-Caveat Lector-
Those feigning a difference between Republicans (Rs) and Democrats (Ds) might find the grading efforts of the New American (12 July 2004) entitled Conservative Index
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2004/07-12-2004/108-3.pdf
It is well past time to consider ACTION instead of empty rhetoric when considering the Parties of Democrat and Republican.
According to The New American:
The Conservative Index rates congressmen based on their adherence to constitutional principles of limited government, to fiscal responsibility, to national sovereignty, and to a traditional foreign policy of avoiding foreign entanglements. Preserving our Constitution, the freedoms it guarantees, and the moral bedrock on which it is based is what the word 'conservatism' once meant -- and how it is being applied here.
To learn how any representative or senator voted on the key measures described herein, look him up in the tables on pages 26-31. The scores are derived by dividing a congressman's conservative votes (pluses) by the total number he cast (pluses and minuses) and multiplying by 100. (A "?" indicates that a congressman did not vote, and a "P" indicates that he voted 'Present'. If a congressman cast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.
The average House score for this index is 46%; the average Senate score is 41 percent. Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) had the top score for the House at 100 percent. Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) had the highest score in the Senate at 80 percent.
We encourage readers to examine how their own congressman voted on each of the 10 key measures in this index as well as overall. Our first index for the 108th Congress (votes 1-10) appeared in our July 14, 2003 issue, and our second index (votes 11-20) appeared in our December 29, 2003 issue.
We also encourage readers to commend legislators for their conservative votes and to urge improvement where needed. For congressional contact information go to www.thenewamerican.com/congress/.
[I lumped those 'calling' themselves 'Independent' as Democrats ... splitting the Survey into Ds and Rs]
108th Congress HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Republicans 40.6123% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 59.3877% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 1, B -- 3, C -- 3, D -- 8, F -- 212 F of less than 50% ... 184 (or 81%)
Democrats 40.4175% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 59.5825% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 3, F -- 203 F of less than 50% ... 180 (or 87%)
Democrats plus Republicans 40.5196% Conservative ... OR ... 59.4804% 'Liberal' A -- 1, B -- 3, C -- 3, D -- 11, F -- 415 F of less than 50% ... 364 (or 84%)
US SENATE
Republicans 46.0196% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 53.9804% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 2, F -- 49 F of less than 50% ... 32 (or 63%)
Democrats 33.8163% 'Conservative' ... OR ... 66.1837% 'Liberal' Grades A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 0, F -- 49 F of less than 50% ... 48 (or 98%)
Democrats plus Republicans 40.04% Conservative ... OR ... 59.96% 'Liberal' A -- 0, B -- 0, C -- 0, D -- 2, F -- 98 F of less than 50% ... 80 (or 80%)
In the House, Republicans are voting 60% in FAVOR of 'Liberal' policies ... right along with their Democrat opposition. Where's the difference?
84% of Rs and Ds in the House had a Failure Grade of LESS than 50%. Where's the difference?
The Senate is not much different ... with Republicans voting 54% in FAVOR of 'Liberal' policies. Where's the difference?
80% of Rs and Ds in the Senate had a Failure Grade of LESS than 50%. Where's the difference?
One can only GUESS what rating the Republican President might attain -- not having vetoed a single legislative effort.
What a sad state of affairs.
Regard$, --MJ
For the "Third Party System," which had existed in America from 1856 to 1896, was comprised of political parties, each of which was highly ideological and in intense conflict with the opposing party. While each political party, in this case the Democratic, the Republican and various minor parties, consisted of a coalition of interests and forces, each was dominated by a firm ideology to which it was strongly committed. As a result, citizens often felt lifelong party loyalties, were socialized into a party when growing up, were educated in party principles, and then rode herd on any party candidates who waffled or betrayed the cause. ... For various reasons, the Democratic and Republican parties after 1900 were largely non-ideological, differed very little from each other, and as a result commanded little party loyalty. In particular, the Democratic Party no longer existed, after the Bryan takeover of 1896, as a committed laissez-faire, hard-money party. From then on, both parties rapidly became Progressive and moderately statist. -- Murray Rothbard
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