Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Three Kinds of Politicians

In a Progressive Historians discussion on primary revotes I wrote:
There are three kinds of politicians: those who will sell out their own party to get elected, those who will sell out their own party after they get elected, and party hacks. It's possible to span categories, but not to transcend them.....

2 comments:

Ahistoricality said...

In theory there are true independents, as well, who say what they mean, only promise what they can deliver, owe allegiance to no party or power, and work for their constituents and the greater good without fear or favor.

Name one.

Anonymous said...

It's a good line, but I would argue there is a fourth category: those who dominate their parties so effectively that the party comes to be defined by them.

Two examples, both Australian:

John Howard never betrayed his party, nor was he a party hack; for twelve years, the Australian Liberal party was whatever he said it was.

Nick Xenephon, Australian senator and true independent.