What is "Third Way" & Who here supports it?

[justiceischeap]

48. I've lived in different states

I was born and raised in Missouri until I was 12 (most Democrats in Mo. are Third Way/Blue Dog Dems)
I then moved to Amish Country Pennsylvania (most Democrats in the area I lived in are Third Way/Blue Dog Dems)
I then moved to a very tiny pocket of blue in Norfolk, VA (before VA became a purple state). Anyway, in the small area I lived in we were all very progressive but the further you expanded by north and south, well, tons of Third Way/Blue Dog dems.
Finally, I'm in Maryland, in the DC burbs. We're a fairly blue state but I can tell you the further west and south (in the peninsula area) you go in Maryland, the more moderate Democrats become.

The point of the above list is this: If we want to win Democratic elections, then we have to be a party available (and welcoming, IMO) to all shades of Democrats. If we aren't, then we're no better than the Teapublican party that we constantly complain about on DU.

Do I wish Blue Dog/Third Way Democrats were more liberal in foreign policy? Hell yes! Do I wish they were more liberal with the economy? Hell yes! However, one thing I can generally count on with Blue Dogs/Third Way Dems is this: Socially, they are not going to vote in a theocracy. They may not be brave and stand up for things like marriage equality until the polls tell them otherwise but they also have constituents they are beholden to. It seems many are missing this viewpoint in the Democratic party these days--that our party is a melting pot and, until recently, we didn't have purity tests or have to sign pledges to be a part of the Democratic party.

From where I'm sitting, I'm pretty close to abandoning both parties and becoming an Independent. I'll always vote for the Democrat but I don't know if I want to be associated with what some want our party to become (which doesn't look a hell of a lot different to me than the Tea Party).