Reply #9: No.

[TreasonousBastard]

They were, of course, filled with thieves and knaves, but Democrats always had the good politcal sense to know that they could steal however much they wanted as long as the system worked for most people.

Dailey, Long, Hague, Tweed... the list is endless. But every one of them "shared the spoils" with their supporters and bribed the rest.

Not that I approve, of course, nor do I say that Republicans were squeaky clean, as Harding's administration proved. Republicans, however, never had the amount of ward heeling and need to actually get things done that most Democrats grew up with.

In more recent times, Democrats in Washington were perfectly willing to deal with the opposition to come up with compromises to get things done. When they ran the show, they realized that you don't vanquish the enemy, you work with him, and half a loaf and all... Even older Republicans like Goldwater and Dole knew the benefits of compromise. They would fight like cats and dogs, and Dixiecrats would fight with northern urban democrats, but they knew they had to get things done.

This crowd now, however, has no use for compromise. They are completely abusing their power. They are like little children with their first taste of adult life. They want the authority, but have no concept of the responsibility with that power.