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'The Second Civil War' by Ronald Brownstein »
Posted by: deathray 2 years agoKen Mehlman, campaign manager for George W. Bush in 2004 and chairman of the Republican National Committee for part of Bush's second term, calls this "the age of hyperpartisanship," in which almost every force related to our political life "operates as an integrated machine to push the parties apart and to sharpen the disagreements i
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deathray
Hm...summarizing a life...Investment banker, sailor, unintentional gourmet cook. Ex US Naval officer, also Foreign Service. Split my time between NYC and Miami Beach ...
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deathray
Nov. 5, 2007, 7:02 p.m.Wielding a catchphrase lifted from Ken Mehlman, campaign manager for George W. Bush in 2004 and chairman of the Republican National Committee for part of Bush's second term, Brownstein calls this "the age of hyperpartisanship," in which almost every force related to our political life "operates as an integrated machine to push the parties apart and to sharpen the disagreements in American life."
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catstevensComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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tanglang
Nov. 5, 2007, 7:30 p.m.Thanks for the heads up DR. I am going to check this out and come back to it later. Dinner calls.
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jovial
Nov. 5, 2007, 7:35 p.m.One thing you have to give the Republican party. They stick through it, right or wrong. (at least the far right side of it.) They are the main ones calling the shots as well. If one of them falls, they quickly start the damage control. Spinning stories, getting "talking points" out to the network, and attacking the antagonists. It's a concerted effort that involves the media, politicians, the whitehouse press core, and the President himself. Remember, every Republican that fell from this administration with disgrace was remembered fondly by the President and/or the Vice President as a honorable man. This includes, Rumsfeld, Attorney Gonzalez, Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby. All wrongdoing is covered up meticulously and documents are never surrendered, because they use the excuse of "national security". So without the proper tools and evidence to get these guys the right-wing just thumbs their nose at the people. They know we can't do JACK!
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engineer
Nov. 5, 2007, 7:37 p.m.Thanks for the story. If something is not done VERY, VERY fast, we will have a depression that will make 1929 look like a picnic. We can stop it . Let's do it!!
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engineer
Nov. 5, 2007, 7:39 p.m.This book is very true. If the hyperpartisanship wasn't to the point it is, we would not be in the dire straits we are now.
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Ratskii
Nov. 5, 2007, 7:49 p.m.There have been eras in American politics that have been worse than what we are seeing now. People fought duels and attacked each other in the streets over their political differences.
A substantial portion of the public is tired of it, as he mentioned in his second paragraph. I hope the left doesn't go to far in imitating the right. I have a feeling that the gains made in 2006 were partially a plea for a different kind of politics. The democratic party can also make gains among the people that the right-wing republicans are calling RINOs.
I think that the left in general and the democratic party in particular need to defend themselves actively without rising to the bait and using the most objectionable republican tactics and name calling. We're better than that.
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AtheismIsRealityComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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abntv
Nov. 5, 2007, 8:30 p.m.So you have two political parties at each others throats..a voting public that is fed up with nothing getting done..and nobody willing to play the true political game which is compromise..I my opinion what this country needs to do is elect someone that is a true moderate of either party...not someone trying to look like one..the voters need to start asking tough questions of the candidates..no more softballs
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lovermanComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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1-2-Oscar
Nov. 5, 2007, 8:45 p.m.The "hyperpartisans" on both sides seem to have lost sight of the reality that most Americans are essentially decent people, with modest goals and a vast amount of tolerance for opinions at variance with their own. It is precisely because such tolerance exists that we have been able to change over time, and to accept radical changes in social acceptance and social responsibility. In my own lifetime this country has become more open, more tolerant, and infinitely more inclusive--so much so that candidates for our leadership in the twenty-first century have included a black, a woman, a Jew, and a Mormon. None of these would have been considered a serious candidate only a few years ago.
Our tolerance for others, and our willingness to accept change are two of our greatest strengths as a people. We must now reject the extreme and return to those characteristics which have made us one of history's most successful nations.
