Democratic Marginalization

My “Polarization” post (2/21/06) attracted some interesting comments.

Andy noted some studies on political differences using functional MRI that found it's how people think the government should relate to society is the difference. If you believe the nation is like a family with a "strict father" you’re a conservative. Especially after 9/11, it's understandable that conservative people desire the "strict father" who's going to go out and kick some terrorist ass.

Andy, you’ve got me dead to rights. I want the government to kick some terrorist ass, and keep on kicking until they are utterly defeated.

Peter was surprised to read that you don't think our two-party system will survive with the political gaps between them. I see it completely different. That's the strength of our system, the gun-toting redneck capitalists on one side, and the pacifist tofu eating socialists on the other (that was quite a string of adjectives you gave on the differences, I can't remember them all). My characterization of the difference between the parties is simpler: The Democrats can't keep it in their pants, and the Republicans can't keep it out of their wallets. But it works! It works better than any other system that has tried to manage a free pluralistic society! Our young men (and I was one once) do, and should, risk their life to preserve it against all enemies.

Pete, I do think that the 2-party system will survive because the Democrats will splinter into (A) centrists who are tough on defense (like you Pete) and (B) leftists who want to join a socialist whole world government. The B part will become like the Greens (marginal) while the A part will attract some Independents and become viable. That scenario is my hope, but by no means a surety. Meanwhile the Dems have no chance at the presidency. Write it down.

It seems the Democratic Party has already begun the fission that I predicted. The latest Zogby poll (2/23/06) noted that "by objecting to virtually every initiative and proposal of the Bush administration and congressional Republican majority, Democrats are undermining their party's chances of regaining the majority in the fall elections."

The poll shows that 58 percent of rank-and-file Democratic voters say their leaders should "accept their lower position in Congress and work together with Republicans to craft the best legislation possible." Most Democratic voters accept their party's minority status and nearly a quarter say Republicans do a better job running Congress.

On the other hand 61 percent of Republican voters think the Republican-led Congress "has passed much legislation during the past 11 years that has reflected Republican values."

Only 6 percent of Democratic respondents say the No. 1 goal for their party's lawmakers in Congress should be to bury Republican bills. Unfortunately, among Democratic legislators (Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, Gore, Kerry, …..) the percentage of naysaying nabobs is much, much higher. I’m afraid that the Democratic leadership is in the boat with the marginal leftists who will become the new Green Party. Only if the majority of the Democratic electorate kick out the loonies will the Party attract the centrists they need to win national elections.