List the candidates in order from most liberal to most conservative

[CoffeePlease1947]

I am curious as to how people the candidates on the political scale of liberal to conservative

Here is my order from the most Liberal to the most Conservative.

Kucinich
Sharpton
Braun
Dean
Clark
Kerry
Gephardt
Edwards
Lieberman

How do you rank them?


Mike

[AP]

1. It's in the reverse order of the time CNN gave them in the last debate

Kucinich
Edwards
CMB
Sharpton

(can't remember the middle group)

Clark
Dean

[Donna Zen]

14. Actually

Kerry got the most time, followed by Gephardt and Lieberman. Dean did get more time than Clark.

[AP]

34. Debate time: Dean most.

This is a good ranking of liberalism in my mind, Lieberman excepted.

Dean 14 min 07 seconds

Kerry 12 min 31 seconds

Clark 10 min 36 seconds

Gephardt 10 min 02 seconds

Lieberman 9 min 26 seconds

Braun 8 min 39 seconds

Sharpton 8 min 28 seconds

Edwards 8 min 00 seconds

Kucinich 5 min 09 seconds

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=57744

[Donna Zen]

49. Sorry

I went by word count...and my memory.

Interesting.

Personally, if they are just going to waste their time trashing one another, I just wish they'd let Sharpton speak. Seriously. The round table in SC was the most I'd ever heard him. He has some very good ideas. Light rail...YES!

"Blair and Bush: two guys in a phone booth thinking they're having a world summit."

[SouthernDaisy]

2. You right on the money, Coffee! nt.

:)

[newyawker99]

47. Hi SouthernDaisy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. Here's how I see it:

Kucinich
Sharpton
Braun
Clark
Edwards/Kerry
Dean
Gephardt

(this space here signifies that Mr. Lieberman is much more conservative that the rest of the pack!)

LIEberman

Dean is much more conservative than most people think! The reason that he is so popular is that he was the first person to stand up against Mr. Bush against the war in Iraq. But remember, he is a strong proponent of welfare reform, he cut medicare/medicaid to balance the budget and is a very staunch supporter of tough penalties for crimes!

I must disagree with you placement of Edwards, besides his support for this war, he has opposed Bush on everything else, from Social Security, to Tax Cuts and School Vouchers (Edwards Opposes), as well as the Enviroment and spending for Iraq!

Of Course LIEberman is the most conservative! He has been a Bushista on issues of defense from day 1!!!

[CoffeePlease1947]

9. Here is why I placed Edwards there

First, yes, he was for the war and the Patriot Act.
But if you look at his donations you will he heavily supported by big corperations. That is indication to me that is easier on some Big corperations and I also know that he very much supportive of the Tabbaco industry because of the tabbacco farms that are in the South and his state. He didn't raise all that money with just 5% support of the Democratic Party.

You might be right about Dean. But I think his beliefs on the Death Penalty, needle exchange program, civil unions, education, the environment, and taxes are more consistent with that of a social liberal. I think on Foreign Policy he is also liberal. But on fiscal matters I would say he is very conservative. But I do place Clark as slightly more conservative than Dean because he has served in the military and fought and wars. I also think he is less critical of conservative foreign policy issues. So I place Clark slightly more Conservative than Dean.

Using Bush as an indicator of what is conservative or liberal is not a good measuring stick. Bush is not as conservative as he is well, uhmmm, stupid I guess the word would be. Bush is very liberal on spending money. He speads lots and lots of it with no way of recovering the loss. That is wasteful government spending. Bush is not nearly as socially conservative as many others in his party. He not pushing for extreme conservative policies as much as others in the party like Trent Lott were.

Sure the war and the Patriot act are conservative, but that is not why he and his gang are pushing for it. It is more a matter of greed and convience than a person political stance. It suites him and his power grab, so that is pretty much what they are, greedy and stupid. Not conservative. I have more respect for McCain and Norm Coleman. They at least have principles, albeit, badly misguided ones. Bush is for Bush, that is all.

Mike



You argument

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. The Patriot Act Passed 98-1 In The Senate

By that litmus test all Dems with the exception of Russ Feingold are conservative....


And Howard Dean is pro death penalty.... How does that position add to his liberal credentials?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Instead Of Using Bush As A Measure Of What A Conservative Is

maybe you should use Burke....

* is a radical... He hasn't maintained the status quo on foreign policy.... He has stood it on it's head....

[AP]

35. Edwards takes no PAC money, Tobacco or otherwise.

And if you look at his list of donors Tobacco isn't anywhere on the list of top donnors. They're all law firms of the kind that represent INDIVIDUALS not corps.

