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George Will: Sanity And Civility Are Great, But So Is Partisanship

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Not surprisingly, and despite the “corrupt bastards”, yesterday’s Rally to Restore Sanity was a big topic of discussion on this morning’s Sunday shows. What does it all mean. On This Week George Will agreed there was nothing wrong with “a day out for civility and reason”…unless!

Nothing wrong with that until you begin to equate civility with the absence of partisanship, as though there’s something wrong with partisanship. We have two parties for a reason. We have different political sensibilities. People tend to cluster. We call them parties, and we have arguments, and that’s called politics.

Arianna Huffington countered that this rally wasn’t against partisanship it was against “demonizing your opponents”

The rally was not against partisanship as such. It was against demonizing your opponents. He said specifically in his speech at the end, which I thought was absolutely magnificent, that, of course, we’ll have animus. Of course we’ll have disagreements, but we don’t have to turn each other into enemies.

Following this, Dick Armey agreed that civility is nice, and then Huffington and Cokie Roberts got in a bit of a back and forth over whether the midterms is referendum on the President (Cokie) or a rejection of the “way our institutions are working” (Arianna). To which Will chimed in that actually gridlock in Washington is exactly what the Founders had in mind.

The framers of our Constitution didn’t want an efficient government; they wanted a safe government. To which end they filled it with slowing and blocking mechanisms. Three branches of government, two branches of the legislative branch, veto, veto override, supermajority, judicial review….What I’m saying, Cokie, is that when we have gridlock, the system is working.

On a sort of related note, I wish Glenn Beck would have George Will on his show, or even better that This Week would have Glenn Beck on one of their panels. In the meantime, clip below.

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  • Big_F-ing_Deal

    For someone who is so smart Will sure does miss the point a lot.
    It ain’t about partisanship, it’s about demonizing your opponent without providing any of the real news that Americans need to make informed decisions. Heat, but no light.

    That’s what the rally was about and that’s what the pundits are guilty of.

    No one expects everyone to agree and sing Kumbaya, George. *facepalm*

  • Frankly My Dear

    The Constitution never mentioned parties + most of the crafters and signers of the Constitution were Federalists, in opposition to both major political parties. We don’t have two political parties for a reason, we have numerous political parties for a reason. Democrats and Republicans can argue amongst themselves over a tax cut here and another war there while the rest of us actual Americans, the normal ones that don’t fight and bitterly attack each other can try to fix the country. As time goes on I’m more and more convinced that neither Democrat nor Republican can make those “tough choices”. The other side won’t let them.

  • NORBIT

    You can’t compromise with progressives unwilling or unable to deviate from the paralysis of their own ideology.
    What you do is expose their dysfunctional ideology, then defeat it!

    That’s partisanship in the service of social evolution – and justice!

  • NORBIT

    Voters in Alaska, the rallying cry for Tuesday:

    REMEMBER MILLERGATE!

  • Michele

    Just saw Arianna on Hardball, it appears even Mathews was getting tired of her constant rant.

    I would love civil debates. To have journalists act like journalists, hosts do their job as a moderator on their show, so that when viewers finish a show they have gained a better insight into the subject at hand.

    Obama has said to audiences a number of times, that he stands by his choices but it will be the voter’s who will have the ultimate say, so what will Obama say on Wednesday, and how will the media cover the actions of the White House.

    We differ as American’s but if we really wanted to we could compromise, we will see if any adults are re-elected or elected on Tuesday.

    Civil thoughts from the heartland, Ft. Leavenworth KS.

  • Not Your Typical New Yorker

    The politics of personal destruction was invented by and trademarked by the democrat party. For this huff person to now be saying “we don’t have to turn each other into enemies” after all that the left has done over the last 10 years to scorch the very earth at their feet, would be laughable if it wasn’t so sickening.

    On the very eve of their political evisceration, the left now wants everyone to be civil.

    We’ll see how long this mindset lasts on the morning of Nov. 3, odds are it ain’t gonna be pretty, not by a long shot.

  • bundesheer

    Dick Armey is clearly going for Boehners tan record.

  • NORBIT

    Not Your Typical New Yorker said:
    The politics of personal destruction was invented by and trademarked by the democrat party. For this huff person to now be saying “we don’t have to turn each other into enemies” after all that the left has done over the last 10 years to scorch the very earth at their feet, would be laughable if it wasn’t so sickening. On the very eve of their political evisceration, the left now wants everyone to be civil. We’ll see how long this mindset lasts on the morning of Nov. 3, odds are it ain’t gonna be pretty, not by a long shot.

    Coincidentally, I just posted earlier how the new Democratic Scam, in the face of masses losses, was going to be that the GOP won’t compromise…Damn Right!

