Give people a break as they decide 'which' Democratic party to support

[Q]

Everyone knows by now that there is more than one Democratic party.

There's the pro-choice faction and the anti-abortion faction.

The anti-Iraq war faction and the pro-Iraq war, PNAC faction.

The pro-corporation, anti-environmental faction and the corporations should be regulated and held accountable faction.

The public education faction and the voucher faction.

The government of, by and for the people faction versus the corporate welfare, privatization, supply-side economics faction.

The military-industrial faction versus the peace faction.

The Gun faction versus the Gun-Control faction.

The Wall of Separation between Church and State faction and the Faith-based Initiative faction.

The Gay rights faction and the homophobe faction.

The pro-union, worker's right faction and the pro-corporate, anti-worker faction.

The Affirmative Action faction and the 'reverse discrimination' faction.

Well...you get my drift.

There are more factions in the Democratic party than space allows to illustrate. This begs the question: why doesn't the Republican party have similar problems with various factions all looking for a voice? It could be that they don't allow dissent or difference of opinion on any issue.

Another theory is that there are 'infiltrators' in the Dem party using RWing-inspired wedge issues to keep us divided and suspicious of each other's motives. The Republican party doesn't have to deal with divisive groups like the DLC and you won't find anyone in their party calling themselves 'New' Republicans and trying to steer the party to the left.

So then...as the Democratic party suffers from some of its worst defeats and setbacks in our history...don't be surprised if many Democrats dwell in a bit of soul searching and introspection as they decide to WHICH party they want to belong.

[OneBlueSky]

1. one of the "factions" you describe has another name . . .

they're called Republicans . . .

[stray cat]

2. Thanks Q

In fact I bet most of us don't fit into any single group of categories and are mixes and continuums of all of the above. I know I don't. Obama was right in his convention speech that single categories cannot define us and we need to look deeper into what really unites us as democrats and more broadly as Americans.

Bush and his campaign and the radical fundamentalists thrive on dividing Americans and demonizing people who don't support them. It is bad for America but Bush has proved that it works at least in the short term.

[peacetalksforall]

3. I wish the abortion item was exluded....

It isn't/(shouldn't be) a Party faction. It wasn't a faction in our country's past history. It is a person's private religious issue - crosses all parties, religions/or not, genders, customs.

# 1 above should be Govt in your face faction versus privacy faction.

It should never be discussed until the punishment is deteremined right from the start...stoning, burning, hanging, or electric chair?

Both parties are divided and that is, in the long term, good and in the short term (among thieves), bad.

[Osamasux]

4. I have to disagree. Conservatives are merciless in primaries

Bush v McCain and Arlen Specter's confirmation problems are just the more widely known examples. In local politics, the question of 'who is a true republican?' is heard over and over. The term DINO seen here was probably borrowed from their RINO. Regardless of which came first, they went further. They actually have a paid-membership RINO Hunters club. The conservatives are constantly pushing the Republican party further and further to the right. That is why Jim Jeffords left. That is how Chimp got the nomination.

Democrats may disagree with each other over certain issues, but Republicans eat their young.

[Q]

8. What is McCain doing today?

That's right...he's wallowing in support for Bush* and his agenda. All has been forgiven. Expect the same with Specter. He'll either fall in like with the party bosses or he'll be gone.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. My "faction" lost in '92. Time to face reality and leave.

It's time to leave. I'll be switching to the Greens prior to the next election. The "moderates" of the DLC(R) have successfully subverted the party to the point of non-redemption.

[peacetalksforall]

6. One of Jack Kennedy's friend said that people should rally around an

ideology, not a single person leader. (Some day I'm going to research who and what the friend said - exactly.)

So, this is a valid discussion. However, the madness of our status today is that we (some of us) crossed over the church-state line.

That has to be straightened out first. As I said - decide on the punishment first for church related laws before making the law.

[Geek_Girl]

7. Honestly I don't see Much Difference

In the DLC Platform from the Republican Platform

So if I'm going to vote why would I vote for a blue dog democrat over a conservative republican.

I know of more true conservatives who disagreed with invading Iraq than I know of DLC democrats. I'm just confused as to way as a democrat I'm expected to keep voting for candidates that are against my core principles.

[stray cat]

9. Patrick Buchanan disagreed with Iraq

However do you really support the rest of his agenda. Do you really think there is no difference between the way Bill Clinton or John Kerry would run things versus George Bush.

I thought that in 2000 Gore and Bush were not all that different and now I know better and will not make that mistake again.

[Geek_Girl]

11. Pat Buchanan isn't part of the Republican Party Anymore

and I take take him over Bush, but not over Kerry. But there are Republicans that I would think about voting for over Kerry ones who did not vote to give Bush the Authority to Invade Iraq.

I guess my point is this, as the democratic party platform conforms closer to the republican platform than why would I vote for a democrat.

[stray cat]

12. I buy that.

If the party platforms get close than the person running in either party will make more of a difference in my decision

[quaoar]

10. Because politics is all about coalition building

It's why the traditional conservatives stick with the Christian Coalition types they can't stomach and wouldn't have over to their homes for dinner.