Why don't Dems reach out to Conservatives more often?

[judge_smales]

I mean real Conservatives, of course, not NeoCons. The people who truely support Conservative ideals (limited Govt., limited foreign entaglements, fiscal restraint, and respect for the Constitution) hate Bu$h more than we do. He's the Anti-Crist to them. And it would seem that they could help us. Sure, they're not excited about jumping into bed w/ a Dem, but then they're not exactly overloaded w/ options either. How could these two forces be put togehter to help each other?

Or is that just not done?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Not a bad idea in theory

But who becomes the bigger man in this scenario? Who reaches across the aisle here to fight the common enemy? Too many egos, too much at stake, and far too little trust for this to happen.

[judge_smales]

2. True

I certainly don't see McAuluff orchestrating such a thing.

[denverbill]

3. There are a lot of issues I agree with conservatives on right now.

Balancing the budget, paying down the debt, immigration, corporate welfare, the Patriot Act.

Unfortunately, there are some MAJOR divergences also. I want single payor national health care. I want federal funding in education. I want increases in minimum wage, increased regulation of corporations (in some ways, anyway), revisions in NAFTA and WTO, etc.

That's why IMO it's unfortunate Dean probably won't win. His gun rights stance, conservative views towards balancing the budget, and moderate stance toward business regulation would play well with conservatives. Unfortunately, most of those imbeciles now have been told that Dean is a far left liberal and they actually believe it.