    You don’t compromise on dysfunctional ideology, nor with people who’ve proven themselves, time and time again, untrustworthy!

  • Big Eddie

    Of course this is a referendum on TV personality Barry Obama . So was Virginia . So was New Jersey . So was Massachusetts . He was , and is , too arrogant to admit it . Soros made a bad choice of puppet . Now Obama will take off on a 10 day , insanely expensive vacation with his family so he can be treated like a king , with the taxpayers paying for it . …But Mr. President , the people , they have no bread to eat . Let them eat ice cream , sayeth King Obama .

  • Michele

    NORBIT said:
    Coincidentally, I just posted earlier how the new Democratic Scam, in the face of masses losses, was going to be that the GOP won’t compromise…Damn Right! You don’t compromise on dysfunctional ideology, nor with people who’ve proven themselves, time and time again, untrustworthy!

    One thing to consider, many running, have said that those in power didn’t listen to the American people as an example many American’s did not want the HC Bill as proposed, congress passed it anyway.

    Will the new group of congress critter’s remember their own words, that it is about the American people and not their personal goals.

    Remember we have many of them on video tape …..

    Just a thought from middle America, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

  • NORBIT

    The Holder/Obama Justice Department will be monitoring elections for Voter Fraud. Isn’t that like the Mexican Drug Cartels monitoring pharmaceutical shipments? Remember the non-prosecution of the new black panther thuggery?

    The Progressive Left Democrats will try to STEAL this election – monitor & report to your local GOP any suspicious activity…and hold off before you ACCEPT the results of this election!

  • The Real Royal King

    Not Your Typical New Yorker said:
    The politics of personal destruction was invented by and trademarked by the democrat party. For this huff person to now be saying “we don’t have to turn each other into enemies” after all that the left has done over the last 10 years to scorch the very earth at their feet, would be laughable if it wasn’t so sickening. On the very eve of their political evisceration, the left now wants everyone to be civil. We’ll see how long this mindset lasts on the morning of Nov. 3, odds are it ain’t gonna be pretty, not by a long shot.

    Absurd, but since you merely hurled an accusation without any back-up, without any reasoned argument, I suspect you know that to be true. PPD was institutionalized by Milhaus Nixon and christened the “Southern Strategy”. Raygun perfected it, Poppy and Attwater bobbled the ball, W and Turd Blossom recovered and now the Tea Pariers are running with it. The problem is, of course, the Democrats have engaged in this nasty little tit for tat since Clinton. However, the Republicans/Tea Partiers are the real pros at substanceless name-calling and slander.

  • The Real Royal King

    Michele said:
    One thing to consider, many running, have said that those in power didn’t listen to the American people as an example many American’s did not want the HC Bill as proposed, congress passed it anyway. Will the new group of congress critter’s remember their own words, that it is about the American people and not their personal goals. Remember we have many of them on video tape ….. Just a thoug1ht from middle America, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

    More importsnt to remember, should the Republicans win the House, as I think they will, this is a 1946 election, not a 1994 election. Both parties are remarkably unpopular. I suspect we’re in for two years of nothing.

  • Michele

    Big Eddie said:
    Of course this is a referendum on TV personality Barry Obama . So was Virginia . So was New Jersey . So was Massachusetts . He was , and is , too arrogant to admit it . Soros made a bad choice of puppet . Now Obama will take off on a 10 day , insanely expensive vacation with his family so he can be treated like a king , with the taxpayers paying for it . …But Mr. President , the people , they have no bread to eat . Let them eat ice cream , sayeth King Obama .

    Excellent post.

    Obama made a remark at the GOP/LIB pow-wow that it was up to the voter’s to tell him whether he did a good job or not. I wonder if he will say that he was talking about his future election, but, at the time it was part of the discussion of mid-terms.

    Will Obama take this election and choose a different course. I am usually good at
    reading tea leaves but Obama is a tough read, he has been far left, firm on his choices, can he move towards the center? One wonder’s what goes through his mind, he has seemed quite thinned skinned, if the number’s are close to what is being bantered about Obama may have made history in 2008 but he will again make history in 2010 and I do not think he will want his name associated with this election.

    Just a few thoughts from the heartland, Ft. Leavenworth, KS

  • Michele

    The Real Royal King said:
    More importsnt to remember, should the Republicans win the House, as I think they will, this is a 1946 election, not a 1994 election. Both parties are remarkably unpopular. I suspect we’re in for two years of nothing.

    I agree with the history, democrats won big that year.

    As for 1994, the republicans also had Clinton, whether you liked him or not, he found a way to work with the house and in the end it showed that work could be done with each other. I also think Clinton having been gov. made a difference on how he looked at his job after 94 midterms.

