How would you compare/contrast Democrats and Republicans?

[branders seine]

Democrats vs. Republicans is more like __________________.

[wtbymark]

1. sane vs. insane

[JamesA1102]

20. You nailed it! nt

[Chulanowa]

33. Hear, hear

[Gman2]

2. Two different evolutionary paths. Dems have huge brains, and tiny gonads, and rethugs

have, ignore all the viagra ads, tiny brains, and huge balls.

[JanMichael]

26. nt. wrong post.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Actual Democrats or Today's Elected Democrats?

Enormous difference.

[FLAprogressive]

12. that's my question

[branders seine]

42. yes indeed

I meant today's DC democrats, though I think many of the responses were about rank and file members, which is much more like the party 30 years ago.

[FLAprogressive]

47. Well then my response would be "What difference?"

[NightWatcher]

4. generals v globetrotters. they travel together and pretend to compete against each other

then they get together for dinner and laugh and laugh

[branders seine]

32. and count the money

[YOY]

5. 30 Years ago, Labor versus Union.

Now. Sane versus Insane.

[branders seine]

34. it's funny how many Democrats still hold on to the belief

that today's Democratic Party still represents the same things it did in the 30's through 70's.

It just isn't the same anymore. After the last year, I'm not sure I can still go for the "sane" part without some pretty strong reservations.

[YOY]

43. Compared to the batshit that is todays Republicans?

Yes, sane versus insane works perfectly...as does RW Vs. BAtshit-crazy RW.

[branders seine]

54. There are insane Democrats too,

but the republicans are utterly bugnuts.

[YOY]

55. Who would that be?

n/t

[branders seine]

57. Nelson, Baucus,. Geithner, Summers, Gebhart, Landrieux...

[YOY]

60. Agreed on some of them. But not crazy. Just in it for the lobbyists.

n.t.

[stray cat]

6. The ones I know definitely coke versus pepsi

[DJ13]

7. Coke v Pepsi

Nearly identical product, just different marketing.

[begin_within]

8. Two ends of the same beast.

The pretty end and the ugly end. The beast that devours citizens to feed plutocrats.

[StarfarerBill]

9. Two shades of the same color.

[LeftishBrit]

10. Centrists vs Far Right

Lesser evil vs EXTREME evil.

Flawed human beings vs Monsters.

[branders seine]

40. I'll go along with the first two.

I'm not sure what you mean by "flawed human beings" though.

It sounds like a bit of a cop-out.

"Monsters" is pretty accurate though.

[LeftishBrit]

56. Basically I meant..

that Dems on the whole at least want some of the right things, even if they may often be ineffective, insufficiently committed, or overly conservative in the true sense of unwillingness to make changes. Republicans, especially the current bunch, actually *want* the wrong things, and *want* the world to be a harsher greedier place.

This stemmed from arguments I've had on other threads with people who think that the far right shouldn't be 'demonized' and that the left can make common cause with them. With which I intensely disagree! I admit that this particular distinction probably doesn't work terribly well as a one-liner. My first one of 'centrists vs fascists' may be a more succinct description! At any rate, I am horrified by the current Republican bunch, who seem far worse than the majority of our Tories for example.

[ibegurpard]

11. corporatists vs bat-shit crazy

[Tim01]

13. "survival of the fittest" vs "I am my brothers keeper" nt

[omega minimo]

18. Cain vs. Abel?

[FrenchieCat]

14. I look at it like this......

One will run you over while you're lying in the middle of the street,
the other one will swerve, even if he doesn't stop.

The difference equals your goddamn life!

[Political Heretic]

22. Except that's not how it is.

One will run you over while you're lying in the middle of the street.

The other one will compromise with the one that wants to run you over, agreeing to only run over and crush your leg, and then drive off - leaving you to bleed to death and die in the long run anyway.

[FrenchieCat]

35. One will give a jobless person unemployment, raise the minimum wage,

provide women with equal pay, try to get him some subsidized health care, and won't call him a burden on the nation, and try to end one war, and get a real plan for one long neglected.

The other one will take away Health care, social security, and drown anything that can help
you in the bathtub, and then go out and start 2 new wars, while allowing the corporation to
be seen as people too.

Sorry, but your analogy is off by quite a bit.

[Political Heretic]

44. Not even remotely close.

Jobless person already had unemployment, but certainly didn't need a wall-steet first trickle-down economics approach to the current crisis.

Actually the Ledbetter Act does not "provide" women with equal pay, it extends the length of time women have to file pay discrimination suits. And it was not particularly controversial.

On the other hand, a REAL pay equity bill, the Paycheck Fairness Act, was stalled to death by a Democratic controlled congress.

