Why is it that today's dem.& rep. are more like gangsters to each other than just an opposing group?
372018
It is true. Our political parties are extremely divided. "Like the sands of an hour glass", they are on opposing side of the sand stream.\n\nThe past two elections, I believe, have set the stage for division. Both parties are mimicking the American voters, who in both of the last two elections, Bush vs. Gore and Bush vs. Kerry., reflected a feeling of division resulting in two very, very close elections. There is what I believe to be a lingering feeling of resentment among Democrats for the way Bush won in Florida.The fact is, brother Jeb was and is the Governor of Florida, I am sure played a role. All-in-all, George Bush was not elected, he was handed the Presidency by the Supreme Court. Remember, Gore won the popular vote.\n\nOur Government works best when there are checks and balances. However, when you have a Republican Administration and a Republican controlled Senate (or visa verse) the opposing party has little chance to make a difference. This very frustrating position for the Democrats may be responsible for some of the back-stabbing and name calling. \n\nAside from the fact that name calling and attacks, personal or otherwise occur, please be cognizant that this pattern has become the norm over many years. It is nothing new to politics in todays world. Both factions have adopted the phylosophy that by denegrating the opposition opportunity and popularity are created for the attacker. Moreover, deciding for whom we vote, usaully boils down to whom we think is the "lesser of evils". They spend too much time bashing and too little time promoting their platforms. \n\nMohammed Ali never called his opponents names, he simple said, "I am the greatest" and then proved that he was. Mohammed Ali, although a braggart set out to reinforce his declaration, positive declarations. In truth, was he bragging or forcasting. \n\nBoth parties should concentrate more on forcasting their platforms and less time drawing attention to their opposition. \n\nI'm sorry to tell this, Dems. & Reps. are very much like gangsters. Better get used to it. I don't think it will change in our lifetimes.
878402
I realize facts aren't what you're looking for, but here ya go...according to "Party Politics in America" (M. Hershey, P. Beck; Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, 2003), "People with lower incomes and less education are more likely to call themselves Democrats than Republicans." (p. 129)
1178488
Well  from what I can see both parties can be fairly hateful.I do not think 1 is worse in this area than the other.
996049
I have noticed this too.  I don't understand why things have grown so polarized.  I have a strong political persuasion as well (which I will not disclose) and I hate to see my favorite party insulting the other party.  It makes them look stupid.  I think that there needs to be a 3rd, more moderate party thrown into the mix to get these two sides to get along.
198503
Let's do. Funny,it seems the other way 'round to me.Our motives regarding war,abortion, prayer, smaller government,etc. -are villified,seems to me: in the media, particularly, but also 1 on 1 talks. But I'm a conservative,and a reg. Joe. The Rep. party is not,nor the Dems, either,of by and for the people any longer.It's the same machine, different masks.Live long,Peace.\n P.S.And never let them make you be politically correct, or one day demagog will mean democrat.
624185
What it really is today who really knows. back when the earth was cooling (after the start of the last century)Republicans and Democrats were both fiscal conservative groups. The big difference was where the money was best controlled.\n\nDemocrats wanted Washinton DC to collect the money and then send it back to the states, counties, and cities.  \n\nRepublicans wanted the money to stop flowing upward at the lowest level possible and be spent there.\n\nToday is seems the more liberal you are the more you vote Democrat. If you are more conservative you vote Republican. And because there are more people who are basicly conservative than liberal could explain the rise in Republican Representatives and Senators since 1994.\n\nEven during the last midterm election Republicans gained ground which seldom happens.\n\nNow days who really knows what either party really stands for? It would be easier to define someone if there were more parties. like Liberal Republicans, Liberal Democrats, Conservative Republicans and Conservative Democrats,
23449
Its an age related thing. People grow more and more conservative and in line with republican beliefs as they grow older. Not to say that everyone does, but most of your democratic supporters will be younger and the old granparents will often be Republican.
740440
You must read your newspaper very closely, you are right.  The reason is because the republican agenda is to put their self-aggrandizement over the common good.  This isn't to say that democrats are righteous and sagacious, but they seem to be much less corrupt and full of bologna than the republicans (have you seen Hastert lately? he looks like Humpty Dumpty).
429319
Blacks are not part of the democratic party any more than whites are part of the republican party. People tend to lean towards the party the more closely matches their views.\nDemocrats tend to give more attention to minority issues than republicans.
459732
I suspect that when you talk about people we love to hate are minor villains like the oil company ex and politicians. the reason that we run across them so often is that there a re lots of them and they keep a high profile.
928773
Although it might surprise you, it's because our representative bodies are operating in a "mature" system, for want of a better word. The fights you talk about, (we've all seen 'em) are occurring such places as Japan (system in place since 1946), various states that are former SSR's (system in place since late '80's) Korea (system in place since mid 40's) \n\nIn contrast, our Senate and House date back to the 1780's, and if you do look back we had our share of physical stuff earlier too. In the early 1800's it was not uncommon for legislators to challenge each other to duels. Then the most notorious example was the brutal caning that Congressman Preston Brooks gave to Senator Charles Sumner right on the Senate floor because of Sumner's outspoken abolitionism.\n\nIt is noteworthy that the nation with the longest continuous representative system of government, Iceland, has no known occurrences of such antics.
229839
No! The last generation of democrats were a lot closer to the center, whereas republicans truly were the rich upper crust.  That has all changed.  The John Kennedy democrat would be a republican today, except for Teddy, of coarse. Back then, the democratic party had morality, ideals and an honest message.  Today it is a play on words.  A game to catch the opposition failing to dot an I or cross a T.  They seem to wait in the wings, watching for the opposition to make a mistake so they can pounce on the situation in hopes of gaining support.  They react instead of act!  Today, my parents would have changed ideology, they could not align themselves with the likes of Clinton, Pelosi, Kennedy, Durbin, Gore or Kerry.
82762
Idealogically, the Democratic Party of today is meant to put the people before profits. However, the name of this party has changed. For example, Republicans will brag that Lincoln was Republican, but what was Republican then is now the Democratic party. And I must disagree that Democrats go against anthing that Republicans try to do, it is just that the Democrats care more about the people of the United States than oil and money unlike our Republican leaders.
802280
we sure are....our country is divided as a whole....i wonder if this just a different type of civil war.....will we find common ground....i honestly dont know....reps and dems right now simply hate each other and it has unfortunately become a tit for tat struggle instead of focussing on what matters....our country...the American people are tired that is for sure and it is just a matter of time what unfolds
432496
In my opinion the Democrats of JFK's day were more moderate and the center has shifted over the years. I could go on all day  about this but just some highlights of my view on this.  In the 50s and 60s democrats like JFK went to church and believed more in family values. Today they have shifted more to freedom choice to do what you want and Republicans have moved out of their elitist position and more toward the center. Far right and far left have become more radical and opposed. Immigrants in those day came to America in search of democracy and generally gravitated to the Democratic party because they believed that other parties did not stand for democracy. Although that's not true. Today those that have educated themselves, I believe gravitate to the values of the republican party. Thus the Republicans have become the new democrats. JFK was a moderate, strong on defense issues and family values despite his indiscretions. As Attorney General Robert Kennedy went after crime aggressively. Republicans were more about money and power. Things have changed.
1058413
Yes they should, because actually if you think about it they are terrorist against each other. The different gangs that is. And innocent bystanders.
822860
If Democrats are demonic so are Republicans.  They want to solve the same problems, they just have a different method of solving such problems.