Is it too tough to be a centrist Democrat?

[bamahuey1]

Washington (CNN) -- Facing a backlash from the liberal wing of their party, Sen. Evan Bayh and other centrist Democrats are examining their re-election options and deciding to simply walk away, political analysts note.

"Because Democrats are scared, some people are saying 'it's not worth it ... there's not a place for my voice,' " said political analyst Jennifer Donahue. "It's looking like an exodus -- between him and Sen. Chris Dodd and open seats that look like they could easily be Republican pickups."

Is it too tough to be a centrist Democrat? - CNN.com

Interesting article because conservatives have long been accused of hurting the Republican party due to their own "extremist" views; however, now Democrats are being accused of doing the same. As both parties move further away from the middle "moderates" are being pushed out. Right now, it seems to be hurting the Democrats more because they're the party in power. It also goes to show that moderates are not liked by either party. McCain, Leiberman, and Bush are examples, and yes, I do consider Bush (both of 'em) to be moderate. It remains to be seen how Byah's and other centist Democrats retirements will effect the Democrats in the upcoming elections.

 

[DiamondDust]

I agree. Neither party and their followers want anything to do with moderates at this point.

 

[gmart74]

and more and more of the voting public wants nothing to do with either of the two extremist parties.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Both parties have put extremists out front. The resultant shift in power within the parties to the fringes has resulted in this kind of mess. A man like Lieberman, who has voted with his party over 96% of the time, can be ostracized over a single issue...

 

[J.Will]

Both parties have put extremists out front. The resultant shift in power within the parties to the fringes has resulted in this kind of mess. A man like Lieberman, who has voted with his party over 96% of the time, can be ostracized over a single issue...

It's been said that Bayh was also pretty sure he was going to get trounced in the upcoming elections (guilty by association), and chose to save face. He's got his eye on the presidency and doesn't want an embarrassing defeat on his record.

 

[swoop10]

Is it too tough to be a centrist Democrat? - CNN.com

Interesting article because conservatives have long been accused of hurting the Republican party due to their own "extremist" views; however, now Democrats are being accused of doing the same. As both parties move further away from the middle "moderates" are being pushed out. Right now, it seems to be hurting the Democrats more because they're the party in power. It also goes to show that moderates are not liked by either party. McCain, Leiberman, and Bush are examples, and yes, I do consider Bush (both of 'em) to be moderate. It remains to be seen how Byah's and other centist Democrats retirements will effect the Democrats in the upcoming elections.

I'm not sure how centrist Bayh really is. Someone said today he voted with the Democrats something like 75% of the time. That doesn't sound like a centrist to me. I haven't checked his voting record so I may be wrong but he lives in a Red state and the only way he could get elected was to be a conservative Democrat. I don't think a conservative anything would have voted for the healthcare bill or the stimulas package. Now he is wanting to save face and go back to pretending to be conservative. I'm not falling for it.

 

[bamacon]

I don't mind having people within the party who hold differing views such as one being a fiscal conservative more-so than worrying themselves heavily on the social side. The Democratic Party used to have differing degrees of progressivism within the ranks but the hard left has the reins now and they do not tolerate non-conformity. These ideologues are literally destroying that party and they will see the results of their efforts in the 11th month of this year. I think this hard-line stance is why so many rank-and-file democrats are saying "enough is enough."

Like Swoop I don't buy the Bayh. You cannot vote for the stimulus, cap and tax, and the health care nightmare and call yourself a moderate. Sell out, maybe. Big government progressive, sure. Moderate? Not so much.

 

[swoop10]

I don't mind having people within the party who hold differing views such as one being a fiscal conservative more-so than worrying themselves heavily on the social side. The Democratic Party used to have differing degrees of progressivism within the ranks but the hard left has the reins now and they do not tolerate non-conformity. These ideologues are literally destroying that party and they will see the results of their efforts in the 11th month of this year. I think this hard-line stance is why so many rank-and-file democrats are saying "enough is enough."

Like Swoop I don't buy the Bayh. You cannot vote for the stimulus, cap and tax, and the health care nightmare and call yourself a moderate. Sell out, maybe. Big government progressive, sure. Moderate? Not so much.

I think it is the progressives in both parties that are screwing this country up. A lot of the moderate Repulicans are progressive, big government, big spending Republicans. It seems that most of the moderate Democrats aren't so moderate after all. They fight Obama until they are paid off. How is that moderate? They are the same, they just have different spots. The progressive Republicans are what the moderate Democrats used to be.

