DINOS vs. democrats, what are the core differences?

[flaminbats]

I shall attempt to present my own profiles of a DINO verses a democrat, and if you disagree..I am open to other takes of these terms.

Any person can be a democrat. It is not a class of people, not an ethnic group, not a religion, not a secret society, not a tax bracket, and not merely an ideology. It is a way of life, or to put it another way..an approach to living. A democrat seeks the participation of all his or her friends, relatives, and union co-workers in any kind of decision making process. A democrat is not a demagogue, but someone who always strives to look at the big picture. When a democrat sees someone being bullied or beaten up on the street they will always run in to defend the victim or the underdog. When a democrat thinks about his tax burden, he weighs it in not only with his own needs but with the needs of his fellow man. A democrat would rather die than surrender his liberty. And he would rather stand-up and fight than see his neighbor lose the same freedom. A democrat knows that a progressive tax code is the best way of raising revenue for basic government services, while doing the least harm to the economy. A democrat is an active participant in his community, but does not favor forcefully imposing his views or the views of the nation in other parts of the world. A democrat seeks to provide help where help is needed, to serve his or her country to the best of his or her ability, and to pass on his or her faith in justice, wisdom, and liberty to future generations.

A DINO cares most about his background than how he approaches life. A DINO will often have more faith in his perception of a class, an ethnic group, a union, a religion, an ideology, or a party than in any philosophy. A DINO is happy to work with others in his class, ethnic group, union..but only if he is from a similar neighborhood, religion, ideology, or party. A DINO is always happy to play dirty for anything, he takes what is usually the quick and easy approach to problem solving. If a DINO sees someone getting beaten up or bullied he will think "what a wimp..", and if this victim is clearly in a different social group..then DINO will usually come in on the side of the attackers. A DINO only thinks about taxes when it effects him personally, and he puts all of his needs above any others. If he starts out in the working class he hates the payroll tax, but if he makes more in the passing years..he may start voting Republican. To a DINO being considered patriotic and Christian by others..is all the freedom he requires to be satisfied. If his neighbor gets taken by the Department of Homeland Security, he'll think "well that creep seemed pretty weird to me anyway!" A DINO doesn't believe that he owes anything to anyone, if he makes less he'll support any Democrat who promises to cut the payroll tax..if he makes more he would support a National Sales Tax or a flat tax backed by neo-cons. If a DINO goes to his children's football games, drinks some beer at a local club, occasionally attends church, and listens to talk radio..he is an active citizen and therefore a patriot. A DINO seeks help when in trouble, is always happy to see anyone but him serving the country, and seeks to pass on a DINoMIC pride in class, race, religion, and family to the next generation..whether they be DINOS or re pukes.

[Mairead]

1. That sounds about right to me.

People worthy of the name 'Democrat' are at least conventionally democratic, liberal, and caring. DINOs are the ones we see in such numbers around here recently -- the ones that create a creeping feeling.

[LimpingLib]

2. I look at it from a different angle.

That pretty much is correct from that angle.

Another angle is a Ralph Hall type, ultra conservative to the last detail but registered Democrat and prominent(as opposed to an average Joe who never will hold any type of office).

The angle I look at it from mainly is the view that "we must beat person X" (Bush is the most recent "person X" ) . Its not so much an inividual person DINO but an almost theological (wrong word but anyway) obsession to defeat the "other party" . I personnaly think we need to elect somebody who represents a certain set of passions (that word is used so lightly these days I hate to even use it) and issues . I dont want to defeat anybody but I want to elect somebody . You can usually tell who fits that mold. Nader is an example of the extreme "anti DINO" (so much so he isnt even a "d" anymore lol so maybe he is a bad example). Though he will be the first to criticise Bush (mainly in 04 as Bush's true colors have clearly been shown)he never the less isnt very partisan but is an "issue hawk" obsessed with issues issues issues and then more issues issues issues and then more issues issues issues. Ill get away from Nader and start talking about myself now as the next description feature doesnt fit him 100% . Anyway the "anti DINO" view (or "anti DINO" passion) will still allow support for a very flawed "D" canidate but the canidate straying totally off coarse in vision , passion , focous , base, and also failure to display leadership on an obscure but very important issue or 2 (like Dean bringing up the issue of media monopolys which all other major canidates didnt even have a clue about and still dont YET) will usually result in indifference on the part of the "anti DINO" . (just a quick example of straying off from your "base" is to spend a ton of time listening to idiotic "alpha male" nonesince , certainly not 3 strikes but that is a quick strike against a Democrat as being off focous and out of touch with real issues to real people and even an be considered self obsorbed vanity ).

I probabilly didnt add much but I look at it from the point of view (actually much like your point)that its the fault of US THE BASE and not so much an obsession with Zell Millers. I look at it as an ideology (one based on the "D" label and not issues)from us the little people but dont point a finger at any one individual. Only time I get angry is when we "anti DINOs" get crap thrown at us from DINOs like "you people are so ideological and intolerant that you will only support 'pure socalists' like Dean" (thats comes from big shots like New Republic types and little people alike). Its like excuse me but Howard Dean is a big COMPROMISE on our parts and the fact that you think he is some left wing extremist is an even bigger problem for the country than any GOP schmuck in the White House. Frankly the fact that we keep hearing about Dean and not any issues he represents is part of the problem. After party obsession it comes down to personality obsession . And party obsession is frankly what creates partisanship not ideological obsession though ideological types will still be the first to "bash Bush" just not with violent over the top obsession. (I used to be pretty partisan and extremely vocal about Bush myself but the fact that he gets agreed with so much by "partisan" Democrats has led me to believe that maybe I better cool it a bit on the personnality front , he is mostly human lol like us all).

[flaminbats]

3. I think we disagree...

"After party obsession it comes down to personality obsession . And party obsession is frankly what creates partisanship not ideological obsession though ideological types will still be the first to "bash Bush" just not with violent over the top obsession. (I used to be pretty partisan and extremely vocal about Bush myself but the fact that he gets agreed with so much by "partisan" Democrats has led me to believe that maybe I better cool it a bit on the personality front , he is mostly human lol like us all)."

I am not very partisan, but I am very much a democrat. I don't give a shit about personalities, but reality and the longterm future of our planet does concern me. To say that shrub is human is like saying the cannibal is compassionate..to me these words have little meaning.

Ralph Hall started out as a Democrat because his religion, his class, and his family tradition made him one. But he always cared more about his own self-interest than he ever has about basic principles. And when he realized that greater personal profit could be made in the Republican Party than with the Democrats, that is when he switched parties. But Hall has never switched ideologies, he was an egotist and always shall be..as with Zell Miller. But currently Zell can gain more as a DINO by taking cheap personal shots at his party, while he makes the most of the profits from his book.

[flaminbats]

4. With all due respect, I believe this topic is a campaign issue...

and hope it is returned to the politics and campaigns forum! Not that I have a problem with the general discussion forum, but I would rather have a more thoughtful place to post this thread!