Where no compromise leadsPosted Monday, May 2, 2011, at 3:40 PM
In 1860, the Democratic Party met in Charleston, S.C., to hold its national convention and select its candidate for president.
In those days, the Democrats were the conservatives and the "Black Republicans," the new party just entering the national political scene, were the radical liberals advocating significant changes to the policies of society and government. A vocal and determined minority of Democrats at that convention opposed the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas as president. Douglas had a good chance of winning if the party would unite behind him. But his opposition (almost all from slave states), which would break away from the party and ultimately hand the presidency to Lincoln, actually hoped Douglas would lose and Lincoln would win. Not because they supported Lincoln, but because they believed -- correctly as it turned out -- that if Lincoln won it would trigger a wave of seccession across the south. Lincoln, himself, had made it clear he did not intend to free the slaves or alter the institution of slavery (that would come later, when the Civil War was in its full-blown gory splendor). But that vocal minority of Democrats meeting in South Carolina that year didn't want the federal system to work anymore. They wanted it to break. They didn't want to compromise on any issue. They would rather see the federal government broken than have to succumb to the will of a majority of the people of the entire nation. The issues are different today, but in the early years of this 21st century, we are facing a similar determination by another vocal minority -- the Tea Party -- to resist any law they don't like to a point where they are willing, almost eager, to see the government broken than be forced to compromise. As it did 150 years ago, the art of compromise, which is such an important part of our federal system, has died. It is a result of the massive polarization of politics we see occurring in our nation today, and it frightens the heck out of me. Compromise, a movement toward the center of the political spectrum, is vital to the success of our democracy. When any significant group decides it will not compromise, and has enough votes to make it happen, then the entire system begins to break down. Legislative gridlock ensues. Debate gets deflected from the vital "nuts and bolts" issues of running the government to issues of the moment that merely eat up time, energy and good will. "My way or the highway" does not make for effective government. Pelosi's heavy-handed tactics did it for four years before the 2010 election and now the leaders of the Tea Party movement are doing it -- and dragging the more reasonable elements of the Republican Party with them. Intransigence is an equal opportunity empowerer. And it is guaranteed to lead our government into a failure mode that may very well destroy us. The inability of those who lose a political battle to accept the will of the people, as expressed through their elected representatives, is a dangerous development in American politics. I want fewer Pelosis and Reids and Bachmans and Pauls, and more Mike Simpsons and Mike Crapos -- leaders who will fight for their principals but accept that compromise toward the middle of the road is necessary for effective government. Too many political leaders in states across the south and the intermountain basin of the west increasingly seem more interested in destroying the federal government than fixing it. Perhaps the scariest development of all is the rise of the seccessionist movement. Unable to accept the law of the land, unwilling to seek compromise, there is a growing element on the political landscape that calls for measures that would break away from the confines of federal law. From nullification efforts to outright calls for seccession, some states, Idaho included, are trying to break the compact they made when they entered the union. I fear not the threats from outside to the greatness of this nation, but the pernicious eroding of the sense of national self from the sectarian hardliners who have rejected the art of compromise as an instrument of political policy. I truly believe that we must elect candidates in the 2012 election who do not hold hard-core positions, who believe in the value of a slow, deliberate development of policies based on compromise, and a more fluid definition of principals. People who want the government to work, not freeze up and break. If we don't, we are headed down a road similar to that which resulted from the Democratic convention 150 years ago. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Meanderings of the Managing Editor  - Archives - Blog RSS feed ![[Feed icon]](http://www.mountainhomenews.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon} - Comments RSS feed - Login Hot topics Yet more jobs for robots(2 ~ 12:18 PM, Mar 21)
We're probably safe
Does GOP need *every* seat?
More funds for education needed
Beware of 'victory disease'
|
Email link
Read comments (41)
Blog archive
Fixed - Thank You. B
B. I am just laughing my fool head off and you know why LOL
When you're in choppy seas, you compromise and adjust, to try to keep the ship level.
