Divided Government - Do YOU like it....?

[The Vorlon]

In 1996 towards the end the GOP congressional committee ran their "Don't Give Bill Clinton a blank check" campaign, essentially saying Bob Dole is Toast, but do you really trust the Democrats with the entire set of kets to the Candy store....  It seem to be worth a few points as the GOP had a nice swing at the end...

In a recent speech McCain made essentially the same argument.. that the Democrats can't be trusted with all the power...

How many people like the "divided government" argument....?

[True Democrat]

I like a divided government, but opposite of the one we are currently facing the prospect of.

[Alcon]

I recall reading that the effects of divided government are somewhat over-rated.  Forget where, but it was interesting.

[MODU]

It's usually best when the government is divided.  That way, no one party can have excessive influence over the nation.  However, I would prefer a division of more than just two dinosaur parties.  That would cause all the parties involved to work more towards less-extreme actions than if one party is in control.

[Lunar]

I like Divided government, but I have to contextualize it to the current situation.  I mean, it's not THAT great if the cost means that the Republicans don't have to reexamine their doctrine of preemptive warfare and social conservatism (in my dreams, probably ).  Also, it wouldn't be great to see Republicans turn Obama into an ineffective Carter, setting back race relations a decade. 

....and since I don't want to go to war with Iran, I guess I'm stuck rooting for an all Democratic Administration

Voted Libertarian.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

GOP all da way!

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Put me down as a fan of divided government.  The Clinton years went well enough, I suppose, but I think a GOP President with a Democratic Congress works the best.

[bgwah]

I don't want a single Republican to hold office (or to exist at all, for that matter!), so, of your scenarios, I voted option 1.

But, a Democratic President with a Green Congress sounds acceptable.

[Хahar 🤔]

Straight D.

Divided government is equivalent to a minority government in parliamentary systems, but without the benefits that entails.

[phk]

If we did have a divided government.

I would prefer libertarian Republicans in congress keeping a Democrat executive in check.

[NDN]

If we did have a divided government.

I would prefer libertarian Republicans in congress keeping a Democrat executive in check.

Yeah and I'd like it to rain donuts.

[phk]

If we did have a divided government.

I would prefer libertarian Republicans in congress keeping a Democrat executive in check.

Yeah and I'd like it to rain donuts.

?

[NDN]

If we did have a divided government.

I would prefer libertarian Republicans in congress keeping a Democrat executive in check.

Yeah and I'd like it to rain donuts.

?

Simpsons reference.

Basically, it's a pipe dream.

[opebo]

A Democratic house/senate and Democratic president would still be plenty divided for me.  It is easy for people to forget with the crazy looming GOP that well over half of the Democratic Party can only be reasonably defined as right-wing itself.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Libertarian sweep of course. Republican & Democratic politicians are beyond useless, & should all be committed to the Gulag!

[Lief 🗽]

I don't want a single Republican to hold office (or to exist at all, for that matter!), so, of your scenarios, I voted option 1.

But, a Democratic President with a Green Congress sounds acceptable.

[Nym90]

Divided government would be fine if it weren't for the fact that the Democrats generally cave in and allow the Republicans to do whatever they want whenever we have this arrangement.

[Brittain33]

At the rate we're going, divided government where one party has stronger control of the Senate than the 50 Dems do now is going to mean empty seats on the Supreme Court.

[John Dibble]

I want a the House and the Senate divided by the major parties with a Libertarian president. This is the best way of ensuring that nothing well ever get done unless everyone agrees on it, in which case it'll be pretty damn important.

[TheresNoMoney]

I want a Democratic president AND congress. Republicans had that for nearly 6 years and blew it, it's time the Democrats had a shot.

[Person Man]

Divided Government is best only when everything is working....and then, it should be a Democratic President with a Gopper Congress.

[John Dibble]

I want a Democratic president AND congress. Republicans had that for nearly 6 years and blew it, it's time the Democrats had a shot.

That's right - it's the Democrats' turn to screw up the country!

[Frodo]

Option 2

[Dan the Roman]

Divided government only works when you have two parties that work for the national interest. Right now we don't. With the exception of a few isolated and sidelined members the GOP is not particularly concerned with the country, and as such, while I am opposed to undivided Democratic control, I can't in good conscience support the control of any part of the government under the entity that is currently terming itself the "Republican Party".

So probably until 2016-20 at least, option 1.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Option 1, at least until 2013.