The terms "Democrat" and "Republican"

[Greg]

When you use these terms, are you referring only to those who are elected within one of these parties? For example, Congressional Democrats?

Or do you mean everyone who registers to vote under that party, or perhaps everyone who verbally identifies a party affiliation/affection?

I'd think there's be a big distinction, but it doesn't seem that's always the case.

[Black]

I tend to use it to describe those following Rush's orders, many of whom will deny any affiliation to the republican party when pressed. "the right" and "conservatives" and "neo-cons" seem to have more limitations as terms to describe that particular group. I don't like this usage but it seems a little more respectful than any of the others.
When I use democrats I am generally referring to those who are formally affiliated with the party e.g. congressional democrats. "The left" has its problems for me because most of it is to the right of me.

[cbelt3]

I use them to refer to political parties and those who have identified with the political party.

"left" and "right" have more generic connotations, but are primarily used by those who feel they are not in the camp being identified. Ditto "Liberal" and "Conservative".

And, unlike Black, I believe that Rush is entirely irrelevant to the political landscape in 2009. Heck, as far as I'm concerned he became irrelevant when he started believing his own bombast back around Bill Clinton's second term in office. Entertainers should not make the mistake of drinking their own kool-aid.

ed.. and, like George Carlin, I use the term "A**hole" to describe the drivers in front of me, and "Maniac" to describe the drivers behind me.

[davester]

I think "left" or "right" are used by many people as simply a convenient label (generally with an insulting tone) for those who disagree with them politically. The terms have little real meaning any more. The origins of "left" and "right" hark back to the french kings and basically referred to those who supported aristocratic, authoritarian rule ("right") versus those who had more socialist and democratic ideals ("left").

As to democrat and republican, I use those terms for people who support the platforms of those parties, regardless of whether or not they work for the government.

[cbelt3]

davester- nice reference. I always thought it related to the side of the Seine that people were on (Rive Gauche, Rive Droit)

[OWC Jamie]

Ultra left wing hippie pinko fag fundamentalism
vs.
Ultra right wing Baptist gun-toting fundamentalism

[Black]

billb wrote:
Ultra left wing hippie pinko fag fundamentalism
vs.
Ultra right wing Baptist gun-toting fundamentalism

You forgot drugged-out on the left and inbreeding on the right.
Still time to edit.

[Mac1337]

cbelt3 wrote:

And, unlike Black, I believe that Rush is entirely irrelevant to the political landscape in 2009.

Tell that to Obama and Reid and those who are running ads against him. Running ads just two months after we went through 20 months of electioneering against someone who apparently nobody listens to.

[Black]

Dakota wrote:
[quote=cbelt3]

And, unlike Black, I believe that Rush is entirely irrelevant to the political landscape in 2009.

Tell that to Obama and Reid and those who are running ads against him. Running ads just two months after we went through 20 months of electioneering against someone who apparently nobody listens to.
OK, OK, just because nobody ever responds to this point doesn't mean it wasn't read and considered before the non-response.

I didn't mean to imply that Limbaugh has enough smarts to be the originator of the endless barrage of anti-democratic memes, but he's certainly an important mouthpiece.

[TLB]

davester wrote:
I think "left" or "right" are used by many people as simply a convenient label (generally with an insulting tone) for those who disagree with them politically. The terms have little real meaning any more. The origins of "left" and "right" hark back to the french kings and basically referred to those who supported aristocratic, authoritarian rule ("right") versus those who had more socialist and democratic ideals ("left").

As to democrat and republican, I use those terms for people who support the platforms of those parties, regardless of whether or not they work for the government.

I believe the original french left was not of a socialist bent (by today's definition), that came much later. They were originally much more akin to our founding father (really vice versa since we in part learned from them), they believed in the sovereignty of the indivdual and wresting economic control from the king and government (hence laissez-faire). The wanted to limit the size and scope of the king's power. The believed that with minimal order and security established by the government, society would run itself. The social contract was among the people, not between people and government. To some extent they tolerated, but looked down on democracy because they feared the tyranny of the majority. They were probably more in line with libertarian thinking today.