When it's about to head for the bottom, compromise is no longer an option. You need to ACT!
But its defective
Homer
to be all hat and no cattle
I think SalManilla HAS "SalManilla!"
We haven't had a leader of ANY description, in the last 23 years.
I don't think there are ENOUGH ACORNS on the trees to get it done in 2012..........but if by some HUGE ELECTRONIC FIX (or AMNESTY), it does happen.......there won't BE anything to run for by 2016.
What "name-calling" are you talking about, Sal?
We've been LEADERLESS for the last 23 years.....just what IS it that we have done "correct?"
How old am I?.......63.........and I've lived in this country when things WERE clean and solid, so I can SEE the deterioration that many of you do NOT, because many of you do NOT have enough PRIOR years to COMPARE this with.
If you grew up in the 80's and 90's.....you won't have noticed ALL that much change, because it was starting to get goofy back THEN.
Yeah, despite the right, things ARE being accomplished. Today we're 14 trillion---heading for FIFTEEN.
Glory days eh?.........I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but THOSE days have been gone about 3 decades now.
He was SUPPOSED to do all that in his FIRST term.
Second term? Based upon WHAT?
I AM curious to see who the Dems are gonna blame during the NEXT campaign!
Sal........instead of FIXING anything, Obama spent his first year puching his Obamacare. That took priority over EVERYTHING.
His promise of tansparency went behind closed doors and turned into the 2,000 page bill that Princess Pelosi said we all "had to pass, so we could find out what's IN it!"
He's been in "campaign-mode" for the last two years.
Ok.....Bin Laden's dead and it happened on his watch.........the Muslim-honored ceremony on a U.S. Carrier NEGATED all that in MY opinion-----and you can BET I'm not alone here.
Our side almost DOESN'T HAVE to have anybody that good THIS time around...........but you bet we WILL!
I don't read leftwing propaganda and porn.
The last thing I DID read that made any sense was Psalms 109:8
Homer.....you forgot to mention, that no other president ever ran around the globe apologizing to everybody for our "ARROGANCE". No other First Lady-to-be, ever called her own country a "hateful nation".
No other Secretary of State ever went down south and told a country we have bent over BACKWARDS for....."how we've been such bad neighbors"
I've been a member of my church for about 6 years now, and while I've heard our pastor say "God BLESS America"......I've never heard the DEROGATORY version of that......and if he ever did, I would no longer sit there and listen to him.
George Bush was no prize, but HE didn't have friends who blew up government buildings
Homer.....man.....I really need to get away from this computer for a day or two at LEAST..........this "Muslim rites burial" on an American aircraft carrier is angering me MORE and MORE every time I think about it. I have been LIVID all day.
There for awhile, it's been difficult to actually pick out a pet screw-up........from the stimulous to the bailouts, the takeovers, the MANDATES, the Arizona lawsuits, the push for amnesty, the drilling moratorium, DADT, Congressional avoidance to hit Libya, and other things. But THIS one is REALLY standing out up front with me.
Maybe due to the act itself.......maybe because this one was the "last straw". IF THIS ISN'T "CATERING TO THE ENEMY"......I don't know what IS! And once again, the vets get shoved to the back.
Any objectivity I MAY have had.....is LONG GONE.
Whatever it takes man.....this den of thieves back in D.C. has GOT to be cleaned out on or before 2012, including the dork "Republicans" who weren't up for re-election last fall. The ones we COULDN'T touch at the time.
....................Muslim rites for TERRORIST NUMBER ONE..........on a United States aircraft carrier.
I can't even use my favorite term "COMMUNISTS" on this one..............because even the RUSSIANS don't honor THEIR enemies!
I need a couple of days OUT of here..........
Or if you get out by the gunshop on Airbase road, and see an old yellow bug out there (or an old dark blue one)..........drop in.
Freedom and common sense are both spoken fluently there!
