The factionalization of the Democratic Party

[MAlibdem]

I've seen a lot of "Howard Dean Democrat" and "Wes Clark Democrat" stuff going on. Are these views reconcilible? Ephemeral to this election? Are they even different? How?

For the record, I'm a Democrat because of the ideas of the Party, not any one person...

Follow-up, is being a So-and-so Democrat even a good thing? I've heard of Barry Goldwater Rethugs...

[janx]

1. Considering that the primary election is still ongoing,

I'd say your answer just might lie there. Ya think? ;-)

[HFishbine]

2. Curious

Since you're a Democrat because of the ideas of the democratic party, what ideas are those that Kerry will advance?

[MAlibdem]

4. All of them

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x407074


See? Most liberal dem in the senate.

[tom_paine]

3. I'm a Radicalized Moderate Democrat

You might be reading too much into this. There will always be faction. We will never march all lockstep like the Brownshirts (and who would want to).

But I suspect a VERY high portion of those "factionalized Democrats" are going to pull the same level in November.

[w4rma]

5. Factionalism is a good thing, IMHO. Factions stay within the party. (n/t)

[demnan]

6. Many of us

turned to particular candidates because of their opinion on the Iraq war. That war is causing a lot of death and heartache.

Look, I don't hate Kerry, he was actually my second choice. But that was before this Iraq war came about. I'm really conflicted now on what I have to do. I'm not angry at Kerry so much as I find the war abhorrent.

I think that focus is lost now with most of the candidates left. Perhaps it's time to take to the streets again.

I'll never forget our young people over in Iraq.

[dae]

7. This isn't new, Google Will Rogers quote on his being a member of

the Democratic Party, it's a classic. :)

[chocolateeater]

8. Factionalism is bound to occur in a party,

whose members have opinions that range from those of Dennis Kucinich to those of Zell Miller. Most of these views are reconcilible as far as the General Election goes, which is good because we will need to unite behind the nominee as much as possible. Bush and what he has done to the country, will be a great unifier for the GE. Afterwards we will have some work to do to really deal with differences within the party and not just sweep them under the rug.

[zoeyfong]

9. What *are* the ideas of the party? It's pretty hard to tell.

Hence the need to qualify the word 'Democrat,' i guess.

[RichV]

10. The Dems have been factioned

since about 1800. This is nothing new. The key is to work together in the end to make America better. The Dems have been right about how to do this at some points in American history, and wrong in others. Worth noting that even given our divisions now we're more unified than we have been in ages.