[DemDogs]

40. Wrong. Edwards takes no PAC or lobbyist money

He is not only not supported by corporations, he is feared by corporations because he was a trial lawyer who pursued corporations when they hurt people.
He did Democratic work when he was a private individual, before he was a Senator.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

42. I must disagree with you about General Clark!

I do NOT believe that one who serves in the military is more conservative than those who did not! Sometimes war is needed! Yes, it's called a "Neccisary Evil"! I DO NOT like war and war must be used a last resort only!!! By the way, General Clark has had a great career in the military!

General Clark is supportive of the military in which he once proudly served! He came from Vietnam and remembered how badly the soldiers were treated! It was unjustifyable!!! He wants to be critical of this Misadministration but at the same time he wants to support the men and women in uniform as do I!!!

There are many liberal/left leaning people who serve in the miltary!
The Right has no monopoly on it!!!!

[janekat]

59. My cousin is WAAY to the left (was a hippy) and was in the military

[blondeatlast]

15. I think you've got it!

[Monte Carlo]

4. Kucininch-Braun-Sharpton-Kerry-Gephardt-Dean-Edwards-Clark-Lieberman

I put Kerry before Dean because Dean is not the leftist radical he is made out to be, and I'd think he'd be the first to tell you that. Side-by-side, Kerry comes up as more liberal than Dean.

[mitchum]

30. You have it right there , Monte Carlo...

but don't expect any of the "true believers" (or boiler room ops) to believe you

[ComerPerro]

44. I think your order is exactly right

I couldn't have put it better.



Meanwhile, I think it should be pointed out that the gaps between some of these candidates may be very narrow, but the idealogical gap between even Lieberman (our most right-leaning candidate) and Bush is several miles wide.

[Lady President]

56. I agree

I think your order of "Kucininch-Braun-Sharpton-Kerry-Gephardt-Dean-Edwards-Clark-Lieberman" is right. After the recent $87B vote I might switch Gephardt and Edwards, but considering Gephardt's pro-union history, I'd keep them in your order for now.

[Padraig18]

5. How I see them

Here is my order from the most Liberal to the most Conservative.

Kucinich
Sharpton
Braun
Edwards
Dean
Clark
Kerry
Gephardt
Lieberman

[cosmicdot]

6. a better gauge for the times may be to rank them

if possible ... from least pro-corporate(/PNAC,neo-con) america
to most pro-corporate(/PNAC,neo-con) america -- imo -- that's the real issue in our lives ... what's best to preserve our country, its principles, etc.; and, that ranking must align to reality ... you know, the integrity walk should groove with the talk ... the more one doubts or questions, the more one should pause to wonder; ergo, rank accordingly ... this should be the focus/theme of any campaign on just about every issue

the results might be similar, but I suspect some shifting

people/infrastructure/sustainable life vs. corporate control

the right-wing and their media enablers would have people believing theirs is best for America ... the labels they use misrepresent and are misleading


with that said ... (some spots are virtual ties)

Sharpton
Kucinich
Braun
Edwards
Gephardt
Dean
Kerry
Lieberman
Clark

[janekat]

16. But what affects our day to day existence: The courts, environment

the minimum wage, the tax structure?

What do we do every day, week, year - breathe in air, spend our dwindling paychecks, go to the jobs we might have or look for the job we DON't have, pay taxes, have taxes deducted from our paychecks, send our kids to schools that suck, deal with crappy health care, deal with the crappy justice system, the IRS.

PNAC, etc. affects us in a much more abstract way...

[cosmicdot]

22. but corporate america does -- every day ... the very air we breathe

PNAC/neo-con being abstract ... I suppose that's in the eyes of the believer/beholder ... and, why I put it in (parentheses) ... corporate america was my original thought

I don't think PNAC/neo-con is abstract ... especially when there are tangible documents and people associated with their policies, beliefs, and actions (i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan, the ME, etc.)

another way to look at it
least DLC
most DLC

Being Gay myself, I don't let the civil union civil right ... it's not an issue, it's a civil right ... drive my rankings.

[ikojo]

31. Gephardt is EXTREMELY DLC

since he was one of the founding members. I would place him right next to Mr Lieberman as being one of the most conservative Dems running today.

Of course he could flip flop (and Mr Gephardt is VERY good at that) on issues but when he consistently votes to support the Bush agenda (when he shows up to vote that is) then I am forced to call him a conservative Democrat. Not as DINO as Lieberman but awful close.

[DemDogs]

41. On that scale lobbyist Clark does have to come in last (n/t)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. K

Kucinich
Sharpton
Moseley Braun
Kerry
Gephardt
Edwards
Clark
Dean
Lieberman

[janekat]

8. Kuchinich, Braun, Sharpton, Kerry, Clark,Gephardt, Edwards,Dean, Lieberman

n/t

[Terwilliger]

18. why is it that you always spell Dennis' name wrong?

