quotations about partisanship
I don't judge a regime by the damning criticism of the opposition, but by the ingenuous praise of the partisan.
JEAN ROSTAND
The Substance of Man
Partisanship is an essential aspect of persuasion. In the art of persuasion, as applied in a covenantal apologetic, we understand that there are, always and for all discussions, two opposing views present, each of which is held tenaciously by its adherents; the very fact of partisanship creates the persuasive context.
K. SCOTT OLIPHINT
Covenantal Apologetics: Principles and Practice in Defense of Our Faith
One tell-tale sign of a wingnut: they always confuse partisanship with patriotism.
JOHN AVLON
Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America
I have never seen such extreme partisanship, such bitter partisanship, and such forgetfulness of the fate of our fathers and of the Constitution.
ROBERT BYRD
attributed, Swimming in Cosmic Soup
Living means taking sides. Those who really live cannot help being a citizen and a partisan. Indifference and apathy are parasitism, perversion, not life.
ANTONIO GRAMSCI
attributed, Faces of Communities: Social Ties between Trust, Loyalty and Conflict
partisanship -- to the exclusion of all else -- is a prescription for paralysis.
MIKE QUIGLEY
"A Call for Bipartisanship", Huffington Post, October 2, 2012
All along we have had glimpses of another element: antipartisanship. This additional high point of the terrain has its own force, and partisanship stands out as a target in a lurid spotlight of its own. Parties may be grudgingly accepted as convenient vehicles for holding elections, but partisanship is reviled as morally and politically degrading. It is deformed citizenship. Individual voters move to the center of attention, and as this discussion of interventions to correct the system suggests, the aim is to convert partisans into Independents.
NANCY L. ROSENBLUM
On the Side of the Angels: An Appreciation of Parties and Partisanship
We can't allow ourselves to descend down the rabbit hole of unbridled partisanship for partisan sake. The complex problems confronting this country require thoughtful responses from both parties -- not reflexive dogma that appeases the rowdy and unreasonable few.
MIKE QUIGLEY
"A Call for Bipartisanship", Huffington Post, October 2, 2012
Therein lies the main reason why I abhor radical partisan politics: You're expected to follow blindly, no matter how much you oppose a person or position. What blithering nonsense.
SAM VENABLE
"Unflinching partisanship is foolish", Knoxville News Sentinel, March 6, 2016
Partisanship is a product of passion. Who would you rather have represent you in office: someone who is just killing time while there or someone who really gives a damn about what's going on and wants to effect change? Where apathy is among the greatest threats to functioning constitutional democracy, a little passion is certainly a good thing.
MARK DOUGLAS
Believing Aloud: Reflections on Being Religious in the Public Square
Partisanship is a dirty word to me. It represents all that is wrong with our nation, our government and ourselves. It is a lazy way of government, a lazy way of voting and a lazy way of thinking. To vote and think and act on partisan levels is to defile the freedom of choice we have as voters and the freedoms our public officials have.
JEREMY MCBAIN
"The dangers of partisanship", Petoskey News-Review, February 23, 2016
Partisanship is as American as apple pie, and so is our ability to overcome it when the urgency presents itself.
LAWRENCE J. HAAS
"Partisanship alone is nothing to fear", myCentralJersey, March 12, 2016
Truth gathers itself spotless and unhurt after all our surrenders and concealments and partisanship.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
"The Sovereignty of Ethics", Select Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Partisanship is appropriate for citizens and legislators, for instance--but is a far more potent threat in other institutions that house the executive or judicial functions of government. Partisanship is not the sort of force that can easily be contained. Rather than expect that partisanship can be overcome, or transcended, or simply turned off in those places where its presence would be corrupting, it is better--more true to the real possibilities for democratic politics--to differentiate between more elevated and more base expressions of party spirit.
RUSSELL MUIRHEAD
The Promise of Party in a Polarized Age
Partisanship is a way of accommodating to the democratic order, accepting or at least making one's peace with it, and developing a stake within it.
JOHN OSGOOD FIELD
Consolidating democracy: politicization and partisanship in India
Differences in political opinions are as unavoidable as, to a certain point, they may perhaps be necessary; but it is exceedingly to be regretted that subjects cannot be discussed with temper on the one hand, or decisions submitted to without having the motives, which led to them, improperly implicated on the other; and this regret borders on chagrin when we find that men of abilities, zealous patriots, having the same general objects in view, and the same upright intentions to prosecute them, will not exercise more charity in deciding on the opinions and actions of one another.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
letter to Alexander Hamilton, August 26, 1792
There's never a perfect bipartisan bill in the eyes of a partisan.
BILL CLINTON
The Economist, December 18, 2010
Anyone who looks at our current Congress, where partisanship has become sand in the gears of government, and concludes that what we need is more ideology, bombast, and partisanship is deluding him or herself.
PAUL KAHAN
"Trump's political doppelganger", Tribune-Review, March 12, 2016
Partisanship is a valuable heuristic for making political choices when other information is limited, so partisanship plays a greater role in low information environments or among those with limited political knowledge. This has particular implications in new or emerging democracies, especially where literacy may be low and/or the party system has yet to consolidate.
IAN MCALLISTER
"Voting behavior and political institutions", Routledge Handbook of Comparative Political Institutions
Think of it this way: partisanship at least gives our elected officials something to do--and keeping them busy keeps them in the public eye where we can keep an eye on them.
MARK DOUGLAS
Believing Aloud: Reflections on Being Religious in the Public Square