General Discussion

Silent3

(15,909 posts)

51. Moderation can be a great thing, under the right circumstances, which aren't the circumstances...

Mon Nov 4, 2013, 10:29 AM

Nov 2013

...we face on many issues in Congress right now, unfortunately.

Republicans have been very successfully in framing many debates in their own terms (like the debt and deficits) so that no one even wants to say flat-out the very historically justified evidence that deficit spending (on the right things, like infrastructure, unemployment payments, creating jobs) can be a good thing. Acting like reducing the deficit in a burning emergency above all else is already conceding more than half the battle to Republicans.

No compromise made under those terms is true "moderation".

A moderate position on abortion would be in line with what many Americans already support, which is no restrictions during early pregnancy, but perhaps some late-term restrictions that don't endanger the life and health of the mother.

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Why moderates are so often bad news [View all] cali Nov 2013 OP

+1. These people are not going to go away because of appeals to "moderation". DireStrike Nov 2013 #1

Thanks to "moderates", this is what we now have in Washington ... Scuba Nov 2013 #2

Thanks for reposting this WhaTHellsgoingonhere Nov 2013 #110

Me thinks that donkey belongs a tad-to-a-goodly bit to the right of where depicted indepat Nov 2013 #111

There aren't any moderate Democrats, either Demeter Nov 2013 #3

? There aren't any radical Democrats.... truebluegreen Nov 2013 #35

About 100 fire breathers BobbyBoring Nov 2013 #107

I don't know, but boy hey howdy would I like to see that! truebluegreen Nov 2013 #109

Question about the definition of a moderate. Laelth Nov 2013 #4

I think it is hard to define what a moderate is cali Nov 2013 #5

You and I have both been called purists in the past. Laelth Nov 2013 #12

So name the hard right wing positions you would accept in a candidate to prove you are no 'purist' Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #9

The official teaching of the Catholic church springs to mind nxylas Nov 2013 #16

What has the RCC have to do with politics and politicians? Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #18

I was giving an example of how someone could be conservative on some issues and liberal on others nxylas Nov 2013 #29

Why are you attacking a fellow DU'er? Very rude approaching Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #72

Good answer beerandjesus Nov 2013 #42

As, I suspect, are a lot of Catholics nxylas Nov 2013 #56

It's well known that most Catholics disagree with the Church's stance on birth control beerandjesus Nov 2013 #60

are you pro-ssm or anti gm? Doctor_J Nov 2013 #98

Not sure I understand the question.... beerandjesus Nov 2013 #125

Personally, I am not heavily invested in the social/cultural issues you mention. Laelth Nov 2013 #17

So you would sell out your neighbor's rights to prove you are not a purist? You don't care about Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #19

We have already won on those issues. Laelth Nov 2013 #23

We have not already won those issues, right now in the Senate they are debating a bill that would Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #30

I am not dismissing your complaints. Laelth Nov 2013 #32

I am so with you on this. Enthusiast Nov 2013 #116

You have not answered ONE of the questions asked of you. This indictes a lack of respect. Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #129

I have no interest in "fighting" with you because you are an ally of mine. Laelth Nov 2013 #130

I asked you several specific questions and you ignored them. Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #134

I will support you in your attempt to see the national consensus translated into law. Laelth Nov 2013 #135

NO WE HAVE NOT. Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #84

+1 Rex Nov 2013 #97

Purist is not a "made up" word in this context Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #70

'Purist' IS a made up word to attack Liberals with. It, like many others, comes from sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #126

A moderate position on abortion treestar Nov 2013 #54

That's my deffinition BobbyBoring Nov 2013 #108

overwhelming majority of voters hold a potpouri of opinions scheming daemons Nov 2013 #6

I specified that the op was about Congress cali Nov 2013 #8

You mean the center on gay marriage and marijuana has moved right since 1950? Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #74

Only our political representation has moved right. Enthusiast Nov 2013 #118

Marriage equality and marijuana reform have progressed because of activists who never stopped Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #128

So the Moderates are willing to stand up and say 'we elected GW Bush'? Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #11

But what is the "centre?" DissidentVoice Nov 2013 #15

Hear, hear! truebluegreen Nov 2013 #38

But that's exactly what it is - support for the Status Quo leftstreet Nov 2013 #73

No ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2013 #123

There's no moderate position on abortion in congress Major Nikon Nov 2013 #7

du rec. xchrom Nov 2013 #10

There are so few Democrats left DissidentVoice Nov 2013 #13

"Moderate" = accepting the far-right position most of the time BlueStreak Nov 2013 #14

Moderates are not "bad news" oberliner Nov 2013 #20

it appears as if you didn't even read the op cali Nov 2013 #24

Appearances can be deceiving oberliner Nov 2013 #45

Thanks! I agree! Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #77

2K and fucking R lonestarnot Nov 2013 #21

Blaming moderates for the Democrats wimpiness is not going to do anything Snake Plissken Nov 2013 #22

Sad but damn true. We need to understand what happened in 2010..... AverageJoe90 Nov 2013 #103

people tend to vote on 1 or 2 issues they hold dear n2doc Nov 2013 #25

I missed the larger "moderate" thread, reflection Nov 2013 #26

Great encapsulation of the issue. Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #76

Recommend jsr Nov 2013 #27

The Barack Obama Twitter account... Benton D Struckcheon Nov 2013 #28

+100 truebluegreen Nov 2013 #39

+1. Laelth Nov 2013 #71

So you believe in fiscal irresponsibility? Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #78

In times like these, yes. Benton D Struckcheon Nov 2013 #81

You are actually arguing that Keynsian deficit spending IS fiscally responsible Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #82

