Is there any such thing as "a different kind of politics not based on ideology"?

[Proud2BAmurkin]

Poll question: Is there any such thing as "a different kind of politics not based on ideology"?

Politics today are the same as they were 200 years ago for a reason.

In American democratic politics, parties fight over issues, make deals, compromises, walk away with less of what they want unless an economic or national security CRISIS unifies most of the two sides behind one policy. Even then millions will HATE the policy and the party that pushed it no matter what it is.

Obama says he will "bring about a different politics not based on ideology."

Can Barack Obama bring a "different kind of politics" for the first time in American history?

[jlake]

1. Yes, it is called the politics of expediency - the very thing he claims to be against.

And it's what he criticizes Bill Clinton for.
:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

His new kind of politics is politics as usual.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

2. And every politician who makes it to the end of a primary race practices it

[calmblueocean]

3. I think it's clear Obama is talking about politics, not just as policy, but as civic renewal.

There's a large number of people in America who feel that our sense of community has evaporated. With the loss of that sense of shared purpose comes a loss in political will, the energy to get things done. Excitement and optimism about making things better for your neighbors is the gasoline of democracy, and Obama's campaign is predicated in part on this second message of refilling the tank, so to speak.

I think this is all pretty obvious, but I thought I'd spell it out just the same.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

4. Reagan was too when he said "a rising tide lifts all boats". See where that got the country.

[calmblueocean]

5. Actually, JFK coined that idiom.

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/a+rising+tide+lifts+all+boats.html

But Reagan did use it. The difference is that when Reagan used it, he was speaking about economics, an economic tide. He meant that when the rich get richer the poor get better off, too.

The "different kind of politics" that Obama is speaking about isn't an economic message. It's a message of civic renewal, a much more personal message. That's what makes it "non-ideological", because it is personal. It's about rebuilding a sense of community.

Maybe that doesn't work for you, or it doesn't connect with you, but it does for many others. I think that energy is good for the country -- we have a lot to fix -- and good for our party as well.