Before this November’s election, two scholars — one Democrat and one Republican — observed that neither party seemed interested in building a “national governing coalition.”

Instead, each side appeases its own inflexible and often extreme interest groups, which helps them raise money and win primary elections at the cost of achieving real, lasting change.

Unfortunately, old habits die hard in Washington. In the weeks since Donald Trump’s victory, some congressional Democrats have already adopted a familiar posture of resistance, while some Republicans are clamoring to rubber stamp whatever Trump wants.

Both are missing the message from this election — the first to feature more independents voting than Democrats or Republicans. The vast middle of the electorate doesn’t want resistance or a rubber stamp. They want results and commonsense........

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