10 Questions Every Liberal Should Ask Every Republican

[DOR]

One question the two of you can answer: What is your point in posting this?

It isn’t that the current entity calling itself the Republican Party is inherently evil, but rather the blind hypocrisy they exhibit. The "party of fiscal responsibility" is the most egregious, followed by "Christian" or "family" values, and "patriotism."

If the GOP doesn't purge its extremists, as Democrats did 25-40 years ago, it will have a very short, or very fragmented future.

As YellowFever implies, intent counts, too.

[bonehead]

It isn’t that the current entity calling itself the Republican Party is inherently evil, but rather the blind hypocrisy they exhibit. The "party of fiscal responsibility" is the most egregious, followed by "Christian" or "family" values, and "patriotism."

If the GOP doesn't purge its extremists, as Democrats did 25-40 years ago, it will have a very short, or very fragmented future.

As YellowFever implies, intent counts, too.

Purge? Both parties need a pre colonoscopy like enema of epic proportions. Unfortunately the voters don't have the stomach for such a prescription.

[dmwnc1959]

Hi JAD333,

Things here in WV have been very busy with work, and I've volunteered for a LOT of OT since we are so short handed, hence I've only taken three days off since August 1st. That extra cash went to paying off my cruise, a back-to-back on the new Royal Princess for 14-nights. I leave for sunny Florida tomorrow.

Did't mean to stir up any controversy. ;) Sometimes those of us who don't follow the political world as close as most of you do, need to be reminded that what we may believe isn't always the Truth, but instead turns out to be just a lot of Opinionated Fluff. I truly appreciate all of the factual commentary as well as the friendly tit-for-tat between our esteemed members.

[McFire]

Purge? Both parties need a pre colonoscopy like enema of epic proportions. Unfortunately the voters don't have the stomach for such a prescription.

Indeed. The democrats traded their values to became progressives, while the republicans (RINOs) have shed their values to became democrats. Conservatives from the "Anarchist Tea Party" are now deemed "extremists."

It's time for a massive colon-blow with the political parties given appropriate titles to coincide their modern views...Progressives, Democrats, and the "Anarchist-Extremist, Child-Hating, Apathetic-to-Old People, No-Healthcare-for-Anyone, Right-Wingers."

[JAD_333]

Indeed. The democrats traded their values to became progressives, while the republicans (RINOs) have shed their values to became democrats. Conservatives from the "Anarchist Tea Party" are now deemed "extremists."

It's time for a massive colon-blow with the political parties given appropriate titles to coincide their modern views...Progressives, Democrats, and the "Anarchist-Extremist, Child-Hating, Apathetic-to-Old People, No-Healthcare-for-Anyone, Right-Wingers."

We can throw all the 'bums' out, but they'll just be replaced by a new set of 'bums'.

[JAD_333]

It isn’t that the current entity calling itself the Republican Party is inherently evil, but rather the blind hypocrisy they exhibit. The "party of fiscal responsibility" is the most egregious, followed by "Christian" or "family" values, and "patriotism."

My,my....a vitriolic slogan, too long for a bumper sticker but short enough to lack substance. So, let's clarify a few things.

First of all, both parties claim to be fiscally 'responsible'. The noun you are looking for is 'conservative', as in 'fiscally conservative'. And, wouldn't you say that pretty much describes the GOP today? You'll, of course, dredge up some numbers from the past to try to prove otherwise. But the past is prologue. One could just as well prove the Dems are pro-slavery by dredging up their opposition to the 13th Amendment.

The rest of your litany of 'blind' hypocrisy, the GOP's attitude toward Christian and family values, and patriotism, baffles me. What is 'blind' hypocrisy? Does it apply to someone who isn't aware that he says one thing and does another? Or does it apply to anything you don't like?

If the GOP doesn't purge its extremists, as Democrats did 25-40 years ago, it will have a very short, or very fragmented future.

The Democrats never purged anyone. They left. The same will happen to the GOP. Neither party can win national elections while under the control of a small faction of extremists. If the party can't and won't accommodate them, they'll either adapt or leave and form a 3rd party. That is just a fact of political life.

[dalem]

Glad you have DWM but not me.

Happy Thanksgiving all!!

