OT: Republican Party, moderates need not apply

[jpinpb]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Or you could run with Bush on the presidential ticket and have bumper stickers that read “Bush ‘N Specter”.
[/quote]
LOL.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ocrenter]Here’s how I see it.

Reagan pulled together the big tent and managed to hold the center. Ever since the tent has been more and more right leaning as center leaning and moderate Republicans gradually over the years leave the GOP.

The center became more and more wary of voting and registering Republican because that also meant having to say yes to Christian Right agendas. The Palin pick was the most obvious evidence that the soul of the GOP is now firmly in the Christian Right. McCain was simply unable to get the GOP grassroot to give support until he picked someone like Palin. This demonstrates that moderates like McCain can no longer mobilize large number of moderate Republicans for the simple reason that there are no longer a sizable moderate Republican base to go to.

So where did they go? independent and Dem. I may be wrong about this but I think independent registrations are now the highest ever in history. Both Clinton and Obama made sure during their campaigns they appeared as “centrists” and sure enough they both captured the center and won.

if former and current moderate Republicans split and form a new party catering to the center, I think that party will do very well. For the moderates to try to recapture the party may simply result in the same persistent battle between the moderate and religious right wings of the party again. And that will only favor continued Dem dominance.

[/quote]

You may be right.

Like I have said before, third parties do not have a positive impact in the short term in US politics unless a major party is liquidating (eg Lincoln’s post-Whig Republicans).

This may be the start of such a liquidation. Hell, I might even join a new centrist party. And I consider myself a liberal.

The other possibility is that this schism (or whatever it is), will have the effect of empowering the party by forcing members to focus on efficacy over ideology.
I think the more pragmatic members (eg: Newt) are more likely to bring this about.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ocrenter]Here’s how I see it.

Reagan pulled together the big tent and managed to hold the center. Ever since the tent has been more and more right leaning as center leaning and moderate Republicans gradually over the years leave the GOP.

The center became more and more wary of voting and registering Republican because that also meant having to say yes to Christian Right agendas. The Palin pick was the most obvious evidence that the soul of the GOP is now firmly in the Christian Right. McCain was simply unable to get the GOP grassroot to give support until he picked someone like Palin. This demonstrates that moderates like McCain can no longer mobilize large number of moderate Republicans for the simple reason that there are no longer a sizable moderate Republican base to go to.

So where did they go? independent and Dem. I may be wrong about this but I think independent registrations are now the highest ever in history. Both Clinton and Obama made sure during their campaigns they appeared as “centrists” and sure enough they both captured the center and won.

if former and current moderate Republicans split and form a new party catering to the center, I think that party will do very well. For the moderates to try to recapture the party may simply result in the same persistent battle between the moderate and religious right wings of the party again. And that will only favor continued Dem dominance.

[/quote]

You may be right.

Like I have said before, third parties do not have a positive impact in the short term in US politics unless a major party is liquidating (eg Lincoln’s post-Whig Republicans).

This may be the start of such a liquidation. Hell, I might even join a new centrist party. And I consider myself a liberal.

The other possibility is that this schism (or whatever it is), will have the effect of empowering the party by forcing members to focus on efficacy over ideology.
I think the more pragmatic members (eg: Newt) are more likely to bring this about.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ocrenter]Here’s how I see it.

Reagan pulled together the big tent and managed to hold the center. Ever since the tent has been more and more right leaning as center leaning and moderate Republicans gradually over the years leave the GOP.

The center became more and more wary of voting and registering Republican because that also meant having to say yes to Christian Right agendas. The Palin pick was the most obvious evidence that the soul of the GOP is now firmly in the Christian Right. McCain was simply unable to get the GOP grassroot to give support until he picked someone like Palin. This demonstrates that moderates like McCain can no longer mobilize large number of moderate Republicans for the simple reason that there are no longer a sizable moderate Republican base to go to.

