Will this country ever truly unite behind one President?

[Kid_A]

I really am worried about this. Whoever wins this election, the other side will absolutely despise him while he's in office. There will always be millions of people who are so set in their ways that nothing will ever change their minds, and their children will most likely perpetuate that cycle.

So my question is this: is it even possible for one person to bridge the divide and reach both liberals and conservatives, or can we expect an endless run of Presidents who pander to their bases while enduring endless attacks from the other side? Don't misunderstand me; I'm not taking anything away from the criticisms directed towards Bush. His incompetence transcends politics, and is truly dangerous not only to the future of this country, but to the entire world.

If Bush wins this election, those of us here will continue to rail against him and call for his deserved impeachment. If Kerry wins, the people at Free Republic will rail against him and call for his impeachment, whether it's deserved or not. Never mind the fact that we're right and they're wrong, I think it's safe to say that the political landscape will not change after this election.

So what will it take to unite this country in a meaningful, lasting way?

[UpsideDownFlag]

1. in a truly democratic country, people are always going to express

differing opinions, especially about moral issues. when you've got 200+ million people from all different kinds of regional cultures, there will never be full unity.

[getoffmytrain]

2. For the most part...

For the most part, we've had a measure of unity in this nation despite what party held power. However, those days are likely to belong to an era that is in the past. Now, we are going to be like many other countries in the world... heavily divided upon partisan and faction lines, moreso than we ever have been.

[Kid_A]

6. I recognize that differing opinions are essential to a democracy,

but what concerns me is that we've moved past simple disagreements of opinion to become something much different, and much more dangerous. There is an incredible ideological divide in this country that moves beyond healthy debate. When the national debate devolves into each side screaming for the other's blood, something is seriously wrong.

That's what I meant to say in my initial post, but I kind of got ahead of myself.

[toddzilla]

3. no..

it's a distraction to keep us from realizing that we get FUCK ALL from our gov't.

[Sagan]

4. To a certain degree, we tried with *

But, true to his nature, he took that trust and unity and screwed it all up by just doing what was best for him and his cronies rather than the country.

Chimpy had the chance to be regarded as a truly great President instead of the abject failure that he is now.

[CornField]

7. This is exactly how I feel

I know I tried. With every turn, however, this administration has slapped me in the face -- education, the environment, the economy, the war(s), and more. There comes a time when good people have to stand up and say "enough." This is that time.

If, after Kerry's first year in office, there have not been great strides made on all of these fronts, I will also be disgusted with him and the democratic party. I want change... real change... now.

[Bok_Tukalo]

5. We did

Bush.

But he pissed it away.