Just Think for a Minute

TomD, you say that people shouldn't vote for Democrats because we don't even know what they would do if elected. Isn't that a universal truth equally applicable to Republicans? Both parties use the argument in their campaigns. It's based on the fear of the unknown and the common belief that if a politician is speaking s/he is lying.

Then you go on to prove your point, at least for Republicans, later in the post by saying that you're mad at the current administration and congress for not doing what you thought they'd do. So I guess that what I got out of this post is that I shouldn't vote for Republicans because they don't do what they say they will.

I think that Michael Medved was much better able to convey my thinking on this matter in his blog posting http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/34a1d6bf-7f87-4ee8-9fcc-aa41e4283d07. I would urge you to read it to understand my thinking.

Problem with the address. http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/34a1d6bf-7f87-4ee8-9fcc-aa41e4283d07

I would agree that much of what Medved says is true. The problem is that the conservative agenda has little chance of going mainstream no matter what. The conservative agenda that he likes isn't in power now precisely because it doesn't have a lot of support. And the argument that what he calls "death-wish Republicans" are striving for could actually happen in reverse - and, in fact, did happen to Republicans after Bush #1. The country saw life with the far right and they swung back hard to the left. Like it or not, the middle ground is what Americans like. We're happiest with a legislative branch from one party and an executive from the other. Those who control both parties are too far on the fringe for the liking of most Americans.

I don't really disagree with your accessment. I am reminded of a commentary by George Will following the 2000 elections, when Republicans controlled both Houses of Congress and the Presidency, he stated that the one good thing to come out of it will be that people will see how nice gridlock was. The current atmosphere simply doesn't work, there are far too many ways for the minority party to obstruct things while the majority party gets blamed for doing nothing. It may not be a good answer, but it seemed to work in a lot ways in the 80's and 90's.