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> It's very Aaron Sorkin's West Wing. My completely unfounded theory is that the West Wing broke the brains of an entire generation of center left leaning Amer

> It's very Aaron Sorkin's West Wing. My completely unfounded theory is that the West Wing broke the brains of an entire generation of center left leaning Americans. Led them to believe that being noble and earnest brings you electoral rewards, that you should break bread with your opposition, who are fundamentally reasonable people capable of compromise. I think Trump 2.0 might have finally finished that mindset off but good lord did it take a long time.

xp84 1y ago
> that you should break bread with your opposition I was agreeing with you completely until I hit this phrase. What Democrats have you seen "breaking bread with" their opposition? Most Democratic politicians and pundits (not saying voters) spend most of their effort on demonizing those they disagree with, on intentionally imputing the worst motives for their every opinion. If you don't support the most maximal definitions of every ideal they have, you're a bigot. If you didn't vote for Harris, you're a monster who must love Trump. etc. The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans that gave each side something important to them. To be fair, both parties now consider that practice to be basically treason. It's the parties that are killing us.
- saagarjha 1y ago
  Democratic politicians. Their voters mostly hate them for it
- afavour 1y ago
  > “ The thing that will fundamentally change things is with Donald Trump out of the White House. Not a joke,” Biden told reporters at a diner in Concord, New Hampshire. “You will see an epiphany occur among many of my Republican friends.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republicans-trump-epiphany https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republican... And Schumer: > When it happens, I am hopeful that our Republican colleagues will resume working with us. And I talk to them. One of the places is in the gym. When you’re on that bike in your shorts, panting away next to a Republican, a lot of the inhibitions come off. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bipartisan-imaginary-friends/ https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bi... You seem to be making the common mistake of conflating online discourse with the reality in DC. Senior Democratic politicians have openly stated time and time again that they believe their Republican friends are going to come around, that they’re going to be sane and that this is all a fever that’s going to break. > The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans They keep doing this? Look at the Senate approvals for Trump’s appointees. Democrats voted in favor of a ton of them thinking it was the bipartisan thing to do and got absolutely nothing in return for it. It’s only a recent phenomenon that Democratic voters are actually punishing them for it.

xp84 1y ago

> that you should break bread with your opposition I was agreeing with you completely until I hit this phrase. What Democrats have you seen "breaking bread with" their opposition? Most Democratic politicians and pundits (not saying voters) spend most of their effort on demonizing those they disagree with, on intentionally imputing the worst motives for their every opinion. If you don't support the most maximal definitions of every ideal they have, you're a bigot. If you didn't vote for Harris, you're a monster who must love Trump. etc. The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans that gave each side something important to them. To be fair, both parties now consider that practice to be basically treason. It's the parties that are killing us.

saagarjha 1y ago
Democratic politicians. Their voters mostly hate them for it
afavour 1y ago
> “ The thing that will fundamentally change things is with Donald Trump out of the White House. Not a joke,” Biden told reporters at a diner in Concord, New Hampshire. “You will see an epiphany occur among many of my Republican friends.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republicans-trump-epiphany https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republican... And Schumer: > When it happens, I am hopeful that our Republican colleagues will resume working with us. And I talk to them. One of the places is in the gym. When you’re on that bike in your shorts, panting away next to a Republican, a lot of the inhibitions come off. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bipartisan-imaginary-friends/ https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bi... You seem to be making the common mistake of conflating online discourse with the reality in DC. Senior Democratic politicians have openly stated time and time again that they believe their Republican friends are going to come around, that they’re going to be sane and that this is all a fever that’s going to break. > The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans They keep doing this? Look at the Senate approvals for Trump’s appointees. Democrats voted in favor of a ton of them thinking it was the bipartisan thing to do and got absolutely nothing in return for it. It’s only a recent phenomenon that Democratic voters are actually punishing them for it.