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I think this whole thing has simply spun out of control. This is the Politics as sport mindset run out of control. We are a Jockakrecy. Everything is sport. Now politics isn't about getting things done, it about MY side wining the "Big game". People pick their issues and cheer on, or sneer at, anyone who is with or against them.

I see it on the Rush thread. People will post I Hate Rush rants there because he did not say what they wanted to hear on issue I or P or whatever. Then he WILL say stuff and they will post some glowing gush about how "Rush gets it now" It the "For me to win, you must lose mindset".

I simply wonder how long we can survive this way. A functioning Constitutional Republic works on consensus, NOT domination. The 100%ers do NOT get to dictate to everyone their own emotional whimsy.

We have now reached the point where anyone who trys to build a working consensus is screamed at by the feverish 100%ers and their Pet talking head media types as "betraying the base, a traitor, a sell out, a RINO or CINO".

Real sick little negative feedback loop they got set up here. The Ranters email each other and the talking heads voluminously. The 2nd and 3rd rate Talking Heads are Media Stars, not people of principals. They simply read their mail to find out what to think and say on an issue. So they see the mail and start regurgitating the talking points and factoids. Since they are now being told by their media heros what they WANT to believe, the 100%ers simply tune out any fact or position that does NOT validate their emotion based position. The people who AGREE are their side, anyone else is the "other team" and now the enemy.

No way any Civil Society can function at that level of factionalism. Like it or not, Mike Moore, Howie Dean, Babs Boxer et all ARE STILL Americans citizens. I dislike them intensely, disagree with them totally but they are still MY people. For too many people not only are the Democrats "The enemy" anyone who disagrees with them on anything is NOW "the enemy too".

Really sad that is.

GREAT POST!!!

Your best so far today...I think all of us are guilty at some point of wanting our 100% POV to be the most popular..or in this case, the one Bush agrees with.

I have started out on some threads with a certain POV and opinion on something, even to the point of debating with other Freepers, only to change my mind, 400 or 500 posts later....

Now, lately, I think threre has been a massive influx of freepers that just won't give, won't budge..and are the first to start calling other freepers name...(which is a sign of a closed mind, IMHO).

Too much to address each one.

I appreciate what we have in so many people being able to voice their opinions and positions, as well as others being able to challenge them and who are willing to argue the other side. To be honest, conservatives didn’t have that ability for years. Yes, years. For many of us, we felt like we were one lone voice in the wilderness without any avenue of expression. One of the biggest attractions to Ronald Reagan was FINALLY there was ONE person who was saying what we were all saying.

Even a person with one passionate issue provides me with something to think about. In many cases, there are things I had not considered or things I needed to hear. It’s not worth the time to argue with every dissention. I learned that having Libertarians and one issue zealots in our Republican party here. I looked and could not find it, but I remember Reagan saying something to the effect that if we agree with him 80% of the time, we’re doing well. If true, and I believe it is, I am happy to have the support that moves us in the direction I prefer even if we can’t get there as quickly as I’d prefer.

“A functioning Constitutional Republic works on consensus, NOT domination.”

In a way. A Constitutional Republic works by electing representatives, not direct representation. We have to choose who represents us and it’s up to us to choose someone who most closely represents our views. Justice Rehnquist commented that we were not a republic just to stop tyranny of the majority but to also stop a tyranny of the “minority.”

Maybe all of this is why I am SO optimistic and happy. I KNOW we are moving in the right direction. I KNOW we have the best leadership in both the congress and the presidency. I KNOW we are moving the US Supreme Court towards following the original intent of the constitution. I KNOW we are better prepared for whatever happens in the years to come.

For too many people not only are the Democrats "The enemy" anyone who disagrees with them on anything is NOW "the enemy too". Really sad that is.

Truman had a line about attitudes like this. It was something about heat and kitchens.

If you think the level of vitriol now is bad read about how politics was played from our first Presidency up through the Second World War. Everything since WW2 has been pattycake compared to that. I mean, you have heard of Burr and Hamilton's little argument, haven't you?