General Discussion

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)

20. True. So like good Liberals, we keep our views and relish the time we get a bit of a pendulum swing

Reply to southernyankeebelle (Reply #12)

Fri Nov 30, 2012, 03:57 PM

Nov 2012

My sene is that it is a continuum and on 1-10 scoring, 9-10 being Liberal and 5-6 being Moderate...I'd give Obama a 5 1/2. Better than 4 1/2 or 2 or 3 which is the typical Conservative. I believe it is the polarities of the "extreme" 1-2 vs. 9-10 that cereate the curve of Moderates...similar to a grading curve. Popularity and conformity is the comfort of the Moderate and suggest that the "undecideds" are the truest moderates of all and can be swayed a degree either way, thus suggesting the typical margin of the popular vote around 2-3 points.

I'm not convinced that the relative political conversation has changed that much in the past few decades. Causes, wrongs to be righted, factual issues are cyclical and fluid.

I've also heard the theory of the thirds...featuring equal measures of conservative, moderate and liberal...which makes sense, as well.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

67 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Bruce Bartlett: Revenge of the Reality-Based Community-My life on the Republican right & and how... [View all] Faryn Balyncd Nov 2012 OP

Wow. Someone willing to think for himself instead of blindly follow someone else's ideology. randome Nov 2012 #1

He's going to be very unpopular with certain elements here on DU Fumesucker Nov 2012 #2

Anyone Democrat thinks that Obama is some sort of left-winger is as delusional... truebrit71 Nov 2012 #3

It's peculiar that a lot of those who think Obama is a liberal just loathe anyone to Obama's left Fumesucker Nov 2012 #5

anyone who thinks Obama is a liberal adieu Nov 2012 #14

CORRECT Skittles Dec 2012 #55

Well, I guess I'm clueless. PragmaticLiberal Dec 2012 #61

Look at the votes of Sen. Bernie Sanders, a real, actual Socialist. Ikonoklast Nov 2012 #9

That's because Sanders is very clear on issues that directly affect the American people. sabrina 1 Nov 2012 #17

+100000 noiretextatique Nov 2012 #32

The term "historical context" is particularly important. Agnosticsherbet Nov 2012 #6

Yeah, but the US has had _two_ screaming rightist presidents, arguably three if you count GHWB Fumesucker Nov 2012 #7

If we tend to elect all those "center" representatives, why do we end up with such a RW government? Vincardog Nov 2012 #21

I disagreed with many of Bartlett's points, but I found him coming around refreshing. apnu Nov 2012 #25

Obama at his most liberal is an Eisenhower Democrat, JDPriestly Dec 2012 #65

I don't particularly agree with him on that but it's a valid viewpoint. randome Nov 2012 #31

I've always maintained that with Clinton, Democrats took a hard right and stayed there. TalkingDog Nov 2012 #43

In the International neighborhood of "Civilized Countries", bvar22 Dec 2012 #63

excellent article, thank you for bringing it. hollysmom Nov 2012 #4

Thanks, Sekhmets Daughter Nov 2012 #8

A great find! Thanks and keep 'em coming! K & R freshwest Nov 2012 #10

Thank you! Segami Nov 2012 #11

Well liberals always knew Obama truly was more of a blue dog dem. Not a surprise to southernyankeebelle Nov 2012 #12

True. So like good Liberals, we keep our views and relish the time we get a bit of a pendulum swing libdem4life Nov 2012 #20

Excellent point. If the right could stay away from the social issues and try to outreach southernyankeebelle Nov 2012 #27

A pendulum that swings from hard right to slightly right of center isn't really much of a pendulum Fumesucker Nov 2012 #30

The Hard Right would state it completely opposite...I have it on good knowledge. libdem4life Nov 2012 #35

The hard right think Obama is a communist, hardly an accurate observation of reality Fumesucker Nov 2012 #42

Back in the day ... 1970-72 ... McGovern was a way far lefty Everyone back then...until we anti-war libdem4life Nov 2012 #44

Bush sold fear and militarism to enhance his "cult of personality" Kolesar Nov 2012 #13

Great excerpts. Thanks for posting! Bookmarked. Recommended without hesitation. nt Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2012 #15

It takes a big person LondonReign2 Nov 2012 #16

I call this BULSHIT! Hutzpa Nov 2012 #18

Obviously you have not read the article that the links lead to. Bartlett is right about Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2012 #23

I'm calling bullshit to their or Bartletts' theory Hutzpa Nov 2012 #45

When you refer to 'just selling books' (paraphrased) you refer to central thesis which is not Obama. Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2012 #49

This is what I'm responding to Hutzpa Nov 2012 #50

You are picking on the straw that broke the camel's back, not the Republican load of BS that Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2012 #51

We all know republicans believe in their own BS Hutzpa Nov 2012 #52

I take it that you believe the president to be a true liberal. reusrename Dec 2012 #56

Well Obama is far from being a Liberal. And he doesn't seem to have much time for the Progressive sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #57

You seem to be afraid to read the article, perhaps because of where it is located. That is just like Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2012 #58

His Sec of Ag is Vilsack BlueToTheBone Dec 2012 #59

The Republicans have ceded reality CJCRANE Nov 2012 #19

We need many many more of these gop turncoats who have seen the light Dont call me Shirley Nov 2012 #22

Reality therapy for Tea Partiers and Faux fans: Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2012 #24

He's getting closer, but still won't admit he's still missing some points: JHB Nov 2012 #26

absolutely noiretextatique Nov 2012 #33

Thank you. nt Hutzpa Nov 2012 #46

Yes, there's still something "off" about his idea... CJCRANE Nov 2012 #34

^^^ THIS ^^^ Hutzpa Nov 2012 #47

It is shocking when a Repub or ex-Repub publicly stands up hifiguy Nov 2012 #28

Obama is neither Liberal or Republican. He is a pragmatist. He works to get compromise. ray of light Nov 2012 #29

And LBJ and FDR .. sendero Nov 2012 #37

He's not a Pragmatist Hydra Nov 2012 #40

Fantasic article.. sendero Nov 2012 #36

Has he denounced Ayn Rand? Did I miss something? SleeplessinSoCal Nov 2012 #38

More Proof that the extreme RW is swinging a bit left. Pat Robertson is the CF of that equation. libdem4life Nov 2012 #39

It's Nice When Ex Righties See The Light colsohlibgal Nov 2012 #41

kick bloomington-lib Nov 2012 #48

Fascinating article, BUT... markpkessinger Dec 2012 #53

BRUCE NAILS IT!!!! Skittles Dec 2012 #54

This guy isn't really even a GOP turncoat... he's just showing how extreme they've become. reformist2 Dec 2012 #60

Slow learners. /nt Festivito Dec 2012 #62

How Republican is this thinking? JDPriestly Dec 2012 #64

Keynes continues to be validated rudycantfail Dec 2012 #66

Nice amuse bouche Dec 2012 #67