What should we make of the influx of Puggies retreading themselves

[Jackpine Radical]

as Democrats?

Can You Trust a Ship-Jumper?

It depends. I believe that there are two distinct types of ship-jumper--or maybe more accurately, two poles on the ship-jumper scale. On one end, the ethical end, are those who can no longer stomach the policies of their erstwhile party. On the other end are the pure self-serving opportunists who are just looking out for their own skins.

There is a profound difference between the people on the opposing ends of this scale. A skunk is still a skunk whether his strpes are red or blue, and the basic behavior patterns don't change.

People who leave the party for ethical reasons, however, tend to behave quite differently. At first they are quite hesitant and uncomfortable in wearing their new color. They differ with their old cohort on only a few central points (e.g. the war, the budget) while clinging to many of their original, conservative tenets. They are, in fact, internally quite conflicted and their mental structures are strained with cognitive dissonance. Over time, though, they move toward intellectual coherence. They learn from their new political associates. The net result is that, once the ideological bulwarks are breached, they tend to move globally leftward across time, thereby attaining cognitive coherence.

I went through this process about 40 years ago as a result of Vietnam, and I have seen a lot of tohers go through it over the years.

[The Deacon]

1. And Such People Can Be Staunch Allies.

The others should be watched carefully - they stab you in the back the minute it profits them.

[marmar]

2. "Can You Trust a Ship-Jumper?"

Oh, hell no. Repugs will say or do anything to stay in power. They would perform a same-sex wedding ceremony or march in a NARAL rally if they thought it would get them re-elected, then turn on voters like pit bulls.

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Work with them, but don't trust them completely. . .

Let them prove themselves.

:smoke:

[Stinky The Clown]

4. "I went through this process about 40 years ago ......... "

You're not alone in having made that journey. My own was less than 40 years ago, but more than 20.

I *do* believe that people can change and move even across the entire spectrum, from pole to pole. There's a saying that holds that a naturalized citizen is generally more fervent than one native born.

To move across the political spectrum honestly is to show an evolution of the person. Evolution of a human's internal views is the result of critical thinking and 'critical empathy'.

I'm perhaps more sanguine than some about the recent influx of former Repubs to the Dems. To be *sure* there are opportunists. But by and large, particularly those who aren't actually politicians, the change is likely honest and heartfelt. I also don't think they had any epiphany. Their views just kept incrementally shifting and now seemed the 'right time' to formally acknowlege what they'd long known inside to be the case.

Now, as to the politicians who are doing this ...... I think we need to be cautious. But I am not in favor of sweeping generalizations. The totality of the person's life and record is more eloquent than any speech or announcement.

[BR_Parkway]

5. Lieberman types should never be trusted

[Jackpine Radical]

6. To quote my favorite political philosopher (me),

"On the other end are the pure self-serving opportunists who are just looking out for their own skins."

That would be Holy Joe.