Oberstar’s party held all three branches. Mica’s party holds the house but not the other two.  So bipartisanship in some form is the only way. Readers of hieroglyphics and crystal balls will now spend weeks interpreting and analyzing. Mica may make that a little easier by being, to say the least, somewhat blunt in his speech. We may know quickly what he wants to do and even what he intends to do, but then we descend into guesswork again as a new Congress settles into place.

We are but parachutists. We jumped from the plane some time ago and we’ve been pulling the reauthorization ripcord, worried more than ever now that it seems to be stuck. The ground is coming up at us faster and faster. And if the chute does deploy in time will it be adequate to provide us with a satisfactory landing?