What happened to the moderates?

2015-12-11T16:06:24-05:00

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.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 4:10 PM

2015-12-11T16:10:46-05:00

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

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...

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Dec 11 at 2015 4:15 PM

2015-12-11T16:15:26-05:00

We are caught in the middle! As we watch Alice go down the rabbit hole!

Response by Cpl Chris Rice made Dec 11 at 2015 4:20 PM

2015-12-11T16:20:08-05:00

I like how everybody is upset with the two party system because they feel that both sides have become too radical, in fact gallup found that 46% of all voters in the United States identify as being independent, and that party participation has fallen dramatically. This means that almost half of the US is not eligible to participate in the primary election process which decides who the candidates are on the ballot. People leaving the parties because of how radical they are is going to make the problem worse, not better with the continued cycle where the most moderate members of both parties are leaving, giving a greater amount of voice to the more radical portion of the party. If you cannot understand why Donald Trump is continuing to rise in the polls it is due to the polling of registered Republicans who only represent 29% of the population, and have become more radical over that time. This also is why a divisive and fairly unlikable candidate like Hilary Clinton is so dominant. Further since most people know the party they will most likely side with as they really are either a little left or right of center they will vote for the radical candidate because they find the competitor even worse.

Like it or not either a Republican or a Democrat will be elected in 98% of elections, wouldn’t it make more sense to register with a party and have a voice in the selection of the candidate?

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Dec 11 at 2015 4:22 PM

2015-12-11T16:22:13-05:00

MAJ Andrew Fishkin excellent analysis. I agree totally with you. It seems the Republican extremist are doing their best to alienate moderates on both parties. It scares me.

Response by Maj William Gambrell made Dec 11 at 2015 4:26 PM

2015-12-11T16:26:25-05:00

The president that was supposed to bring everyone together drove everyone further apart.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Dec 11 at 2015 4:31 PM

2015-12-11T16:31:24-05:00

Political correctness happened. People are over concerned....and feelings are worn on the outside of sleeves....mostly on the left....who make such a big deal out of things...many things that have been traditional for years....that a lot of moderates have fallen far right in defense.
this is my opinion and I'm sticking to it. :-)

and, ok I've gotta throw this in and some will not like it, but I feel this administration has driven a huge wedge into several things to include racism and religion.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Dec 11 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-12-11T17:09:50-05:00

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.