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Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
80. Truth for Republicans, yes. False equalization with Democrats.
Mon Sep 3, 2018, 05:42 AM
Sep 2018

Sure, there's far too much money in Washington and that and other corrupting influences do affect Democrats also. Another big one is that the people we send like being there too much for our good and don't want to leave.

But as political scientists note, while liberal Democratic politicians do want to prosper in a town overrun with money, overall they believe in democracy and what they're sent there to do -- to be leaders in government of, by and for the people. That ideology is a huge check that keeps corrupting influences from taking over. They believe in what they are supposed to do.

Today's conservative Republicans tragically do not. They tend to see, and many fervently believe, that our federal government as intrinsically dysfunctional, destructive, and very corrupt and go there in part to prove their ideology is right. And that is intensely corrupting.

Not all conservatives are that bad, by any means, though today's remnant Republicans are. We need to get their corruption and anti-government extremism out of government.

Great thread malaise Sep 2018 #1
Truth for Republicans, yes. False equalization with Democrats. Hortensis Sep 2018 #80
Well put jberryhill Sep 2018 #2
I think about this every time I see people like Bill Krystal out there criticizing Trump Renew Deal Sep 2018 #3
Or Steve Schmidt. nt GreenEyedLefty Sep 2018 #10
...and Rick Wilson, Charlie Sykes, David Frum, Mona Charen, Max Boot, etc. JHB Sep 2018 #14
This is what I wrote after Schmidt left the GOP: Garrett78 Sep 2018 #28
+ 1 ChiTownDenny Sep 2018 #34
Very true, none more than this: Merlot Sep 2018 #56
Well put. But don't forget rightwing media. EndGOPPropaganda Sep 2018 #66
Absolutely. Right wing media has been instrumental and I should have made mention of that. Garrett78 Sep 2018 #75
should be an OP Hermit-The-Prog Sep 2018 #72
Thanks. I made it an OP at the time. I more recently made post #25 of this thread an OP, as well. Garrett78 Sep 2018 #76
Did you see his list of speakers for the Trump funeral? oberliner Sep 2018 #4
No Scott Baio? Beartracks Sep 2018 #52
He lost me when he blamed Pres Obama ecstatic Sep 2018 #5
I think it was a failure not to prosecute bankers. Bluepinky Sep 2018 #7
Absolutely correct. n/t MsLeopard Sep 2018 #9
Hard to say for sure... paleotn Sep 2018 #19
I'm not an economist, but it seems that increasing income inequality is a big problem. Bluepinky Sep 2018 #57
Our tax system is one of the largest contributors to income inequality... paleotn Sep 2018 #62
Presidents don't prosecute. Otherwise, Trump would be prosecuting Hillary. SunSeeker Sep 2018 #20
Thank you. SharonClark Sep 2018 #47
You're right, and I don't mean to put the blame on Obama. Bluepinky Sep 2018 #53
Thank you. He chose to save lives by spending his very limited political capital on healthcare betsuni Sep 2018 #78
Obama entered the office with an overriding passion for compromise, getting along, bipartisanship Chemisse Sep 2018 #31
I agree proglib217 Sep 2018 #54
I agree with your perspective. Chemisse Sep 2018 #61
Same here. n/t GoCubsGo Sep 2018 #36
I am a VERY big BHO guy Cosmocat Sep 2018 #43
Exactly right. shanny Sep 2018 #6
Well done! PatrickforO Sep 2018 #8
No, they wanted a racist radical noodle Sep 2018 #12
That was clear as day in 2010 with their malaise Sep 2018 #15
Exactly radical noodle Sep 2018 #24
Remember their attacks on some African-American Congressmen malaise Sep 2018 #27
Of course he did. However... PatrickforO Sep 2018 #32
Well said. eom BlueWI Sep 2018 #39
