re: #31 DaddyG

I’ve been musing on the back and forth between conservatives and liberals on the boards and have come up with a few truisms about political trends in the US from an organizational standpoint.

The party after a significant win:
Feel they have a mandate
Are prone to hubris
Are resistant to changing power structures and organizations that got them there
Call for bi-partisanship; meaning you should help us pass our agenda because the majority of citizens agree with us (e.g. “We won”)
Quickly disown their more radical wings and take on the trappings of the establishment
Govern much the same as the previous administration even to the point of committing the same “sins” they campaigned against

The party after a significant loss:
Feel the game was rigged (e.g. “They Cheated”)
Are prone to internal power struggles and emerging factions
Call for bi-partisanship; meaning you should include our agenda items because a significant group of citizens voted with us (e.g. “We represent the rest of the people”)
Quickly see their more radical wings jockeying for position in the organization and legitimacy
Complain about everything the new administration is doing even though it is much the same as the previous administration to the point of condemning the same “virtues” they previously supported

Strong organizations that survive defeat (or victory) find a good balance between questioning themselves and their values without the less stable elements taking control of the party or getting stuck in reformation forever without finding their center again.

I take offense to “Feel the game was rigged ” I still stand by the fact that Bush won the 2000 election by a vote of 5-4 and comparing the possible dirty business of that to 2008 blow out is flat out wrong in my opinion.

Also can you give me some examples of the Democrats

“Complain about everything the new administration is doing even though it is much the same as the previous administration to the point of condemning the same “virtues” they previously supported”

Become none come straight to the forefront of my mind if you have some examples I’ll listen.