The media doesn't seem to function without making everything a horse race so they go out of their way to make sure there that only the differences are emphasized, pitting each party against each other.  They can't report that we all want decent working wage, how is that going sell ad space.  so we get D's want to stimulate the economy by spending and the R's want to stimulate the economy by giving the job creators breaks.  In the end, they both are relatively the same, the government using it's power to get people who want to work a job.  I know it's infinitely more complex, but the point stands.

Someone here mentioned a quote by Goebbels or Goering, saying something like give them an enemy and they will give you all the power you need.  Which is what is happening right now, not only do we have an external enemy in terrorism, but the added enemy of the opposing party.  That internal enemy we created is allowing the power structure to do whatever it wants knowing the people will never allow the enemy to make one of their own answer for anything.

The problem is we are all losing, treasure, lives, and most of our rights.  Which is one of the reasons I voted for Obama, the message of hope, and compromise, and coming together.

I feel like I really have the right, maybe even duty, to point out just how far from that message the person I once supported has strayed.  I used to think it was the R's and Bush and now I realize they are all evil, each one worse then the previous and if we don't find some common ground amongst ourselves, the power structure is going to win the war of our freedom.  Right now, they are winning battle after battle while we sit here blaming the opposition for all of our woes when in fact both parties are doing the same garbage, details may vary, but each and everyone one of us is losing.

BTD: "When you write about politics, team jerseys are [always] a factor for everybody I think. The question is it the only factor? Or the biggest factor?"

... a much bigger factor now, than it ever was in decades past. 25 years ago, there were still any number of thoughtful and honorable GOP elected officials who garnered my respect and admiration, such as former Sen. Richard Lugar, former Washington Gov. Dan Evans and former Hawaii Congresswoman Patricia Saiki.

Speaking for myself only as a former Republican, I think things first started to go awry in the GOP during Richard Nixon's re-emergence into public life in 1968, given all the political baggage and paranoia he brought with him, which eventually culminated in the disastrous Watergate scandal.

But when Bill Clinton defeated incumbent President George H.W. Bush in November 1992 to gain the White House, the GOP as we knew it appeared to go completely off the rails. By adamantly refusing to recognize the legitimacy of Clinton's election and then re-election four years later, Republicans transformed themselves into an insane clown posse in perpetual search of a circus to call home.

Nowadays, given everything that's since transpired over the previous two decades, I wouldn't walk across the street to listen to a Republican, let alone consider ever voting again for one in my lifetime. And I'm certainly not going to blame myself for that.

Personally, I didn't leave the GOP so much as they left me by running off at full gallop into the white-wing hinterlands. I mean, when a loathsome bully like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is considered representative of GOP moderation, you know they've got serious problems.

Suffice therefore to say that as far as I'm concerned, the GOP is almost completely devoid of civic virtue and epitomizes political irresponsibility of the absolute lowest order. The road to Hell is paved with Republicans.

While the posts at the Volokh Conspiracy were also good there was more noise there than here.

One thing I notice is when I self identify as a non Democrat lots of folks think that means I am a Republican, and want me to defend the worst Republican they can come up with.

If the truth be known I have plenty of problems with Republicans.  But because the Democrats are in power now I probably have more problems with them.

As others have pointed out most of us would like to see things like peeps able to make a decent living.  I can remember back in the 1960s when I was working my way to an undergrad degree and the carpenters union said a fair wage for a fair days work.

Problem is today there are fewer jobs after one complete term of a Democratic prez and complete control of congress for part of that term.  Around three million peeps working than when Obama took office, lower weekly average wage, lower average work week, and lower labor force participation.

Not saying this is all the Democrat's fault but they do share some of the blame.  And there seems little reason to think things will get better any time soon.

I saw you being very honest about the issues surrounding journalism and the Guardian being forced to destroy hardware.

I welcome a statement that I can feel whatever the source.

At present, we seem to have two teams, neither of which are sufficiently compelling for me to join.

But sometimes, a member of one team or another will say something that rings true to me.

