Do Moderates Enable The Republican Right ? (1 Viewer)

[The Other Liberal]

Maybe I'm too far left. I consider myself a Liberal center left Democrat not a radical or progressive. At any rate sometimes I think moderates both Democrat and independent lean more conservative than liberal. They are Republican lite and keep Democrats from doing big things. If moderates are so strong and numerous. If they are better than liberals or the left why does the GOP control so many states and wield such power ? Why haven't moderates been able to save the day or mount a comeback. It's not just the south or border states either. Think about Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin too. Some will says it's the fault of liberals and the left for being extreme and out of touch with voters. But what does that have to do with moderates who clearly look and sound Republican on taxes, spending, regulation, social programs, and some social issues like gun control ? Maybe it's all because of Right wing propaganda ? If I'm missing something or just flat out wrong I want to know what others think.

 

[Paul]

Maybe I'm too far left. I consider myself a Liberal center left Democrat not a radical or progressive. At any rate sometimes I think moderates both Democrat and independent lean more conservative than liberal. They are Republican lite and keep Democrats from doing big things. If moderates are so strong and numerous. If they are better than liberals or the left why does the GOP control so many states and wield such power ? Why haven't moderates been able to save the day or mount a comeback. It's not just the south or border states either. Think about Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin too. Some will says it's the fault of liberals and the left for being extreme and out of touch with voters. But what does that have to do with moderates who clearly look and sound Republican on taxes, spending, regulation, social programs, and some social issues like gun control ? Maybe it's all because of Right wing propaganda ? If I'm missing something or just flat out wrong I want to know what others think.

I consider myself a moderate, a bit left of center. On social issues I am on the left. On economic issues I am conservative. When I have a discussion with Democrats I get the sensation that if you are not 100% with them you are Nazi. They are quite intolerant of views that differ from their perspective. This is sad because back in the day the liberals were extremely tolerant and open minded.

 

[The Other Liberal]

I consider myself a moderate, a bit left of center. On social issues I am on the left. On economic issues I am conservative. When I have a discussion with Democrats I get the sensation that if you are not 100% with them you are Nazi. They are quite intolerant of views that differ from their perspective. This is sad because back in the day the liberals were extremely tolerant and open minded.

Thanks for your response. I would like to know what you think about Donald Trump and Republican Party ? Do you like their policies and think they govern well when in power ?

 

[Paul]

Thanks for your response. I would like to know what you think about Donald Trump and Republican Party ? Do you like their policies and think they govern well when in power ?

Trump is a narcissistic maniac and a jerk with no specific ideology other than whatever feeds his pathological personality disorder. I am a registered independent but did not vote in 2016. Trump panders to whites that feel they have been blamed unjustly for everything that is wrong in the USA.

I like certain things about the Republicans. I like it when they preach hard work, individuality, self reliance, Americanhood, and the libertarian side. I despise Evangelicals, crazoid antiabortionits, and the racist types.

My life under Democrats or Republicans is pretty much the same. The only big difference I see is that in the decades I have lived in America discrimination has gone down a lot and that is probably due to the Democrats.

I like low taxes, but Trump raised my taxes. They now limit state and real estate taxes deductions to 10k a year. That increased my taxes even if the bracket was more favorable.

Lastly my biggest fear with Trump was a stupid war Somewhere.

 

[SaulGoodmanEsq]

Most moderates have probably never voted or have recently become apathetic given the current state of politics. We live in a country where 66% turnout (approximate number for the 2020 election) is considered high.

 

[Paul]

Most moderates have probably never voted or have recently become apathetic given the current state of politics. We live in a country where 66% turnout (approximate number for the 2020 election) is considered high.

I would love a Democrat or Republican politician that does not pander in a condescending manner to special interest groups. Here is Amy Klobuchar, the only candidate I liked on the issue of "free college". Note how she does not pander and tells it like it is.

 

[SaulGoodmanEsq]

I prefer this version of her:

 

[Saintman2884]

Maybe I'm too far left. I consider myself a Liberal center left Democrat not a radical or progressive. At any rate sometimes I think moderates both Democrat and independent lean more conservative than liberal. They are Republican lite and keep Democrats from doing big things. If moderates are so strong and numerous. If they are better than liberals or the left why does the GOP control so many states and wield such power ? Why haven't moderates been able to save the day or mount a comeback. It's not just the south or border states either. Think about Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin too. Some will says it's the fault of liberals and the left for being extreme and out of touch with voters. But what does that have to do with moderates who clearly look and sound Republican on taxes, spending, regulation, social programs, and some social issues like gun control ? Maybe it's all because of Right wing propaganda ? If I'm missing something or just flat out wrong I want to know what others think.

