A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics
|
|
|
A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics | |
|
May 23, 2005What a Difference a Few Days MakesJust a few days back, Rick was remarking on an article in the NYT suggesting something of a nadir of centrism, the latest echo of the "we're more polarized than ever" theme. So imagine my surpise to see this article in today's Globe: Senate moderates forming power center Here's the thing. In the absence of genuine activity, speculation rises, and so does spinning. Both this article and the one Rick cited are largely speculative. Congressional Inertia begets poop tossing. Not to mention increased interpretation of the poop tossing. Meanwhile, nothing's really happening. Every ounce of energy expended over the fillibuster and the handful of unconfirmed judges is an ounce of energy and political will not expended debating the nature of much needed reform of social security and later, medicare. Look for this theme to arise soon. Look for this food fight to be spun as the reason why social security reform couldn't get done. ("Critics are now pointing to the protracted fight over judicial nominees as the main reason why...")Look for both sides to point the finger at the other. Well you know what, I'm pointing the finger at both sides. Our nation's deliberative body should be able to resolve its differences. Important nuts-and-bolts problems that effect every working American (again, SS, Medicare) should not take a back seat to a poop fight over ideology. This should have been figured out weeks ago. But it wasn't, maybe even because both sides would subliminally rather have such ongoing flashy fights as red meat for the faithful. It's embarassing. Update: The Globe has added an odious registration feature. Posted by Brian Keegan at May 23, 2005 01:06 PM Comments
Truth be told, (IMHO) neither side wants to deal with Social Security reform. It's scary, it's boring and cumbersome, AND they might lose their jobs if they tinker with it. So, what else to do? Reform doesn't add dollars to the war chests, partisan rhetoric does. In the end, that's all that this comes down to. Both sides are catering to the radical wings of their respective parties, trying to get them stirred up for the 2006 elections. Each side portrays the other as "devils", thus allowing them to continue to solicit money to stop "Kennedy/DeLay" (chose your side). It's all a game, and we just allow them to continue playing it. Posted by: AR at May 23, 2005 02:16 PMThe trouble with marginalizing members is that if you marginalize enough of them, you create an internal opposition base. Do it on both sides, and the disaffected will begin to align with their counterparts across the aisle. What have they got to lose? Not much--they've already been "fringed" by their "leaders." And if they're truly being marginalized by their own parties, they've got a heckuva lot to gain. An alliance puts them back in the power chairs. Intense partisanship can only be maintained for so long without a truly obsessively polarizing issue? Bush is heading for lame-duck territory. Remember that the red/blue divide is pretty razor-thin in spots. And there's always an election coming up. Posted by: Tully at May 23, 2005 03:23 PMI still content that the moderates in each party will always feel marginalized since a sizeable portion of their fellow moderates will be in "the other party". Moderates in either party need to aks themselves "Is it worth being a member of either party" ("To get elected? YES") and then accept the realities of centrism. The power is not so much in how they sway the party platform but in who gets elected and what legislation is passed. My moderate two cents worth. Posted by: c3 at May 23, 2005 07:45 PM |
Archives
March 2006
February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003
Recent Entries
Dubai Out
Why So Long Between Democracies? Round One, Centrism Rock Lobster? Blackwell Releases "Worst-Treated" List "IRV" used in Burl., VT for mayor election. Great idea! Random Thread Election 2006: Round One A Proper Multiculturalism Bush proposes line item veto act - what's changed?
|
