I always wondered why some folks like Basso can never criticize their political party - they will defend until the end....never admit one flaw (and let's face it, every group has flaws).... I just wonder why. Liberals do it too. But I guess I've just learned to ignore them as brainwashed dumbies who can't think for themselves - and thus they defend any non-sense - and guys like John Kerry. But guys like Basso and Jeffster do the same....even though conservatives rip on Bush, they can't. They won't allow it. They just pull the wool over their eyes and cry about how Democrats are not seeing the truth. But then again, by their definition, 60% of the country is a libpig by now. So what gives with that steadfast right-wing defenders? What's so wrong with questioning your own party? Is it like questioning god? Blasphemy? Do you feel like you will be less of men? Explain please.
I can criticize my preferred party plenty; I just don't do it here. My friend who is more staunch than I do it over lunch. We whisper. I'm a Republican by choice but my favorite politician on the scene today is probably Harold Ford who's a Democrat. I don't want to contribute to the alliance here that criticizes every single thing that a Republican anywhere does. I don't want to be asked and expected to throw the GOP under the bus. On the other hand, it's much more fun to see the howling and the squirming by offering unyielding support without a hint of doubt. I do have that hint of doubt at times but there is nothing to be gained by sharing it with the hyenas in here so I do offer that unyielding support when it comes time to make that compromised choice: yea or nay. You take the bad with the good.
Wow, NewYorker, I'm so honored you notice me. *sniff* My answer is similar to giddyups. This place is Bush Bash Central, so I often come in as the voice of dissent. I disagree with Bush on plenty of things, including the death penalty, MFN for China, continuing to fund Planned Un-Parenthood, trying to control education from Washington, DC, and many more, and there are certainly plenty of Republicans that I can't stand, Arlen Specter for one. I am not a blind partisan, but Bush has become one of my favorite people in politics ever, and one of the most unjustly attacked, so naturally I'm going to defend him, and not spend much time pointing out his faults.
Yeah, because John Kerry should never be defended. What a dumb comment. Please apologize for it. I vote for Republicans and Democrats, but I know the difference between reality and distortion. But yes... liberals and conservatives here never criticize groups they support. You are one of the brave, bright few that thinks independently. You have broken through conventional thinking on politics and will lead us all into a future filled with rainbows, fat babies, and wives and girlfriends that look like Scarlett Johansson. You are our nonpartisan beacon of hope in a murky sea of dittoheads and dailykos circle-jerks. When I go to sleep at night I pray to God that I can be as great a trailblazing non-conformist as you. I know that will never be, however. You are one of those once in a generation types. We bask in your sunlight and quiver in the wake of threads like these. You are, in a word, AWESOME! You came out of your mother's womb that way. Never once being influenced by another person. ZOMG!!! <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kV1mmggE29I"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kV1mmggE29I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
It is a sign of Weakness. . . . and the American people do not like WEAKNESS They may not like your idea, thoughts or what you do but D*MMIT . . BE ABSOLUTE IN YOUR CONVICTION Even in the face of obvious evidence. . . just shrug it off and glaze over it and move on . . . It is just the way people are pointing out flaws in your own party IMO is what has been killing the Demos for a long time. . they seem unsure and weaselly . .they seem unstable Rocket River
Because politics have degenereated to a team sports mentality. Pick a team and root for them. At some point, it really doesn't matter what they're saying anymore...because you've chosen a side....it's become part of your identity. If they're wrong or beaten, you're wrong or beaten along with them.
you obviously haven't been following my posts very clearly. and fealty to the democratic party is pretty much required of every leftist poster here. i guess we'll be able to really gauge how sheep like some of you are by seeing whether mark and sam vote for hevesi.
NewYorker; Giddyup has stated the answer succinctly. There is so much polarization and the political power is so narrowly balanced that any questioning is seen as a sign of weakness that the opposition can latch onto and use against your party. Further not just in US politics but the rhetoric surrounding the War on Terror and Culture War has led to a greater polarization on all fronts. For many it is a "You're either with us or against us" attitude. For instance you bash the Chinese posters for their support of the PRC they are just doing the same thing that many of the posters here do in regard to their political sides.
Please While I most certainly don’t think what hevesi did was right, having a state employee drive your sick wife to and from the hospital on the taxpayer's dime hardly equates to the republican corruption of Abramoff and seducing little boys.
But back to the thread. I guess everyone here has forgotten how a lot of dems here on the board feel about a Hillary run for president.
Of course they have. It doesn't fit their view of the world. Giddyup and the like would rather post things they don't believe just so they can stick it to everyone, rather than have an actual discussion of their real thoughts.
Some of the answers here are telling, including, of course, NewYorker's. I can't count the number of times I've hammered Democrats. Do a search on John Kerry and Deckard for proof, if you feel like it. The attempt to say that Democrats, or Republicans, for that matter, just support their party in a knee-jerk fashion completely ignores the nuance many, many people demonstrate when they vote, or discuss politics. One of the reasons Democrats haven't been as successful in recent years as the GOP is simply because they fight amongst themselves over the direction of their party, certain candidates, etc. This lock-step, knee-jerk mantra talked about here simply isn't true, not in the real world that I live in outside of the BBS. Want to see a real argument? Get 6 Democrats together and ask them about the direction of their party, the candidates and so on. You'll have a knock-down, drag-out fight in no time. I think the Republicans are more apt to agree, but even that would be unfair to several I know, personally, who are going to vote Democratic this time, but still see themselves as Republicans. Want knee-jerk reactions? You'll see them in the posts in this thread. Oh, and I didn't vote a straight Democratic ticket in Texas. I voted for Susan Combs for State Comptroller. She's a class act, all the way. Keep D&D Civil.
I don't think I ever voted a straight ticket until 2004. And I will only vote for Dems when I go vote before lunch. The autocrat's takeover of the Republican Party is complete and it needs to be stomped out. If Repubs keep getting Dem votes, even at state and local levels, it will just encourage them to put off the day where real Republicans have to take back their party. That day can't come soon enough. As Sullivan said, this is now an intervention.
This is rich, considering all the tortured, melancholy speeches that we get to hear from basso after his chosen flock of marriage protecting, stem-cell worshipping white southern evangelicals with whom he likes to associate himself goes on another intolerance jihad. Who's the sheep again? Or is it a lamb of god? If there is anybody willing to discard their loudly proclaimed principles here for the sake of being a good partisan, I can't think of a better example. I'm not going to tell you who I voted for. That's what the curtain is for.
Now see this is just the problem I'm talking about. You've taken a hint of what I said and flung it over the wall of reason. I don't post support of things I don't support just to get a rise out of people, however I may be a 70/100 on a particular issue where you are rock-solid certain I am a 100/100. By carrying on as a 100 the discussion goes further and gets more animated. Nothing wrong with that. This is a place to have fun and to learn stuff. I wasn't aware that it was any kind of measure of my worth as a human being-- although I am pretty unfailingly kind in here in the face of some fairly persistent snarkiness.
I'm writing myself in on all the races. Hopefully I don't win more than one. what a mixup that would be.
see my sig! as for the thread title, this country would be alot better of a place if we didnt have to pick "sides". republican/democrat/liberal/conservative - its all a load of crap...a smokescreen. look at our leadership - it doesnt matter which side of the aisle they are on, they are all buddies. while we are fighting amongst each other, they are laughing all the way to the bank. bush sr. calls clinton son. how does it make you neocons feel to know that one of your patricarchs thinks of clinton as his son and vacations with him? how do you neocons feel about rupert murdoch holding multiple fundraisers for hillary clinton? mark my words - fox news will start telling you how great hillary is sometime in the next year.
