Reply #66: I think the line is crossed when...

[ulTRAX]

leftofthedial wrote: "who gets to decide at what point a belief constitutes "extremist partisanship"?

I think the line is crossed when one starts to compromise what should be their own values or defend negative values, in order for their side to win. Let me change the example from the mercs to Nader.

I see this partisan extremism in the Democratic vehemence against Nader. Presumably anyone who actually values DEMOCRACY would welcome ALL to run and compete in the voting marketplace. They would want voters to have a chance to vote their conscience not the lesser of the evils. They would CLEARLY see that in the US the problem is not Nader... it's our dysfunctional electoral system, an anti-democratic Constitution, and the moral bankruptcy of the Democratic Party in failing to push for democratic reforms.

Yet what I often see here is the worst of both worlds... Nader bashing and cheering every obstacle in his path.... AND a refusal to deal with our dysfunctional electoral system and anti-democratic Constitution. What arrogance! Rather than face the failings of their own Party.... many Democrats believe they DESERVE all votes left of Bush.... that they don't have to EARN those votes.

Nader didn't cost Gore the election... all the antics in Florida and in the USSC would not have mattered EXCEPT for the EC. Yet 4 years later... the Democrats STILL lack the core values to push for the abolition of the EC. So they bash Nader. I personally think their actions are despicable.