New York Sen. Hillary Clinton -- who was still struggling to gain her sea legs in her first year on Capitol Hill , after having spent eight years serving as the first lady during some bruising partisan battles -- announced that it was important to be `` united behind our president and our government , sending a very clear message that this is something that transcends any political consideration or partisanship . '' Julian Zelizer : Politicians of both parties pledged to work together after 9/11 . But the Bush administration has been particularly aggressive in its use of executive power, and it is now using that authority to detain people without charge or trial for years at a time. Zelizer says Democrats , GOP clashed over status of TSA workers . He says partisan forces too powerful for most politicians to overcome .
Julian Zelizer : Politicians of both parties pledged to work together after 9/11 . But the Bush administration has been particularly aggressive in its use of executive power, and it is now using that authority to detain people without charge or trial for years at a time. Zelizer says Democrats , GOP clashed over status of TSA workers . He says partisan forces too powerful for most politicians to overcome .