Why are the two most stubborn animals used to represent our two main political parties?
915203
Because we have the two most stubborn political parties.
329839
From the outside it can appear that they are the same, however from the inside you would realize that there is nothing further from the truth.  Each Party has their own stand on the different issues.  Both sides will fight tooth and nail to stay on the top of the heap.  While the fact that it is in fact good that they do switch off power every few years, our country is becoming more and more conservative so we may see even less of this in the future.  We have several large liberal areas of the country, however as you break down the blue and red states you find that the liberals have a smaller state amount, however in a heads up vote the two sides are not that far off.  Because of our instant Media we do get tired of the bickering between the two sides a lot sooner than we used to do.  This is 2006 and we are talking about those who are positioning themselves for a run for their parties nomination, by the time we get to November of 2008 we definitely will be tired of the candidates and all of the negativity of their campaigns.
903496
The Democratic Party, because they represent the middle class and the poor and not the rich. They also dissapprove of the war in Iraq, which is also a big plus. They also support stem cell research, the list could go on and on.
808120
this is called "the punish vote". You know both are trash candidates, but there´s a slight difference between them that makes you vote for the least repugnant. \nI did this in the past elections.\nBut i´m thinking that supporting the "splinter" party is not throwing our votes away, it´s a form of "manifesto" in which the "social power" that we as citizens have, demand more respectful and honorable candidates for a country, that at the end, leads the way through history.
815713
That's part of the problem for both sides. To try and convey a platform, they have both become too extremist. Most Americans are NOT extremists... but more moderate. I would love for there to be a third party with legitimate candidates and real strength. I think we would have a better government.
949227
In the political spectrum, there is little difference between the two parties. It's more hype to keep the respective bases in line, as you state.
888209
They could, but they represent very different philosophies. It won't happen. The only thing they have in common is that very few people vote for any of their candidates.
1027768
Demoncrats are dumb  because they can't help it. They have been dumb for generations. Think about it! If you take a dumb dog and it breeds with another dumb dog you get dumb puppies.. They came from dummies;therefore, they are dummies.. They have also been taught to be dumb, so that they can draw checks without working.
435963
Republicans don't think.  If someone is running as a Republican they vote for them.  It's why their symbol is an elephant.  Did you ever watch the elephants at a circus. They grab the tail of the elephant in the front and follow it without even thinking of where they are going.  This is what Republican voters do.  They don't think, they just grab the tail of the lead Republican and follow or vote for that person without even thinking of where they are going, like to a needless war in Iraq, hugh deficit spending,  hugh increase in gas prices,  more poverty, smaller middle-class, less people covered by hospitalization, etc.
587406
I almost always vote for one party over the other but just so I wont be a zombie I refuse to vote straight ticket.  \n\nI used to know a very old man who was illiterate and he would go into the voting booth and look for the donkey at the top of the ticket and punch straight party.  He would say, "The donkey means Democrat.  And Roosevelt was a Democrat...and that makes me a Democrat"  \n\nRepublican or Democrat don't give up your individuality for the party.
692445
I lose faith in political parties all the time.  Politics (like any other human endeavor) is fraught with human frailty.  Anytime human nature is part of the formula, it can get messy.
883756
You mean like Democrats and Republicans? They both take an oath of office that says they are to represent ALL the people. That they will do what is best for the WHOLE country. And yet it seems they are only interested in representing the people who voted for them. And even them no more then they think it will take to keep them voting for them.
1112418
The Polite Answer is: They each believe they have their "base", or their "40 percent" of the population that solidly votes their way, so in going after the remainder, they end up chasing and trying to appeal to the same people.  Swing voters that is.\n\nThe Rude Reality is: They've both sold their souls, and been bought out lock, stock and both barrels by the same exact clique, your CEO Class, your One Percenters whose only concern is making sure they can bleed the bottom 99% of American society dry, make the economy go utterly to crap, and then run away to China where they too can live like Fu Manchus while the rest of Western Civilization falls apart and gets ripped apart by the twin vultures of Religious Fanaticism and/or Third World Psychos who insist on getting rich *entirely* at our expense.  (not sure that is two birds or just one big two-headed beast though, *lol*)\n\nIn other words, they're paid for by the same people, and pursue the same people, and we want them to be different??  Huh?
938565
hmmm.....don't they have a choice of more then two parties in the u.s,that's called real democracy u know,it does not matter which of the two evils wins both apply the same form of politics.i would agree with you though that the republicans do stand for the rich. (money talks  in a capitalist world)
788268
None of the above.  I think the most important thing the party provides is branding.  Belonging to one party or another denotes a certain belief structure that people identify with.....also, they (hopefully) vett candidates so that any party candidate that reaches the election is "electable."  Putting that into the above answers, the best fit would be "nominate candidates."
691269
This is a thorny issue.  The Democrats and Republicans seem to be very non-responsive to their constituencies.  It seems that the goal of both parties is simply to get re-elected.\n\nOn the other side, I lived in Germany for almost 10 years, and I can say that having multiple parties seems to lead to weak, ineffective governments.\n\nLooking at the the two options it seems that our choice is "six of one, a half dozen of the other".\n\nIf anyone has a plan, let me know.
512001
Chimps do that ... haven't you been to the Zoo?\n\n    Go Democrats~!