I'm on record as seeing the Fed as useless Benton D Struckcheon Nov 2013 #106

dishonest to the max. Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #85

and you know this how? Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #86

You are right. nt Enthusiast Nov 2013 #119

The only thing in the middle of the road is yellow stripes and dead armadillos-Jim Hightower hobbit709 Nov 2013 #31

In the past, I considered myself a "moderate" and "independent" mountain grammy Nov 2013 #33

I think that's true of a lot of people progressoid Nov 2013 #55

"Liberal" has become a slur because WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO become one! DissidentVoice Nov 2013 #64

I think the "moderate" position on abortion is "safe, legal and rare". Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #34

Disagree in spades. truebluegreen Nov 2013 #40

You're not familiar with the DU "fuck rare" crowd? It exists. Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #43

2 is a crowd? truebluegreen Nov 2013 #50

Read the whole threads. Many posters have the "fuck rare" philosophy. Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #62

My position is "fuck the politicians" regarding this issue, truebluegreen Nov 2013 #65

And mine is "fuck the politicians who are trying to ban abortion", Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #67

"rare" is a paternalistic judgemental edict that implies abortion is wrong. Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #122

Ted Kennedy was paternalistic and judgmental? Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #131

yes. Oddly enough he was not perfect nor a saint. Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #132

Yes, as it happens I do. Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #133

yes you have the words of a triangulation specialist using the carefully constructed phrase her Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #140

A "triangulation specialist" who you will most likely be voting for in November 2016. Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #144

I've been voting for repulsive center right Democratic candidates since Carter. Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #146

At some point you will probably need to tone down the "Hillary is repulsive" stuff. Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #147

I agree gopiscrap Nov 2013 #36

Moderates are nothing but political chickens! gopiscrap Nov 2013 #37

The only thing Congress fels 'moderate' about is 'fair' tax rates for the wealthy! dmosh42 Nov 2013 #41

Moderates are people with political commitment issues. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #44

A coalition party *must* insist on a degree of purity. Marr Nov 2013 #46

Sane is the new moderate. geek tragedy Nov 2013 #47

"Crazies on the left" could hold their conventions in a phone booth. bullwinkle428 Nov 2013 #53

A really giant phone booth, maybe nt geek tragedy Nov 2013 #61

Is someone who supports the execution or imprisonment of Tim Cook, Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #69

Moderates were once known as Conservatives leftstreet Nov 2013 #75

Talk about false equivalence. cui bono Nov 2013 #113

Example: Cynthia McKinney left the party geek tragedy Nov 2013 #124

So you consider them crazy? Liken them to Teabaggers? cui bono Nov 2013 #136

Want an example of a left idea that has no basis in reality? geek tragedy Nov 2013 #137

Even if I agreed with you, that's not even close to Teabaggerdom. cui bono Nov 2013 #138

It's not false equivalence. geek tragedy Nov 2013 #142

I am very pro-Choice but intaglio Nov 2013 #48

they can be good news alc Nov 2013 #49

Moderation can be a great thing, under the right circumstances, which aren't the circumstances... Silent3 Nov 2013 #51

The right wing is not in the least willing to be moderate! treestar Nov 2013 #52

Exactly right! ljm2002 Nov 2013 #57

moderate republicans green917 Nov 2013 #58

my moderate k & r L0oniX Nov 2013 #59

What passes as "moderate" today was considered radical just a few short years ago. dawg Nov 2013 #63

Yet, the left is blamed for not supporting Democrats who support Republican policies. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2013 #79

Perfectly stated! n/t Kermitt Gribble Nov 2013 #99

PLUS ONE! nt Enthusiast Nov 2013 #120

Excellently put rock Nov 2013 #66

You have just said it. What the MSM is telling us is moderate, is bogus. They have been pushing lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #68

This point cannot be stressed enough: ronnie624 Nov 2013 #80

All Tags Have Moved Hard Right colsohlibgal Nov 2013 #83

Absolutely right on! Enthusiast Nov 2013 #121

The saddest are the moderates that behave like extremists toward the rest of the party. Rex Nov 2013 #87

examples? Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #89

Too easy. Rex Nov 2013 #90

waiting. Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #91

This guy right here Rex Nov 2013 #92

my apologies. who is that? I don't recognize the face. Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #93

Just some piece of trash that hid behind the moderate tag Rex Nov 2013 #94

thanks for nothing. Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #95

Aww why are you so sadz now? Rex Nov 2013 #96

quit being so EXTREMELY MODERATE! Nothing good ever came from moderation. Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #88

I was quite speciific in my op. YOU, oth, are not at all specific in your complaints about it cali Nov 2013 #115

This message was self-deleted by its author mother earth Nov 2013 #100

I remember when the Dem moderate position on marriage was STFU. nt Zorra Nov 2013 #101

Somewhat decent OP, but the Repubs aren't really crying out for "moderation" at all, TBH. AverageJoe90 Nov 2013 #102

In my experience? liberalmuse Nov 2013 #104

. blkmusclmachine Nov 2013 #105

There are plenty of Republican moderates in the congress. I'd say at least 70. quakerboy Nov 2013 #112

I'm certainly not lapping up this nonsense. Enthusiast Nov 2013 #114

useful tools for blue-washing right wing policies.... KG Nov 2013 #117

the problem with the word moderate is - where do you put the goal post? Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #127

DURec! bvar22 Nov 2013 #139

+1 for the Jim Hightower allusion. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #141

I say this all the time, but I'll say it again MissMillie Nov 2013 #143

This. blackspade Nov 2013 #145