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This July 4, governing in the spirit of revenge
Washington Post ^ | July 4, 2014 | by Eugene Robinson

Posted on 07/04/2014 7:43:51 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, who can argue that our democracy is working the way the Founders intended? And who can deny that most of the blame for dysfunction must fall to the Republican Party?

George Washington distrusted all political parties. He warned in his farewell address that, as they alternated power, parties would act in “the spirit of revenge” — rather than, presumably, in the best interests of the nation. The “disorders and miseries” that resulted, Washington feared, would inevitably threaten democracy.

Whatever the motivation, Republicans have paralyzed our government in a way that would have shocked and depressed the Founders. Compounding the outrage, Republicans have the temerity to criticize Obama for using his executive powers in the national interest. This is dangerously close to nihilism.

But now, one party — the GOP — cares more about ideology, reelection and opposing Obama’s every initiative than about the well-being of the nation. It is scant comfort, on Independence Day, to remember that the republic has survived worse.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; barfalert; bias; boyking; dnctalkingpoints; eugenerobinson; goebbelswouldbeproud; goldenchild; idiotorial; journalism; libtard; media; obamadoctrine; obamalies; partisanwithchunt; pravdamedia; progressives; revenge; usefulidiot; waron4thofjuly; washpoo
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Gay Gene has a lot of supporters on FR, who blame the GOP for everything that happens and has happened.

Wonder if he has some pseudo FR sign on names?


21 posted on 07/04/2014 8:16:37 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Herr Obozo, the Sunni Won-Doer, will not divert $'s from his war on Americans to help our Veterans!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Since no one else has asked, I guess I should: Where was this idiot during the Bush years when Dems were fighting tooth and nail against every initiative Bush put forth except for the like liberal ones? For that matter, when has 0 ever came forth with a conservative idea?


22 posted on 07/04/2014 8:24:17 AM PDT by beancounter13
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To: july4thfreedomfoundation

I don’t even have to read the first sentence - all I need to see is “Eugene Robinson “ and I stop right there.


23 posted on 07/04/2014 8:41:56 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: MeshugeMikey

First and foremost we are not a democracy. We are a Republic with a democratic form of elections. As I understand it. It has served us well for all the years since the founding of America. Bit by bit and incrementally we have created and passed laws, rules, regulations that have made exceptions.

NOT WISE!!! Stop weakening our Constitution and freedoms, thus turning away from our Christian foundations.

God Bless America! Forgive us our sins, let us not be deceived (the works of Satan),


24 posted on 07/04/2014 8:45:28 AM PDT by geologist ("If you love me, keep my commands" .... John 14 :15)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
But now, one party — the GOP — cares more about ideology

This is the crux of the issue, and the major reason liberals and conservative spend so much time talking past each other.

To liberals, their point of view on things is not "ideological" at all, it's just logic and common sense.

To their minds, the only possible reason conservatives might disagree is because we have a firm ideological, non-common sense, commitment to illogical beliefs.

Meanwhile, most conservatives, myself among them, see the situation as exactly reversed. Except that we don't generally have the same blinders in believing that those who disagree with us can only do so because they are stupid, ignorant or evil.

25 posted on 07/04/2014 8:46:29 AM PDT by Sherman Logan (Perception wins all the battles. Reality wins all the wars.)
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To: Fightin Whitey

I don’t intend to be taken alive.


26 posted on 07/04/2014 9:01:00 AM PDT by x1stcav ("The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.")
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To: geologist
Let the People Beware....Politicians....who use Potions...and worship idols


27 posted on 07/04/2014 9:01:09 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ( "Never, never, never give up". Winston Churchill)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I thought the title referred to Obama’s War on America then I read the byline. Robinson is a drooling halfwit.


28 posted on 07/04/2014 9:09:24 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: x1stcav

Counting on those like you not to be taken at all.


29 posted on 07/04/2014 9:14:09 AM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Same tired old smear from the same tired old “journalists”
DEVOID OF CRITICAL THINKING.

What caused The flood of ILLEGALS at the southern border?
The republicans not passing an “immigration reform” bill?
OR,
Ths admin. making it known that if u get here u won’t be sent home?
Hmmm..
I assume his definition of compromise is for republicans to just be democrats


30 posted on 07/04/2014 9:49:15 AM PDT by snappahead (if your gonna be dumb, you better be tough.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
The overwhelming "spirit of revenge" in DC comes from the desire of Obama and his 60's radical ilk to destroy America's white middle class as revenge for slavery.

And Eugene Robinson is right at the forefront of that hateful movement.

31 posted on 07/04/2014 10:07:23 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL-GALT-DELETE])
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I have to admit I stopped reading after the first few sentences but if you substitute “Democrat” for Republican, I think he may be on to something here.


32 posted on 07/04/2014 10:11:51 AM PDT by slouper (LWRC SPR 223)
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To: DanZ

That was Carl Rowan, another WaPo black hack.


33 posted on 07/04/2014 11:58:23 AM PDT by IronJack
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

This is an insipid and fatuous assault on one’s intelligence. Even if this hopeless RAT hack Robinson had one cogent argument to support his pathetic diatribe, it would drown in a vast sea of RAT talking point premises, logical fallacies and sophomoric writing. Just for the hell of it, Robinson, assume for a fleeting second that your quisling messiah is WRONG on policy and WEAK on leadership and this can be REFLECTED through ACTUAL DATA that demonstrates that this republic is in a state of decline. The only question remaining, that is if this moron could accept so simple a premise, is whether the decline is intended or consequential. THAT is what you should examine, rather than blame Pubbies for all the sins in the calendar. Asshat.


34 posted on 07/04/2014 12:26:10 PM PDT by fabjr60 ("I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered! My life is my own.")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yup, the spirit of revenge... and that often for imagined wrongs...

that’s what our dear Democrats have.

The GOP has been accommodating to a fault.

Now with that said we need to be careful ourselves. Staring too hard and long at evil, we can permit it to transfix us, and we start acting evilly ourselves, as though the goal were to out-Democrat the Democrats. As the secular proverb goes, do not fight with a fool, he will only drag you down to his level then beat you with experience.

I’d bring this guy’s thesis back to him and say haven’t the Democrats been revenge fueled time after time after time? And point out how.


35 posted on 07/04/2014 12:32:11 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Excellent analysis, thanks.


36 posted on 07/04/2014 2:02:42 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Robinson lives in Bizarro World.
37 posted on 07/04/2014 8:22:38 PM PDT by Brad from Tennessee (A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
This column has the seal of approval of Valerie Jarrett:

Valerie Jarrett ‏@vj44 - 12m Great @WashingtonPost article by @Eugene_Robinson: http://wapo.st/1xoyziZ

38 posted on 07/06/2014 11:48:09 AM PDT by kristinn (Welcome to the Soviet States of Obama)
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To: kristinn

Wow! The administration does have its shills.


39 posted on 07/06/2014 1:20:30 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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