Does all this press about Democratic infighting make your

[Target_For_Exterm]

Republican BS meter peg? It does mine. Those losers are just too unwilling to give up power to let the Democrats take control after a valid election. I'm sure Rove is sitting in his office 24/7 thinking up ways to spin the press to make the Democrats in charge look crooked and bad.

And what the heck is the deal with Caravelle? Brain damage from spending so much time with a Republican operative?

Something smells fishy (and Republican) to me...

[KingFlorez]

1. It's not as big a deal as the news is making it out to be

What's happening really is the normal process when a party takes the majority.

[gkhouston]

3. but it fills up space that might otherwise have to be used to explain

why Trent Lott is #2 among the Senate R's. Don't want to notice that one happening...

[Target_For_Exterm]

5. You didn't think the Republicans would CHANGE just

because we got elected, did you? ;)

They can't seem to give up on the same old failed people or the same old failed policies.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I prefer the free and open

debate and rancor of a democracy. Not the march in lockstep mentality of the grand old party.

[patrice]

11. I can understand that, but do you engage in debate and rancor over

anything and everything? Probably not.

I think the internet is such a new experience for so many people, that many are just now learning that this can be a tool for contrariness and aggression that they have no other outlet for. And then there are people who take advantage of that. No one wants "lockstep mentality", just a little maturity and self-control.

I wish everyone would learn how to PICK their battles.

[BOSSHOG]

12. I would suggest

the bush and cheney and rove want lockstep mentality in the republican caucuses. I think the gop vote to give lott the whip job was half the gop senators telling bush they don't want to march in lockstep. I also believe debate, maturity and self control can all go together.

I'm not quite sure of your point about the internet as a tool for aggression. How does that apply to electing party leaders?

[patrice]

15. Who we are shapes, to some extent, what happens with any tool.

And we seem to be _______________.

We make the world what it is, to some extent, by who/what we are/do.

I should tell you that my earlier post comes from assumptions that it is basically good for people to learn anything about themselves, even one's angers and aggresiveness. Something called self-awareness would include that.

And things such as what makes "purpose" "real", and how that can be discovered with others.

[longship]

4. It makes me sad to see it leaching into DU posts.

It only serves the crazy fascists in the GOP to allow yourself to be manipulated like that. People here need to calm down, get with the program, and support our Democratic leaders, no matter who they are.

We won. Get over it.
;-)

[ellacott]

8. So very true n/t

[DURHAM D]

6. 99% of the public is not paying any attention. n/t

[patrice]

7. How many Democrats will fall for it?

When will people learn to pick their own battles and not be suckered into strife by others? Iraq is an obvious example of Bush being suckered by OBL. We don't have to fall for that sort of thing here at the DU.

[ismnotwasm]

9. Oh, a bit

I want to say "politics as usual" But the bottom line is although I'm a "far left" type of person, I'm very glad we've won the house and senate. The evils of the bush administration make "politics as usual" look damn near benign. Maybe that's the danger.

(One of the reasons I love DU, and continue to donate even though not a prolific poster is there is no lock step here. I stay out of flame wars, most of them, but I read them. It spurs me on to my own research)

All that being said, I think the GOP is a dirty as you can get and would not put anything past them.

Edit to say, Welcome to DU!

[jpwhite]

10. it's healthy and it's normal

Not everyone in the democratic party is going to agree with everyone else in the party. I see people jocking for position. Once we get everything set (majority leader, majority whip) things will fall into place and people will be more inclined to work together. This is perfectly healthy and normal.

James
[e-mail]

[Big Sky Boy]

13. Yes, but it would be nice if we could keep a lid on it

I despise Republicans, but I must admit I admire their party discipline. We know they have intra-party squabbles, but you don't hear about them in the press (at least not all that often).

I certainly don't want the Dems to adopt the cloak and dagger tactics of the Bush administration -- but they could have been a little quieter about their discussions.

Of course, we could spin this a little better too. After all, this is what open government is all about.

[EC]

14. I just wish someone would say, that this is what real

freedom looks like with real debate...not lock-stepping idiots that follow fools over the cliff....