|
|
We appreciate your help
in keeping this site going.
|
|
08-05-2010, 06:06 PM
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 10,348
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by noonereal
you are God damed right
|
Thank you Noon.
I always feel better when my bat bites the leather.
Chas
|
08-05-2010, 06:20 PM
|
Abby Normal
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 11,245
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles
Thank you Noon.
I always feel better when my bat bites the leather.
Chas
|
I swear you have a monopoly on little known expressions.
|
08-05-2010, 07:08 PM
|
|
Loyal Opposition
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Johnson County, Kansas
Posts: 14,401
|
|
I guess I define a wedge issue a little differently. It's not an issue designed to stir up one party or another's natural constituency, but to drive a wedge between people who might otherwise be attracted to a party but for one issue that drives them away. For example the gift-wrapped issue for the GOP in 2000 was gay marriage. Many who might have otherwise voted democratic opposed gay marriage and saw the democrats as more likely to support it. The Willie Horton commercial obviously meant to scare white voters and make that concern more important than pocketbook issues. A classic wedge issue is gun control. Even a moderate view on gun control laws tags a party with the idea of gun confiscation and, for some people overcomes all other issues. I remember seeing bumper sticker: "Union Member and Gun Owner." That drives a wedge between Democrats and their natural constituency.
Actually, I guess the Iraq war did turn out to be a pretty good wedge issue for the Democrats beginning in '06. Even Republicans were fed up with it by then, and the GOP was painted with it.
Sorry for rambling. Too lazy to clean this post up.
Regards,
D-Ray
__________________
Then I'll get on my knees and pray,
We won't get fooled again; Don't get fooled again
|
08-05-2010, 07:39 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 20,496
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by d-ray657
Actually, I guess the Iraq war did turn out to be a pretty good wedge issue for the Democrats beginning in '06. Even Republicans were fed up with it by then, and the GOP was painted with it.
|
I pretty much share your understanding of the nature of wedge issues except when it comes to the above. I think of wedge issues as ones chosen primarily for the purpose of causing divisions between people who might otherwise form a "natural constituency" or keep an identifiable group, like blue collar workers, from gravitating toward the party or ideology which best speaks to their concerns.
The Iraq war fails that test for me. I think the anti-war people were motivated by moral considerations, understanding that the reasons we were given for invading Iraq were both insufficient to justify the proposed course of action and false on their face. In fact, at least initially, the identification of Democrats as anti-war actually cost them support. They (we) were seen as unpatriotic, disloyal and unconcerned with the welfare of our troops. Sort of a wedge issue in reverse.
John
__________________
Smoke me a kipper. I'll be back for breakfast.
|
08-05-2010, 08:15 PM
|
|
Loyal Opposition
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Johnson County, Kansas
Posts: 14,401
|
|
Yeah, good point John. My comparison of the war to a wedge issue is that the war separated many republicans from their party at that time. However, that was the failure of the policy, not the creation of a false issue.
Regards,
D-Ray
__________________
Then I'll get on my knees and pray,
We won't get fooled again; Don't get fooled again
|
08-05-2010, 08:26 PM
|
|
Reformed Know-Nothing
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MoCo, MD
Posts: 25,908
|
|
Per a couple of online dictionaries, a wedge issue is a "a sharply divisive political issue, especially one that is raised by a candidate or party in hopes of attracting or disaffecting a portion of an opponent's customary supporters."
This definition comports with what you were saying, Don. That said, the idea of illegals coming over here simply to hatch babies and take advantage of American largess is just that, IMHO. Accordingly, I fixed the last sentence in my OP.
__________________
As long as the roots are not severed, all will be well in the garden.
|
08-06-2010, 07:03 AM
|
|
Resident octogenarian
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Maryland
Posts: 20,860
|
|
BTW, regarding Willie Horton the law by which he was let out was passed by the Republican governor who preceeded Dukakis.
__________________
Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.
Eleanor Roosevelt
|
08-06-2010, 09:25 AM
|
|
Reformed Know-Nothing
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MoCo, MD
Posts: 25,908
|
|
Here's a well written editorial on the subject of "anchor babies."
__________________
As long as the roots are not severed, all will be well in the garden.
|
08-06-2010, 03:02 PM
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 10,348
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by merrylander
BTW, regarding Willie Horton the law by which he was let out was passed by the Republican governor who preceeded Dukakis.
|
That's true, But Dukakis had a hand in modifying it to where also applied to criminals with records like Horton.
Under the original Republican law, Horton would not have been released.
Of course, back when I was a screw, I used to release an inmate to go to Lincoln University every day. He was serving 4 life + 50's for 4 1st degree murders...and he never caused any trouble.
Left up to me, I would have locked him in a hole and pumped daylight to him, but it wasn't left up to me.
But I'm kinda funny about things like that.
Chas
|
08-06-2010, 03:14 PM
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 10,348
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by finnbow
|
Now my op ed piece states that if you are born in this country to parents who are here illegally, you don't get automatic citizenship, you don't pass go, you don't collect 200 bucks...what you get is you and your family shipped back across the border because all of you were here illegally in the first place.
I will admit, you op ed piece IS better written!!!
Chas
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:56 AM.
|