Oh my Homer and Zook have bonded and are having a meet-up today at the Good Old Boys Club...Kudos do you.
Our President has a wonderful sense of humor. lol !
Sunday night while waiting for him to come on TV, I was scrolling through the news feed on face book, and a lot of lady's were complaining that his speech was going to pre-empty "The Donalds" "Celebrity Apprentice" and they wouldn't know who was getting the boot.
I think our President with his great sense of humor planned it that way, sort of like revenge on Mr. Trump. lol !
Yea this president's humor is priceless like when he tried to float the idea of having troops pay for their own medical insurance and then send them to war. I'm still laughing about that one.
skeeter did you do a fact check on your comment? If you had you would of found out that there was an email circulating in 09 That contained fabricated quotes and misrepresents a budget idea that the White House scrapped. The quotes were intended as satire. Wasn't true !
HewBet Thank you I appreciate your comment. I have been seeing untruths about Obama posted on these blogs one month after he set foot in the White House.
I did extensive fact checking and looks like he did try to get it by. But if it was a joke, something to joke about huh?
Marilyn......I usually drop into that gunshop at least once during the day........and if one sees one of my old bugs parked out there, I am too, obviously.
Homer.....if you're shooting a Desert Eagle in 50 AE......I'm not real sure there's any ammo in-stock at the moment. I'll check the next time I'm out there.
I'm going out this morning to test-fire an old Mauser rifle I just bought, but will be out at the shop for awhile later this afternoon. If you're out that way & my bug is still there, drop in for a little "rightwing" chat.
HewBet..........you may get your "Hillary" wish a lot sooner than you think. She HATES Obama, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if she challenges him next year for the nomination, saying something like "SEE----I TOLD YOU SO!"
He just gave her that job to try to keep her out of the country as much as possible, but did you notice that picture yesterday of all of them in that conference room. His buddy, "Dozing Joe" is sitting there with him, but Hillary is sitting as far away as she can be, There's still some bad blood from those primaries. Your president better watch his back around HER!
But WE are taking the White House back in 2012. This "killing of Bin Laden" isn't going to change anything. By next year, we'll be a clean fifteen or SIXTEEN into the red because of their refusal to cut where it's needed. And THAT's what will be on the minds of the voters.
Celebrate "Bin Laden" while you can. This modern-day "Alice in Wonderland" is coming to a halt next year.
And this "Geronimo" code used with the Bin Laden operation, has got our Native Americans upset now as well! And they vote too......ALL of the tribes!
Gotta go shoot.........just have yourself a MARVELOUS day, liberal.
Homer I did vote for the right man, it sure wasn't going to be McCain..... And since I voted for Obama I will support him. If I don't support him then my vote wouldn't of counted..... Now go ahead and pick this statement all apart.... only because you 1. don't like Obama
2. you don't like my answer
And 3. remember it's my opinion
You can dish it out but can't take it homer?
What was wrong with my saying "God Old Boys Club"?
Isn't that what it is, or do lady's hang out there too????
I don't know I have never been there....
mean spirited? no more then you on these blogs...
I guess old lady's can get a little cranky..... hmmmmm
My husband is Cherokee and he's not upset by the use of the word "Gerinomo" What tribes are you talking about Zook? I'll do a search on it :)
Homer you must be referring to your posts when you mention "after reading the stupidity on these blogs lately"
Homer......it actually turned out to be a pretty interesting day.
Marylin...the Native American report was on this very internet......you know, the headlines where you check your email.
Tired of hearing it, eh, Hew Bet...........well, that's one of the many differences between you libs and the conservatives.
When you guys don't like the radio or tv program.......you come unglued and DRIVEL about it.
WE are smart enough to just change the friggin' channel!
WE don't DO "MANDATES" on OUR side-----so there's NOBODY FORCING YOU to read anything you don't wanna read.
It's really not "rocket science"------just skip down to the NEXT LIB you come to.