-dale

[bonehead]

We can throw all the 'bums' out, but they'll just be replaced by a new set of 'bums'.

Thats a cop out. As long as you do wholesale purges on a regular basis you will eventually get in office people that have allegiance to the country instead of the party. Too many congressman are too comfortable doing the same old routine knowing they will get voted in again and again.

[Parihaka]

It isn’t that the current entity calling itself the Republican Party is inherently evil, but rather the blind hypocrisy they exhibit. The "party of fiscal responsibility" is the most egregious, followed by "Christian" or "family" values, and "patriotism."
.

Both parties, by your own standards, do so

[winton]

We can throw all the 'bums' out, but they'll just be replaced by a new set of 'bums'.

Those new sets of "bums" will have to come from the ruling class.

[winton]

Thats a cop out. As long as you do wholesale purges on a regular basis you will eventually get in office people that have allegiance to the country instead of the party.

you'll get this allegiance as long as it aligns with their interest. So it doesnt require a wholesale purge. Just self interest.

[DOR]

JAD_333,

Both parties claim to love the nation, their mothers and apple pie, but that’s not really important, is it? What’s important is that the GOP tries to distinguish itself from the Democratic Party by claiming to be more fiscally responsible. Democrats try to distinguish themselves from GOPers by claiming to be concerned for the less well-off.

“Fiscally conservative” is a poorly defined term, one that can mean whatever one wants. Is it “fiscally conservative” to take 70% of GDP in taxes, but only spend 69%?

The term that describes the GOP fiscal policy in the past 35 years is “taxaphobic spendaholics.” Cutting taxes is the solution to everything; raising taxes or imposing new ones is sacrilege; but reducing spending – when they actually have the chance, as seen in the early 1980s and early 2000s – simply cannot be done.

The “conservative” label would apply if the GOP were conversationalists. They aren’t, as shown by their natural resource and energy programs.

The Democratic Party purged the radical left in the 1960s and 1970s. If you don’t remember, or haven’t read the history, please consider educating yourself. The terms “Democratic Leadership Council,” “New Democrat Network” should get you started.

. . . . .

I got 25,000 Google hits for “blind hypocrisy.”

[JAD_333]

Thats a cop out. As long as you do wholesale purges on a regular basis you will eventually get in office people that have allegiance to the country instead of the party. Too many congressman are too comfortable doing the same old routine knowing they will get voted in again and again.

BH:

Cop out, you say? I would call it rejection of the way you characterize the political landscape. The reality is that most new members of Congress will worry about getting re-elected. They will do the same things you see so objectionable in the current crop. It is the nature of the beast. It's worry that makes them act to please their constituents. Channeling the selfishness of elected politicians into doing good for the country is the genius of a democracy. And there's another side to it. An elected politician who can't manage to get re-elected is probably an ineffective politician.

I disagree that party loyalty trumps allegiance to the country and your implication that it leads to wrong results. The record shows otherwise. Party loyalty is nothing more than a disciple that forms a critical mass to enable compromise with another critical mass. That's extremely important in any democratic system, because if every legislator and executive was an independent, it would take ages to get anything done.

It's true that, at present, the parties are not compromising much, but that has less to do with party loyalty than party principles. There is simply less room to compromise these days. Both parties are functioning at their extremes. The voters will have to decide. It's not 'throw the bums out'; it's a choice between directions, between conservatism and liberalism. If you throw one conservative bum out and get a new conservative bum in his place, you accomplish little except perhaps ethical cleansing. The new guy will be as loyal to party principles as the old, but alas less experienced.

[JAD_333]

Those new sets of "bums" will have to come from the ruling class.

Naw. They come from all over: poor, rich, lawyers, doctors, dentists, farmers, businessmen, wrestlers, sports types, ex-military, party hacks... but mostly lawyers. Here, political fortune will put you in the 'ruling' class very fast and take you out just as fast. We don't nurture a ruling class like they do in some countries, where heredity plays a big role a person's future.

[TopHatter]

We don't nurture a ruling class like they do in some countries, where heredity plays a big role a person's future.

Indeed. You can be the child of immigrants "just off the boat" and wind up as Governor of a U.S. state.