So where did they go? independent and Dem. I may be wrong about this but I think independent registrations are now the highest ever in history. Both Clinton and Obama made sure during their campaigns they appeared as “centrists” and sure enough they both captured the center and won.

if former and current moderate Republicans split and form a new party catering to the center, I think that party will do very well. For the moderates to try to recapture the party may simply result in the same persistent battle between the moderate and religious right wings of the party again. And that will only favor continued Dem dominance.

[/quote]

You may be right.

Like I have said before, third parties do not have a positive impact in the short term in US politics unless a major party is liquidating (eg Lincoln’s post-Whig Republicans).

This may be the start of such a liquidation. Hell, I might even join a new centrist party. And I consider myself a liberal.

The other possibility is that this schism (or whatever it is), will have the effect of empowering the party by forcing members to focus on efficacy over ideology.
I think the more pragmatic members (eg: Newt) are more likely to bring this about.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ocrenter]Here’s how I see it.

Reagan pulled together the big tent and managed to hold the center. Ever since the tent has been more and more right leaning as center leaning and moderate Republicans gradually over the years leave the GOP.

The center became more and more wary of voting and registering Republican because that also meant having to say yes to Christian Right agendas. The Palin pick was the most obvious evidence that the soul of the GOP is now firmly in the Christian Right. McCain was simply unable to get the GOP grassroot to give support until he picked someone like Palin. This demonstrates that moderates like McCain can no longer mobilize large number of moderate Republicans for the simple reason that there are no longer a sizable moderate Republican base to go to.

So where did they go? independent and Dem. I may be wrong about this but I think independent registrations are now the highest ever in history. Both Clinton and Obama made sure during their campaigns they appeared as “centrists” and sure enough they both captured the center and won.

if former and current moderate Republicans split and form a new party catering to the center, I think that party will do very well. For the moderates to try to recapture the party may simply result in the same persistent battle between the moderate and religious right wings of the party again. And that will only favor continued Dem dominance.

[/quote]

You may be right.

Like I have said before, third parties do not have a positive impact in the short term in US politics unless a major party is liquidating (eg Lincoln’s post-Whig Republicans).

This may be the start of such a liquidation. Hell, I might even join a new centrist party. And I consider myself a liberal.

The other possibility is that this schism (or whatever it is), will have the effect of empowering the party by forcing members to focus on efficacy over ideology.
I think the more pragmatic members (eg: Newt) are more likely to bring this about.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ocrenter]Here’s how I see it.

Reagan pulled together the big tent and managed to hold the center. Ever since the tent has been more and more right leaning as center leaning and moderate Republicans gradually over the years leave the GOP.

The center became more and more wary of voting and registering Republican because that also meant having to say yes to Christian Right agendas. The Palin pick was the most obvious evidence that the soul of the GOP is now firmly in the Christian Right. McCain was simply unable to get the GOP grassroot to give support until he picked someone like Palin. This demonstrates that moderates like McCain can no longer mobilize large number of moderate Republicans for the simple reason that there are no longer a sizable moderate Republican base to go to.

So where did they go? independent and Dem. I may be wrong about this but I think independent registrations are now the highest ever in history. Both Clinton and Obama made sure during their campaigns they appeared as “centrists” and sure enough they both captured the center and won.

if former and current moderate Republicans split and form a new party catering to the center, I think that party will do very well. For the moderates to try to recapture the party may simply result in the same persistent battle between the moderate and religious right wings of the party again. And that will only favor continued Dem dominance.

[/quote]

You may be right.

Like I have said before, third parties do not have a positive impact in the short term in US politics unless a major party is liquidating (eg Lincoln’s post-Whig Republicans).

This may be the start of such a liquidation. Hell, I might even join a new centrist party. And I consider myself a liberal.

The other possibility is that this schism (or whatever it is), will have the effect of empowering the party by forcing members to focus on efficacy over ideology.
I think the more pragmatic members (eg: Newt) are more likely to bring this about.

[ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

The talking points of the left seem all over your comments. The GOP has not moved to the right. I’m 50 years old and I can tell you both parties have unmistakeably moved to the left in my lifetime.

