Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Be honest, what would it take for you to change your views on political parties

dc_dux · 10-07-2006, 07:03 AM

There has always been uncivility in US politics, usually most prevelant when the country was facing a crisis - leading up to the Civil War and WW I and II, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, watergate in the 60s and early 70s and since 9/11, terrorism.

When I worked in the Senate, during the Reagan years, there was partisanship, but respect. I attribute that to the political leaders of the times, including Reagan, but also folks like Bob Dole and George Mitchell in the Senate, Tip O'Neil and Bob Michals in the House. The current leadership of both parties could learn from these statesmen.

Here is where I get partisan. IMO, two things that emerged in the 90s have led to the current level of uncivility and unwillingness to compromise - the rise of the religious right in the Repub party and the impeachment of Clinton.

Former Repub Senator (and episcopal minister) John Danforth has the same concern about the religious right - "There is a difference between being a Christian in politics and having a Christian agenda for politics."

The impeachment of Clinton also created a division that will be a long time in healing. Impeachment is the ulitmate rejection of the single most important political decision the country makes every four years. Unless an overwhelming majority believe it is necessary, which was not the case with Clnton, unlike Nixon and watergate, it creates animosty. While I would never condone Clinton's action, I think most historians from across the political perspective, would agree that the impeachment was politcially motivated, rather than based on a Constitutional crisis.

When we next faced a national crisis, Bush had a unique opportunity to bring the country together and he did do so in the days after 9/11, with the full support of liberals like myself. Unfortunately, again IMO, he turned away from the immediate crisis to pursue an agenda that once again divided the country by invading Iraq and by using the national security crisis to promote ideologoical solutions, without a willingess to compromise.

I dont know who will lead the effort, but we willl get through this current period of exteme partisanship and animosty because the system is stronger than any one particular ideology, and enough fair minded Americans will demand it, through the ballot and other peaceful means.

10-07-2006, 07:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
dc_dux Location: Washington DC	There has always been uncivility in US politics, usually most prevelant when the country was facing a crisis - leading up to the Civil War and WW I and II, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, watergate in the 60s and early 70s and since 9/11, terrorism. When I worked in the Senate, during the Reagan years, there was partisanship, but respect. I attribute that to the political leaders of the times, including Reagan, but also folks like Bob Dole and George Mitchell in the Senate, Tip O'Neil and Bob Michals in the House. The current leadership of both parties could learn from these statesmen. Here is where I get partisan. IMO, two things that emerged in the 90s have led to the current level of uncivility and unwillingness to compromise - the rise of the religious right in the Repub party and the impeachment of Clinton. Former Repub Senator (and episcopal minister) John Danforth has the same concern about the religious right - "There is a difference between being a Christian in politics and having a Christian agenda for politics." The impeachment of Clinton also created a division that will be a long time in healing. Impeachment is the ulitmate rejection of the single most important political decision the country makes every four years. Unless an overwhelming majority believe it is necessary, which was not the case with Clnton, unlike Nixon and watergate, it creates animosty. While I would never condone Clinton's action, I think most historians from across the political perspective, would agree that the impeachment was politcially motivated, rather than based on a Constitutional crisis. When we next faced a national crisis, Bush had a unique opportunity to bring the country together and he did do so in the days after 9/11, with the full support of liberals like myself. Unfortunately, again IMO, he turned away from the immediate crisis to pursue an agenda that once again divided the country by invading Iraq and by using the national security crisis to promote ideologoical solutions, without a willingess to compromise. I dont know who will lead the effort, but we willl get through this current period of exteme partisanship and animosty because the system is stronger than any one particular ideology, and enough fair minded Americans will demand it, through the ballot and other peaceful means. __________________ "The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire