Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Opinion

Michael Barone

Republicans and Democrats Are Two Different Animals

January 05, 2009 03:54 PM ET | Michael Barone | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

Moral Equivalence

Dorfy,

Lazy? Well, yes I have to admit to being about as lazy as the next person but not in this particular instance. More like honest -- no longer willing to be put off by moral equivalence 'arguments'.

For every misbehaving conservative you give me I can give you ten of the same on the other side and that includes corruption. When a conservative uses foul language in polite company, he is betraying his principles. When a liberal does it, he affirms them.

Anyone who has eyes to see knows this. But its not talked about because, as we all have now learned, all standards are socially constructed.

Name a republican pornographer.

Oh yes and I forgot an item in my list of liberal personality traits: a general inability to distinguish between self actualization and personal survival.

Bad Behavior - is "the right" exempt?

Steve,

I know people from both parties, and find them both full of folks with both good and bad behavior.

Wasn't it Dick Cheney who said ##@!! you to someone on the Senate floor? Who was it in the airport men's room in Minnesota? What about social contact with congressional pages under age 18? Another who had a great house remodel in Alaska? Who was it that got so wealthy from payoffs from defense contractors in Southern California? Then there's DeLay, Ken Lay... There are many more of coursee from the right side of the aisle..

Of course the Democrats have their fair share too - lots to be sure. But they do not come on so high and mighty about being more moral than their opponents. I often think the Republicans are bigger hypocrites - talking Jesus and morality while doing all they can to get rich and get sex and get power.

A kind heart, achievement without compromise, and a moral life of honesty and giving to others are not the exclusive domain of right wingers, conservatives, bible-pounders, red-necks, traditionalists, etc.......

Labels are a dangerous thing. Too convenient, infuriating and requiring too little thought. Perhaps you are getting a bit lazier in your analysis as you arrive in the "latter stages" of your life. Few people would care to be defined in such a narrow stereotype - liberal or conservative.

I do agree though - bad behavior and greed have been mainstreamed to all of our detriment. The worst as I see it is that too few are held acountable any more for what they do. Especially in senior corporate circles, congress and the executive branch.

Bad Behavior

I thought that Barone was going to write about the character of the typical liberal and I was disappointed.

Moving into the latter stages of life has shown me a few truths as well as removed a few inhibitions as regards to telling those truths. To wit: most liberals are very much lacking in the character department, viz: foul language, bad manners, bad habits, lying, cheating, etc.

The underlying problem of politics in our time is that bad behavior has been mainstreamed and that it has found a political voice in the democratic party.

Same party since Reagan. Public aid and tax cuts are basically the same: feeding at the public trough.

Hi Rick,

To each his/her own. Frankly, I think it's a shame that parties have hijacked our country. The danger of this was exemplified when a democratic Germany allowed a plurality party vote among 7 parties to take control of that government and the world is still staggering after Hitler's assault on humanity.

All of the rules that the parties have established to limit who can run for office and get elected are not found in the Constitution.

Legislation is passed on top of legislation on top of more and more legislation based on nothing more than partisan party politics--not the content of the legislation nobody of either party really knows what it contains.

This is not representative government (representative of the people's wishes).

This is party rule.

Would that we were governed by what's good for the people rather than what's good for the party.

HillbillyBill of Tn

HillbillBill, these two groups do not look alike. It's easy to pick out the difference. I'll be nice and only post that I'd rather have my daughter marry a republican. I would believe most democrats would too.

Amazing, isn't it?

How two different animals can look so much alike.

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Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report and principal coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics. He has written for many publications—including the Economist and the New York Times.

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