Why is Sam Waterston pushing this "Unity" crap on Yahoo! Answers?

[Bleacher Creature]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070516144437AAXeV90

Sam Waterston Asks: Why have political parties become so polarized that they fail to address the concerns of most Americans?

As the presidential campaigns raise more and more money, and Washington has trouble finding agreement on much of anything, I'm joining Unity08.com – a diverse group of Americans who believe that neither of today’s parties reflects the aspirations, concerns or will of the majority of Americans.

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I absolutely hate this crap, i.e., this "holier than thou" and "a pox on both your houses" attitude. It's insulting because it implies that politicians are somehow bad because they "play politics," that only someone who disowns both parties is truly independent, and that there are no objective truths anymore. The fact is, the Democratic Party stands for a vast majority of what most Americans believe -- once you strip away all the lies, inaccuracies, and poor advocacy. There is nothing wrong with saying that, and there is nothing wrong with saying that the GOP has been taken over by a bunch of crazy people. More important, if someone says something that is untrue, it is a lie and can't be dismissed solely because you believe that "all politicians lie." This whole thing is a cop out and it gives the Republicans a way of weaseling out of taking responsibilities for their actions and corruption by saying that "everyone does it" and that the system is broken. Please, the last thing we need are more people pushing for Democrats to work with Republicans. One Joe Lieberman is plenty.

[peace frog]

1. One Joe Lieberman is one too many

and I agree with you re: "Unity" (ptooie!)

[blondeatlast]

2. One ptooie, two ptooie! I'm with both of you. nt

[H2O Man]

7. Right.

It's not a coincidence. It's an agenda. Joe was on Fox yesterday, peddling his neo-liberal lines about moving beyond partisan politics. He even spoke about possibly supporting a 3rd party in '08.

[ceile]

3. Right up there with "bipartisanship"

I hate that word. If I wanted my elected officials to "play nice" and "get along", then honestly, I probably wouldn't waste America's time by voting. I like those I elect to fight tooth and nail for what's right and for my views. I hate compromise just for the sake of compromising. They're politicians! They aren't supposed to get along!

[Lobster Martini]

4. Angling for VP when Fred Thompson decides to run...

Hey, "Law and Order" can't run forever, although it feels like it has. Gotta keep your career options open.

[AndyTiedye]

5. To Make The Democrats Lose, Just Like Nader 2000

[DemBones DemBones]

8. Forgotten about that Bush v. Gore decision with which SCOTUS

decided the 2000 election? Forgotten about the massive voter fraud?

A lot of people who voted for Nader would not have voted for Gore. I voted for Gore but my brother voted for Nader and would never have voted for Gore because he figured Gore was too closely tied to Clinton and thus to NAFTA. He's a blue-collar worker and union issues matter to him. I tried to convince him that Dems are always better than Repubs but with Clinton/Gore supporting NAFTA, IMF, and the World Bank, he wasn't listening.

He was right about NAFTA, IMF, and the World Bank, and now I'm sorry I didn't vote for Nader, as a protest against the way politics is controlled by corporate money today. My brother and I both live in states that Bush won by large margins so my vote for Gore did no good, and his for Nader did no harm, and we both knew that would be the result from the pre-election polls. Of course I wish Gore were in the White House today, though guess what that would mean?

Joe Lieberman running as the current VP!!!

[AndyTiedye]

11. Haven't Forgotten Any Of That, But They Couldn't Have Done it Without Nader

Their capacity for stealing votes was not nearly as great in 2000 as it is now, but
we expect they would have to steal a lot more votes to win in 2008 than in 2000.
To do that they will need the help of a 3rd party to hide a theft of such magnitude.

[Sapere aude]

I agree with you because most middle class repubs vote against their own best interests.

If we unite with that crowd then more of us would be voting against our own best interests. Repubs believe in having a daddy to tell them what to think and what to do. The believe in ideology over reality. We don't need to move to the center anymore than we have already. We have an obligation to lead not follow.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. Voicing his opinion, i.e. free speech.

He's entitled to that, as is every American, and he makes some good points.

You wrote:

"The fact is, the Democratic Party stands for a vast majority of what most Americans believe -- once you strip away all the lies, inaccuracies, and poor advocacy."

I don't know much about Unity08 but I gather that they want to "strip away the lies, inaccuracies, and poor advocacy" of both parties. That's certainly a noble goal.

Whether they can accomplish it is certainly questionable but we need a real change and we won't get it with Clinton, Obama or Edwards.

[unpossibles]

9. while I can understand where this feeling comes from, I agree 100% with you

and further, I think it's an intentional right wing meme which conveniently goes along with their idiotic "let's destroy the government because it doesn't work!1!" mentality.

I noticed the last year or two (not before the election, of course.... :eyes: ) that righties were finally expressing disgust at Bush and saying they were going to "vote all of 'em out!" - yet I notice they didn't do that either. It's a BS excuse, and an attempt to spread their bad ideas.

What kills me is how ultimately lazy and irresponsible it is to hate the government, when the government is/should be "of the people, etc." - in other words, they hate the thing which they should nurture.

If their car breaks down, do they leave it on the side of the road, or do they fix it? Morans. Sorry, I have so much built up contempt for these people lately.

[peace frog]

10. 'Contempt' away, I say

You can't believe a damned thing the GOP say. Not one.

[AndyTiedye]

13. That lot? They'd Probably Torch the Brokedown Car and Collect the Insurance.

If their car breaks down, do they leave it on the side of the road, or do they fix it? Morans. Sorry, I have so much built up contempt for these people lately.

[unpossibles]

14. haha! true. then blame it on Kennedy/Clinton/Pelosi.... n/t

[Dhalgren]

12. I think that Unity08 will appeal more to Republicans in '08 rather than

Democrats. Democrats are on the verge of winning big, while Republicans are headed for the crapper - and they know it. Many a Republican believes that their Party has been "hijacked" or subverted in some way and would look to a "middle of the road" "unity" party, but Democrats are at least feeling a growing strength (even if their elected officials are lagging behind). So, all in all, I think Unity08 hurts Republicans more than Democrats...

[high density]

15. Maybe if the Republicans weren't so batshit crazy...

...this could work. But with them being the TERROR! TERROR! TERROR, tax cut abortion gay marriage party, it's really hard to reason or become "united" with them.