You know it's an election year in Washington when people try things like this. The Democrats are going through these gyrations of block and delay for the liberal interest groups who butter their bread.

In his farewell address, George Washington warned the people about political parties. Now we see how both Democrats and Republicans have conspired to reduce democratic participation. If this is the best the Democrats and Republicans have to offer, it's time to look elsewhere. . . . Politics should be the prism for our most noble intentions.

The president has changed the way Washington talks about its job. Civility is back in Washington, and Democrats and Republicans can have a disagreement without being disagreeable, and that means that we can get work done for the American people.

In Washington, DC, Democrats still stuck in the New Deal are reflexively searching for national solutions to local problems. We Republicans, having found ourselves in charge, have decided it is more blessed to impose our views rather than to liberate America from Washington's views.

[Democrats are already making political hay out of the loophole:] Only in Washington D.C. controlled by politicians could a politician have direct control over assets in a blind trust, ... Maybe we should call it a nearsighted trust.

Democrats in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Washington, Ohio, Missouri and Florida plan to hold press conferences over the next several days to highlight the importance of a substantive discussion on issues affecting all Americans -- national security, homeland security and veterans' issues; education; environment and energy policies; the economy; health care; and equal opportunity for all.