Comments on: This Risk of Being Moderate in Congress

By: PaulSilver

PaulSilver — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:24:20 +0000

Jim, I also can get exasperated when I read stuff that offends my sense of reason.

I read and quote the Wall Street Journal because it is an articulate and informed voice that reflects the thoughts and feelings of as many as half of our citizens. The important exercise for me is to reflect on why I agree or not: Is it the facts or the values?
And the better I can understand someone I disagree with the better able I am to present my point of view.

By: Jim_Satterfield

Jim_Satterfield — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:02:59 +0000

Ouch. Someone distracted me and the close tag got messed up. It would be nice if one could edit their own already posted comments.

By: Jim_Satterfield

Jim_Satterfield — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000

Why in heaven's name does anyone put any credence in something from the WSJ? Has everyone forgotten that even before becoming part of the Murdoch empire it should have had the subtitle “A Publication of the RNC”? Outside of coverage of the business world it's been as right wing as Fox News for years now. In this case the source must<./b> be considered.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:29:34 +0000

or John Negroponte as UN Ambassador? Didn't run enough death squads in Central America in the eighties?

Yeah, be nice and civil to Republicans and wtch them rip off your head and sh*t down your throat.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:24:11 +0000

. Pull that crap and the Dems will have their control for exactly one election cycle.

Another person who lived through the nineties and the oughts and didn't learn a damn thing.

The Dems let the Iran-Contra perpetrators of the hook and what did they get for it? Elliott Abrams as National Security Adviser? Yeah that worked out real well...

By: GeorgeSorwell

GeorgeSorwell — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:24:11 +0000

There are structural problems that need to be addressed. Gerrymandering is now a science. There are far too many safe seats.

Politicians aren't just going to begin acting in good faith.

By: Mike_P

Mike_P — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:39:39 +0000

elrod's got it right. And Lieberman? Please. He was beaten by Democratic voters in a Democratic primary. Is American democracy a problem? Note also that Kos and co. supported Jim Webb and John Tester in '06, neither of which can be said to be even a little left of moderate, as well as many others.

SHOULD these groups get out of control (and there are no indications they have on the Dem side) then yes that could be a problem. But generally their candidates of choice have been reasonable, though I don't always agree with them. In any case, I see no evidence of a “purge mentality.” There's nothing wrong with expecting representatives to deliver on what they stand for, and pressuring them to do so.

By: elrod

elrod — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:30:29 +0000

How about some context here, Paul. The Kos quote was in response to the defeat of Al Wynn. There is nothing “moderate” about Al Wynn. In fact, the problem with Al Wynn was that he was an arrogant, corrupt pol – not that he violated liberal orthodoxy. Having no principles whatsoever stands in for “moderation?”

The Gilchrest issue WAS a matter of ideology. He really was a moderate Republican and was defeated for his refusal to toe the line of the far right.

By: Slamfu

Slamfu — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:21:04 +0000

“Tom Delay told us that bipartisanship was date rape, so now that the republicans are about to get their just deserts, we should be nice to them?”

Yes, thats exactly what we do. Using this opportunity to do unto them as they have done unto you would be to squander this opportunity. Its called being sensible. Pull that crap and the Dems will have their control for exactly one election cycle.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:14:29 +0000

A couple of minor points here,

1) we had a moderate Democrat in the White House in the 90's and all he got for it was an impeachment.

2) Tom Delay told us that bipartisanship was date rape, so now that the republicans are about to get their just deserts, we should be nice to them?

When there isn't anyone to keep the Democrats in line they start taking Corporate money and turn into DINOs, Examples have to be made to keep the rest of them in line.

Holly,
MoveOn & ActBlue are the results of the Republican war on the Democratic Party, get over it. They are here to stay.

By: Holly_in_Cincinnati

Holly_in_Cincinnati — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:47:48 +0000

All three of these obnoxious and unnecessary organizations should move on out for the good of the USA.

By: cosmoetica

cosmoetica — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:07:43 +0000

Paul: 'Sometimes people disagree who are reasonable, fair and honorable.' Exactly.

Slamfu: 'Lieberman should have been a warning, but the dem chest thumpers still don't get it.' But Lieberman shares neither of the qualities mentioned above.

By: Slamfu

Slamfu — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:40:32 +0000

Maybe both parties will be retarded enough to boot their moderates, it will reach a certain critical mass and we get a third party out of it. Lieberman should have been a warning, but the dem chest thumpers still don't get it.