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Back in the day, there were a few far left or far right candidates who always fizzed out early in the primary season, resulting in an election between a left-of-center moderate liberal and a right-of-center moderate conservative. The best example of such an election was George H.W. Bush's reelection run against Bill Clinton. Like them or hate them, both were very moderate candidates who worked well with legislators on both sides of the aisle, occasionally went against their own party and in my opinion were excellent presidents. Ronald Reagan was another right-of-center moderate who was well-liked by Democrats and Republicans alike.
Today, especially among congressional Republicans we have what appears as a civil war as the religious zealots and the no-tax/no-regulation anarchists try to take over the GOP and run the moderates out, which is something they've done very well and much to the detriment of the country (IMO).
So, are there any moderates left? Can a moderate win? Would a moderate be able to govern with two parties as extremist and temper-tantrum prone as what we have on both sides today?
I would argue that Sanders is a far left candidate and Cruz, Carson, Rubio and Fiorina are far right candidates. Hillary Clinton, despite all of the VERY aggressive and well-organized smear campaigns against her is actually quite moderate and always has been, while Chris Christie, Lindsay Graham and John Katich on the other side of the aisle are also among the few remaining moderates.
On the GOP side, it doesn't seem like a moderate has any chance at all, and on the Democratic side the smear against her may be enough to block the only credible moderate with a chance of winning the general election.
Extremism on either wing is terrifying, especially when that side also holds both chambers of congress. I don't pray, but really, really, REALLY hope that we don't get Ted Cruz in the White House with a GOP house and senate to sign feed him far-right theocratic bills that he would certainly sign.
Today, especially among congressional Republicans we have what appears as a civil war as the religious zealots and the no-tax/no-regulation anarchists try to take over the GOP and run the moderates out, which is something they've done very well and much to the detriment of the country (IMO).
So, are there any moderates left? Can a moderate win? Would a moderate be able to govern with two parties as extremist and temper-tantrum prone as what we have on both sides today?
I would argue that Sanders is a far left candidate and Cruz, Carson, Rubio and Fiorina are far right candidates. Hillary Clinton, despite all of the VERY aggressive and well-organized smear campaigns against her is actually quite moderate and always has been, while Chris Christie, Lindsay Graham and John Katich on the other side of the aisle are also among the few remaining moderates.
On the GOP side, it doesn't seem like a moderate has any chance at all, and on the Democratic side the smear against her may be enough to block the only credible moderate with a chance of winning the general election.
Extremism on either wing is terrifying, especially when that side also holds both chambers of congress. I don't pray, but really, really, REALLY hope that we don't get Ted Cruz in the White House with a GOP house and senate to sign feed him far-right theocratic bills that he would certainly sign.
Posted in these groups: 
Politics
Politics
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 7
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The Newsroom 1x03: The 112th Congress (The Media Elite)
Hell yeah! This is the Aaron Sorkin auratory I know & love!, this opening sequence was astonishingly well written. Behold, The West Wing 2.0 Absolutely no co...
Both parties have become hyperpolarizing and have nearly disenfranchised the middle.
Episode 3 of The Newsroom summerizes this point, in my opinion. As a former Republican the Tea Party has hijacked my party. Those that do not pander to their ideals get beat in their primaries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_i9fw43Moo
Episode 3 of The Newsroom summerizes this point, in my opinion. As a former Republican the Tea Party has hijacked my party. Those that do not pander to their ideals get beat in their primaries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_i9fw43Moo
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The destruction of the moderate started back in the 1960's with the flip flop of Southern DixieCrats to Republicans. Northern moderate Rockerfeller Republicans got thrown under the bus. The onslaught of Northern Democrats crushed the Northern Moderate Republicans.
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LTC (Join to see)
But sadly the moderates are being pushed out of the Democratic party as well, just not at such an alarming rate as on the GOP side.
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CW3 Kevin Storm
both parties are working hard alienate all moderates. No offence to Iowa or NH, but why in hell does a straw poll and a small state get to dictate what leaders we are going to see down the road? No more nobody states, shorten the election cycle to 4 months prior to November, one Super Tuesday Primary for both parties, Sick of years worth of political bashing.
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LTC (Join to see)
CW3 Kevin Storm - I would add NO CAMPAIGNING whatsoever until a set day, June 1 for example, on the actual election year.
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The president that was supposed to bring everyone together drove everyone further apart.
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Sgt Kelli Mays
Maj William Gambrell EXACTLY! A huge wedge is stuck between the parties...but not just the parties....with many other things...issues that have gotten 10 fold worse.
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Maj William Gambrell
LTC (Join to see) - We have different opinions on the matter. But, the bottom line is the country has become more segregated than it was in the 70's under Obama's tenure.
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LTC (Join to see)
Maj William Gambrell - Hoe much of that is Obama, and how much was current events like Ferguson?
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