Paul Ryan

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by TheGame

The Republican party is the strong/aggressive party, the Democratic party is the weak/passive party.

You and I have completely different perspectives on this. I doubt we'll find agreement.

[Vampyr]

Originally Posted by Professor S

You and I have completely different perspectives on this. I doubt we'll find agreement.

I'm pretty sure you're both wrong if either one of you thinks either party is passive and weak.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

I'm pretty sure you're both wrong if either one of you thinks either party is passive and weak.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion.

To me the whole situation with health care reform proves it. You give the other party (who had NO SAY at the time) concession after concession after concession until the bill turned into something the republican party was trying to push in the mid 90's... just to get 0 votes.... I consider that weak. I've never seen a more epic failure in leadership.

When Bush was pres, he'd basically scare the other party into doing what he wanted. "You don't vote for this you don't want to protect the country" and "You don't vote for this and the whole economy will crash and we'll blame you"... weak.

Sorry, I can't follow you two on this one. Give me some examples of when the democrats pushed the republicans into getting exactly what they want... maybe I'm closed minded...

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

I'm pretty sure you're both wrong if either one of you thinks either party is passive and weak.

Oh, I don't think either is weak. The Republicans have done an effective job of trying to shape policy while only having 1/3 of government under their influence since 2010. They can't really create policy, but they can block what they disagree with. Meanwhile the Democrats spent a great deal of political capital from 2008 - 2010 to pass some of the farthest reaching regulatory reforms and entitlements since the Great Society of the 1960's.

I don't think the Republicans are weak, but to say the Dems are weak is insane, IMO. If anything they are more united and focused than the Republicans (mainly due to the divergent interests of tea party organizations, and in the influence of the Libertarian wing).