OK folks, since we just finished an election campaign with people boosting their own side while trying to go after the opposition. I thought it might be fun to put a twist on the theme.
The theme is for you to name areas where you blame ‘your side’ for something they have done wrong and also where you credit the ‘other side’ for doing things right.
I will start off with my views, which for purposes of this post will come from my position as a moderate Republican.
In California I am unhappy with the rightward lurch of the party over the last 30 years and with the way the party ‘leaders’ block any dissent or open races in the primaries. I am unhappy with the fact that they refuse to even consider working with Governor Brown on the budget.
I wish that Republicans both locally and nationally would recognize the need to develop a reasonable policy towards immigration. This does not mean that you have to completely adopt the other guys policies but it does mean you have to recognize the reality of the situation and deal with it reasonably
On the other side I credit Governor Brown for standing up to the Democrats in the legislature when he felt they were spending too much. He is in many ways much more strict with the budget than the previous governor. I credit some of the Democrats in the Central Valley for being willing to work across party lines. Certainly this is partly because it helps them win in marginal areas but it is the RIGHT thing to do.
On a national level, I am unhappy with the Republicans in Congress (the House in particular) for playing a game of chicken with our national economy. We all know that we need to resolve the “fiscal cliff” and that doing so will require a mix of tax hikes a spending cuts. Yet the GOP seems unwilling to even consider the idea
I am unhappy that the Republicans nominate people like Akin and Mourdock when they have many better qualified and more reasonable contenders. Winning a purity contest in the primary does little good when you lose in the general.
I am displeased that many Republicans are willing to destroy themselves over social issues that have no real relevance in our political system. I appreciate and in many cases share their concerns over things like abortion but when political reality tells you that a political change is impossible, I am disappointed that you continue to fight a hopeless battle instead of focusing on areas where you can do actual good.
On the Democratic side I am pleased with President Obama for his invitation to work across party lines. While I have not agreed with everything he has done over the last four years he does strike me as a man who truly cares about the country, even if he is sometimes (in my view) misguided.
I am pleased that he has been willing to adapt his national security agenda when reality requires it and that he has sent a number of terrorists to the great beyond.
I like the fact that the Democrats have people like Bayh, Warner, Kaine, etc in their ranks and wish the GOP would keep people like Lugar, Collins and Snowe, etc as a balance against the right wing.
I probably will add some thoughts as time goes on but there is a starter.
I welcome you all to chime in about what areas they condemn within ‘their side’ and areas where they support the ‘other side’.
I will be intrigued to see who does and does not respond