By Loren Adams, 13 February 2011
America is almost equally divided. One party is totally partisan while the other still tries to get along, compromise,
build consensus and display some sort of civility. Which do you suppose is
winning dominance in the universe of politics?
Here is another nugget: When a group speaks with one voice
and does not allow dissenting voices, it wins in general. That is a fact of
life, albeit an ugly one. Remember Ronald Reagan's Eleventh Commandment?
"Thou shalt not speak ill of fellow Republicans." (Except if you're
George Bush in the 2000 South Carolina Primary undermining John McCain with the
black-baby rumor.) Well, the party faithful not only adhere to that
fundamental, they excommunicate any member that strays. It's rock solid.
Lock-step party loyalty has what effect on this country?
ANSWER: Gridlock and decline. However, it is the one ingredient that guarantees
political success for Republicans no matter the scandal, no matter the ignorance.
It is the factor leading to fascism. It is the characteristic most similar to
the Nazis which spoke with one voice, marched lockstep behind its leader, and
did not permit outsiders in the public forum. Democrats were banned from the
public square in what year? ANSWER: 1933 Germany. The parallels are real.
I realize comparisons to Nazi Germany are now politically
incorrect – especially from the element most analogous. But the
comparison, in this sense, is justifiably correct.
Right-wingers forgive their own however egregious the transgression.
But they never forgive outsiders, even for alleged crimes which later prove
false and only hatched by some smear-master. In keeping with that distinctive,
will they in time forgive birthers for fabricating the Obama-not-born-in-US lies? You betcha. More outrageously, they will continue to
cling to the lie. Just like they do the no-global-warming on the 6,000 year-old-earth.
Jimmy Swaggart's crocodile tears were accepted by his followers
as a token of repentance, and the Republican base is one and the same. Leaders
of their flock only have to pretend to repent on Sunday to continue sinning on
Monday, ad infinitum.
When shooting his Texas bud in the face, Dick Cheney could
have done worse by killing the poor sap. Whichever. He would have been
forgiven. Why? He's one of them. They always forgive their own – overlooking
any fault, major or minor.
Wide Stance Larry finished his Senate term without a hitch
(no pun intended). John Ensign and David Vitter still hold their jobs despite a
$100,000 bribe and $3,000 hookers. All forgiven.
But Republicans are determined to investigate the hell out
of Obama, ACORN, Freddie Mac / Fannie Mae, and Barney Frank (no-brainer of
choices).
Barack Obama’s defense of a mosque near Ground Zero will
never be forgiven, although what he said was consistent with American values.
Why does the right continue to hold it against the President? He's not one of
"them" plus his skin is a shade darker. Confederates still screech,
“Hell, no! We ain’t forgittin’“ Although the Civil War was 150 years ago, rebs
still hold a grudge. Guess what? They’re the same people that constitute the
Republican Party today.
Friends, we are now in the AGE OF PARTISANSHIP. The nation
is in gridlock; little progress can be made for the betterment of America and
the world. Congress, controlled by the lock-step crowd, will never betray its
pledge to represent the wealthy class and weapons industries to the detriment
of everyone and everything else.
The parties differ in two principal ways: (1) PERCEPTION and
(2) KILLER INSTINCT.
PERCEPTION
Republicans see in black and white with no shades between
while Democrats view a world of diverse colors – so blended one cannot
distinguish one hue from another. Republicans perceive Democrats as godless
evil socialists ready to destroy this country if given the chance, and
Democrats perceive Republicans as fellow sojourners sitting politely around a
negotiating table bargaining in good faith. Republicans hate the opposing
party, and Democrats want Republicans to like them so much, they’re willing to
concede their core principles for a little camaraderie. Republicans focus on
enemies; Democrats value friends.
Their perceptions are opposite.
Republicans see nations of the world as potential enemies
while Democrats see them as potential friends. Republicans are absolutists
while Democrats are abstractionists. Neither see in
20/20. Both have forms of defective vision; one far-sighted, the other
near-sighted. In a nutshell, that’s the problem.
KILLER INSTINCT
Republicans own a killer instinct; Democrats don’t.
Republicans are willing to win at any cost, including election fraud and lying the nation to war. Democrats don’t. Republicans are
like a football team that pays off the refs to stay home; Democrats play
crocket – only they have soft mallets to safeguard against injury.
Republicans roll out an assault rifle and blow the living
shit out of anyone/anything they classify enemy. Democrats just roll their
eyes.
Obama sees the partisan struggle differently than the
Progressive base which elected him. His overall view is like his familiar
Senate-setting where distinguished members debate in civil tones and all
legislation is passed by compromise. Obama’s eyesight is about as skewed as
Republicans’.
Whereas Bush held a firm determination to undermine labor,
ignite wars, and pander to the wealthy, Obama holds no such fortitude to
reverse the injury of the former. However, his determination is directed toward
compromise and consensus. Whereas Bush was courageously ignorant, Obama is
timidly intelligent. The outcome is almost as bad under Obama – since he
has no practical will to repair the damage and set America on a progressive
course – like he promised so aggressively during the 2008 campaign.
In a tournament, if one contender has a killer instinct and
is ready to win by any means including eliminating his opponent and the other
contestant is passive and desires to end an amiable competition with a
handshake and a smile, which do you suppose wins?
Republican schools hand out lots of failing grades, few
passing; Democratic schools issue everyone a gold star – even to those
absent who never completed their homework. Both are wrong. Democrats are soccer
moms that don’t keep score because they don’t want anybody to lose. Republicans
pay the referees to let their kids win.
Democrats would like to outlaw dodge ball; Republicans would
like to make the balls concrete.
Obama pictures himself as an American Nelson Mandela –
a hero struggling to patch the racial divide – bringing Republicans and
Democrats together to find solutions by appeasement and compromise. Obama knows
not his enemies.
In the real world, it’s KILL or BE KILLED. Idealists would
like for it to be otherwise, but it isn’t. And, so, America finds itself on the
road to fascism, similar to the German experience where the Weimar Republic
(Democrats) paved the Autobahn to Nazism (Republicans).
The national scene sickens me. Where’s reality and
practicality?