Democrats versus Republicans

[Sailormon6]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

John, I'd say it's only the beginning, but that was two years ago.
I had a liberal friend of mine tell me this past weekend that congress was not democratic party controlled because they didn't have a super majority; and therefore the republicans still ran congress.

I know that's your friend's logic, not yours chuckles, but it's the most distorted logic I've heard in a long time, even for our liberal friends. The majority party sets the agenda, and they decide which issues will go before the Congress for debate and a vote, and which will die in committee. All the minority can do is seek support from the dissidents in the majority party, to prevent the majority party from making bad choices. If it is sufficiently clear that the majority is going in the wrong direction, there will usually be enough clear-thinking dissidents who are courageous enough to buck their own party, and to combine with the minority and stop it.

The name of the Democrat's game is to blame the Republicans for everything. If the Republicans control Congress and the White House, everything is the Republicans' fault. If the Democrats control Congress and the White House, everything is still the Republicans' fault.

It's like the old joke we used to play on each other when we were kids, and we were about to decide something by the flip of a coin: "Heads, I win - tails, you lose." No matter which side of the coin faces upwards, you lose. Sadly, even grown-ups can be all-too-easily deceived by such plainly flawed logic.

It's the same game they play with global warming, and other issues. If the temperature goes up, it's because of global warming. If it goes down, it's because of (you guessed it!) global warming.

Conservatives have been allowing the liberals to get away with that game all too long, and it's time they put a stop to it.

Liberals are masters at playing the game of politics. Conservatives are disorganized, and their defensive game is truly feeble. If they want to stay in the game, they'd better learn how to play both offense and defense.

[PBzeer]

Unfortunately, it is the wont of the right to deal with actual facts and state their case based on the validity of their facts and the logic which follows from it. This puts them at a large disadvantage when dealing with those who ignore, misstate, or otherwise pervert reality. The classic example is when the funding for something is only increased by X instead of Y, and then the Dems call it a cut instead of the increase it actually is.

[SecondWindNC]

What cracks me up is that people think that either one is somehow different from the other or try to claim the high ground when it comes to playing politics.

[erps]

Re: John's post at the top, I'm a little torn about Pelosi's stated intentions. I hate to see any loss of ground when it comes to transparency in government but on the other hand, I would anticipate quite a backlash against the democrats if they go ahead as planned.

My question is, are the democrats playing "good cop, bad cop" with us with Obama saving us from the bad cop Pelosi?

[erps]

What cracks me up is that people think that either one is somehow different from the other or try to claim the high ground when it comes to playing politics.

Do you think the parties are the same? If so, do you flip a coin when you vote?

[SecondWindNC]

Originally Posted by erps

Do you think the parties are the same? If so, do you flip a coin when you vote?

When it comes to "playing politics," yes, I think they're pretty much the same. Neither party can claim that it doesn't have any corruption, that it always presents the facts in a fair and unbiased manner, that it isn't primarily interested in keeping its own people in office and itself in power. They both are part of the same system. If you can look at the two parties and think one can claim the high ground when it comes to playing politics, you might want to take off the tinted glasses.

And no, I don't flip a coin when I vote. I vote for specific candidates, not parties, and I vote for them based on how their positions are aligned with mine and whether I feel they will follow through with those positions.

[PBzeer]

Originally Posted by erps

My question is, are the democrats playing "good cop, bad cop" with us with Obama saving us from the bad cop Pelosi?

It seems quite consistent behavior on Pelosi's part. Shas always exhibited a large autocratic streak and a seemingly innate ability to talk out of both sides of her mouth. And while her vows of increased bi-partisanship were widely and loudly touted by the media, her actions get far less coverage by that same media.

It's not like I didn't expect something like this. It goes hand in glove with their desire to shut down talk radio. Dissent is only acceptable when it is against the GOP.

[PBzeer]

SW - since one can not dispute feelings with facts, I won't attempt it, other than to say that though both parties are guilty of "playing politics", even a brief review of the Congressional record, will buttress my prior post.

[Sailormon6]

I don't mean to suggest that only one party is guilty of playing politics. I'm saying that the Democrats have raised the game to an art form, and, by comparison, the Republicans are inept. I think the "game" of politics is antithetical to the nation's best interests, by whomever it's played. But, wishing the game would go away is like wishing the weather won't change. So, if you must play the game, then you'd better play it at least as well as the other side. I've watched my party try to play the game for over 50 years, as they stink at it. As much as I disagree with the Democrats, I both admire and am disgusted by their skill at the "game."

[PBzeer]

I don't think conservatives will ever be as good at it as Dems. It requires traits that just aren't compatible with honest conservative behavior.