Zook I will check for it, didn't see it today when I checked my email
Zook I googled it and here is what I found. There was a lot more to the article and many other links to copy and paste, but I chose to only copy a little and if you or any one has any doubts what I copied then google it....
It is understandable that Native Americans are unhappy about it. But it should be remembered that there is a difference between these associations and some other 19th cultural references that reflected despicable American racist attitudes toward African-Americans. Geronimo may have been an enemy to the Americans that fought him. But he was a foe they regarded with deep respect, as well they might, considering that he and his band ran rings around the U.S. Cavalry that sought to capture him. If, in the decades after he was run down, American paratroopers yelled "Geronimo" as they jumped out of airplanes, it was a sign that his name had become a symbol of martial ferocity, not one of contempt or racism.
I knew I remembered seeing something on that this morning. Thanks Marylin.
So I'm a racist for bloggimg my opinion HewBet? And then Msm thanks you for your post about my blog when you call me a racist.
Of COURSE you're a RACIST.
Anyone who opposes this adminstration or it's policies ia a RACIST
Hypothetical scenario...........the president gets a 50% tax hike for everybody in the country.........
A bunch of us PROTEST it...........
If it's against President Bush..........he's a bum, and protest is the right thing to do
If it's against president Obama........it's racial....we're just doing it because he happens to be black
If it were against "President Hillary".......we'd all be SEXISTS......we're just against the "hike" because she's a woman.
Being the "first", doesn't rate you some sort of automatic "free pass"........but you'd sure THINK so!
Whenever Nixon or either of the Bushes screwed up, they went after them with an AX! OBAMA screws something up......"God help anybody who SAYS anything about it, because if you DO.....here comes that "card."
And I promise you, Skeeter.......had HILLARY won that primary and then the election......did the same things Obama has done so far, drawn the same fire from the right...........
We would all be "Rightwing, tea-bagging, extremist, Nazi CHAUVENISTS!!!
Guarentee it!
This isn't about "right & wrong"
This isn't about "legal & ILLegal"
This isn't about "onstitutional & UNconstitutional"
We're supposed to be "politically correct", just shut UP and praise everything Obama does, right, wrong or otherwise...........
......just because.........
They've actually HURT the president more than they've helped him, when you really think about it, and it probably WILL make it tougher for the next one,.............and that WOULD be a crime. A person should be ALLOWED to succeed or fail on their own.
Limbaugh isn't a part of FOX. Please tell us where Beck, Hannity or O'Reilly for that matter have gone "racial?"
Criticizing Obama's policy's do not make them "racists"
WHEN have ANY of them slurred the president because he's a black man?
HewBet, no one agrees with everything someone in the news business says. I don't watch Fox News or any other news. Life is too short to be told what the news is. I'm well aware of the situation with this administration and their views of military health care. Military retirees have been paying for health care since President Clinton was in with a democratic congress and as of today this admin is trying to raise the cost of health care for military retirees. That fake email was generated because of what was said by this admin., they thouhgt they could generate five hundred and some odd million by doing it.
Zook they disguise the slurs and say it's politics
no one in this day and age want to say "I"m A Racist" unless their proud to be one
Homer I knew you would love my message and would have to pull out your insulting and name calling card, you silly clueless little boy... It' my opinion and you can't handle it, and your only answer can be insults. You really show yourself on the blogs except you hide under a screen name...
Why don't you come out of hiding when you hand out your insults?
Happy Mothers Day Me
DID YOU NOTICE THE STEREO TYPE??...PO ME ??? IS THAT THE WAY YOU ENUNCIATE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HOMMER?????? OR ARE YOU JUST FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ??????????? AND THAT HAS BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME.......HOMMER DO YOU HAVE A MIRROR AT HOME???????? USE IT HOMMER OR DOES IT SCARE YOU?????????
