Comments on: Republicans’ losing battle with the right

By: Dormilona

Dormilona — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:14:59 +0000

I think we are witnessing an increasingly rabid Balkanization of the body politic in the U.S. that's not yet reflected in our political parties. The term "independent" probably describes anyone feels unrepresented by the existing parties, but beyond that it's meaningless. It says nothing about one's values or beliefs. As an Independent, I consider myself far more radical than most Democrats — nothing like Joe Lieberman (I hope!). Some Independents are far to the right of me, and I'm sure a lot of Independents are even further to the left.

By: Hanlon

Hanlon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:22:58 +0000

My only hope is that in another ten years, we look back on the early 2000s as the dark times, not the beginning of the collapse.

By: Keth

Keth — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:34:24 +0000

"Growing up I could never understand how neighbors, friends and brothers could take up arms against one another during our Civil War – but sadly as the years go by I am witnessing some of the same blind hatred – just manifested on a different subject."

Perhaps the scariest but most accurate assessment of the situation I've ever read. And quite honestly, scary as all heck.

By: Keth

Keth — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:31:39 +0000

You're probably right about Lieberman.

I'm surprised no more elected officials go indie, especially recently, because of the divides in both parties.

As much as I admit sometimes the American system has it's benifits, it's got it's serious problems, too and this is one of them. It's more than depressing; it also, at least to me, seems dangerous.

By: Vincent

Vincent — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:01:03 +0000

Like my mother told me as a kid, "sometimes it isn't easy to stand up for what is right." Keep up the good fight, I believe that President Obama will lead us back towards a better place, defending a Democratic position will be much easier once that is accomplished. The last ten years have been absolutely unreal upon reflection.

By: Hanlon

Hanlon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:27:46 +0000

The US is fairly institutionalized like that. Even I concede that a massive third-party uprising is unlikely (if not impossible), and so any change would have to be within parties. It's downright depressing.

Although I think Lieberman's done better as an indie than he did as a Dem.

By: Hanlon

Hanlon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:26:27 +0000

You bring up possibly the most depressing facet of the whole thing. The divide has become, apparently, not between differing viewpoints of what to do for America, but between those who love America and those who hate America. Us liberals, so the thinking goes, hate this country and for some reason are actively seeking to destroy it (rather than simply moving out).

It often gets frightening to be on the receiving end of the vitriol, accusations of America-hating and what have you. I end up spending just as much time arguing that I do indeed like it here as I do making my original point.

By: Vincent

Vincent — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:11:48 +0000

Beautifully put, kind of makes one think 2 years, 5 years 10 years down the road and wonder where we will be as a nation? I served in the Marine Corps from 86-90 and although there were distinct differences in political philosophy between Jarheads, (I leaned left back then as well) there was tolarance and respect for opposing viewpoints and we all loved our COUNTRY. I fear that we may someday recover economically from 9/11 and the poor choices made in reaction to it, but the real damage caused by the attack is the rotting political divide that seemingly has no way of healing. Growing up I could never understand how neighbors, friends and brothers could take up arms against one another during our Civil War – but sadly as the years go by I am witnessing some of the same blind hatred – just manifested on a different subject.
Keep up the outstanding blog, I enjoy reading your thoughts

By: Keth

Keth — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:20:15 +0000

This is one reason why, I think, I like Canadian politics better than American. We've got our crazies, true, but if a party tends to ally with them, we can just up and switch parties, because somewhere there is a party that will fit how a person thinks. It just seems that American's, with their two parties, don't have that choice. You're either Republican or Democrat and that's it. Of course you can also be Independant, but mostly independants are looked down upon and ignored from the way I've seen things.