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uncle-dave
Nov. 5, 2007, 8:56 p.m.FTA:
"...the Republican Party has morphed into "a centrally directed, ideologically coherent institution that demands loyalty, isolates and punishes dissent, and mobilizes every conceivable resource allied with it against the other side."
I think the above quote summarizes the condition of the GOP of today.
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wasntmeComment has been removed: Abusive
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JhnKroeger
Nov. 5, 2007, 9:18 p.m.God help us there are too many retards in the republican party & there are too many small brained followers, we're all doomed.
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Searchbeam
Nov. 5, 2007, 9:59 p.m.It is interesting to see Ken Mehlman's take on to-day's political scene.
Let us not forget that he was a major part of the mud-slinging, take-no-prisoners, swiftboater crowd of the 2004 elections.
His religion must have come to him through his repentence for his misdeeds and dirty tricks.
Isn't politics fun?
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Spadecaller
Nov. 5, 2007, 9:59 p.m.If the first civil war had ever really ended, I don't think Amerians would make such good targets for hyperpartisanship tactics today. Ideological, religious, regional, and racial conflicts have persisted with the American people for over two centuries.
Do you really think we could be so easily manipulated by disengenuous politicians who use that to maintain power? I don't.
Nonetheless, since the media and "trusted" government servants have fallen under the influence of special interests, I think it is easier than ever to inflame these integral differences.
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Redneck
Nov. 5, 2007, 10:03 p.m.We are in a cultural war. There are those who have been pushing to change the culture of America. If they cannot do it through the ballot they attempt it through the Courts. Many conservatives have finally realized their worldview is being undermined and they have arisen to take back ground. So they are challenging the status quo and the "progressives" as liberals call themselves. They are speaking to the ideas being fed to the citizens of this great land.
So there will continue to be "extremes" in opposing sides. The Left has made it clear they are not open to moving Right one inch. SO the Right has to pull all the more strongly to cause a slight movement to the right. This will not destroy America unless the Left rebels with arms. This is the public debate of ideas. con't
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Redneck
Nov. 5, 2007, 10:03 p.m.Con't
This is a Democratic Republic. The Left wants to silence the Vocal Right because they have nothing constructive to offer and it is becoming more clear each day as the Conservatives make their case.
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klr60
Nov. 5, 2007, 10:07 p.m.We, the people of this great country are not to be blame, except for the ones that put Bush in for a second term. It was about changing the guard-BS. Bush is no good. I am a Democrat & proud of it. My Dad always told me, the Dems are for the working mam-the GOP is for the rich-how true----------case closed
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Searchbeam
Nov. 5, 2007, 10:24 p.m.Redneck,
Your analysis seems a little off-base, because you think that it is the left that does not want to budge an inch.
However, the facts on the ground are substantially different than that.
The Religious right with dogmatic and belligerent flame -throwers like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, and Machiavellian politicians like Newt Gingrich and Mitch McConnell, has pitched a tent so far to the right that nobody dare cross the dead zone of the middle ground to reach out.
The Liberals, the Left and the reasonable centrists have no place to go except to hold on to their strengths and beliefs.
Thus the lines are drawn. Politics has become a contact sport and nothing is off the limits.
In such an atmosphere, what would you expect but more polarization, division and battle lines drawn out.
It almost resembles the proverbial wild west.
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canadianrancher57
Nov. 5, 2007, 11 p.m.The direction your country is headed is no longer decided by the people, it is decided by special interest groups who lobby both parties and support candidates on both sides. Alot of people like to be considered conservative because it represents responsibility although many of them are more humanitarian than they are given credit for. Liberals on the other hand are considered by alot of people of being loose cannons, this statement is far fromthe truth as well. Does not the fighting in government between the parties sort of come down to money, There is much pork barreling going on and all elected representitives want to help those who have helped them. Once you get on the gravy train no one wants it to end so it seems all honor and integity seems to be thrown out and we are left with a bunch of people who forget the reason the were elected, that being to run the country.
