MyDD :: Comments What Would You Say To A Red-State Friend?

Permalink :: 20 Comments :: Post a Comment

middle? what middle? (none / 0)

You could tell him (in the words of a great Digby post up now http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2005_05_01_digbysblog_archive.html#111505570088217005 ) --

"There is no real middle, there are only two opposing forces."

The middle isn't holding. If you're "in the middle" and there is no middle then you're really nowhere. Talk about nihilism.

by erasmus on Tue May 03, 2005 at 12:42:42 AM EST

The Middle is alive and well (none / 0)

I respectfully disagree wholeheartedley with your statements. The middle is growing. Don't be fooled by the red/blue talk. Many of the people who voted for Kerry were actually voting against Bush.
In Congress, the middle is manifested by the moderate Republicans, who have grown from the 'Northwest Four'. As for the populace, centrist Democrats who were leaning pro-life, are THE MAIN reason for Bush's close wins in few states, including the %16 Black turonout that he got in Ohio.
The Deomcrats are headed for distaster if they don't recognize the growing number of centrists in their base who are fiscally and socially moderate/liberal, but are NOT proponents of gay marriage and are pro-life leaning.
The Republicans are already getting headaches trying to keep the moderates in their party, who are basically somewhat liberatarian and are getting tired of the growing deficit, huge gov't military spending, heavy military casualties abroad and the heavy Christian influence (which puts them on the same page as many democrats)
As you know, many libertarians are pro-choice....
The middle is growing....It's just not the same middle for both sides.

by Bruticus on Tue May 03, 2005 at 10:19:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Middle is alive and well (none / 0)

Part of your argument is really just the semantics of what you're calling the "middle". The "middle" occupied (or believed to be occupied) by the red state friend in question, is not the "middle" of moderate Rs and Ds that you describe.

The rest of your argument is just wishful thinking. Party discipline on both sides currently is stronger than I've seen in a while and the country is pretty well divided on many fronts. The moderates you identify in both parties (plus libertarians -- who've never had much impact on the politics of this country anyway, etc.) don't appear to be coalescing into one big "middle".

I see no real world support for your argument other than the current poll numbers for the Pres -- but I don't think he's falling in the polls because people are waking up or moving to the "middle." Iraq's going bad and gas is skyrocketing. If either or both of those go the other way, he'll be back in favor -- with approx 50% of the people. The other 50% (me and the other smart ones) will hate him regardless of the turn of events.

by erasmus on Tue May 03, 2005 at 11:19:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]