Quote:
Originally Posted by Archaea
You make an assumption that Republicans are NOT upset. You probably draw that conclusion because Republicans to a great extent have not engaged in activities designed to assist the Democratic Party?
You're too bright to even ask that question, so why do you ask it?
In terms of competition, why would even disgruntled partisans give aid and shelter to the enemy, which the Democrats represent?
Did the Democrats aid Republicans in their assault upon Clinton? No, nor should Republicans have expected it. Politics, as well you know, is not about right or wrong, but about perceptions, and battles for perceptions. Once ground is won, one should never concede it to the enemy unless other ground is won.
Niether side has any morality but merely fight for constituent interests.
Of course, many of us Republicans are disenchanted with our party representatives, knowing full well they represent nobody. But the Democrats are our sworn enemies, due to the distaste of the Democrats for capitalism. It doesn't even seem that Democrats want to give the appearance of Neo-Marxism a la Habermas. As long as the anti-capitalistic doctrine is the espoused doctrine of the Democratic Party, I will be its sworn enemy. I just hate the Republicans a smidgeon less.
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You are mischaracterizing the issue. I don't expect Republicans to work to aid Democrats (and vice-versa). I do expect them to be upset at their leadership and find ways to promote change. I don't see that happening. While promoting change may, in fact, assist Democrats as a side effect, it is hardly central to what I would think they would want to be doing.
I expect the same of Democrats, though I currently hold them to a lower standard since they have so few opportunities to actually accomplish anything. If they were in complete control of the government, and had done as little as the Republicans have, I would have a hard time supporting any incumbent Democrat. Why should I? My political goal is not to elect Democrats. It is to elect people who best represent my beliefs. While the effect of such an approach (if undertaken by many Democrats) would be to give Republicans power, the more relevant effect would be that Democrats would be given a wake-up call from their own constituency which would prompt change within the party, making them worth electing the next time around.
As far as Democrats go today, this is somewhat of a moot issue. Democrats have no real power. I can't be tremendously upset with them for failing to exercise power they don't have. Sure, I wish they would formulate a coherent plan. I have said so dozens of times. That being said, the people who should be most unhappy right now are not Democrats. They are Republicans. With all the power of the US government, Republicans have done virtually nothing. To me, that would cause a bit of an identity crisis. If the party I support does nothing when given the clear opportunity to do something, why should I continue to support them? Simply for the sake of keeping those same people in power (who I already know I dislike)? That isn't very rational, if you ask me.
As for Democrats and Clinton, you also misrepresent that issue. Many Democrats, myself included, strongly disagreed with what Clinton did. That said, I also strongly disagreed with the Republican's response to his actions. I did not, and still do not, believe that he should have been impeached. I believed, and still believe, that Republicans were motivated by political greed rather than any moral obligation (remember how many of the finger pointers later resigned for their own sex scandals?). Why should I jump on their bandwagon when I think it is a disaster for the country and our democracy? In that instance, disagreeing with what Clinton did had little relevance to wanting to vote the bums out. Now, if Clinton had done absolutely none of the things he told me he would do if elected, and if he had a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress who also did nothing (other than take time off), you can be assured I would not have supported those same individuals for re-election.
Democrats have lost multiple elections now, and it is forcing internal change. They have lost largely because members of their own party are not supporting them (either not voting or voting for third party candidates). The end result, while the recent past has been painful, will be a better party with better leaders (taking the country in a better direction).
And yet Republicans continue to march to the same drum beat that has gotten their agenda nowhere.