I am nearing 50.. and I have found that the GOP has done both (moving right and left). They have moved left fiscally and moved right ‘morally’. I quote it for a reason. The GOP used to believe in staying out of your bedroom… now that is starting to be in question.

[ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

The talking points of the left seem all over your comments. The GOP has not moved to the right. I’m 50 years old and I can tell you both parties have unmistakeably moved to the left in my lifetime.

I am nearing 50.. and I have found that the GOP has done both (moving right and left). They have moved left fiscally and moved right ‘morally’. I quote it for a reason. The GOP used to believe in staying out of your bedroom… now that is starting to be in question.

[ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

The talking points of the left seem all over your comments. The GOP has not moved to the right. I’m 50 years old and I can tell you both parties have unmistakeably moved to the left in my lifetime.

I am nearing 50.. and I have found that the GOP has done both (moving right and left). They have moved left fiscally and moved right ‘morally’. I quote it for a reason. The GOP used to believe in staying out of your bedroom… now that is starting to be in question.

[ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

The talking points of the left seem all over your comments. The GOP has not moved to the right. I’m 50 years old and I can tell you both parties have unmistakeably moved to the left in my lifetime.

I am nearing 50.. and I have found that the GOP has done both (moving right and left). They have moved left fiscally and moved right ‘morally’. I quote it for a reason. The GOP used to believe in staying out of your bedroom… now that is starting to be in question.

[ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

The talking points of the left seem all over your comments. The GOP has not moved to the right. I’m 50 years old and I can tell you both parties have unmistakeably moved to the left in my lifetime.

I am nearing 50.. and I have found that the GOP has done both (moving right and left). They have moved left fiscally and moved right ‘morally’. I quote it for a reason. The GOP used to believe in staying out of your bedroom… now that is starting to be in question.

[Coronita]

[quote=ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

[/quote]

Actually let me clarify this point with you and jpinpb. Both parties are incompetent in that neither can make the effective decisions when empowered to. Consequently, the most plausible solution is to dis-empower incompetent people. Vote across party lines and vote for party that is the underdog that election year. In any case, you can let the parties squabble of abortion, gay rights, religion,etc. No agreement => nothing get’s done => the U.S. is a much better place 🙂

I really wish there was a party the more represents me who is socially liberal and more fiscally conservative (I understand the GOP is anything but fiscally conservative these days too.)

[Coronita]

[quote=ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

[/quote]

Actually let me clarify this point with you and jpinpb. Both parties are incompetent in that neither can make the effective decisions when empowered to. Consequently, the most plausible solution is to dis-empower incompetent people. Vote across party lines and vote for party that is the underdog that election year. In any case, you can let the parties squabble of abortion, gay rights, religion,etc. No agreement => nothing get’s done => the U.S. is a much better place 🙂

I really wish there was a party the more represents me who is socially liberal and more fiscally conservative (I understand the GOP is anything but fiscally conservative these days too.)

[Coronita]

[quote=ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

[/quote]

Actually let me clarify this point with you and jpinpb. Both parties are incompetent in that neither can make the effective decisions when empowered to. Consequently, the most plausible solution is to dis-empower incompetent people. Vote across party lines and vote for party that is the underdog that election year. In any case, you can let the parties squabble of abortion, gay rights, religion,etc. No agreement => nothing get’s done => the U.S. is a much better place 🙂

I really wish there was a party the more represents me who is socially liberal and more fiscally conservative (I understand the GOP is anything but fiscally conservative these days too.)

[Coronita]

[quote=ucodegen]

Vote for government ineptness.

Too many equal choices then… too many to choose from.

[/quote]

Actually let me clarify this point with you and jpinpb. Both parties are incompetent in that neither can make the effective decisions when empowered to. Consequently, the most plausible solution is to dis-empower incompetent people. Vote across party lines and vote for party that is the underdog that election year. In any case, you can let the parties squabble of abortion, gay rights, religion,etc. No agreement => nothing get’s done => the U.S. is a much better place 🙂

I really wish there was a party the more represents me who is socially liberal and more fiscally conservative (I understand the GOP is anything but fiscally conservative these days too.)

[Author]

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