Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts)
42. I agree with Bill Maher: Vote Democratic - "we're lame but the other guys are nuts"
Tue Jul 3, 2012, 02:19 AM
Jul 2012

We no longer have a political struggle between left and right or liberal and conservative - both are fundamentally conservative albeit to varying degrees on basic assumptions of economic policy and foreign policy - But we do have a struggle between sane and insane.

No matter how one tries to spin it both parties pretty much hold the same basic assumptions regarding the so-called, "free market economy and to varying degrees embrace a form of neoliberal economics with the likes of Goldman Sachs steering the ship of state. At the same time both parties embrace an interventionist, Pax Americana foreign policy. The healthcare plan that was just sustained by the U.S. Supreme Court has its origins in a Heritage Foundation - right-wing think tank and is essentially the nationalization of Romneycare. The foreign policy is not similar to the first term of the Bush Jr. administration -but in fundamentals varies little from the second term of that administration. However, I will agree that it when it gets down to specifics we do indeed see some concrete differences. The Democratic Party of today is in fact well to the right on economic issues to the old pre-Reagan Republican Party and pretty much the same as Bush Sr. so-called foreign policy realist in support of a highly interventionist approach. But at least they are glued considerably more to reality and are considerably more pragmatic.



I think people respond, many times, out of frustration RainDog Jul 2012 #1
Center-right and hard-right. Warren Stupidity Jul 2012 #2
+1,000,000 - n/t coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #14
Exactly. Maven Jul 2012 #47
Every Republican I know thinks everyone is as stupid as they are NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #3
The two Parties are closest on Economic Policy. Unfortunately, that's the part of gov't that most Romulox Jul 2012 #4
They aren't close on economic policy at ALL. The Dems have NOTHING resembling the Ryan plan. phleshdef Jul 2012 #36
But on "free trade" with China, or NAFTA, or bailing out banks, or mortgage reform. VERY similar. Romulox Jul 2012 #44
Not all Dems are for the bad free trade bills. phleshdef Jul 2012 #48
Yes, of course RobertEarl Jul 2012 #5
Three Mile Island was much better than Fukushima. hay rick Jul 2012 #13
Oh I think somebody is lying. xchrom Jul 2012 #6
I'd like to see more Democrats stop their support for a capitalistic system... Comrade_McKenzie Jul 2012 #7
Additionally, to believe there's *enough* of a difference in the duopoly to "save" us, villager Jul 2012 #8
The same, no, MadHound Jul 2012 #9
WTF? trixie Jul 2012 #51
They are not getting closer.. what rock are you living under?? DCBob Jul 2012 #55
Major disseminators of this are Icke, Jones, Paulites, 911 Truthers and some Occupy. Not Bill Maher: freshwest Jul 2012 #10
"One states the facts, the other comes very close to playing with their own poop." SunSeeker Jul 2012 #31
Bill Maher doesn't really have a "libertarian" bent. phleshdef Jul 2012 #37
True, but he's still known for it. That's the kind of liberal most Democrats are. The kind of ... freshwest Jul 2012 #38
and this OP will draw them out of the woodwork like flies...enjoy.. dionysus Jul 2012 #11
Remember the head of the Lou Dobbs fan club here about ten years ago? NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #16
Well, nobody here is to Obama's right. immoderate Jul 2012 #28
I guess I miss your point unless it's to be devisive. rhett o rick Jul 2012 #12
x2 AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #25
I settled on clueless whiners Gman Jul 2012 #15
Oh, c'mon Wraith, do you really think there's ANYONE... RevStPatrick Jul 2012 #17
The most ardent anti-globalism people I know drive imported cars NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #18
No. bvar22 Jul 2012 #49
Yep, Fascist right and moderate right. There are no moderate nor certainly any left parties anymore on point Jul 2012 #32
Its easy to paint a false picture and then attack it, when all nuance is thrown out the window quinnox Jul 2012 #19
The difference is that the Republican Party is unified, the Democratic Party is factionalized. joshcryer Jul 2012 #20
Big diff. Mississippi, red state, is about to close the one and only abortion clinic in the state. progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #21
+1.000 freshwest Jul 2012 #35
"the "no difference" spiel gave us George W. Bush instead of Al Gore" CleanLucre Jul 2012 #22
Maybe they are Excalbians Motown_Johnny Jul 2012 #23
Very True Wraith, lying or clueless sums it up treestar Jul 2012 #24
When Big Pharma wanted to come out with a Marijuana Pill... lib2DaBone Jul 2012 #26
Holder busted all of them? All of them?...nt SidDithers Jul 2012 #40
Well said!!! n/t RKP5637 Jul 2012 #27
Or hopeful. Zanzoobar Jul 2012 #29
bravo heaven05 Jul 2012 #30
K&R SunSeeker Jul 2012 #33
ho hum, the same old stuff stupidicus Jul 2012 #34
DU rec... SidDithers Jul 2012 #39
Hey Sid :) SunsetDreams Jul 2012 #41
I agree with Bill Maher: Vote Democratic - "we're lame but the other guys are nuts" Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #42
Can I borrow some straw? Bonobo Jul 2012 #43
Unrec for being so ignorant. n/t Dawgs Jul 2012 #45
"Not as bad" is still not good. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2012 #46
The "Centrist" Party Leadership of the Clinton Administration CREATED Nader. bvar22 Jul 2012 #50
Absolutely true. nt Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #52
Many call themselves Independents. demosincebirth Jul 2012 #53
And the who's who of They're-the-same!1 JNelson6563 Jul 2012 #54
I think those that think that are just impatient.. they want immediate satisfaction. DCBob Jul 2012 #56
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»To believe there's no rea...»Reply #42