Aesop nails it again! Democratic frogs and Republican scorpions

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

One day a scorpion was halted in his progress by a raging stream he could not cross. A frog happened by and offered the scorpion a lift, who gladly agreed. Once they were on the other side, the scorpion stung the frog before jumping off his back. As the frog lay dying, he gasped, "Why did you hurt me when I have done you a good turn?" The scorpion responded, "I'm sorry, but I could not help it, it's my nature."

The moral is, do not expect differently from those whose actions are innate.

The Republicans can no more put aside partisanship and act in concert with the Democrats for the benefit of the country than the scorpion can put aside his stinger. They just don't know how to do it. It's just not in them. They prove it time and time again. How many times do they get a lift across the stream before we get it? Better to just ford the stream alone and leave the scorpions abandoned on the other side.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. There is a key part of the fable that you left out

The scorpion stings the frog mid-river, causing both to die. This even more clearly demonstrates Republican policies: they cannot help themselves, even when it causes themselves grievious harm.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. I think you can learn everything you need to know about human nature from 2 sources:

Aesop and Shakespeare. Between those 2 guys, they pretty much cover the gamut of human behavior and motivations.

I learned the fable the way that I wrote it, that they get to the other side and then the scorpion delivers the sting. So, the scorpion accomplishes his goal and then, without remorse or second thought, does harm to the one that did him good. I'm not sure, but I vaguely remember part 2 of the story being that when the scorpion needed a lift back to the other side, none of the frogs would go for it, because they saw what happened to the first frog and the moral was "Don't burn bridges you may need to cross again"

But, the way you learned it works just as well as it shows just what you said in your post. There's probably a million versions of Aesop, all adapted to show whatever lesson one is attempting to illustrate. That's why I love them.

[Richardo]

2. The frog didn't die. The frog started to build an immunity to scorpion venom.

The frog will continue to prevail, and the venom will have less and less effect as time passes.

The scorpions did confirm their true nature, though.

[merh]

3. like grandma mobley and the frozen rattlesnake

exactly the same - "ya knew I was a rattlesnake when you picked me up"

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Actually, this is not one of Aesop's fables:

http://mythfolklore.net/3043mythfolklore/reading/aesop/pages/15.htm

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. I think you're right - it's from his lesser known brother Arnold.

Wikipedia agrees with you and says this fable is often misattributed to Aesop. Oh, well still a good fable. Wikipedia also agrees with you and the poster above who says the scorpion stings the frog midriver, dooming them both.


So, new moral - don't let the frigging scorpions take us all down!!!!!

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. I actually remember the story from an episode of Star Trek Voyager

I'm not sure if Chakotay attributed it to Aesop or not.

[lurky]

7. The R's totally screwed themselves here.

Obama reached out to them in such a high-profile way, with all the news covering their meetings and the concessions he made. Slapping him in the face like this makes the R's look dishonest, and like they are more interested in politics than fixing the economy.

Also, for most Americans, this was Boehner's debut as a political leader, and he looked like a total asshole. I think this will be a lasting impression.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. I'm thinking you are 100% right

Boehner made them all look like lockstep assholes.

[lurky]

11. Now everyone will know that their demands of "bipartisanship"

are total BS.

[TahitiNut]

12. Obama eschewed the habitual political codependency. (He's not a control freak.)

It has become a dysfunctional habit of partisans to engage in self-destructive behavior and blame it on their opposition partisans -- making a show of 'positive' behavior and then abandoning it when the 'other side' doesn't behave as 'expected.' The delusion of control over others in reaction to our own behavior is a plague of emotionally immature people. It's codependency writ large.

Obama merely behaves in ways that are consistent with his openly avowed values and principles ... and then backs off while others behave self-destructively. By not 'expecting' on kind of reactive behavior, he need not concern himself with hyper-reactive behavior.

He's a grown-up. (Sad that so many on DU don't see it.)

[lurky]

13. I like your analysis.

Add to this the fact that Democrats have always been very predictable when faced with this kind of situation, and they have consistently played right into the R's hands. It's like the GOP has one chess move, and the Dems keep falling for it. Good on Obama for not behaving as expected or acting like a wuss.

[westcor]

10. I'm an idiot - Aesop rock!

when I first read this I thought it was a new Aesop Rock song, god he better release a new cd soon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc9qJS-GG-c">Aesop Rock - Pigs

That is a great song he wrote about capitalist pigs, and jesus it fits perfect to describe the breakdown of our financial system

[applegrove]

14. The GOP is dependant in elections for votes from those who are bitter

and filled with hate. That is the Southern strategy which has been extended to "liberals" too. They know they cannot win elections any other way than by appeal to the baser instincts of Americans.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

15. Are you saying that is their nature? nt.

[applegrove]

16. It is what they teach each other. Some people are born that way. Some nasty characters

are attracted to the GOP for that reason. Millions fall into the trap of going for patriotism or racism over their own economic self interest. GOP like any group is filled with all types of people. Quite a few of their followers must be quite naive and think "no taxes on the rich" actually will help get the economic engines going. Including John McCain who just recently accepted the no taxes on the rich mantra because he was convinced by GOP types that he didn't know what he was talking about when he was against tax breaks for the rich.

I just hope Obama is the better teacher.