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baddad59Comment has been removed: Retracted by user
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fempatriot
Nov. 6, 2007, 2:41 a.m.Both parties are working together to destroy the USA as created. They want open borders between the USA, Canada, & Mexico--the creation of the "North American Union." We will be under the rule of the Bilderbergs--the super-rich who meet once yearly in a secret meeting somewhere in the world (never makes the news)and plan how to reduce us back to the peasants we once were 200 years ago. The banking system, started in the 1400s by the Rothchilds, Warbergs, etc., is part of this & the huge corporations like Exxon, etc. Henry Kissinger, David Rockefeller, etc. belong to this group of elitists. They've created the European Union; we're next. We've lost most of our manufacturing base, the Panama Canal, east & west coast ports. We're losing our highways. Illegals are allowed to take over our jobs including construction. When will Americans get the message? We're doomed.
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HannibalBarca
Nov. 6, 2007, 8:10 a.m.I believe that most on this site are commenting on how both parties used to be, not how they are today, both parties have been bought by an outside influence whose agenda is power and money, nothing else.
Some have said that Americans welcome change, this I disagree with because when people get in a rut tunnel vision sets in and USA is suffering from tunnel vision, the same foreign policies year after year, the same domestic problems not solved due to labels; can't do that that is a socialist idea, etc.
I said it before USA is a two dimensional nation and as such all subjects fall into a black and white label, again no room for gray but probably 75% of Americans would fit in a gray box.
A third party would offer a new outlook but as already stated above somewhere it might not work so no don't do it. As a result todays candidates are just the same sh it but a different pile
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canadianrancher57
Nov. 6, 2007, 8:56 a.m.When one asks what is wanted by the population of a country the answer is very difficult but when I look at your country I see some things that have been do make it better for all. Most people who came to your country wanted a chance to improve their lives, they wanted a chance to be treated fairly, they wanted freedom of religion. Many of the things they wanted they have received but if you ask what they want today maybe the answer is they want less government intervention for the government today is involved in many aspects of puplic life and ask you to pay for that intervention. This involvement hurts people financially and also it curtails some of your freedoms, these thing can lead to a hatered of the party that implemented certain policy and then the hatred is inflamed by the press or special interest groups. Most people would like to see poverty done away with in your country but when the idea is presented no one will move on it because politicians don't want to offend people.
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texangelwings
Nov. 6, 2007, 9:39 a.m.Our politicians seem to be suffering from 'me, me, me' syndrome! Instead of doing what is right for everyone, they are too busy looking out for 'self'. They are all going to have to start working together to make America strong and united, not divided.
Interesting book review, now I want to go buy the book!
Thanks Quicksilver for the headsup on this book review article.
Thanks DR.
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scott4261
Nov. 6, 2007, 9:41 a.m."Brownstein calls this 'the age of hyperpartisanship,' in which almost every force related to our political life 'operates as an integrated machine to push the parties apart and to sharpen the disagreements in American life'."
Yeah. And we see how well that worked out, don't we?
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amitakon
Nov. 6, 2007, 10:07 a.m.Pete Doherty is like the Debbie Does Dallas of heroin addicts.
Video here
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vor
Nov. 6, 2007, 10:11 a.m.As Deathray pointed out 70% of Americans are unhappy with the current administration, even more are dissatisfied with Congress. Yet most American are happy with their lives (about the same 70% number). We now appear headed towards an election that is basically Bush III (Guiliani and the neocons) vs. Clinton II (Hillary). No wonder that a similar number are pessimistic about the future.
As for Congress we should be up in arms for term limits (been a long time since those words have been in the news). The old cronies who hold the party lines must go. And we also must prevent a revolving door with Defense and other government contractors. These incestous relationships with contractors and lobbyists have polluted the system and taken away the people's power.
The author appears to be saying we have lost the moderate voter. Voters need to start thinking and stop behaving like sheeple. America, "the idea" as Bono described it, is not yet dead.
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ETproductions
Nov. 6, 2007, 10:34 a.m.I'd see David Duke as a very poor candidate to use in defining any broad political movement within the US outside of his drive for segregation and racial purity. His KKK affiliation is well known. He has run as a Democrat, Republican and Populist.
