draw is that Barack Obama, as president, is simply looking to pass âÄúpork-filledâÄù bills, spend tax-payer dollars by going to spas on the weekends and hang out with celebrities because he doesnâÄôt like our nationâÄôs veterans. PostâÄôs bitter tone and lack of any viable solutions âÄî or even reasonable arguments with hard facts âÄî are whatâÄôs wrong with todayâÄôs politics, and he is nothing more than a pawn in a political game not worth playing. With his liberal colleague in tow, he definitely isnâÄôt the only one on the chess board. Andy Knaak University student