I think it goes back to Nixon. And the impeachment.

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture

Oh?

Elaborate, please.

Tell us how and why and show us examples of where Republicans today are railing at Democrats or Democrats are railing against Republicans because of the Nixon resignation.

And are you saying that Nixon's resignation and Clinton's impeachment are responsible for the divisions?

Nixon was not impeached. He resigned.

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But, when all is said and done, Senator McCain has not spent decades aiding and abetting people who hate America. http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell060508.php3

OK I should have said the impeachment vote that forced Nixon to resign. Geeez I always have to explain minutia.
But I think that maybe I misspoke. I would say it is a combo of The Vietnam war. The Kennedy's and MLK assasinations. And Nixon and the pardon by Ford. And the 68 Democratic Convention. This is when the big split happened. And later elections have been a response to these times. Back and forth. The left became deeply distrustful of the government. At times to a ridiculous extent. The right saw this as being anti American. And I think we are still there. The left is sure Bush has broken the law. The right thinks that if they did that it was in our best interest.

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture

These might explain attitudes of those over 45, but that's about it.

Huh? Where I'm from conservatives have much more disdain for government and the left is only distrustful of any politician who isn't on the left. The left loves government.

The left wants Bush to have broken the law, and the right thinks the left is so eager to play gotcha for the sake of political advantage that it will do and say whatever it takes to be in power, even if it hurts our country on the whole.

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There is something to be said for both of the aforementioned rationales.

Even though things took a decided turn for the worse as a result of our lack of consensus on the meaning and nature of Islamic Jihad when we invaded Iraq, much of the tensions in this country stemmed from the failure of the Carter Administration to get it right in the 1970's.

By thinking a deposed Shah would give way to a peacefully enlightened Iranian Holy Man named Ayatollah Khomeini, the Carter Administration adversely affected the prospects for peace in the Middle East for thirty years, SO FAR.

And there are still a good portion of our population who see Islam, Muslims and Jihad ONLY in that context...of Islam being ONLY a Religion of Peace. And these people, let's call them ideologues...liberal ideologues, are so committed to proving their idea right they are willing to subject this country to harm by ignoring any evidence which contradicts their belief.

And instead of the Right going along with Democratic philosophies and fantasies which would leave us open to harm and would give needless assistance and encouragement to our enemies, the Right has, instead, done what what was needed to keep America strong and safe.

The left has seen these efforts as a personal attack on their fantasies and have responded by attacking the Right.

And increased divisiveness ensued.

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But, when all is said and done, Senator McCain has not spent decades aiding and abetting people who hate America. http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell060508.php3

The left has not trusted the government for good cause. Vietnam lies, Nixon and Hoover's activities. The magic bullet that kills Kennedy, I think Ford's pardon made many feel that the government insiders could get by with anything.
Bush obviously broke the law if he OK'd any of the activities he has been accused of. And we don't need to play dumb here. They are trying to cover their asses. Thats why the telecom protection act. We have been doing renditions and torture. These activities are also illegal.

When you say that the left plays gotcha. The right thinks they win when their team gets by with criminal activities.

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Talking about music is like dancing about architecture