    I am just not sure Obama wants to work with the republicans should they take the house. He is set in his way.

    Just my 2 cents from the heartland, Ft. Leavenworth, KS

  • Ted-

    NORBIT said:
    Voters in Alaska, the rallying cry for Tuesday:

    REMEMBER MILLERGATE!

    Is that at all similar to Miller Lite?

  • shootfromthehip

    Not Your Typical New Yorker said:
    The politics of personal destruction was invented by and trademarked by the democrat party.

    ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

    The GOP spent tens of millions to sulky Clinton ove a blowjob.

    Karl Rove had Bush win in South Carolina over McCain partially via a covert robo-call campaign hintingabout McCain’s “black baby.”

    The Republicans INVENTED “the politics of personal destruction.”

    Watch Fox news to see it in action hourly.

  • shootfromthehip

    that’s “sully Clinton over a blowjob.”

  • timzank

    shootfromthehip said:
    that’s “sully Clinton over a blowjob.”

    He wasn’t sullied. He was impeached for lying. And dis-barred too…the blowjob wasn’t a crime, lying in court, on tv, and to congress is. Especially touchy when you’re the CIC.

  • The Real Royal King

    timzank said:
    He wasn’t sullied. He was impeached for lying. And dis-barred too…the blowjob wasn’t a crime, lying in court, on tv, and to congress is. Especially touchy when you’re the CIC.

    And what is particularly galling, I am sure, is that he left office with such high popularity ratings. But, Eisenhower, Mixon, Ford, Raygun and Poppy had been unable to deliver peace and prosperity, so, it’s probably natural.

  • Big_F-ing_Deal

    Last week Will mentioned he wanted all the anonymous campaign spending America could muster up and this week he advocates vitriolic rhetoric with apparently no limits.

    Don’t you just love Conservative “principles”?

  • The Real Royal King

    Big_F-ing_Deal said:
    Last week Will mentioned he wanted all the anonymous campaign spending America could muster up and this week he advocates vitriolic rhetoric with apparently no limits. Don’t you just love Conservative “principles”?

    What troubles me with the largely undisclosed sources Gillespie and Rove has fed into the C of C thence into rightist Republican campaigns is: How do we know that some of the sources aren’y using terrorist money. The contributors I saw had many Middle Eastern sources. Did the fianciers of last week’s Yemen-based failed attacks also contribute to Gillespie and Rove?

  • CosmosDan

    Big_F-ing_Deal said:
    For someone who is so smart Will sure does miss the point a lot.
    It ain’t about partisanship, it’s about demonizing your opponent without providing any of the real news that Americans need to make informed decisions. Heat, but no light.

    That’s what the rally was about and that’s what the pundits are guilty of.

    No one expects everyone to agree and sing Kumbaya, George. *facepalm*

    Thank you. That’s exactly right and the point being made.

    Jon even did a bit about reasonable people occasionally losing it and then realizing afterwords they could have handled it better. Being partisan and still reasonable might mean being willing to listen and consider information offered by the opposition rather than summarily dismiss it. There’s partisan and there’s blind unreasoning partisan. The latter is the problem.

  • CosmosDan

    timzank said:
    He wasn’t sullied. He was impeached for lying. And dis-barred too…the blowjob wasn’t a crime, lying in court, on tv, and to congress is. Especially touchy when you’re the CIC.

    Who did a greater disservice to this country? {both did} The president for lacking self control and getting a BJ in the white house, or the partisans who couldn’t manage to beat him based on policy so spent millions of dollars and so many hours focusing not on issues that affected the citizens this country in major ways, but on their own political agenda.

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  • Nachi

    George is & always hasbeen a real sicko. His latest raging rant in NEWSWEEK is just another example of the goonery of Right-Wing agenda.

  • CAconservative

    Yes, we have two Parties for a reason. That’s why we need a viable third Party for those of us who don’t go along with the other two. The other two Parties have become so entrenched in Washington it’s hard to discern between either of them. They have learned to play the “shifting the message” game so well that whichever political party is in power, becomes indistinguishable from the prior political party in power. I would like to see a Tea-Party backed Independent-Party, that would counter the other two.

  • Snidely

    In this case, the Democrats in power ARE demons. They have no respect for the rule of law, for the Constitution, for truth. Everything is spin. Nothing is real. Just because two thugs in paramilitary garb brandishing nightsticks are standing in front of a polling place and threatening white voters, there is no violation of the voting rights act, because the victims are white. Acorn is registering Mickey Mpouse, but that’s no reason to cut off funding. Well, the American people seem to have awakened to the true nature of Barak Obama, and the Democrats are going to get theirs tomorrow, November 2, 2010

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