I have to admit to being tempted, several times, to do something like this, because I am frustrated by several posters that appear to base their support or disdain for a concept solely on whether it will help or hurt the political party they support.
I have not noticed any particular tendency for this to be limited to those who support Democrats or those who support Republicans; I believe that december’s “trick” would have worked equally well on [b[december** himself in the other direction.
Perhaps this is not surprising, since this behavior a mirror of actual politicians. I’ve said before how distressing it is to watch Democrats derail judicial nominations and Republicans cry foul, when less than a decade ago it was the Republicans derailing judicial nominations and the Democrats crying foul. Each side seems willing to bury their integrity for the sake of political expediency, and each seems confident that the public will simply forget their earlier, contradictory stances.
It’s an ugly thing, perhaps the ugliest thing in politics.
I agree, reluctantly, that december deserves criticism for the way he did this. But I also think that extremists on both sides ought to ask themselves if their party is really so important that it’s worth sacrificing their integrity to offer unconditional support.
- Rick