What the hell is a "moderate"

[Toxick]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

as though the best time to find out about a candidate is when he/she is actively courting you and their records don't matter.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by itsbob

i thought a moderate was who kicked you out of the private forums!

...if you go around espousing immoderate views, then yes...

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Toxick

.

F'rinstance:

I couldn't care less about the banning of gay marriages. (Moderate?)
I don't support abortion, but I support the woman being smart enough to make her own choice. (I'm left).
I support the death penalty (I'm RIGHT).
I oppose Universal Health Care (I'm RIGHT).
I support some censorship in TV & Radio and don't support full frontal nudity on prime Time TV.(I'm RIGHT).
I support Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants, and open borders (I'm LEFT).
I think Ameicans can compete on an open and level playing field with our neigbors as well as the rest of the world.. I support NAFTA, WFTA (if they ever invent such a thing)(I'm RIGHT)

I oppose all forms of cancer (Bipartisan)

.

Was this a poll?

[vraiblonde]

My idea of a moderate is someone who looks at the issues and decides independently instead of just toeing the party line.

I consider myself a moderate: right on some things, left on others.

[toppick08 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

My idea of a moderate is someone who looks at the issues and decides independently instead of just toeing the party line.

I consider myself a moderate: right on some things, left on others.

That's the way I've always been too, DJ............but I get accused of riding the fence.......

[bcp (Premo)]

I think Im a moderate

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

My idea of a moderate is someone who looks at the issues and decides independently instead of just toeing the party line.

I consider myself a moderate: right on some things, left on others.

...are the last person I would describe as a moderate. Your views are clearly defined and you know why. You don't sit there and say "Well, I can see why Obama would want to talk to Iran and I can see why Cheney wants to nuke them, but I can also see how Iran would be concerned about the new government in Iraq but it's not very nice of them to provide weapons to that Sadr guy but, well, I can see how they might be a little annoyed with us and perhaps if we send them some cheese or a nice chardonnay, they would see we mean them no harm and, well, gee, let's just split the difference and nuke 1/2 of them and talk to the survivors..."

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

...are the last person I would describe as a moderate.

You're right that I do not have "moderate" views - I'm fairly black and white and not a lot of wiggle room.

BUT we're not talking about word definition - we're talking about a political definition. You know, how "progressive" actually means "totalitarian" and "liberal" means "I will kill you if you have a different opinion than I".

Democrats are not interested in democracy, and Republicans don't care about the republic. So, in political terms, a "moderate" is a person who is not staunchly aligned to a particular party.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

You're right that I do not have "moderate" views - I'm fairly black and white and not a lot of wiggle room.

BUT we're not talking about word definition - we're talking about a political definition. You know, how "progressive" actually means "totalitarian" and "liberal" means "I will kill you if you have a different opinion than I".

Democrats are not interested in democracy, and Republicans don't care about the republic. So, in political terms, a "moderate" is a person who is not staunchly aligned to a particular party.

...yet to see a self described moderate interviewed on TV say "I am pro abortion pro second amendment, pro death penalty, pro tax cut and pro war on terror and, gee, I just can't decide..."

I accept that you and Tox think of yourselves as moderates and I see your point, but, if we are doing as you say, looking at the political definition, aren't we talking about the "Gee, I just don't know..." set? Winning over moderates? Appealing to moderates? McCain appeals to 'moderates' because he's a maverick? Obama appeals to 'moderates' because he's 'clean and well spoken' and wants to talk?

I know damn well McCain doesn't appeal to you because he bucks his party and kisses the azz of the media the last 20 years.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

aren't we talking about the "Gee, I just don't know..." set?

I have no idea - I just know what I consider a moderate. And it's a person who isn't staunch with any party, but agrees with some from each.

The people you describe, I would call those "undecideds".