Keller @ Large: Sick Of Partisanship

BOSTON (CBS) - I'm not complaining, but Wednesday was a bit of a tough morning for your humble commentator.

I spent two hours that seemed like two weeks at the Democratic Party unity rally, where speaker after speaker extolled the glories of the party's performance and "vision," and trashed Charlie Baker as a heartless villain who wants to cut your pay and benefits and dump you in a snowbank if you get sick.

Extend that grim experience over an entire week and you'll know what it's like to attend a Republican convention, where the working man and woman's full potential can only be realized by severing the shackles of oppressive government, and all Democrats are diabolical swine who would turn America into a giant gulag if they could.

Sorry, but I just can't stand partisanship.

I know and like many fine people who are also partisans, but I cannot understand why otherwise intelligent folks would put their brains on hold so they can move in lockstep with others in support of a corrosive, divisive ideological contest that promotes distortion and falsehood and shuns compromise and conciliation.

I get that political parties help impose some order and process on a political system that would likely be a chaotic mess without them.

But there's no reason why obviously-qualified candidates like Charlie Baker and Martha Coakley couldn't run for governor strictly on the basis of their views and experience, without all the time and money that's wasted on partisan baby talk.

Actually, there is a reason.

Partisanship seems to work, at least in a campaign.

Shame on us, then, for rewarding that dysfunction.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.

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