General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Fetterman has lost what's left of his Mind [View all]AZProgressive
(29,863 posts)are actually more like moderate Social Democrats. There really isn't much of a far left in this country and most of the policy positions are popular with the electorate like universal health care. Not every issue is popular with the electorate but not every issue moderates-centrists are in favor is popular either.
Obama did govern as a moderate but before that he campaigned to the left of Hillary Clinton though mainly on the Iraq war issue but Obama took positions that turned out different when he was President. Though I think he moved left on marriage equality but he previously supported that position in the 90s so he moved back to where he was. Other things like foreign policy or civil liberties he moved to the right or closer to where Bush was.
Usually the Republican screws things up and elects a Democrat but after two terms they switch back to the Republican. I think Democrats could have sustained and long term success if they deliver change much like they had with FDR & Truman or Presidents from the 60s and 70s who may have been moderates for their times but were much further than the party after Reagan.