Try to get him some PARTIALLY subsidized (only of you meet ridiculously narrow criteria) privatized insurance while still leaving him with crushing out of pocket cost, no guarantee of affordable premiums (in fact, a CBO promise that premiums will continue to go up, but just "not as bad" as without any legislation) insufficient regulation looking to be punted from the federal level to states instead - leaving millions of Americans at the mercy of conservative state legislatures for the quality of their care, along with a list of cdorporate giveaways and legislative loopholes so big I could drive a truck through it, leading to long term HARM to working families rather than any incremental small games....

Regularly call him a burden on the nation, just like they did with WELFARE REFORM and when they coopt right wing talking points and talk to black communities about so called "personal responsibility" ....

...have not ended one war, and have no intention to ever bring all of our troops home from one war (leaving contingent forces indefinitely) and show no indication of being ready to meet a combat troop withdraw timeframe (having already missed promised deadlines on other issues, such as closing Gitmo, skepticsm is warranted)

...and ludicrously escalating a second war with an unrealistic plan on a insane timetable when all that would be in the best interest of Joe Jobless would be to BRING THE TROOPS HOME....

vs. another part that... well does stuff worse than that.

[omega minimo]

15. Mac vs. PC

[branders seine]

16. Good alternative.

Should have thought of that one.

[omega minimo]

17. Ah!

:hi:

[branders seine]

30. hola

:hi:

[Political Heretic]

19. Two parties currently unwilling to address structural injusticies in our political-economic system

With differences between them, but only within the parameters of this failed system. Few to no one in either party has interest in discussion the injustice at the root of our modern political economy itself.

The more attention we bring to the poor policy that reflects this reality, the more mobilization we can accomplish among our peers, the more hope of building a second civil rights movement to take on core fundamentals of an unjust system and challenge establishment politicians (from either party) more interested in their own position and power within the corrupt framework than they are about justice for poor and working class majority.

[branders seine]

21. no justice

no peace

[name not needed]

23. useless vs. fucking psychotic

[JanMichael]

25. Agreed. Useless but "means well" and f'ing nuts.

By the way I've learned over the years that when someone says that someone else "means well" that's not a complement at all.

[Bluebear]

28. Well put.

[JVS]

29. +1

[Bucky]

24. We're passive. We elect experts and expect them to run the government right. They're active

They want control and they'll fuck with whoever they can however they can until they get back into the pilot's seat. We care about governing and do it better. They care about campaigning and do that better. We speak softly; they carry a big stick. We're out there laying eggs and they're up on top of the barn cockadoodling.

[Bluebear]

27. Giorgio Armani vs. Issey Miyake pinstripes.

[JanMichael]

31. You're all a bunch (well quite a few) of Naderistas now.

For shame calling out the fact that it makes little economic difference for the poor and disenfranchised! Two sides anyone?

Suckers.

[branders seine]

61. clinton gave away slightly less of the middle class's future

than did bush. you are right.

[salguine]

36. They'll both bend you over, only the Democrat will tell you it would

be worse if McCain/Palin were bending you over.

[branders seine]

41. LOL

[Kat45]

37. We're all in this together vs. I've got mine, fuck you! n/t

[branders seine]

38. I hope that's an accurate difference.

It seems to be true of the rank and file anyway.

[Political Heretic]

45. Only true of "we" means corporations and the financial elite.

[Kat45]

48. That's the philosophy, not necessarily the practice, though it used to be

At least I think it used to be.

[Political Heretic]

51. The "philosophy" realy doesn't matter if the practice doesn't follow, does it?

[branders seine]

39. I have to wonder why someone would unrec a poll like this.

WTF is wrong with this place?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

46. Arsenic vs Strychnine. Usage may cause severe side effects.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DerekG]

50. Ted Bundy vs. Charles Manson

"Oh, he's handsome and pleasant! I think I'll get into his car and AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

vs.

"What a raving lunatic! I better high-tail it before AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

[TheKentuckian]

52. Remember Budd from Kill Bill II (Bill's brother)?

The Republicans are the agitated and vengeful Budd that threatens to mace Bea's eyes out and beat the shit out of her before burying her alive and the Democrats are the regretful and sort of mournful side of Budd who will give her a flashlight before he buries her alive.

That's the way I feel right now.

I'll take the damn flashlight and avoid going into the ground blind and burning but I'm all about figuring out a way out of that grave by fight or flight, by killing Budd by some trick now or getting his ass after pulling a Houdini later.

[ShortnFiery]

58. Awesome and Apt Analogy.

:thumbsup:

[eridani]

53. Weak-kneed vs batshit crazy n/t

[groundloop]

59. A huge difference is that repugs seem to be far better at the political game

They're generally better financed, not necessarily individual politicians but all the right wing "grassroots" groups for sure. That give them a big advantage at getting their message out.