IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS?

My friend M, commenting a few minutes ago on Cheney, said "He's useless, like Gore. They all are." GOP propagandists would rather you believe that Cheney is one swell dude (or at least an in control, competent, reliable can-do realist, or whatever antidote for the light-weight Bush is was sold to us as). But that's wearing a little thin just about now and the same propagandists are happy with their second line of defense-- the one M fell for: "They all stink." This is a tried and true method for historical political parties on the Right (like today's Republicans) to hold down electoral participation, one of their specialties. But there is a difference between what the two parties stand for. Generally speaking the Republican Party represents the interests of corporations and the very wealthy and the Democratic Party represents the interests of consumers, workers and others who need an equalizer as an antidote to the unbridled power (fueled by unfettered greed) of Big Business. Earlier today I put up a piece called REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE IT EVEN WORSE FOR KATRINA'S AND BUSH'S VICTIMS about the bankruptcy bill. A lot of Democratic politicians-- too many-- voted for that anti-people, pro-credit card company legislation. But there was a difference between the politicians of the two parties. 100% of the Republicans voted for it in the Senate and they also voted down all the amendments Democrats offered to ameliorate some of the most burdensome effects (like for victims of natural catastrophes). Over half the Democrats voted against the bill. Politicians are rarely leaders; they're followers and most have their wet fingers up to the wind at all times.

I saw a story today that, in my mind at least, is a far more telling anecdote about the difference between the two parties. One of Bush's top 5 cronies and his first head of FEMA, Joe Allbaugh (the man who brought in the incompetent current FEMA head, Mike Brown) is now a "strategic consultant" for Halliburton. He's down in Louisiana now "helping his clients," according to the WASHINGTON POST, "get business from perhaps the worst natural disaster in the nation's history." Are Democrats ambulance-chasing sharks too? Sure, some. But Clinton's ex-head of FEMA, James Lee Witt is working as a consultant for Gov. Kathleen Blanco. According to THE HILL "for the first 45 to 60 days, Witt is working on a pro-bono basis for the state of Louisiana. After that, a contract will be negotiated." A small story but a very telling one.