AOC, Bernie Sanders, Illam Omar, Tlalib sadly have made comments or borderline incendiary rhetoric that yeah, does make them sound out of touch, radical, especially embracing the "Democratic socialist" label that puts them in a light to independents and moderates that say, "Maybe some of the GOP's rhetoric about them being far-left Marxist radicals isn't too far from the truth". Its hyperbole, but they haven't always tried to distance themselves from. Bernie Sanders in the past has praised certain policies of Castro's Cuba like saying long food lines makes for better equality? I mean what the fork is that, man? He was extremely reluctant to criticize Hugo Chavez's and his successor, Maduro, failed economic policies that turned what once was one of South America's strongest, resilient economies with a functional democracy into a near-failed state. Wolf Blitzer asked him point blank in 2018 and 2019 a very similar set of questions and he nonchalantly sort of laughingly dodged the question.

Omar has made borderline anti-Semitic comments or tapped into or used antisemitic tropes or old, discredited myths about " Its all about the Benjamins, baby". Some of her remarks almost came across as something akin to what racist butt crevasses like David Duke might say or infer. In fact, after one of her anti-Israeli rants after last year's flare-ups in Gaza, Duke went on to Twitter to reiterate his support for Omar's remarks on Isreal as if they follow his own train of thought.

Compared to late 19th/early 20th century Midwestern "progressives" like Robert La Fonte, Jane Adams, W.E.B Du Bois, and yes, even AFL co-founder Eugene V. Debs, this current generation of progressives cut a very disappointing record, indeed.

 

[Goatman saint]

In any organization like that, at least they are a way to push back against the right wing which has drug everything so far to the right that even people in this country that are on the left worldwide are still leaning conservative.
Now as far as Omar. She has lived a very different life having been born in Somalia and being of the Islamic faith. Most of her comments that have gotten her in the press, other than bits taken out of context have been skewering Israel, and as someone who wonders why the US is nothing but Israel’s lap dog I can’t always say she is wrong. Poorly worded maybe, but not usually completely wrong.
As far as AOC, she is young. She also been a lightning rod and every Mia speak she has has been blown out of proportion. If you actually ever get to watch her just speak, and listen to the whole piece, she once again is pretty well thought out and makes a lot sense when she speaks and talks about her ideas. Yeah there are a few things that faux news likes to run with, but those are generally taken out of context, or some bone with red meat on it for the base that gets tossed out for public opinion.

 

[samiam5211]

Apathetic moderates enable extremists.

Left/Right doesn't matter, it works the same way.

In fact, i would say our current political situation is because moderates in this country are suffering a crisis of leadership.

 

[Paul]

Apathetic moderates enable extremists.

Left/Right doesn't matter, it works the same way.

In fact, i would say our current political situation is because moderates in this country are suffering a crisis of leadership.

The problem is that moderates are label racist right wingers by the left and bleeding heart socialists by the right. We are heading to massive polarization thanks to group identity politics which fosters tribalism.

Democrats and Republicans More Ideologically Divided than in the Past

www.pewresearch.org

 

[samiam5211]

The problem is that moderates are label racist right wingers by the left and bleeding heart socialists by the right. We are heading to massive polarization thanks to group identity politics which fosters tribalism.

Democrats and Republicans More Ideologically Divided than in the Past

www.pewresearch.org

No, the problem is that moderates keep their mouths shut too much, and back down when someone yells at them.

You aren't a moderate BTW.

 

[Paul]

No, the problem is that moderates keep their mouths shut too much, and back down when someone yells at them.

You aren't a moderate BTW.

I favor National Medicare, slavery reparations, free state college, pro-choice, and have zero disagreements with the LGBTQIA+ (except trans women competing with biological women in sports that require strength). You are making my point when I say those in the far left are out of touch and describe moderates as right wingers.

I favor capitalism over socialism any day of the week.

 

[samiam5211]

I favor National Medicare, slavery reparations, free state college, pro-choice, and have zero disagreements with the LGBTQIA+ (except trans women competing with biological women in sports that require strength). You are making my point when I say those in the far left are out of touch and describe moderates as right wingers.

I favor capitalism over socialism any day of the week.

Moderates don't propose rounding up black males and shipping them off to reeducation camps for their own good.

 

[CoolBrees]

Is there such a thing as a moderate sociopath?

 

[Paul]

Moderates don't propose rounding up black males and shipping them off to reeducation camps for their own good.

That is a straw man. If a mother wants to send her kid to boarding school that is her choice. No one forces anyone to do anything.

 

[The Other Liberal]

I think this discussion has gotten off track. However I will add this : For moderates especially Democrats and Independents it's not about countering Conservative Republicans or a conflict. Moderates seek cooperation. To them compromise and bipartisanship are ends not means. To that extent it's not clear if Moderate Democrats are willing to oppose the right on much of anything. However I might be oversimplifying things.

 

[MT15]

I think this discussion has gotten off track.

I see you’ve met Paul, lol.