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Originally Posted by djtestudo
This thread is a pretty good microcosm of why the Democrats have such a problem; there is no real unity.
For better or worse (and even as a Republican, I will say it is too often for the worse) the Republicans as a party are far more united then the Democrats.
Once you get past certain issues, mostly having to do with opposing the Republicans, the Democratic Party splits into smaller, almost sub-parties, with their own agendas within the larger one. It can be racial (blacks, latinos, etc.), or over national issues (abortion, environment, war), but those smaller groups bring about a lot of in-fighting.
There is a little bit of that within the Republican Party, mostly along religious lines, but not as much, and that unity allows them to stick together.
Just the fact that only "two-thirds" of congressional Democrats voted party-line on the two issues being discussed, which were the two general reasons for the Democrats winning their majorities anyway, should be enough proof of that.
That is where the problem lies. It is both the advantage and the curse of the party, because it allows for dissent and change within the party, but also doesn't allow a small majority to mean as much.
(And no, that isn't why I'm a Republican.)
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I agree with you completely about the diversity of opinion within the Democratic party on how to achieve their common goals.
It is an advantage in that it allows for more independent thinking and a challenge in that it makes it more difficult to govern. But that is what I like about the Democratic party.
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Originally Posted by willravel
51% think the Dems are "Very Favorable" or Mostly Favorable". 39% for the GOP. The mostly unfavorable areas both are hovering around 30%, though. So, yet again, we see that the Dems are the lesser of two evils.
As an interesting aside, 58% think a third party is needed. Heh. Go figure.
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Will....your interpretation of the results is interesting but unsupportable... you assume that the 51% who have a "favorable opinion of Dems think the Dems are the lesser of two evils. I am among that 51% and I believe the Dems are the best hope, not the lesser evil. Why do you conclude others among that 51% dont share my belief?
I am also not surprised by the 58% who believe a third party is needed. I am clearly in the minority on this issue.
The problem you have is that many of those 58% are too lazy and apathetic to get off their ass and do anything more that bitch about the status quo.
I dont see anything positive coming out of a Congress with three or more parties, none of which is a majority. The result would likely be vote trading between the parties on an issue by issue basis in order to form large enough blocks to get legislation passed (I'll vote for yours if you vote for mine). And I cant even imagine how committees would be structured (without a majority...who would chair which committees - more voting trading to decide?) and business conducted....it would be chaos. What a way to govern!