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MS M AND MANY MORE
OH I ALMOST FORGOT........I DONT NEED YOUR ADVICE,PERMISSION,CONSENT,APPROVAL AND ON IT GOES. THOSE DAYS ARE GONE HOMMER TRY AND GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD.....AND IF YOU GET IN MY WAY I WILL RUN YOU OVER.......BECAUSE YOUR NOT SMART ENOUGH TO MOVE...........COME ON, COME ON, ILL BE YOUR HUCKLEBERRY............(LAUGH)
Thanks Guys for the Mothers Day wishes, that was nice :)
Homer my comment wasn't even addressed to you so I don't know why you had to answer for zook unless he has designated you as his spokes person? He has in the past always answered posts directed to him without your help
Homer I am beginning to believe your nothing but a mole and a very incredible one at that.
Definition of incredible: Not believable, almost beyond belief, as an incredible story
THEN DONT TALK,,,,,,,,,,GETTING OLD YES.......GETTING STUPID........AFRAID NOT.......
POMPOUS......NOPE.......RACIST .......NOPE.......
ERASMUS HALL. GREAT SCHOOL.....BILLY CUNNINGHAM,BARABRA STRIESAND,BOBBY FISHER,TO NAME A FEW.....SAME GRADUATION CLASS........STILL HAVNT STOPED NAME CALLING.....CANT GET AWAY FROM IT CAN YOU??????????? MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD???????? DOESNT DO ANYTHING FOR YOUR IMAGE........THATS ALREADY IN PLACE...........HA,HA,HA, DO YOU FEEL PICKED ON??????????? YOU BEEN ASKING FOR IT......HAVE YOU NOTICED...... HOMMER..... you are the only one NAME calling........
Republican's say heath care repeal is DEAD
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/05...
Yeaaaaa High fives HewBet,Lamont It took awhile but we "gotter done"
Thank you my henchmen and my little pack of Chihuahuas! I will miss you homer, take care, I enjoyed everyone of your posts as you are very entertaining....
I will mark this day on my calender and light a candle on the same day each year, in memory of Homer.
I PERSONALLY DONT CARE ABOUT YOUR VIEWS HOMMER .THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AND THERE GREAT PEOPLE.
yOU ARE THE ONLY NAME CALLER.YOUR THE ONLY ONE WHO STARTS SENTENCES WITH " you moron.you stupid etc)I'LL say it again who do you think you are????
I know you will still respond you cant help yourself......WHY?.....Because anyone you consider less than.,you will not stop,you have to feel superior.YOU PROBALLY BELIEVE IN MANFEST DESTINEY SO YOUR BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED.IV BEEN HIP TO YOU FOR MONTHS AND IM SURE MRS M HAS TOO.I WAS GLAD TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN READING AND SAW IT TOO. WELL WE WILL SEE YOU WHEN YOU RESPOND BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HEWBET.....hope you got the directons??????????
HEWBET WRONG.......I DONT KNOW WHATS WITH THE ADDRESSE UNLESS IT IS PENGILLEYS?????????lookn at it and do it again that is a web page......or better still go to it and send me something.
I TOLD YOU HE COULDNT SHUT UP NOT FOR A DAY
REPUB PROMISE ELECT US WE WILL MAKE JOBS .......EXSCUSE ME WHEN?????????? NOTHING IS DONE OVERNIGHT.8 YRS MAKING IT BUT CHANGE IS EXPECTED IN 2.5. THATS REALISTIC???????????
EVEN PRES REAGAN COULDNT DO THAT....BUT THEN AGAIN I WOULDNT KNOW I DONT BOW AT HIS ALTAR
GOT TO GO.........TO FUNNY
RIGHT.......IF THE WEATHER IS NICE WE WILL BE OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO.......THAT IS WHEN WE PLAY AS A QUINTET,OTHERWISE I WILL BE INSIDE DOING A TRIO THING.........AND I THINK THAT IS A TUESDAY.......ANYHOW LOOK FORWARD TO IT ...... TAKE CARE