The Difference Between Democrats And Republicans

I am not a Republican but I vote that way more with each passing year. This is not exactly an impartial analysis but it is accurate.

The Democratic Party has grown more self-serving with each passing year. I am not sure when they completed metamorphosis but morph they did. Whereas the leadership of both political parties might have the same objective, the rank and file see things differently.

The Republican rank and file see their party as a vehicle for aiding their country. The Democratic rank and file see their country as a vehicle for aiding their party.

If you want to get a Republican voter's attention, tell him his country is in danger. If you want to get a Democratic voter's attention, tell him his party is in trouble.

I am not trying to be snide or judgmental but the two voting blocs see things differently. Had a Democratic president performed identically to George Bush, the Dems would have proclaimed him to be the greatest leader in the history of the union. He spent recklessly on social welfare programs, expanding Medicare and ushering in No Child Left Behind. Where he came up short was in providing patronage for the Democrats. For that oversight, he was vilified.

Because the two parties see things so differently, they work at cross purposes. I for one, get discouraged at blogging. No matter how strong a case we make against this administration--the financial recklessness, the widespread and recurrent abuses of power, the loss of standing in the world, the lawlessness, the stagnant economy, job loss, ongoing corruption--it doesn't matter if the people who need to hear it don't hear it. For the Dems, it is party first, country later (if at all.)

You can see this party first mentality in the worst places in America. Detroit has been a hellhole for decades. Which party has had an iron grip on that fair city's political offices for half a century? Same with Newark and Chicago. Party first. City later.

You can see a big contrast in the way the two parties celebrate victories. For the Democrats it is the Super Bowl. "We won the ultimate victory." The Republican voters celebrate with a collective sigh. They brace themselves for betrayal and say prayers for the republic. They know that an election is just a battle in a longer war. It is principle first, party later. For the Dems, there are no higher principles or bigger wars. Party first. Party last. Party always!

Here is a classic in vino veritas moment. At :57 Joe Namath informs us that he couldn't care less about his former team struggling. He has other priorities. If you could get every loyal Democrat to answer honestly, they would say the same thing about their country. The Democratic Party is Joe Namath writ large. Party On!