# The quietest voice in America
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [March 17, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081 "2011-03-17T22:50:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/1 "2011-03-17T22:50:48Z")
In [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13581764&postcount=40) in the thread _“How far away are Americans from the “breaking point”?”_ **Agnostic Pagan** makes a sage point which I find intriguing:
> [@](#):
>
> He (Obama) wants to govern from the middle - which only alienates both sides and the middle is the quietest voice in America and thus very hard to maintain support from.
Is this true, even a truism of American politics?
It’s not true here in Australia. This may be because that with compulsory voting and preferential/proportional voting the middle is clearly enfranchised with the political power. If you like, the middle speaks softly but carries the big stick.
Conversely I don’t believe that applies in the UK where neither those two factors of psephology are in play.
Is American politics a shouting match between the Right and the Centre Right, and governed by compromises that neither protagonist finds satisfactory?
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/2 "2011-03-17T23:25:27Z")
Our best hope is a moderate Republican as President who won’t set the far-righters foaming at the mouth and be tolerable to most Democrats while having the firm support of the centre.
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/3 "2011-03-17T23:27:40Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> Our best hope is a moderate Republican as President who won’t set the far-righters foaming at the mouth and be tolerable to most Democrats while having the firm support of the centre.
cite?
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### Author:  [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/4 "2011-03-17T23:28:56Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> Our best hope is a moderate Republican as President who won’t set the far-righters foaming at the mouth and be tolerable to most Democrats while having the firm support of the centre.
More likely that a moderate Democrat would be better for the nation, since Republicans are ideologically devoted to the fantasy that tax cuts pay for themselves.
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/5 "2011-03-17T23:29:56Z")
> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> cite?
The strongly bipartisan administration of Nixon and even of Reagan (who did work with both parties).
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/6 "2011-03-17T23:39:58Z")
I could go for a moderate Republican President if the Democrats held the Senate. The problem is that the number of moderate Republicans these days is about the same as the number of [Yangtze River Dolphins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangtze_River_Dolphin). In my opinion, the only moderates running for office these days are running as Democrats.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/7 "2011-03-17T23:50:05Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> Our best hope is a moderate Republican as President who won’t set the far-righters foaming at the mouth and be tolerable to most Democrats while having the firm support of the centre.
Your best hope for what?
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/8 "2011-03-17T23:51:08Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> The strongly bipartisan administration of Nixon and even of Reagan (who did work with both parties).
It isn’t Obama who refuses to be bipartisan.
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/9 "2011-03-17T23:52:53Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> Your best hope for what?
For bipartisanship to set an example.
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
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> It isn’t Obama who refuses to be bipartisan.
Sadly I agree.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/10 "2011-03-17T23:54:59Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#):
>
> I could go for a moderate Republican President if the Democrats held the Senate. The problem is that the number of moderate Republicans these days is about the same as the number of [Yangtze River Dolphins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangtze_River_Dolphin). In my opinion, the only moderates running for office these days are running as Democrats.
That’s what I was going to say. The Democrats _are_ the moderate conservatives. Obama is right about where Reagan and Poppy Bush were, arguably a little more fiscally conservative.
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/11 "2011-03-18T00:09:07Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> That’s what I was going to say. The Democrats _are_ the moderate conservatives. Obama is right about where Reagan and Poppy Bush were, arguably a little more fiscally conservative.
And socially still well to the left, indeed more than even Mondale and McGovern at least with regards to gay marriage. Plus neither Reagan or Bush Sr. called for UHC and why do you suppose political spectrums must always move to the left?
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/12 "2011-03-18T00:12:39Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#):
>
> I could go for a moderate Republican President if the Democrats held the Senate. The problem is that the number of moderate Republicans these days is about the same as the number of [Yangtze River Dolphins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangtze_River_Dolphin). In my opinion, the only moderates running for office these days are running as Democrats.
Scott Brown, Mark Kirk, Lincoln Chafee, Richard Lugar, Lisa Murkowski to give off rom the top of the list. And I’ve always thought that the Republicans make the best Executives while I can tolerate a Democratic Legislature better (ie as during the Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan years).
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/13 "2011-03-18T00:18:15Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> And socially still well to the left, indeed more than even Mondale and McGovern at least with regards to gay marriage. Plus neither Reagan or Bush Sr. called for UHC and why do you suppose political spectrums must always move to the left?
Because that is both just and sensible.
Obama never supported UHC, he pushed what is essentially a handout to insurance companies (and is just a warmed over Republican plan). And Obama doesn’t support single sex marriage (or rights for homosexuals in general), he’s been at best indifferent to it.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/14 "2011-03-18T00:19:06Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
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> And socially still well to the left, indeed more than even Mondale and McGovern at least with regards to gay marriage.
He’s in the center on social issues
> [@](#):
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> Plus neither Reagan or Bush Sr. called for UHC
Neither has Obama.
> [@](#):
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> and why do you suppose political spectrums must always move to the left?
Who said that? Morally, it SHOULD, but the center doesn’t always move where it should.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/15 "2011-03-18T00:20:44Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> And I’ve always thought that the Republicans make the best Executives
You’ve always thought that with all your 14 years of being a child with no responsibilities or life experience or education beyond junior High School, huh?
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/16 "2011-03-18T00:21:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Because that is both just and sensible.
So do you believe all social liberal ideals are right without exception?
> [@](#):
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> Obama never supported UHC, he pushed what is essentially a handout to insurance companies (and is just a warmed over Republican plan). And Obama doesn’t support single sex marriage (or rights for homosexuals in general), he’s been at best indifferent to it.
He’s opposed Prop 8 and has helped overturn DADT. Plus his gradualist strategy is actually working-several states have legalized gay marriage even after Prop 8 and even in the GOP, many of its younger members, such as Ms. McCain are supporters of gay marriage. Demographics will carry the day for gay marriage sooner or later-within our lifetimes I expect.
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### Author:  [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/17 "2011-03-18T00:23:01Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> . . . centre.
This is totally OT so feel free to ignore . . . but why do you use British spellings so often?
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/18 "2011-03-18T00:24:26Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
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> So do you believe all social liberal ideals are right without exception?
The word “liberal” doesn’t even mean anything.
> [@](#):
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> He’s opposed Prop 8 and has helped overturn DADT.
DADT has nothing to do with same sex marriage, but, just fyi, support for gay rights is a conservative principle, not a liberal one.
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/19 "2011-03-18T00:27:01Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
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> He’s in the center on social issues
Perhaps in theory but he has done much for social liberalism in America.
> [@](#):
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> Neither has Obama.
The bill that passed last year?
> [@](#):
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> Who said that? Morally, it SHOULD, but the center doesn’t always move where it should.
I meant in the moral sense, is the left morally right on every single issue.
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> You’ve always thought that with all your 14 years of being a child with no responsibilities or life experience or education beyond junior High School, huh?
I’ve read some histories and from what I’ve read a Republican executive-Democratic legislatures have made comboes than vice versa.
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-quietest-voice-in-america/575081/20 "2011-03-18T00:31:59Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> I’ve read some histories and from what I’ve read a Republican executive-Democratic legislatures have made comboes than vice versa.
Not a fan of DOMA or welfare reform, huh? Me neither.
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