I think that moderation has been the Democrats biggest mistake. They’ve been trying to take on the Republicans on the Republican’s own turf. Theres nothing a moderate Democrat can offer than a moderate Republican can’t offer better. There
s just no reason to vote for a moderate Democrat.
The Democrats just don’t seem to stand for anything, except maybe beating the Republicans. But when they play that game, it’s always going to be the other sides’ ball.
With Dean, we finally see someone who has something different to say. He proposes changes- Edwards Clark and Kerry just seem to offer the usual assortment of platitudes. And Dean isn’t afraid to say what he sees as wrong with the Democratic party. This will play well to people who- for whatever reason- see the Democratic party as weak.
In short, Dean’s got people excited about an unexciting party. Dean is breaking the image (created by the likes of Gray Davis and Al Gore) that the Democrats are a party of the weak and dull political insiders.
The idea that Dean is an extremist makes me laugh though. I’m a Kucinich girl myself, but I can’t believe I live in a country Kucinich’s rather sensible views are considered out in the statosphere and Dean’s fairly centerist views are considered part of the extreme left. When exactly did the center get shifted?
I believe you’ve misunderstood the data. The numbers don’t measure by job description (e.g. incomes of burger flippers) but by income of wage category (e.g. income of the top 20% of earners etc.) If a lot of people were making less money because they went from “low-paid” executives to “high-paid” burger flippers, for example, this would be reflected as a decrease in salary in the data.
Hear, hear! As I mentioned above, I’m working for Kucinich – not because I expect him to get the nomination, but because I hope if he stays in the race through March with a creditable showing, he’ll get the running-mate spot. A Dean-Kucinich ticket would sew up the party’s left flank and forestall any Green challenge. The Greens have already announced they won’t run their own candidate if Kucinich gets the nomination – I’m hoping they’ll take the same position if he’s the running mate. And it really does make a difference! Kucinich as v.p. for at least four years would go some way towards making progressive ideas more acceptable in this country. But it’s a tough call. I think it’s more likely Dean will name Clark or Edwards or some other Southerner as his running mate, for obvious strategic reasons.
As for the economy and how it helps Bush – who’s going to win the election is irrelevant to this thread. But remember, in politics a year is forever – Bush Sr. looked unbeatable in November '91 – and who can say what the economy’s going to be like a year from now?
A ‘anyone-and-Kucinich’ ticket has about as much chance of winning the Dem primaries as I do. Heck, I probably have a better chance than Kucinich. He may be a fellow Croat, but he is batshit insane. Not a quality to endear himself to the American electorate.
Edwards made the most sense last night. Possible dark horse? I still like Kerry and Lieberman, but Lord knows who’ll still be on the ballot when I get to it
…meaning that my state is part of Super Tuesday (March 2) but guys may have dropped out after Iowa and New Hampshire. Used to be June or so, so we seldom had a choice.
Four states have cancelled their primaries outright. I wonder what it’ll mean.
They may or may not be wise, prudent and good, but they are not (in this country) centrist. If 90% of the population says you’re too liberal, you are, by very definition. I’m an extremist on several issues (in various directions) and I think my libertarian ideas eminently sensible and fair … but they are not mainstream, and I don’t kid myself in thinking my party will win an election.
I see things about Dean I like. In some times and places, I could vote for him. But saying that “he’s centrist” won’t change the fact that to most of 'Merkins, he isn’t.
