The advantages of having a "moderate" Democratic president....

[kentuck]

Of course, we all would like a president that mirrors our beliefs and philosphy. However, if we look at the matter realistically, it is not the president that gets healthcare programs passed - it is the Congress. What we really need are strong progressive leaders in the Congress. It doesn't really matter that much who the president is, so long as he has strong leadership in the House and/or Senate.

We shouldn't get hung up about having a liberal as president. It would be nice but, it just may be, that there are many voters that are turned off by "liberals" but would vote for a "moderate". Or it might cause many of the opposition to lose enthusiasm for their right-wing candidate, if they were offered the choice of a "moderate" Democrat. Just another political musing this morning. :)

[Radical Activist]

1. The President always sets the agenda.

Any President can do that in ways that no Senator or Congressman can. A moderate Democrat as President means that ideas and proposals offered by liberals are seen as fringe and are completely ignored.

I don't believe we need to run a moderate to get a Democrat elected. We need to run someone who can inspire people with their vision and give them a reason to vote. That's how Reagan got elected by wide margins even though he was much more conservative than most Americans at the time. Once he was in office he was able to move the country to the right. If we're going to inspire people and make real progress, we need a liberal.

[kentuck]

4. Is George Bush setting the present agenda ?

I think Cheney or Rove may be more responsible.

[Radical Activist]

5. Yes, he is.

Even if someone is feeding him all the ideas and talking points, it is the Presidential bully pulpit that sets the agenda. That's why everyone is talking about Social Security reform right now instead of something like universal healthcare.

[Deja Q]

2. No good deed goes unpunished.

The last time we had a moderate Dem; he helped them out with their strategies and got thrown to the piranhas at the end.

And that moderate Dem was named Bill Clinton.

Yes, he did many great things pertaining to foreign policy and balancing the budget, like any President worth the title should. (so, apart from Clinton, no pres since Carter deserves the title.)

He's also responsible for, amongst other things, the DOMA, DMCA, NAFTA, 1996 telecom 'reform', 1995 welfare 'reform'... All of which are repuke ideals.

I'm not sure we can stomach another moderate, forgive me my skepticism.

[Kurovski]

6. And one problem is That the Republican noise machine

will spend thousands of hours and millions of dollars painting any moderate, perhaps any Dem, as far left.

May as well go for candidates more liberal than the Clintons. And--given all the damage that the present administration has done-- it will work if what the candidate says can break through what the Corporate Media says they say.

The pendulum is primed to swing the other way, IMO.

The word "Liberal" is shifting back to its real meaning, not how the right has defined it for 25+ years.

The added plus is that Democrats are now the party of fiscal responsibility, and much credit goes to moderate President Clinton for that. The greed and over-reaching of the now completely corporate controlled Republicans also helped to destroy their claim to being fiscally responsible.

[dogday]

3. We should never allow a President to wield as much power

as this current President is wielding now. His word is law and that scares me that all of our precautionary measures for fairness and hearing both sides of an issue have fallen to the wayside and everyone does the bidding of King George.

[Yellow_Dog]

7. But first

you have to find one, get them nominated, and get them elected.

He must not be burdened with the trappings of vast wealth, and he must be able to relate to the common man, or at least give that impression. Try as he might, the last candidate could not overcome those burdens and came across as an elitist, whether he actually was or not.

He lost millions of votes from the common man, who may not have liked Bush that much, but was completely turned off by Kerry's perceived elitist attitude.

Yea, yea, I know go ahead and bash the messenger that didn't spend all efforts bashing bush, but points out a failing of Kerry. I am really surprised that bashing bush is the majority of posts here, while it may make you feel better, it does not accomplish anything at all. That attitude in 08 will guarantee Jeb Bush the Whitehouse.

[Q]

8. ON the other hand...there are voters who are turned OFF...

...by 'moderates' in these times of danger to democracy. Also...you don't seem to be taking into considearation that a 'liberal' can govern moderately when needed.

The problem is this: our government is the most corrupt, anti-democratic / constitution in American history. Taking a 'moderate' approach towards this corruption would be seen as collaboration and worse.

There is only ONE approach to high crimes and corruption: impeachment. Anything else is living the American Lie instead of the American Dream.

[TimeChaser]

9. The sad thing is...

... that in the current political environment, even moderate Dems are being painted as left-wing extremists.

[noamnety]

10. Define "moderate"

for someone who has lost track of exactly what those labels mean.

[orpupilofnature57]

11. That would be like a liberal Republican, THERES BEEN A COUPLE

One had to be secretly slipped in to the white house and was eventually murdered.The other was abandoned by his party, directly related to his liberal views.No moderate or progressive can balance neo-cons, Liberals are the only hope for dems and America.

[kentuck]

12. But haven't they been successful at defining "liberals" as

something evil and bad for America? Or have we been able to re-define "liberal" in a truer sense? If we have not, then "liberal" is still the dirty word they define. Just playing the devil's advocate...

[orpupilofnature57]

14. You know it!The word evokes visions of sacrifice, tolerance,castigation.

[bvar22]

15. The Republican CorpoMedia managed to frame...

..a Pro-War

..Pro increase Military Funding

...Pro-Nafta

...MORE Corporate Wellfare

...War HERO

Democratic Presidential Candidate as The MOST Liberal Democrat ever!


We must simple FORGET what the Republicans are going to say, and RUN a Passionate, True Blue, Working Class Champion, Plain Speaking, Hot Dog Eating, Bare Knuckles, Washington Outsider, Trust Bustin, "The Workin Man's gettin a RAW DEAL" & "the RICH oughta pay their Fair Share" speaking, Marlboro Man looking, horse ridin, story tellin, Aw Shucks DEMOCRAT!!!

[orpupilofnature57]

17. Write on!!! Don't run from it, cling to it. And get the1/2 that don't vote

To out weigh the ? % that shouldn't have.We need a "MR Smith Goes to Washington" seven day's a week!

[tedoll78]

13. I'm more than willing to take a moderate Dem as president.

Especially if he/she is able to use that image to put-up some super-super-sweet super-super liberals on the Supreme Court. The president is only around for 4 or 8 years.. Supreme Court justices are around for decades..

[orpupilofnature57]

16. When did Sam Nunn, ever do anything for a Liberal cause? And who is...

This Moderate democrat with Anti-Pull to appoint liberal judges.