Comments on: The Problem with Perfect Ideological Discipline http://www.liberalwalrus.com/2006/03/21/the-problem-with-perfect-ideological-discipline/ Large Liberal Commentary Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:30:29 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Liberal Walrus » Blog Archive » E.J. Dionne Understands the President http://www.liberalwalrus.com/2006/03/21/the-problem-with-perfect-ideological-discipline/comment-page-1/#comment-89 The Liberal Walrus » Blog Archive » E.J. Dionne Understands the President Fri, 24 Mar 2006 06:27:46 +0000 http://www.liberalwalrus.com/2006/03/21/the-problem-with-perfect-ideological-discipline/#comment-89 [...] I know I link to him a lot, but that’s only because E.J. Dionne is a genius, as proven again in his most recent Washington Post column: Is President Bush the leader of our government, or is he just a right-wing talk-show host? [...] [...] I know I link to him a lot, but that’s only because E.J. Dionne is a genius, as proven again in his most recent Washington Post column: Is President Bush the leader of our government, or is he just a right-wing talk-show host? [...]

]]> By: Maryland Conservatarian http://www.liberalwalrus.com/2006/03/21/the-problem-with-perfect-ideological-discipline/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Maryland Conservatarian Wed, 22 Mar 2006 13:54:54 +0000 http://www.liberalwalrus.com/2006/03/21/the-problem-with-perfect-ideological-discipline/#comment-83 "Back when debate and disagreement were more common, solutions to the deficit would have seemed easier to reach. Now they are impossible to contemplate without a major adjustment of Congress. Thank ideological discipline for that." Of course, it works both ways: replace "deficit" with "abortion debate" and the statement stands, albeit from the other side of the aisle. That Republicans have "ideological discipline" (and I gotta believe you wish Democrats did more often) is probably a function of the growth of the GOP being so linked to ideology: many of us became Republicans because we are conservative. Democrats are a coalition party with a more traditional makeup of members (as a Catholic, previous generations of my family were always Democrats). I think our base is more likely to punish its congressional reps for their lack of ideological discipline - and that will trump any within-the-halls discipline currently on disply. BTW - thanks for the link and the kind words above “Back when debate and disagreement were more common, solutions to the deficit would have seemed easier to reach. Now they are impossible to contemplate without a major adjustment of Congress. Thank ideological discipline for that.”

Of course, it works both ways: replace “deficit” with “abortion debate” and the statement stands, albeit from the other side of the aisle.

That Republicans have “ideological discipline” (and I gotta believe you wish Democrats did more often) is probably a function of the growth of the GOP being so linked to ideology: many of us became Republicans because we are conservative. Democrats are a coalition party with a more traditional makeup of members (as a Catholic, previous generations of my family were always Democrats).

I think our base is more likely to punish its congressional reps for their lack of ideological discipline – and that will trump any within-the-halls discipline currently on disply.

BTW – thanks for the link and the kind words above

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