Comments on: Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to become a Democrat http://faboomama.com/2009/04/28/sen-arlen-specter-r-pa-to-become-a-democrat/ Inside the mind of an opinionated mama... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:21:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises) http://faboomama.com/2009/04/28/sen-arlen-specter-r-pa-to-become-a-democrat/comment-page-1/#comment-2752 John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises) Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:12 +0000 http://faboomama.com/?p=1749#comment-2752 There's always going to be a tension in both of the major U.S. political parties regarding whether they should be "big tent" or "true to ideals." The fight will especially be fought within the moderate wings of both parties - the Joe Liebermans and the Nelson Rockefellers, but can also be fought in the "truer ideals than thou" wings - e.g. Ron Paul claiming that he's more of a true Republican than the neo-conservatives. In some cases, the end result will be that the person rejects both major parties and goes in another direction (John Anderson, Cynthia McKinney). <br> <br>I have no direct knowledge of a parliamentary system, but I assume the problems are worse there, because the bickering factions in the ruling party usually have to be included in the government to ensure a voting majority. Obama has more of an ability to choose people who are aligned with his ideals - he doesn't HAVE to put liberals or conservatives in his Cabinet to ensure that he can govern. There's always going to be a tension in both of the major U.S. political parties regarding whether they should be “big tent” or “true to ideals.” The fight will especially be fought within the moderate wings of both parties – the Joe Liebermans and the Nelson Rockefellers, but can also be fought in the “truer ideals than thou” wings – e.g. Ron Paul claiming that he's more of a true Republican than the neo-conservatives. In some cases, the end result will be that the person rejects both major parties and goes in another direction (John Anderson, Cynthia McKinney).

I have no direct knowledge of a parliamentary system, but I assume the problems are worse there, because the bickering factions in the ruling party usually have to be included in the government to ensure a voting majority. Obama has more of an ability to choose people who are aligned with his ideals – he doesn't HAVE to put liberals or conservatives in his Cabinet to ensure that he can govern.

]]> By: John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises) http://faboomama.com/2009/04/28/sen-arlen-specter-r-pa-to-become-a-democrat/comment-page-1/#comment-2294 John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises) Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:00:12 +0000 http://faboomama.com/?p=1749#comment-2294 There's always going to be a tension in both of the major U.S. political parties regarding whether they should be "big tent" or "true to ideals." The fight will especially be fought within the moderate wings of both parties - the Joe Liebermans and the Nelson Rockefellers, but can also be fought in the "truer ideals than thou" wings - e.g. Ron Paul claiming that he's more of a true Republican than the neo-conservatives. In some cases, the end result will be that the person rejects both major parties and goes in another direction (John Anderson, Cynthia McKinney).<br><br>I have no direct knowledge of a parliamentary system, but I assume the problems are worse there, because the bickering factions in the ruling party usually have to be included in the government to ensure a voting majority. Obama has more of an ability to choose people who are aligned with his ideals - he doesn't HAVE to put liberals or conservatives in his Cabinet to ensure that he can govern. There's always going to be a tension in both of the major U.S. political parties regarding whether they should be “big tent” or “true to ideals.” The fight will especially be fought within the moderate wings of both parties – the Joe Liebermans and the Nelson Rockefellers, but can also be fought in the “truer ideals than thou” wings – e.g. Ron Paul claiming that he's more of a true Republican than the neo-conservatives. In some cases, the end result will be that the person rejects both major parties and goes in another direction (John Anderson, Cynthia McKinney).

I have no direct knowledge of a parliamentary system, but I assume the problems are worse there, because the bickering factions in the ruling party usually have to be included in the government to ensure a voting majority. Obama has more of an ability to choose people who are aligned with his ideals – he doesn't HAVE to put liberals or conservatives in his Cabinet to ensure that he can govern.

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