Haven't I corrected you before?

[CoffeePlease1947]

25. It took me a month to learn how to spell it, every place I looked I saw it

spelled a different way.

Kuncinich,nope, Kucinch, nope, Kuncinch, nope, Kucinich. YEAH!!!! Good thing people don't have to write his on the ballot.

Mike

[janekat]

60. Not that I know of. Guess I'll have to call him Dennis from now on too.

lol!

[serryjw]

39. You are 100% CORRECT!

Congrads..You are paying attention!:toast:

[janekat]

61. Thanks!

[Donna Zen]

10. Liberal->Conservative

Kuchinich, Braun, Sharpton, Kerry, Clark, Edwards, Gephardt, Dean, Lieberman

[PurityOfEssence]

50. By what conceivable measure is Clark to the left of Edwards?

Clark is pro-vouchers and doesn't seem to have much trouble with the concept of "compassionate conservatism". Then there's the investment banking and corporate "thing" that still hasn't been all that well addressed.

Many people have gotten it pretty close here, but I'd say it's something like this:

Kucinich, Sharpton, Moseley-Braun, Edwards, Gephardt, Kerry, Dean, Clark, Lieberman.

The misleading part of all this is that it makes Kerry look like he's tending to the right, when his human and domestic policies are quite progressive. He's a first-class class traitor, just like FDR, and he deserves great credit for this.

I'd only put two candidates to the right of Dean, and only three to the left of Edwards.

[janekat]

11. Remember - there are MANY more issues than just the war in Iraq.

Soemtimes I think we're all a little too obsessed with it. There's Energy, the Environment, the tax structure, Gun Control, Budget & Economy, Education, the Justice/Prison system, The Kyoto Treaty, Drugs, Health Care, Defense, the Middle East, Foreign Policy, Oil, Infrastructure, Immigration, Jobs, Welfare & Poverty, Corporate Amercica, NAFTA/Free trade, Civil Rights, Social Security, Families & Children, Women's Rights, Abortion, War & Peace, Government Reform.

Do any of us know where each and every candidate stands on the issue?We should figure out where the candidates stand (look at their records NOT just their campaign b.s./drivel).

What we should be doing is take each issue at a time and discuss each candidates record and stance on the issues - really pick it apart. Do a google search to find old/new articles. We need to see where Kerry, Dean, Kuchinich, Gephardt, Edwards, Braun voted, influenced or stood on each of the issues in the last few years. Admittedly with Clark and Sharpton it's a little tougher - because they've never held public office. You can only look at statements that they've made or actions that they've taken.

[Donna Zen]

17. Agreed

The gun issue is what made me place Kerry as more liberal than Clark. They are fairly close on taxes. Clark's Healthcare policy will be out next week, although I would imagine it will be standard Dem fare with a large helping of preventive medicine.

Nevertheless, the cite where you check issues has Clark next to Sharpton. (I'm sorry I don't have a link for that. Someone posted it yesterday in a blog and I have no idea where.)

[JohnKleeb]

20. I thought Kerry and Clark were both pro gun control

:shrug:

[Donna Zen]

33. Supports the ban on assault weapons

Okay with Brady bill. That seems to be the extent of his comments at this time.

[JohnKleeb]

46. Ok seems like the typical democrat position on it

[cosmicdot]

26. where in the original thread is "Iraq" mentioned?

btw it's K-u -c-i- n-i-c-h (only 1 'h')

Do any of us know where each and every candidate stands

You don't think most of us have enough sense to come out of the rain or that we don't know what we're doing?

I know where the candidate I support stands on issues; and, I have a pretty clear understanding where all the others are politically (votes, actions, statements, DLCers or not, etc.); ergo, the ranking given them.

Where exactly are you lobbying this 'ship of state' to go?

[janekat]

62. I know Clark, Dean's and Kucinichs' pretty thoroughly - the rest.....

I can estimate Gephardt, Kerry and Sharptons' to some extent because they've been around so long. Edwards I'm not sure at all.

I see a lot of people on this board who seem to be confused about Dean and Clark's views.

[Renew Deal]

19. Enjoy

Kucinich*
Sharpton
Braun
Clark
Kerry
Edwards
Gephardt
Dean
Lieberman

According to http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm

Kucinich is a moderate-liberal-populist.
Most of the others are on the same level of liberalism.


*Beyond Liberal

[CoffeePlease1947]

23. Problem with that listing is this:

I have gone through those questions and they have several of the candidates positions wrong. Mainly Clark.

Some of the question also try to put everything into "yes" or "no" stances on issues when they are far more complicated.

I wish it were that easy.

Mike

[CoffeePlease1947]

21. I think we all agree on this:

Kucinich, CMB, and Sharpton are most three liberal

Clark, Dean, Kerry, Gephardt and Edwards in the middle.

