Thursday, October 12, 2006
Why Politicians Love Intense Partisanship
It is increasingly clear that, as a class, politicians encourage and benefit from intense partisanship. It helps raise money. It promotes passion, turnout, and probably has some legitimate benefits.
But perhaps one of the most pernicious results of intense partisanship is that it first serves to hide corruption, and then protects the corrupt. How so?
Last week, we heard about Foley and pages. Months before it was Randy Cunningham. Or the congressman from Louisiana with all the cash in his office. Turns out this information was in various parties hands far earlier, and may have been reserved for political use immediately pre-election. Today, news of an ethics violation by Harry Reid is out regarding a smelly, but remarkably remunerative, real estate investment in Nevada. Captain Ed has the details.
Whatever, all this stuff stinks. But instead of having a common interest in rooting out the rot, partisan defenders embrace hypocrisy for the sake of the "Party" in November. It is absolutely abominable. I recall Clinton being defended by women's rights groups for behavior that would have landed any CEO in the country in the gallows, with those same women's group's carrying the rope. Only Lieberman had the moral sense and compass to disregard partisanship in favor of a proper rebuke. And we all know where that got him with his party. Now we will again see interested partisans forsake principle for November. What results is a corrupt political class, effectively a single party, literally laughing at the passionate partisans who defend their truly indefensible behavior. It explains Hastert's absurd position regarding the search of that same Democratic Party Congressman from Louisiana. They're all in it together, guys.
Tax it, collect, spend it, take a commission. Ugh.
9 Comments:
By 
El Jefe Maximo, at
Thu Oct 12, 04:07:00 PM:
You are quite correct about politicians loving intense partisanship, but that fact does not, of itself, make the existence of such partisanship less real.
Intense and widespread media coverage (from both traditional and non-traditional sources); greater ability to identify partisans and contributors, and ease of communications all make for a much more partisan political environment, and the construction of political tribes that are going to be defended to the exclusion of other concerns and values.
Yeah, politicians love partisanship...but so do many other players -- and voters.
By 
, at
Thu Oct 12, 05:02:00 PM:
Theoretically, when any group is presented with difficult and complex problems they need as many ideas out on the table as is possible – tried and true conservative ones as well as new liberal ones – to hash out the best solution. But when power politics rears its ugly head things like taking credit and scapegoating become major factors and can really muck things up.
The reason why there’s been so many Republican scandals is not necessarily the whole power imbalance-hubris-partisanship thing, but I think the pissing off of many legal, intelligence and academic professionals is coming back to haunt them, because nobody is more talented at digging up information (dirt) than these people. (Well, except for the media but they’ve got feeding hands to avoid biting..) We’re talking strategic blunder here, not moral weakness on the part of any party. My experience is that many of the powerful of all stripes everywhere are prone to developing skeletons in their closets if they think nobody is watching. At least much more than your regular powerless salt-of-the-earth Joe does.
By Lanky_Bastard, at
Thu Oct 12, 05:39:00 PM:
I'm a little simple, but I think it's a matter of power corrupts and lots of power corrupts a lot. Whether it's gerrymandering districts, staining interns' dresses, grabbing pages' backsides, or selling out the national interest for lobbyist dough: people do it because they can. When power is available, someone will use it.
The issue with partisanship is that it makes people willing to overlook abuses of power.
By , at
Thu Oct 12, 06:58:00 PM:
Power corrupts, but I think it's part of a much bigger equation. People tend to do best at and gravitate towards what will come naturally to them.
Sometimes they really are made to be good public servants but it seems like those guys discount the importance of watching their backs and wind up assassinated, unfairly discredited, or otherwise underestimating their rivals or even their own people.
I guess the only way to really judge is to look at the big picture - like their whole live histories and resumes. But who has time for that these days?
By DudeAsInCool, at
Thu Oct 12, 07:35:00 PM:
By , at
Thu Oct 12, 08:53:00 PM:
You're absolutely right about the partisanship issue.
I hope that you will not have partisanship in mind, when you vote congressionally.
By , at
Thu Oct 12, 10:00:00 PM:
You are absolutely right. Our country has become divided because when individuals treat their party like a favored sports team and tear apart the other guys party we live leaders of both parties free to continue with their corruption. Our system is not designed to elect honest people who carry about the general welfare of the nation. It is designed to reward those who are willing to live and cheat in order to get themselves into a position to sell legislation to the highest bidder. American's have forgoten the idea of representitive government in which we listen to all voices and try to come up with solution that works for as many American's as possible. Instead we have the in your face politics of "ha, ha, I have one more vote then your guys so I can just do whatever I want and who cares if I made the other 49% unhappy and give them no political recourse to be heard. What are they going to do - rebel and destroy the country like do in other places where a significant number of people are ignored?"
By D.E. Cloutier, at
Fri Oct 13, 12:20:00 AM:
Don't forget the role of journalists and other writers in this little game. As every novelist and screenwriter knows, "The story begins when the conflict begins and the story ends when the conflict ends."
If you want media coverage, you have to create conflict.
By , at
Fri Oct 13, 06:39:00 AM:
Thank God Almighty! reading the blogs becomes so discouraging when you see the endless sniping that leads nowhere.
I believe we can affect change in our daily conversations on politics. Take away the talking points of either party and deny each the blame game. Force your partisan friends and neighbors to realize the truth and the solutions it can provide are always in the compromise of extremes.
Post on this topic regularly and make a real impact on this distorted body politic
Again, great job
