GreekChat.com Forums  

Go Back   GreekChat.com Forums > General Chat Topics > News & Politics
Register FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

» GC Stats
Members: 329,722
Threads: 115,665
Posts: 2,204,962
Welcome to our newest member, abrandarko6966
» Online Users: 2,078
0 members and 2,078 guests
No Members online
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-21-2004, 12:37 AM
enlightenment06 enlightenment06 is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: The City where the streets are Black and Olde Gold
Posts: 818
Send a message via AIM to enlightenment06
Why are the Democrats Such Punks?

Why? It really boggles my mind. The party has no agenda, no plan, no vision, no leadership. That's why the Republicans are cleaning up shop. Howard Dean may not beat Bush, but if the Democrats don't use him to revive the party it's only a matter of time before the Republicans put the boot the Democrats like the Empire hunting down the Rebels. The party won't survive another twenty years if things continue.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-21-2004, 01:19 AM
Kevin Kevin is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posts: 18,668
Re: Why are the Democrats Such Punks?

Quote:
Originally posted by enlightenment06
Why? It really boggles my mind. The party has no agenda, no plan, no vision, no leadership. That's why the Republicans are cleaning up shop. Howard Dean may not beat Bush, but if the Democrats don't use him to revive the party it's only a matter of time before the Republicans put the boot the Democrats like the Empire hunting down the Rebels. The party won't survive another twenty years if things continue.
Agree. The problem is that the Republicans have moved to the left enough that it's forced the Democrats to abandon all of their middle ground.

You look at the Republicans of today and their ideas -- they don't even vaguely resemble the Republicans of 1995 and the "Contract with America" era. The Dems have no agenda because the Republicans took theirs over. It's going to be an expensive trip for the people though to support both conservative and liberal agendas at the same time.
__________________
SN -SINCE 1869-
"EXCELLING WITH HONOR"
S N E T T
Mu Tau 5, Central Oklahoma
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-21-2004, 02:00 AM
sugar and spice sugar and spice is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,571
I've been really frustrated with the Democratic party ever since the whole post-election 2000 fiasco, starting with them trying to blame Nader for "stealing" Gore votes, and it's only gotten worse. I think most of us pretty much knew (and dreaded) that the campaigns for 2004 would turn out the way that they have: an incredibly fractured Democratic party that can't agree on an agenda and thus spends the entire time taking cheap shots at each other and weakening the party instead of strengthening it.

Sigh.

I think that Democrats like to think of themselves as "a party of the people" that embraces more views and is more multifaceted than the slick, "manufactured" Republican party but I think they have to learn to play that game if they want to have any hope of competing.

I actually do think that because of Dean's financial record, he has the best chance of being the candidate that appeals to the other side of the political spectrum. But too many Dems are taking the Republican bait about him being McGovern II or being too "Socialist" to appeal to anybody but far-leftie liberals.

ETA: Oh, and I would hardly say that the Republicans have moved left -- just that the country has moved right.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-21-2004, 02:16 AM
enlightenment06 enlightenment06 is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: The City where the streets are Black and Olde Gold
Posts: 818
Send a message via AIM to enlightenment06
I agree that the country has moved right. Backlash to the social programs of the Great Society, such as Affirmative Action, and the liberalism which supported such ideas?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-21-2004, 02:30 AM
Rudey Rudey is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Taking lessons at Cobra Kai Karate!
Posts: 14,928
Quote:
Originally posted by enlightenment06
I agree that the country has moved right. Backlash to the social programs of the Great Society, such as Affirmative Action, and the liberalism which supported such ideas?
OK I understand you don't like Republicans and conservatives, but, damn it, take a course in history.

-Rudey
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-21-2004, 03:45 AM
Kevin Kevin is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posts: 18,668
Quote:
Originally posted by sugar and spice

ETA: Oh, and I would hardly say that the Republicans have moved left -- just that the country has moved right.
Or perhaps the definition of what is right-wing has been broadened? The right wing now embraces so many social programs, health care, government excess that it is really starting to not resemble a conservative party.

The ideals that they once heald have been traded in for social programs that appease certain groups to try to win their votes -- exactly what has always kept me away from the Democratic party.

I mean, what true "conservative" would ever embrace these new proposed changes to the immigration system? Or making the Patriot Act permenant?

If you look at America over the last few years, you won't see a huge change in values. You will see a major change in what types of platforms the parties are running on.
__________________
SN -SINCE 1869-
"EXCELLING WITH HONOR"
S N E T T
Mu Tau 5, Central Oklahoma
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-21-2004, 11:15 AM
GeekyPenguin GeekyPenguin is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 9,971
Quote:
Originally posted by ktsnake
Or perhaps the definition of what is right-wing has been broadened? The right wing now embraces so many social programs, health care, government excess that it is really starting to not resemble a conservative party.

The ideals that they once heald have been traded in for social programs that appease certain groups to try to win their votes -- exactly what has always kept me away from the Democratic party.

I mean, what true "conservative" would ever embrace these new proposed changes to the immigration system? Or making the Patriot Act permenant?