There are many salient points that divide the two extremes, but security is probably the easiest to use as a litmus test. If you believe the USA is under the most severe threat we've ever faced and that that threat can only be met by preemptive invasions around the world and suspension of civil rights, constitutional protections and in some cases the rule of law, you just might be a right wingnut.
If, on the other hand, you believe the exact opposite -- that we should dismantle all nuclear weapons and that nearly all war is unjustified or can be solved through diplomacy, then you're probably still a wingnut but one with a left-hand thread.
What I'm saying is most people aren't wingnuts.
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jovial
Nov. 6, 2007, 10:41 a.m.Intellectual growth involves considering opposing ideas and opinions as well as challenging ideas in order to develop and elaborate a framework for understanding the world. -Joseph Mikels
As he goes on..
Thoroughly cultivating ideas often involves struggling and stumbling and occasional embarassment.
I am rewarded each time I present a story here on propeller when people present ideas and facts that are weren't previously known to me. This opportunity allows me to come up with new ideas, and I hope people are having the same experience. There is no way to do away with partisanship altogether, but I enjoy the opposing viewpoints as well as the assurances I receive when I voice my opinion. I've found a lot of friends here. Sometimes the discussions become quite lively, (sometimes too lively) but I always walk away knowing more than I did before. Yes, it would be a good thing if the citizens of this country would be more united on certain issues. (cont.)
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Commodore1
Nov. 6, 2007, 11 a.m.Yes, isn't it the ghastly truth. And I blame the dumbocrats for 95% of it. They started it all during the Reagan era. Then it was the Republicans nearly impeaching Bronco Bill and now it's the dems looking for revenge and making problems at every turn. Take down Kennedy, Pelosi, Boxer and Murtha and there would be fewer problems. If a real civil war starts in this country I know it will be the fault of the dems. They are in fact already attacking conservatives and trying to raid people's freedoms.
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joeblowe
Nov. 6, 2007, 11:14 a.m.This theme isn't going to be much of a surprise to anyone who has noticed how many votes in Congress fall strictly along party lines.
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RedstateLib
Nov. 6, 2007, 11:58 a.m.Okay we our all sick of the devisive nature of politics and feeling that our elected leaders are just milking us dry. I have an idea lets make Federal elected service like miltary service. Lets build them barracks style buildings to live in near DC(actually we could probably fix up some buildings a little at Walter Reed since it will be closing soon). Buses can carry them to and from the capitol and white house everyday. Just like the military you have to be there unless you have a doctors excuse. Let them use the same health care system that are enlisted soldiers do. Pay them about the same as miltary pay. Give them a curfew of 9 pm. They need a pass to leave base and any building or event with a lobbiest present is off limits. They get 1 mouth a year leave where they all go home and visit their home districts. If its good enough for those who volunteer to serve in the military it's good enough for those who "volunteer" to serve in Washington.
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jovial
Nov. 6, 2007, 12:04 p.m.Another thing that might be being overlooked is the media and the internet. The driving influence for major changes in the U.S. have been driven by Television. Civil Rights in this country came about by people watching injustices being carried out on people of color around this country. If it were not for TV. Conditions for segregation might still be here today. Another example is the Vietnam war. I remember as a child watching Walter Cronkite, and his nightly report on the war. Did this influence opinion and influence the anti-war movement? I would say so. Now we have the Mass media. News can be downloaded onto your phone or your Ipod.
More of the nation is computer literate and the "blogosphere' has become extrememly important. News can spread across the world in minutes. YouTube captures politicians contradicting themselves on a daily basis. I think this important milestone in US history is a major factor.
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jimdoze
Nov. 6, 2007, 12:49 p.m.Here's a good start to rapprochement.
http://abcrad.vo.llnwd.net/o1/levin/rss/schumer...
I give Chuck Schumer a lot of credit for stating what I believe reasonable people know to be obvious.
Good post, DR!
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ML2007Comment has been removed: Retracted by user
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afoaf
Nov. 6, 2007, 1:59 p.m.The only reason that the left and right have been successful in this polarization is that they have a monopoly on political parties.
