A Center-Right Nation?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If the available evidence is accurate, in about two weeks, Americans will help elect a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate, and possibly a Democratic president. A majority of the nation's governors are already Democrats. Polls show fairly strong support for the policy agenda presented in the Democratic Party's platform, including universal healthcare and ending the war in Iraq. Even on culture war issues, most Americans are pro-choice, support the separation of church and state, and are growing increasingly supportive of expanding gay rights. With all of this in mind, Newsweek's Jon Meacham has a 3,300-word cover story this week, insisting that the United States is a "center-right" nation, and if Obama is elected, he'd be foolish to forget it.

The piece has already generated some interesting responses, but I'm partial to Media Matters' Paul Waldman's take, noting that when Republicans make gains in federal elections, it's perceived as evidence of a national shift to the right. When Democrats make gains, it doesn't matter, because the nation still leans to the right. When Republicans win, it's incumbent on Democrats to move to the center. When Democrats win, it's still incumbent on Democrats to move to the center.

Waldman also takes this a step further, noting what George W. Bush has done to discredit conservatism going forward.

With the exception of a reduction in the size of government ... conservatives got pretty much everything they wanted from George W. Bush. They got tax breaks for the wealthy, huge increases in defense spending, a bellicose foreign policy, two Supreme Court justices ready to overturn Roe v. Wade, a mania for deregulation of business, a Justice Department devoted to advancing the electoral interests of the Republican Party, a consolidation of power in the executive branch, lackadaisical enforcement of environmental regulations, constant efforts to undermine labor unions, and the list goes on and on. This administration has been conservatism in action, and the country couldn't be more disgusted with the results.

Conservatives are increasingly sounding like they're stuck in the 1980s, as they warn against the creeping tide of socialism and denounce Obama's tax plan as "welfare." You almost expect to hear John McCain take the stage to a pulsing Richard Marx tune, then start reciting lines from "Red Dawn." It may have reached its apogee when, in her debate with Joe Biden, Sarah Palin quoted Reagan on the danger that if we're not careful, one day we'll be telling our children and grandchildren about a time when America was free. What was Reagan warning against in that quote? The passage of Medicare, one of the most successful and popular programs in U.S. history, brought to you courtesy of big-government liberals.

When conservatives take stands like these, so far from the American mainstream, the Beltway acolytes of the Church of Centrism never seem to mind. Will a GOP defeat be greeted with columns by Jon Meacham and his ilk instructing Republicans sternly that they need to abandon their ideology and move to the center, lest they permanently alienate themselves from the public?

I'm not counting on it.

http://washingtonmonthly.com/

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The US is center-right when compared to Europe. So all the talk of people being Far Left on the basis of rather moderate healthcare reform (McCain's plan is far more radical in that respect that Obama's) is pretty laughable to me. It always seems so exaggerated and OTT to me.

BTW - I caught a bit of the news last night and they had a reporter doing the rounds in MI asking people to explain which candidate they supported. Had to crack up at the guy decrying Obama as some sort of evil socialist overlord who is plotting to do away with the entire capitalist model.

Even in Western European countries which have generally more socialist domestic policies - they're still nowhere near binning the entire capitalist model.

Edited October 22, 2008 by Paul Daniels

[Peikko 1,575]

That's not possible, according to the DM school of political thinking. Socialism's nearly communism! Gosh!

[rebeccajo 14]

That's not possible, according to the DM school of political thinking. Socialism's nearly communism! Gosh!

At least the Mermaid expressed her opinions without name-calling or ridicule.

I've got no problem with what she has to say as long as she's not talking about her big wad of cash or her superior intellect (ala others).

[Peikko 1,575]

True, but to equate anything that is being proposed to 'socialism' much less communism is scaremongering of the wost type. She doesn't have to like the Democrats, but scaremongering like that is silly.

[rebeccajo 14]

True, but to equate anything that is being proposed to 'socialism' much less communism is scaremongering of the wost type. She doesn't have to like the Democrats, but scaremongering like that is silly.

The Mermaid is a legitimate member of VJ with a real life she's talked about on here for some time. I'll cut her some slack because her personna is verifiable. She's not created an image of her life on VJ based on smoke and mirrors about her wealth or education.

Unlike other people on here who (when their fingers get ahead of their brains) can't seem to get the facts of their life straight.

[Peikko 1,575]

Fair enough, I have nothing against her personally either. However, I find this tendancy to equate small tax increases on those paying the higher income brackets with socialism, much less communism is silly, no matter who is saying it.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

True, but to equate anything that is being proposed to 'socialism' much less communism is scaremongering of the wost type. She doesn't have to like the Democrats, but scaremongering like that is silly.

The Mermaid is a legitimate member of VJ with a real life she's talked about on here for some time. I'll cut her some slack because her personna is verifiable. She's not created an image of her life on VJ based on smoke and mirrors about her wealth or education.

Unlike other people on here who (when their fingers get ahead of their brains) can't seem to get the facts of their life straight.

she's well liked and respected. as is our queen becca

[SpiritAlight 1]

Instill fear.

Divide and conquer.

It's classic!