The Dems' obsession

[Red Harvest]

Gawain is missing some aspects of what makes the parties work. The GOP has become a very disciplined party, voting as a block. I'm not sure how it evolved, but it was very important for them while in the minority and worked as a force multiplier. For all the noisy complaints from the GOP about obstructionism, the Democrats have not been that way in decades. They have a much more diverse base. As such even when they had majorities they did not wield nearly as much power as one would expect. Contrary to the current GOP rhetoric, liberals are just a portion of the democratic base. All independents, moderates, and democrats are not liberals--in fact not even the majority.

As for the Contract with America, I was supportive of portions of it, as were many other independents or moderates. That's how the GOP got their majority and passed legislation on specific issues. Those independents/moderates that the conservatives are busy thumbing their noses at (and labeling liberals now) were the ones who cast the votes to put them in a position to do it. I won't forget that.

The GOP has a fairly tight focused organization. They don't tolerate dissent, as their recent conventions have illustrated. The democrats don't have that tight base, nor do I want them too, as it squeezes out moderates and independents--look at what has happened to the GOP of late. You are unlikely to see something like the Contract for the Democrats, mainly because the base is much wider. Also, the GOP has done a good job of trying to take away populist issues before the Democrats can make them their own. Dubya has done much of it with a "free candy" approach to spending and tax reductions. It's like running up $2 trillion in "credit card debt" to gain popularity. You have to give credit where it is due, it has been a brilliant strategy for winning elections. However, we have to deal with the after effects eventually. The GOP better hope people never put 2 and 2 together when the credit card bill arrives.

Winning elections and majorities does not represent good leadership. There is more to leadership than winning a popularity contest.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

As for the Contract with America, I was supportive of portions of it, as were many other independents or moderates. That's how the GOP got their majority and passed legislation on specific issues. Those independents/moderates that the conservatives are busy thumbing their noses at (and labeling liberals now) were the ones who cast the votes to put them in a position to do it. I won't forget that.

You may not realize it but most of us conservatives here feel the same way. We consider ourselfs moderates or should I say compasionate conservatives? What ever happened to the contract with america and the republican class of 94? Ive asked that many a time. Well they got swallowed by the system and are now part of the machine. There is so much of this administrations agenda that I and others like me hate but its far better than having most democrats in. They have in many ways let their base down in order to grab the moderates.Again if Lieberman had run I would have voted for him. What the republicans are doing is bibbling away at the dems base. The recent Union split is an example of this as is their reaching out to black and latinos. The dems better come up with some good alternatives soon or go the way of the Do Do. Dont worry maybe a liberal party with a real agenda will take its place Their called Libertarians.