Countering the Dems

[Rudey]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I think its...

Obama------Clinton-------MIDDLE--Rudy-----Romney/Thompson

In terms of moderate, Clinton and Rudy are from the center of their respective parties. Some may even say Clinton is center-right and Rudey is center-left.

-Rudey

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Rudey

In terms of moderate, Clinton and Rudy are from the center of their respective parties. Some may even say Clinton is center-right and Rudey is center-left.

-Rudey

Rudey, how do you figure Rudy is at the center of the Republican party? I'm curious about your thinking.

He just seems to me to be on the very liberal side of the Republican party (not the spectrum overall, just Republicans), but you may be doing some fun subtraction of the religious right "conservatives" from the equation.

Seriously will you break it down for me?

[RACooper]

I think Rudey is basing it on Rudy's stance on issues and how they line up with the over all polling of registered Republicans - both the CBC and BBC rate him as a moderate or left-leaning Republican in there political analysis of the US Presidential Nomination race.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by RACooper

I think Rudey is basing it on Rudy's stance on issues and how they line up with the over all polling of registered Republicans - both the CBC and BBC rate him as a moderate or left-leaning Republican in there political analysis of the US Presidential Nomination race.

Yeah, I understood that he was basing it on Rudy's stand on the issues. I was hoping he would break down the issues for me that pull him to the center of the party.

I don't come up with any that are anything but center or left for the party when I do it myself.

Can you think of many (any?) other elected Republican more liberal that Rudy?

I think he's a centrist on the complete spectrum which means he's not also going to really be at the center of the right.

Does that make sense? Rudey's quote said they were both at the center of their parties, not moderates or centrists overall, which I would have completely agreed with.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by RACooper

I think Rudey is basing it on Rudy's stance on issues and how they line up with the over all polling of registered Republicans - both the CBC and BBC rate him as a moderate or left-leaning Republican in there political analysis of the US Presidential Nomination race.

CBC and BBC? You mean Canadian Broadcasting and British Broadcasting?

[shinerbock]

I'd put it like this...

Obama- I think his "moderate" tone covers for his liberal tendencies. This was also the case with Edwards in 2004. However, Edwards Senate record and attitude since the election have shown his legitimately liberal nature. I think Obama is the same.

Hillary- Likewise, since 9/11 she has toned herself to a moderate level, which I think hides some of her liberal nature. Socialized medicine wasn't moderate the first time she proposed it, and it isn't a moderate idea now. The question is whether she values ideology over opportunism. My opinion is no, she doesn't. Therefore, many on the right may detest her, but they also would probably rather have her become president than Obama, who may not be as hesitant to push for "progressive" change.

Guiliani- He's close to the center. Very questionable on abortion rights and even public funding (to conservatives, of course).

Thompson/Romney- Both have detractors and past incidents which take away some of their conservative appeal, but both also have fairly conservative records and current ideologies.

Of course, its hard to say where everyone is on the political spectrum. The problem is with what positions define what label.

[UGAalum94]

Yeah, and I think it's hard to speculate about where people are within the parties too. It's easy to forget about the freaks at the far ends pulling the center of the parties out from the middle.

Someone who seems like a centrist liberal or conservative to someone within the party, seems farther out to a member of the other party.

[Rudey]

Obama has said rejected the "moderate" core of the Dem party and asked that the DLC not be associated with him. He's definitely on the left and is not bashful about that. Much more down to earth than $400/haircute Edwards.

Hillary has been a moderate for a long time. And there are plenty of Republicans that support universal healthcare as well as a multitude of other "socialist" objectives (Pew Poll shows that 59% of social conservatives and 63% of populist conservatives support universal healthcare). The entire evangelical core is socialist and is Republican right now. There is evidence of that in everything from support to religious "philanthropies" and in Bush's prescription plan.

Guiliani has said he's against abortion but doesn't want to legislate it. Of course this upsets certain Catholic priests, who really have no room to talk on moral legislation. Rudy is definitely right of center and a lot of the press releases against him not being conservative enough have come from...the DNC.

Thompson has a cute wife and has a hit tv show. Romney wears Mormon underwear but has the support of most of my coworkers.

-Rudey

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I'd put it like this...

Obama- I think his "moderate" tone covers for his liberal tendencies. This was also the case with Edwards in 2004. However, Edwards Senate record and attitude since the election have shown his legitimately liberal nature. I think Obama is the same.

Hillary- Likewise, since 9/11 she has toned herself to a moderate level, which I think hides some of her liberal nature. Socialized medicine wasn't moderate the first time she proposed it, and it isn't a moderate idea now. The question is whether she values ideology over opportunism. My opinion is no, she doesn't. Therefore, many on the right may detest her, but they also would probably rather have her become president than Obama, who may not be as hesitant to push for "progressive" change.

Guiliani- He's close to the center. Very questionable on abortion rights and even public funding (to conservatives, of course).

Thompson/Romney- Both have detractors and past incidents which take away some of their conservative appeal, but both also have fairly conservative records and current ideologies.

Of course, its hard to say where everyone is on the political spectrum. The problem is with what positions define what label.

[shinerbock]

Guiliani is making an effort to paint himself as economically conservative, which I think is somewhat accurate. However, him being solidly on the right is very questionable, I think. Additionally, I think his personal life edges into his social conservative appeal, and I wonder when that issue is going to start coming up. By Oct/Nov, I imagine.