Michael Barone

Republicans and Democrats Are Two Different Animals

January 5, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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By Michael Barone, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

My Creators Syndicate year-end/year-beginning column is a look at our two parties and why, as I have come to think increasingly over the years, they are correctly portrayed by political cartoonists as two different animals.

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Tags:: Democratic Party,; Republican Party,; politics

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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.

Steve of DC 11:29AM January 08, 2009

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.

Dorfy of SC 2:49PM January 07, 2009

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.

Steve of DC 5:17PM January 06, 2009

Republicans and Democrats Are Two Different Animals

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