I cannot agree more with Jason and Michael on their entries regarding blogosphere partisanship.  I too have noticed the general partisan line on blogs from the left and right.  On these blogs, views other than the line defined by that blog’s writers are generally not expressed, although every blog seems to have a few outsiders thrown into the mix.  Additionally, those having moderate/centrist views or views outside the mainstream liberal/conservative dichotomy are sidelined and sometimes ridiculed.  Yet, I believe that the current polarization in the blogosphere can find its root in the polarization and partisanship we see in the current Congress.

I believe that we’re seeing a pretty polarized Congress right now, in that compromise is seen as the utmost of evils, and anybody who tries to forge a compromise or see the merit in the other party’s position is demonized as a traitor (DINO/RINO) to the party.  Holding a centrist position is also seen as an evil by the partisans because apparently centrists/moderates are wishy washy individuals who don’t hold a strong ideology (any reader of this blog knows that’s simply not true).  These politicians find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place because unless you’re a household name, joining a third party or becoming an Independent is probably politically unviable.  Anyway, you at least already have to be elected to try and even think of doing that, since name recognition has always been a strong element in getting re-election, even for a member of the two major parties.

Since the leadership of Congress is highly partisanized, it makes some sense that those in the blogosphere would feel empowered to express their views, which could explain the Mandatory Scripts that Jason outlined are so prevalent.  The bloggers know the leadership of Congress is on their side, and thus feel empowered to express these views.

In this atmosphere, as Jason pointed out, the centrist bloggers and the ones who can see the merit in some arguments that may not match their own worldview are basically sidelined.  Even if the majority of your views are liberal or conservative, the partisan atmosphere that we currently see makes having a view that falls on the side of the opposite ideology the deadliest of sins.  I’ve seen it before, even here, though mostly among the comments, which isn’t unexpected.

I’m not saying that partisanship itself is an evil.  There are definitely times on Capitol Hill where there is legislation that is definitely bad and rightfully should be opposed with all the force the party can throw at it.  Yet, partisanship is used too often as a tool to outright oppose the policy to try and gain political points.  It’s almost like a contest to see who can be more hardline in their opposition to the other party, and anyone who doesn’t do this enough be damned, even if that person agrees with the party the majority of the time.  You then get the Joe Liebermans, John McCains and Chuck Hagels of the legislature, who get the heat put on them whenever they oppose the party line.  It is this excessive partisanship and demonization of those who don’t always push the party line that made me dissolusioned with the two party system and made me register as an Independent.

Likewise, partisanship on blogs is not always bad since there are policies that should be opposed.  However, like Jason says, too often we see the same Mandatory Scripts, and those who do not also express them are sidelined, demonized, called wishy washy, or said to hold no strong views.

I would even speculate the partisan atmosphere has even become a part of the lives of even some who don’t follow blogs or don’t represent a constituency in Congress.  Thus, I’ll end on an anecdote of my own.  Like Jason, I like both Barack Obama and John McCain, although I’m not as opposed to Ron Paul (not going to feed the Paulbots again, at least not right now).  On my Facebook account, I have declared myself a fan of both Obama and McCain.  My roommate saw this and asked me, “Why do you have John McCain on your Facebook?” as if this was a very strange thing to do.  I simply told him I liked them both.

I’m pretty sure he still thinks this is strange.