Lieberman is the most conservative

I guess the real challenge is comparing the 5 middle:

Clark and Edwards seem to bounce around on peoples lists the most I think.

That is most likely because Clark doesn't have a voting record and Edwards's voting record is not very well known.

Mike

[WillyBrandt]

24. Edwards is the most conservative

According to the American Conserative Union. And Lieberman is FAR from being a Republican. Look at the ratings:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=556570

[cosmicdot]

27. these are fair-weather barometers

but, do they take everything ... <everything> into consideration ... right down to supported amendments (whether passed or failed), actions or 'inactions' ... or just 'key' votes which an astute politician could carefully navigate votes on because of how much people cite them? It is possible to mislead people.

not to say that, like economic indicators, there is some helpful trend clues with them ... but, that one should take them, like anything else, with a sense of caution, i.e., polls ...not full-stock.

im-very-ho

[AP]

36. Anyone who looks at Edwards's record, campaing financing, biography...

...can tell he isn't conservative.

[AP]

37. This is a link to someone's opinion.

The link supporting this is just a link to someone else's opnion.

It' isn't a link to the ACU, whatever that is.

[displacedtexan]

28. the political compass

posted earlier today uses statements, policy endorsements, and voting records of the candidates to answer your question. i was surprised to see where the dems actually stood in comparison to one another.

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/usprimaries.html

[wyldwolf]

63. I noticed no one commented on this... bursts a few bubbles, huh?

Funny...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

29. KSMKGELDC

Kucinich
Sharpton
Moseley Braun
Kerry
Gephardt
Edwards
Lieberman
Dean

Clark? who knows?

[gully]

32. Given the Kucinich record on choice, I'd have to disagree with you

on him being the most 'liberal.' I also disagree because of his position on the 'flag thing.'

All in all, I think they have their issues that they are the most liberal on, and I guess it's up to us to decide which ones we care about most.

Which strengths does our country need right now, KWIM?

Here is a ranking system put together by Global Stewards.

Note: Certain candidates could not be 'ranked' because they don't have a voting record on the issues. However, there are links to check them out on various issues.

Believe it or not Lieberman has a better record on the enviroment and civil rights then does Kucinich, however DK is better on labor rights.

http://www.globalstewards.org/democrats.htm#who

[Darranar]

54. In 3 out of 5 categories...

DK wins.

Anyway, economic liberalism and foreign affairs liberalism are the most important things for me; DK's record on the other two issues are good enough.

[JohnKleeb]

57. Yes

Thats true very true Dar, his environmental record is like a high B or A and his civil rights record Ive looked at is good for other groups too.

[AP]

38. It's amazing that so many here define liberal according to social issues.

Do you think the right wingers care one bit about social issues EXCEPT to the extent that they serve as wedge issues to get poor and middle class people to vote for politicians who will make sure that all their wealth and what remaining poltical power they have shifts to the top .05%?

The most important test of liberalism is economic liberalism. It's all about which direction the money is flowing.

Politicians who grease the skids of the movement of wealth to the already wealthy are conservative. Politicians who try to make it flow the other direction are liberal,

[JohnKleeb]

45. Thats true, explains why I like the more economic liberals

yet I am a social liberal as well.

[mitchum]

58. You're absolutely right, AP...

"the most important test of liberalism is economic liberalism" Unfortunately, too many liberals are besotted with identity politics

[poskonig]

43. I'd change a few.

Kucinich
Sharpton
Braun
Kerry
Dean
Gephardt
Clark
Edwards
Lieberman

[Ms. Clio]

48. I'd put them in just the same order

eom

[Darranar]

51. Mine...

Kucinich
Sharpton
Braun
Kerry
Dean
Edwards
Graham
Clark
Lieberman

[mrgorth]

52. Clark to Edwards is foggy...

Could almost be in any order.

[paulk]

53. here

Kucinich
Kerry
Sharpton
Braun
Edwards
Lieberman
Gephardt
Dean
Clark


I don't know why you've got Kerry so low CoffiePlease. His voting record is one of the most liberal in the Senate.

[carpetbagger]

55. Kucinich,Sharp,Braun,Edwards,Gep,Clark,Kerry,Dean,Liebermn

I just don't think Dean's that liberal. He's running on a liberal image, but I think he's to the right of Edwards and Gephardt, and in the same grouping as Clark and Kerry.

[durutti]

64. I Think Kerry's More Liberal Than Clark

Then again, I'm suspicious of Clark in general.

I'd also say Sharpton is more liberal than Kucinich.

[blm]

65. Sharpton, Kucinich, Braun, Kerry, Gep, Edwards, Clark, Dean, Lieberman.

Gep, Edwards and Clark being more even that not.