Comments on: So, What Exactly is a Moderate?

By: bos4229

bos4229 — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:30:00 +0000

Jesus was clearly a liberal by his very actions. Only “Word-Of-Faith” bozos like Crefflo Dollar and Kenneth Copeland try to turn him into a Republican.

By: StockBoySF

StockBoySF — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:38:03 +0000

Mark, great post, thanks!

I really like what you said:

For America’s system to thrive, we need more moderates, not people who are without ideology, but people who are without rancor and without the cerebral moats that prevent the best ideas from becoming law or the best candidates from being elected to office.

I believe that too many politicians believe in “winning the game” and blocking their opponents- even if their opponents can constructively contribute to whatever matter is at hand.

I look forward to reading more of your postings

By: kritt

kritt — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:20:20 +0000

Very interesting post. My only thought is that one of the reasons that the extremists reign over party politics is that they care enough to organize over issues, and tend to stay much more involved than the middle-of-the-road voter who tends to be more pragmatic and moderate, but of course is also often more apathetic.

Pragmatism and compromise has definitely been wanting over the last 7 years- and really both sides are to blame for failing to reach out to the other side.

By: Mark Daniels

Mark Daniels — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:18:01 +0000

Thanks for the welcome and the comments.

Mark

By: PeggyR

PeggyR — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:00:36 +0000

Bravo! & Thanks for this post. The term moderate is too often taken to mean “people who just can’t make up their minds or won’t take a stand” Its a term in dire need of a better more positive definition which reflects the reality. Yet it is one which stubbornly resists such definition. As someone who has been working towards my own positive definition of moderates/moderation, I really appreciate any and all attempts to do the same.

BTW, My story could be yours except that I chose to join the Anglican Communion and I’m not now and never will be a pastor. I think one of the many reasons why I ultimately rejected atheism is because it is such an immoderate, as well as pessimistic, view!

By: reader_iam

reader_iam — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:30:36 +0000

Very cool to find you here, Mark–I’m thrilled, actually.

Excellent choice, Joe.

By: Entropy

Entropy — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:58:32 +0000

Glad to have you here! It looks like Joe has made another fine choice for a contributor. As someone who “married into” Lutheranism, I agree wholeheartedly about the beer and the idea of moderation in general. Thanks for explaining in a way I could not have done!

By: The Glittering Eye » Blog Archive » Not Conservative But Not Liberal

The Glittering Eye » Blog Archive » Not Conservative But Not Liberal — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:50:46 +0000

[...] a genuine political moderate approaches politics and issues you could do little better than reading this post by Mark Daniels, a new associate blogger at The Moderate [...]

By: Somebody

Somebody — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:31:29 +0000

Either your conservative in nature and sympathize with the conservative party.

Your (A) conservative. There is a big difference. Rudi Guillani is (A) conservative but he is NOT conservative in nature.

This makes for the big differences. Jesus was very liberal in his nature but he would not be (A) Liberal in todays political climate.

Hope that helps. You can thank William Buckley for reminding me of a very basic tenet of political philosophy that I and others tend to forget about in the heat of political debate.

Religious people make the worst politicians because they are conservative in nature with a huge dose of liberalism. That makes them poor choices to label as Conservative or Liberal because while they might claim to be (A) conservative the fact of the matter is that Religion by its nature infuses a great dose of Liberalism into its teachings making for a confusing stew.

By: Volunteer Voters » What Is A Moderate?

Volunteer Voters » What Is A Moderate? — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:43:47 +0000

[...] A pastor and blogger explains what being a political “moderate” means to him: I believe that a moderate… [...]

By: domajot

domajot — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:13:27 +0000

A very thoughtful and soothing post.
Thank you and weldome.

By: pacatrue

pacatrue — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:15:26 +0000

I really like this part of your post:
“…asks three basic questions when considering national political issues: Is it right? Is it constitutional? Will it work?”

All three questions must be asked. Principle without practice is fruitless and practice without principle is aimless.

Welcome aboard.

By: poetspirit

poetspirit — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:28:22 +0000

You go right down the middle, and I agree. My political blog All Things Reform hopes to cater to a wide swath, for the purposes of citizen activism. Government reform is somewhat the moderate making better government. I look forward to reading more from you.

By: Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:44:16 +0000

welcome Mark!
‘immoderate voters elect immoderate leaders’ …boy, if that isnt the wisdom of the day. Thanks.

Dont know if you meant for your byline just to be your first name only. If not, we can help you put you whole name there…
dr.e

By: Holly in Cincinnati

Holly in Cincinnati — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:18:16 +0000

Welcome Mark!

By: SteveK

SteveK — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:00:05 +0000

mark, Thank you for your thoughtful, well written post. I read it twice looking for a point of contention but couldn’t find it.

This is the third time I’ve had to write a ‘thank you’ this week… Must be something in the water… That and the TMV crew has been sparkling.