Quote: the G-man said: The whole reason we have at least two political parties is because not everyone is going to agree. Otherwise, we wouldnt need political parties, or elections, for that matter.
In accord with that reality, it used to be understood that the each side was going to promote policies and programs that the other side didnt like. But it wasnt take so personally and not to the point where the minority party actually considered the "presence" of a particular president to be offensive.
Personally, I think it'd be better if their were no parties, just people running on their own platforms.
I do think the more open animosity starts with Watergate. Then you have the October Surprise, which had Dems feeling that Reagan stole the election. From that bad feeling it festered for 8 years. Then there was Clinton who, to the Dems, seemed like a savior for the party. And the Republicans really hated him. Then in 2000, the election left more bad feelings and a view of Bush not being totally legitimate.
Basically, its a feud that got escalated and escalated until it became open hostility (on both sides).
