Coq I didn't click the link but based at least in your paraphrase, the flip side of that is that bills are so convoluted and mispurposed nowadays because of the democratic policy of "I'll throw you a bone if you vote yes" that the republicans really don't have a choice in the matter.

I mean don't get me wrong, I'm not defending the republicans or the system. I'm just saying that it goes both ways. In the '08 bailout bill we had the famous million dollar arrows for Indians clause sneaking through because of the flawed bargaining process. Generally, even if the intent of the bill is fantastic, the final product is so convoluted and full of bullshit that you're invariably voting for something you opposenand simultaneously against something you support. Again, the flaw is with the system as a whole, not the behavior of the two parties that dominate it... Though I agree that it's ludicrous to think the founding fathers intended this as "factions" were much maligned back in those days.