Posted on 07/08/2014 5:36:04 AM PDT by cotton1706
Imagine that you’re a state legislator thinking about running for Congress. The polarization in Congress is pretty apparent to you. Democratic members are increasingly liberals and Republican members are increasingly conservative. But here’s the problem: you don’t fit that pattern. You’re a moderate. What will you do?
According to new research (gated version here) by political scientist Danielle Thomsen, you’re much less likely to run for Congress. Thomsen argues that in an era of polarized parties, how well politicians “fit” their party ideologically will affect whether they decide to run for higher office. Drawing on a 1998 survey of state legislators, Thomsen finds that moderate Republicans were less likely than conservative Republicans to believe they could win a House primary and less likely to value a seat. There were fewer difference between moderate and liberal Democrats — which Thomsen attributes to the nature of the Democratic Party at that point in time, which featured a larger number of moderate to conservative Democrats serving in the House. Of course, many of those Democrats are now gone.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I would tell them, but the moderators would delete my post.
“You’re a moderate. What will you do?
I would tell them, but the moderators would delete my post. “
Yeah, me too. Moderates are the ones who are the 18% who never have an opinion in the polls. They are the “weathercocks” in the political arena who always have their fingers in the wind. They are the sheep, not the sheepdogs. They are the RINOs!
At this point I’m not sure I understand why anyone would want to run for public office at all.
This article is a little off base. “Moderates” don’t want to run and don’t think they can win, yet Congress is full of “moderates.” Any time anyone remotely suggests cutting spending, the Republican Party establishment joins with the Dems and media to demonize them as crazy and dangerous. Both parties are sucking on the public teat and don’t want to stop. If that’s not a “moderate”, I don’t know what is.
moderate = degenerate
There’s a reason you see so much roadkill straddling the yellow line.
Now there is the possibility for a 3rd party. The party of moderates. What can we call them? The Laodiceans?
A man who doesn't stand for something, stands for nothing.
'Tis why I dislike so many in the Republican Party, now.
Indeed. Once could paraphrase Revelation:
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are moderate Republicans — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
There is a framed saying on my bedroom wall and I see it every morning I get up.
It is attributed to me, and was made up with fancy script and framed by a friend who liked my saying.
It says; "Anything done in moderation shows a lack of interest." -Tom
Short answer: money and power.
Because the vast majority of the Republican rank and file are conservatives, a Republican “moderate” is still a conservative. What they are talking about are the small number of Republican liberals.
They are only “moderate” when compared to the socialist radicals of the homogeneous Democrat party.
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