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As pointed out in the book "Banana Republican," by Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber, Democrats look at politics as a difference of opinions, a debate about differing philosophies. Republicans look at politics as all out war, defeat and crush the Democrats at all costs.
I think this is most apparent regarding the party leadership's views of impeachment. Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay were able to get every Republican to march in lockstep to impeach Clinton. It was their Holy Grail mission and they pursued it with a fanatical fervor. The Democrats under Nancy Pelosi don't want to even think about impeaching Bush. I guess they think it might upset some people, or hurt Bush 41's feelings. And it's not just Pelosi, almost everyone of the Democratic leaders (except Dennis Kucinich) say no to impeachment, even though Bush and Cheney have done more to deserve it than any other president in US history.
It would be nice if there was less partisan hatred in Washington, but since there is, I don't think it should be unilateral. Republicans are not going to start playing nice just because the Democrats are too polite to impeach Bush. I think it's safe to say that when Republicans get control of Congress again (sometime in the future), they will go back to crushing the Democrats.
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