But, more often than not, nobody who belongs to one team or the other is saying something with which I can wholeheartedly agree.

Once the governing starts however, I have no qualms about criticizing a Dem when he needs it. I find this attitude Atrios describes totally baffling:

But there are also people who seem to enjoy judging your worth by how righteously you dislike or like the Obama administration.

And although I thought I was wearing the Democratic jersey, when the Dems left me behind I found out that wasn't the case at all. Although I definitely thought the Dems and I were "wearing the same jersey" and all, I was actually surprised to discover that it was because I considered them to be on Team SJ more than the other guys, and not as much because I was on their team.

So in some ways, I'm may be even more critical of the Democratic party because, d@mn it, they're supposed to be the good guys. They're supposed to be my posse, and when they're no better than the bad guys, I find it alarming. And really, really sad and disheartening. I know I'm not going to find any sort of simpatico amongst the R's.

And I find the "pols will be pols" mantra to be just as narrow a view as "Democrat Good"/"Republican Bad". I mean, just because there is some basis to all of those things doesn't mean it's the over-arching, controlling factor. It seems to me that human nature will always take over.

"Pols" can be just stalwart as they can be venal. Dems can be just as venal as I once thought they were stalwart. And Republicans are just as venal as I thought (I kid. Mostly).

In answer to your question, I think it makes life easier to feel you have a tribe. And habit can make you think those team jerseys fit like a glove. You even feel they start to smell like you.

Link is here

A military judge on Wednesday sentenced Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison for providing more than 700,000 government files to WikiLeaks, a gigantic leak that lifted the veil on military and diplomatic activities around the world.

The sentence is the longest ever handed down in a case involving a leak of United States government information to be reported to the public. Private Manning will apparently be eligible for parole in slightly more than eight years.

In a two-minute hearing on Wednesday morning, the judge, Army Col. Denise R. Lind, also said that Private Manning would be reduced in rank from private first class to E1, a lower rank of private and the lowest rank in the military. She said he would forfeit all pay and would be dishonorably discharged. She did not impose a fine.

I know it's always been this way - there is no perfect candidate for all of us millions of people - no one's going to agree with us all the time, every time.  

And there's no guarantee that the person you vote for will actually come through on the issues that are the reason you voted for him or her.

And sometimes, none of the candidates from your own party are particularly worthy of your vote, but - uh-oh - look over there!  It's a bunch of crazy Republicans who are going to take over this rodeo if you don't do something - like vote for the barely mediocre guy from your party.  

And then, when you tell someone you're a Democrat, they think you support these sorry-excuses-for-candidates.  They're happy to brand you with the mark of something you really don't support, just by virtue of your political party affiliation.

But, hey - can you imagine telling people you're a Republican?  These days, a lot of people think that comes with an official degree from Clown College - or is that Klown Kolledge? - so we should just buck up, right?

At least we're not them...really sad commentary on where we are, isn't it?

Most seem to conclude that the best way to do it is to wipe out "the other guys" and take over,  thereby unifying the country.

About 4,050,000 results

My definition of a liberal is broad: "a liberal believes that government has an obligation to improve society." That makes almost everyone a liberal.  Using this definition, nearly any debate is a liberal debate.  Should the government tell me what foods I can or cannot eat...liberal.  Should society have greater or less access to guns...are two sides of a liberal debate to me.  I guess this is "my team".  My team doesn't agree on everything.  My team often fights because some things are so obvious, yet others don't see it.  My team holds facts and evidence in high regard.  They don't tell lies, because the end does not justify the means.  My team thinks everyone's voice is important, even if that voice does not support my view.  My team embraces open debate.

If you think government should walk away from societies issues, turn a blind eye to a myriad of evils, purely exist to provide for the national defense; I guess you are on the other team.  I think Ron Paul is on that team.  I think the GOP is acting like they are part of that team...by avoiding passing all legislation, by avoiding that debate, by ignoring accepted facts, by not telling me the truth.