Yes... some of that is true..some of it not quite so much.. JHan Sep 2018 #44
K&R SharonClark Sep 2018 #48
Well...we're in agreement, then. PatrickforO Sep 2018 #51
ty for that. Good points but this is how I differentiate it: JHan Sep 2018 #58
Good points all. Thx for thoughtful reply. PatrickforO Sep 2018 #73
Happy you mentioned Teddy, JHan Sep 2018 #74
Right now, countries with Universal Health Care and low wealth inequality, JHan Sep 2018 #13
This set of tweets is the opinion brer cat Sep 2018 #46
"Pander to the center" - do you get how ridiculous that phrase is? I'm guessing not. Squinch Sep 2018 #55
It's part of a collection of boilerplate memes that are just repeated over and over... JHan Sep 2018 #68
Yes. And the concept, in the context of politics, is so mindlessly illogical it's hilarious. Squinch Sep 2018 #81
NOPE , they wanted a Bigot that takes brown kids from their parents . that's why they are ok with JI7 Sep 2018 #64
they wanted everybody they could anger Hermit-The-Prog Sep 2018 #77
'Squalor'. Aristus Sep 2018 #11
Just consider blue-wave Sep 2018 #16
More false equivalence bullshit. Dems are not responsible for Trump, the GOP is. SunSeeker Sep 2018 #17
Bingo! paleotn Sep 2018 #21
Yeah he is definitely their baby. The pinnacle of Republicanism ismnotwasm Sep 2018 #23
Yes, thank you! peggysue2 Sep 2018 #26
There's more accountability to go around BlueWI Sep 2018 #49
No. Trump is the culmination of the GOP "Southern Strategy" that started in the 1960s. SunSeeker Sep 2018 #50
Of course there's a Southern strategy BlueWI Sep 2018 #63
no, things like attending a wedding are not on the same level as bigotry and Russian attacks on the JI7 Sep 2018 #67
Attending a wedding is perfectly legal BlueWI Sep 2018 #89
exactly, attending a wedding is legal JI7 Sep 2018 #90
So you have nothing to say about the obvious corruption BlueWI Sep 2018 #91
NYC was not always democratic . and his rise was due to Russian Oligarchs . He wasn't getting Money JI7 Sep 2018 #92
+1 BannonsLiver Sep 2018 #87
Just a couple questions classof56 Sep 2018 #18
He writes for "The National Review." GoCubsGo Sep 2018 #38
I thank you. classof56 Sep 2018 #59
Actually, it's "The New Republic", not the National Review JHB Sep 2018 #60
This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Sep 2018 #88
The Rs still like the message, just not Trump DeminPennswoods Sep 2018 #22
I find it hard to argue with any of that. As I wrote recently: Garrett78 Sep 2018 #25
Sure resonated with me Jarqui Sep 2018 #29
+ 1 ChiTownDenny Sep 2018 #40
Fascinating. America is so brilliant and flush with intelligent thinkers. Crutchez_CuiBono Sep 2018 #30
K&R SamKnause Sep 2018 #33
I partly agree with him about Obama marylandblue Sep 2018 #35
President Obama was unable to fix the "Old Order" because...... StepnKretchit Sep 2018 #41
Racism was a factor, but really, I don't think a white Democrat would have done much better marylandblue Sep 2018 #42
Okay. StepnKretchit Sep 2018 #45
This. Also, I seem to remember billionaire execs thumbing their noses BlancheSplanchnik Sep 2018 #84
I'm willing to give President Obama a pass on this . . . Erda Sep 2018 #86
I personally think it's awful to live in an age when "tweets/twits" pass as thinking. NNadir Sep 2018 #37
+ JI7 Sep 2018 #65
+2 orangecrush Sep 2018 #69
We are where we are at today Mr.Bill Sep 2018 #70
Hogwash. Honeycombe8 Sep 2018 #71
GOP "Southern Strategy" of race-baiting. lindysalsagal Sep 2018 #79
Who is this brilliant person? BlancheSplanchnik Sep 2018 #82
And I will add mine.. mountain grammy Sep 2018 #83
This encapulates exactly the tenious position we find ourselves in now The Liberal Lion Sep 2018 #85
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