I am a proud, partisan, Democrat

I am so sick of hearing people whine about partisanship as if it were the fount of all evil. Partisanship in defense of liberty is no vice to paraphrase a famous Republican. One party, the Democrats, have been right about nearly everything my entire life. They were right on civil rights, right on the enviroment, right on taxation, right on the minimum wage, right on Medicare, right on Medicaid, right to try for universal health insurance, right on the ERA, right on seperation of church and state, right on Habeus Corpus, right on job creation, right on gay rights (at least most of the time), and right on a whole host of other issues too long to name. The other party has been wrong about all of the same things. Why, pray tell, should I not be a partisan?

To take one example. Recently the US House passed a hate crime bill (House Res 1592) by a vote of 237 to 180. Democrats broke 212 to 14 to 6 while the GOP broke 25 to 166 to 10. Just shy of 21 out of every 23 Democrats in the US House voted for this bill. Conversely just under 1 out of 8 Republicans voted for it. Why in God's name should I not be a partisan given that record? This isn't about giving gays any real rights. Not employment, not housing, surely not affirmative action of any sort. It is simply saying that if you kill or harm a gay and the state jurisidiction can't or won't prosecute, the feds will. Something we already say for race, religion, color, and creed.

This type of breakdown is true for pretty much all of the issues above. I would be a fool not to be a partisan given that I believe in those issues. 21 out of 23 (or over 91%) vs 1 out of 8 (or 12.5%). Gee, there really isn't much difference to fight for there, now is there?

I totally agree with you. If you're not going to be partisan, then why register with a party to begin with? I know that the politicians have to use the word "bipartisan" to appeal to all of their constituents, but sometimes it's very thin. The example you gave, for instance, would be labeled "bipartisan" even though only 25 Republicans voted for it.

should not be. The R's are strictly partisan when you get down to the brass tacks, why shouldn't ht e D's be as well?

I can respect some R's, Lincoln, TR come to mind instantaneously, I guess I can toss in Eisenhower as well, he did a lot behind the scenes that few know about concerning Civil Rights and the infrastructure.

Recent D's I have respect for, FDR, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson (big Civil Rights boost there), Carter (he's too decent a person to have made a great/good presidenr), Clinton. I am unabashedly proud of what our Party has done for the people opf this nation. The GOP has a few things, Earned Income Credit, hmmmm, OK one thing off the top of my mind...:shrug:

There is no reason tho think the modern D's are poor in almost anything, although there is always romm for improvemnet. The GOP on the other hand, just plain suck. The last congress worried about flag burning and denying gays and women rights, pretty pathetic and certainly reasons to avoid the GOP like the plague.

The current resident of the WH has literally destroyed the GOP, and I have to thank him for that I suppose...:D

I never really understood people's hesitancy to associate themselves with certain political parties. I once remember a teacher that ridiculed the idea of voting for a president based on political party and said "I vote based on my values and I voted for Bush because he's a Christian and I'm a Christian." Aside from the fact that Gore is a Christian too I wanted to shout, "you idiot, their political parties are actually relevant to the presidency unlike their religions!"

:hi:

I often wonder if there was a knowledge of just how religious zealots took away a party that once had ideas and ideals, and became the party of intolerance, ignorance and "christianity". FWIW, there is nothing of Christianity in the GOP, they have become the party of hate, not the party of love, tolerance, empathy, compassion, forgivenss and ant-hypocrisy, as the tenets of Christianity truly speak.

Odd thing is, they will blame God for destroying the country, not realizing that they have abandonded the God they say they stand behind...go figure...:shrug:

You sound like a perfect fit. Okay, maybe not, but I would like for more of our leaders to use that kind of rhetoric.

In any case, I hope that our next President will be choosing our next chair.

I am a VERY proud partisan - I love being a Democrat!!! Probably because I love being correct all the time...

Bring back Jim Crow!

:puke:

There is *NO* Truth-in-Labeling in politics. None.

was good on civil rights. He was lousy on gay rights but actually was good on civil rights.

Trying to do the right thing whatever label it has... Perhaps I'm an underachiever, not sure.

The New York State Assembly voted last week to advance a marriage-equality bill. It has been called bipartisan even though only FOUR Republicans voted for it (along with 81 Democrats). I for one would like to see the Democrats get the credit when they are CLEARLY the party that advanced the bill. Here's a link to the vote:

http://prideagenda.blogspot.com/2007/06/assembly-passes-marriage-vote-tally.html

I can see the revisionist history in a few years: "Why, of course we Republicans were NEVER against gays! Go back and look at all those bipartisan votes..."

that refuses to even discuss it.

but any other congressional action which may be blocked is a waste of time. It just doesn't make sense.

but pointing out that yet again the GOP is the roadblock.

parrying with ourselves instead . . .

good point.

one that wants and demands Impeachment for the bush* cabal

:eyes:

proud, grass roots progressive democrat. I advocate that grass roots activists help move the party in a progressive direction at the "local" level. Participate voter registration/education campaigns. Conduct coordinated LTTE campaigns. Invest your time and money in the campaigns with candidates who share your values.

Remember the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.