Are you measuring left or right on a number of issues, not the degree of left or right per issue?
I think of a moderate as someone closer to the center on most issues. IOW, healthcare - a far right person would say absolutely no federal involvement. No MC, MC, no regulation, no subsidies, keep government out of a free market product. A far left person would say, socialize the entire system, have the fed provide the health care to everyone free of charge as it’s a basic necessity for life, like water and shelter.
A moderate republican might say, fine, MCare, MCaid, they are needed and at least MCare is funded by the user and employer, but for people with means, they should be on their own…
A moderate democrat might say, Universal Health Care would be great, but our system is so entrenched in the insurance model, there is no way to blow it up. But we could have a federal public option for people who need it that operates similar to private insurance. This will get people health care without disrupting the existing insurance based model we have developed.
That’s what I think of as moderate. Not ‘he votes right on 50-60% of issues, and left on the rest, so he’s a moderate republican,’
Anyone who said that is an idiot. Elections are cyclical, at some point both parties will have success and failure on controlling the house and senate.
Yes the 2022 midterms was a disaster for Republicans but they recovered. Just like the dems will recover from the disaster that was the last Presidential election.
Its good for the country that both parties wax and wane.
You might be referring to pragmatism vs moderation.
Let’s take abortion. I am pro-life. I believe there should be no abortions, period.
But I’m also a pragmatist. There is nothing in the constitution regarding abortion, thus the States get to decide for themselves. Some are strongly pro-life and some are strongly pro-choice.
I don’t like it, but I’m a pragmatic realist. My position hasn’t changed. I haven’t moderated my position. I simply accept what I can’t change.
Next let’s explore social programs. I lean left on those, but as a pragmatic person I believe each program needs to demonstrate its value. If the program provides no demonstrated value it is eliminated.
I see it as moderate vs. extreme. And my health care example lays out the way I view those positions on both the left and the right.
Your stance on abortion doesn’t really define your place on that spectrum because it doesn’t explain what you would or would not vote for in the form of legislation.
The far right (and my position) is that the private sector can do a better job with healthcare than the government.
Sounds about right to me.
A pragmatic Republican wouldn’t touch Medicare, as it is already in place for those over 65. Private supplemental insurance makes it viable.
As to Medicaid, a pragmatic Republican would block grant funds to the States to do with as they see fit.
I don’t see it. With Obama care the left took what they could get. They would have taken more, but they simply didn’t have the votes.
The right will do everything in their power to get rid of Obamacare under Trump. Pragmatic Republicans will see it as an exercise in futility, but you never know.
I fully expect the republicans to lose in the next election. But that will be the last election you have the blue wall states to get to 270. California will lose seats, New York will lose seats, Florida and Texas will gain seats. But 2032 is far away. A lot can happen between now and then.
I think he just meant party leaders and front runners. Of course the democrats have moderates. But players like Gavin Newsome, Pelosi, Biden and Harris, wackjobs. It’s the party of men playing in women’s sports, pronouns, and freakish net zero mandates.
i”He is a favorite of hedge fund managers and the charter school industry. He recently was honored by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools as an African American charter school leader “
hedge funds and charter schools not exactly a prog.
So, on the issue of school choice, Jeffries looks to be conservative. That is but a single issue and likely the 6% that keeps him from a perfect score of 100%.
So looks like we’ll get to read the special counsel report on Trump’s election interference case. Cannon allowed it’s release. Should be interesting but I don’t expect a lot of new information.
Where she differs from the conservatives are on things like not going along with the Right-wing rhetorical ■■■■■■■■■ abortion and liking Trump. She hates Trump. But on important things like supporting the military, border security and development of natural resources, she is one of the strongest advocates in the Senate.