The entire electoral college system is arranged in such a way that a third party candidate can, almost without exception, never threaten the entrenched duopoly.
They just scoop up their respective majorities and quibble over those issue-driven people left in the middle that vote out of principle and not partisanship.
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cowboygrandpa
Nov. 6, 2007, 2:23 p.m.The leaders of the push had to wait because they knew the veterans of the war would warn and be vigilant. They would not let the stench of Hitlers dreams come to America and ruin it. Again we see the Bushes Pro Nazi leanings. Deny, deny, deny. Spin, spin, spin. Bush and Cheney represent the worst of this country. When over 65% of the populace are in agreement as to the foulness of his leadership you have problem. So go on and try to tell me how to think. You can't control me or my thoughts. I will not buckle under there bud. I want America back and if Bush and Cheyney have to go so be it. Your time in power is short now Ultra cons. I can feel the winds of change coming.
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Harbeas
Nov. 6, 2007, 3:09 p.m.I have urged the voters before to do away with these idiots. If our government can't do what is right for this country then we must change it by voting out all of the current politicians and replacing them. This bipartisanship crap is killing us. They just don't seem to be interested in doing the right thing for the country but what is right for them and their party. KICK THEM OUT OF OFFICE!
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jovial
Nov. 6, 2007, 5:40 p.m.(cont.)To make it not seem as bad as it really was reporters were only allowed to get information through government press releases. Journalists that entered the country without permission, did so with no U.S. protection, they could be killed by either side. After an exhaustive search for WMD turned up nothing, the reason changed to regime change and spreading democracy. Iraq was to be the democracy that all middle east countries envied. Then like dominoes they were to change their governments to be more like Iraq's. Putin remarked one time, "if that's an example of democracy, we'll take dictatorship instead" or something along those lines. Anyway more and more stories got out about tragedies that were happening in Iraq like Abu Ghairab, and Fallujah. For the first time Bush started to realize support for the war awas waning. Republicans running for their seats in 2006 started distancing themselves from the President. (cont.)
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icono1
Nov. 6, 2007, 6:19 p.m.Interesting read but to me it is the old divide and conquer strategy with the winner gaining political leverage which equals personal monetary gain via well used misinformation and spin doctoring.
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truthiness
Nov. 6, 2007, 9:17 p.m.The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
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truthiness
Nov. 6, 2007, 11:09 p.m.klarissa,
what do americans want changed?
-corruption without repercussion; eg abramoff went to jail for bribery but no one went to jail for receiving those bribes.
-the feeling that no matter what we say or do, the politcians will do what they want
-watching our money, resources and troops go overseas to rebuild other countries, while emergency situations here have no resources to provide aid
-having our politicians use the media to sell us fear so that they can gather more power to themselves illegally
-having politicians tell us there is no money for universal health insurance while they receive free health insurance
-having our politicians tell us they need to raise more taxes to pay for more crime enforcement laws to fix the old laws which werent working when the reason they werent working is because they werent enforced.
-politicians dividing their loyalties between nation and party
-a billion dollars spent on two years of campaigning while washington gets nothing done.
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kcmo50
Nov. 20, 2007, 11:53 p.m.The left is still with us,its just not out in the open.
I have been watching this disaster as you all have as well,my Family was part of the great american disaster(the civile war) and was split down the middle. We even have two Family groups who just made up after all this time.
I am hopeing that the tital of this story is just that,another civil war would be the end of this place
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1-2-Oscar
Nov. 5, 2007, 10:30 p.m.I think that you have recognized an important point. Many Americans regard our nation and its form of government as an ongoing success story. But they DO want it to work better. When someone presents an idea for change which will have such a result, they'll buy into it.
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deathray
Nov. 5, 2007, 10:35 p.m.If you are saying that Americans like their way of life, I'd tend to agree. If you are saying that Americans like the direction in which the country is headed, I'll have to say that the polls I see are not consistent with your statement, and the American people want a change.
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Searchbeam
Nov. 6, 2007, 4:30 p.m.Klarissa,
Please give a reference or a link to support what you are writing.
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