If you look at America over the last few years, you won't see a huge change in values. You will see a major change in what types of platforms the parties are running on.
True that. Every time GWB opens his mouth I wonder what minority voting base he's going to appeal to today. I'm also really unhappy with so much of the mud-slinging that's gone on between the Dems this early in the campaign - all they're doing is providing soundbites. I also find it insane that nobody from the Republican party is running against Bush - couldn't they find anybody to do a better job?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-21-2004, 11:25 AM
The1calledTKE The1calledTKE is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Georgia Bulldog Country
Posts: 7,632
Send a message via AIM to The1calledTKE Send a message via Yahoo to The1calledTKE
If all the deomcrat canidates can strongly stand behind each other when there is only one canadiate they will be doing themselves a big favor. Don't need any grudges in the party that can devide votes. I agree with Kath and the canidates should focus on Bush only and not each other.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-21-2004, 01:28 PM
Kevin Kevin is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posts: 18,668
Quote:
Originally posted by The1calledTKE
If all the deomcrat canidates can strongly stand behind each other when there is only one canadiate they will be doing themselves a big favor. Don't need any grudges in the party that can devide votes. I agree with Kath and the canidates should focus on Bush only and not each other.
Well, they focus on eachother because of one fact. At this point, the only people paying attention are the people that will vote Democrat no matter what. Your middle-of-the-road voters won't even shop up til sometime after the conventions. Now is the time for them to show how liberal they are. Later, they will swing back to the right to try and capture the middle.

I wish someone truly conservative would run against Bush.

I'm tired of conservatives being lumped in with religious nuts. This God stuff has to stop.

It'd be great if someone like Alan Keyes could get elected..
__________________
SN -SINCE 1869-
"EXCELLING WITH HONOR"
S N E T T
Mu Tau 5, Central Oklahoma
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-21-2004, 02:40 PM
GeekyPenguin GeekyPenguin is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 9,971
Quote:
Originally posted by ktsnake
Well, they focus on eachother because of one fact. At this point, the only people paying attention are the people that will vote Democrat no matter what. Your middle-of-the-road voters won't even shop up til sometime after the conventions. Now is the time for them to show how liberal they are. Later, they will swing back to the right to try and capture the middle.

I wish someone truly conservative would run against Bush.

I'm tired of conservatives being lumped in with religious nuts. This God stuff has to stop.

It'd be great if someone like Alan Keyes could get elected..
My concern about the attacks, though, is that they'll be used as soundbites against us later.

I just wish Bush would go away. Normally I just don't like Republicans, but now I hate him and I don't like Republicans.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-21-2004, 02:46 PM
lovelyivy84 lovelyivy84 is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 3,533
Send a message via AIM to lovelyivy84
republican = religious nut??

The Republican party has done it to themselves on this one. Years of being backed by the religious right, not to mention the reliious rhetoric sputed by so many of it's members to appease the more conservative and religious members of their party have really branded this party. I am not a democrat, but segments like the religious right make it impossible for me to be a republican.

Fiscally I think they are (or are supposed to be) far more responsible, but the religious agenda behind a lot of republican policies turns me right off.
__________________
It may be said with rough accuracy that there are three stages in the life of a strong people. First, it is a small power, and fights small powers. Then it is a great power, and fights great powers. Then it is a great power, and fights small powers, but pretends that they are great powers, in order to rekindle the ashes of its ancient emotion and vanity.-- G.K. Chesterton
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-21-2004, 05:38 PM
enlightenment06 enlightenment06 is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: The City where the streets are Black and Olde Gold
Posts: 818
Send a message via AIM to enlightenment06
Quote:
Originally posted by Rudey
OK I understand you don't like Republicans and conservatives, but, damn it, take a course in history.

-Rudey
what's so off about that questions? Did not alot of Southern Democrats jump to the Republican party in response to liberalism of the 1960's? Isn't Strom Thurmond credited for being one of the first Democrats to lead the party switch?

also Nixon's "Southern Strategy" which was coded language appealing to White racists?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-21-2004, 05:53 PM
Rudey Rudey is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Taking lessons at Cobra Kai Karate!
Posts: 14,928
Quote:
Originally posted by enlightenment06
what's so off about that questions? Did not alot of Southern Democrats jump to the Republican party in response to liberalism of the 1960's? Isn't Strom Thurmond credited for being one of the first Democrats to lead the party switch?

also Nixon's "Southern Strategy" which was coded language appealing to White racists?
UGH...actually Nixon would be the first to implement affirmative action.

-Rudey
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-21-2004, 06:06 PM
PhiPsiRuss PhiPsiRuss is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Listening to a Mariachi band on the N train
Posts: 5,707
Send a message via ICQ to PhiPsiRuss Send a message via AIM to PhiPsiRuss Send a message via Yahoo to PhiPsiRuss
Quote:
Originally posted by enlightenment06
what's so off about that questions? Did not alot of Southern Democrats jump to the Republican party in response to liberalism of the 1960's? Isn't Strom Thurmond credited for being one of the first Democrats to lead the party switch?

also Nixon's "Southern Strategy" which was coded language appealing to White racists?
It can be argued that LBJ is the one responsible for driving so many Democrats to the Republican party in the 1960s. When the Great Society legislation went through, LBJ commented that he knew that he was probably crippling the Democratic party in the South.

The "liberalism" of the 1960s was not really liberalism, it was social-democracy (watered down socialism.) At times, it was very illiberal, and very heavy-handed.

Last edited by PhiPsiRuss; 01-21-2004 at 06:18 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-21-2004, 06:07 PM
sugar and spice sugar and spice is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,571
Quote:
Originally posted by Rudey
UGH...actually Nixon would be the first to implement affirmative action.

-Rudey
Not exactly.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/affir...timeline1.html

Nixon's AA plan was more indepth than the ones before it, but it certainly wasn't the first, and as the timeline points out, he wasn't even the first to use the phrase "affirmative action."
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.