 

[jthomas666]

The primary system favors the extremists on both sides.

 

[TexasBama]

I'm not sure how centrist Bayh really is. Someone said today he voted with the Democrats something like 75% of the time.

McCain voted with GWB 96% of the time but I've seen him labeled "not a conservative".

 

[TexasBama]

I agree. Neither party and their followers want anything to do with moderates at this point.

I'm thinking of voting Goldwater posthumously in 2012.

I'm sure the Republicans will trot out some preachers in the primaries.

 

[swoop10]

McCain voted with GWB 96% of the time but I've seen him labeled "not a conservative".

Well I don't consider GWB or McCain a conservative, so I'm not sure where you are going here.

 

[NYBamaFan]

McCain voted with GWB 96% of the time but I've seen him labeled "not a conservative".

Is GWB a conservative?

 

[TexasBama]

Is GWB a conservative?

Limbaugh and Hannity made a career out of telling us he was.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Limbaugh and Hannity made a career out of telling us he was.

Sad, but true...

 

[TexasBama]

Sad, but true...

I think Bush I & II, Cheney, et al are more properly labeled NeoCons.

What I see of what's called conservative is in a significant part right-wing authoratarianism.

To flip this post - is it too tough to be a centrist Republican - i.e. one that doesn't kiss the ring of the bible thumpers? If don't want abortion totally abolished, if you thought Congress convening over Schiavo a joke, if you have no problem with same-sex marriage, if you think Romney being a Mormon is not an issue, if you think its ridiculous a preacher running for prez, you're not a conservative.

 

[swoop10]

Limbaugh and Hannity made a career out of telling us he was.

GWB was a cameleon and he hid under the conservative lable for some time. It took me a while to figure out where he stood but once you see all of the spending programs he supported you can figure it out. I agree that the social conservatives have taken over the conservative movement and I think the fiscal conservatives need to stepup and get it back. The social issues need to take a backseat to our fiscal issues for now.

 

[BigEasyTider]

I'm not sure how centrist Bayh really is. Someone said today he voted with the Democrats something like 75% of the time. That doesn't sound like a centrist to me.

Bayh is from a traditional red state and has always talked a big centrist game.

In reality, his actual voting never really matched the rhetoric. Was he a hardcore liberal? No, that's not a fair summation, but as a general matter he was a reliable vote for whatever the cause was. He remained relatively popular in his home state despite the disparity there, but frankly I always thought that had more to do with his political lineage than anything else.

It should be quite telling that neither Republicans targeted him as a possible swing vote on health care, nor Democrats felt the need to buy his vote like they did others (i.e. Landrieu and Nelson).

Again, he talked as a centrist, but he was a reliable vote...

 

[BigEasyTider]

To flip this post - is it too tough to be a centrist Republican - i.e. one that doesn't kiss the ring of the bible thumpers?

Too tough?

Let me ask you... If you eliminate the issues of the religious right, what do you have left in this hypothetical centrist Republican? You have someone who (or at least should) opposes government regulation, is skeptical of the power of government to act in a positive manner, supports lower taxation, and advocates greater freedom of choice.

Sounds a lot like a libertarian doesn't it? With the sole policy exception of your take on the military, that is a pretty decent, working definition of a libertarian.

And this comes from a libertarian, mind you. I'll be frank and I'll apologize in advance if it offends anyway, but... the religious right scares the living hell out of me and always has. Nevertheless, I must admit that the Republican Party (or the conservative / libertarian movement) needs their vote, and until they can generate more widespread appeal for the ideas, that will continue to be the case. Unfortunately, all of their / our ideas and arguments are largely political losers right now (a few are winners in theory, but losers in political practice).

 

[swoop10]

:iagree:

Bayh is from a traditional red state and has always talked a big centrist game.

In reality, his actual voting never really matched the rhetoric. Was he a hardcore liberal? No, that's not a fair summation, but as a general matter he was a reliable vote for whatever the cause was. He remained relatively popular in his home state despite the disparity there, but frankly I always thought that had more to do with his political lineage than anything else.

It should be quite telling that neither Republicans targeted him as a possible swing vote on health care, nor Democrats felt the need to buy his vote like they did others (i.e. Landrieu and Nelson).

Again, he talked as a centrist, but he was a reliable vote...

:iagree:
I don't think he is a hardcore liberal either. As you and I said he is in a Red state and I don't think he could keep hiding his voting record. It's good to see you over here. We aren't used to getting you guys with knowledge in other areas, giving your opinions here. I like it.