what else will alienate these fictional "moderate" voters

[datasuspect]

who can't decide if they would vote for rethugs or democrats?

that idea seems pretty weird to me, given that partisan makeup and identification nowadays is almost like a line drawn in the sand for most people.

has anyone met someone in the recent past who couldn't really decide if they supported bush or not?

what else do we need to get away from so we don't alienate the lunatic mainstream of the republican party? oops, i meant "moderates."

some ideas:

* let's get away from that whole heliocentrism thing - it conflicts with the biblical account of creation

* civil rights? who needs them?

* repeal the 14th amendment. NOW.

any other ideas that would make the democratic party more palatable to the lunatic mainstream of the right? because that's what i really think people are talking about when they "enlighten" "us" with "their" ideas of why "we" lose elections.

COINTELPRO IS ALIVE AND WELL PEOPLE. and now it is legal. you can see it everyday around here. thank you patriot act.

[acmejack]

1. Purge all progressives!

Their far left wing views frighten the voters away. The polls indicating otherwise are not accurate, the People do not want universal health care, civil rights, financial security or any of that other socialist crap!

[datasuspect]

3. these people

i think would be comfortable with some soft pedalling on things like the voting rights act, NEVER raising the minimum wage, and otherwise turning the democratic party into something like "republican lite."

my opinion, they smell like agents provocateur and do not have the interests of the democratic party or any kind of progressivism in their mind. they'd like to see the democrats lose more elections.

[baldguy]

2. Evolution is just a theory.

* There's nothing wrong with torture.

* Sometimes the government has to spy on people to protect them.

[kiraboo]

4. Although I understand your disbelief,

I know personally some of the "moderates" who voted for Bush on single issues like abortion, or the war, because they didn't oppose wholeheartedly the rest of what he stands for. The thing is, it isn't the democrats but rather the repukes who have since alienated them. Anything we do could not be as offensive as this administration's evident incompetence, love of torture, invasion of our civil rights, and blatant cronyism. Were there another presidential election with the shrub as a candidate, the moderates I know would now have nothing to do with him.

[datasuspect]

6. i guess i must only know or listen to intense people

i concede your point about swing voters, but the idea i'm getting at is people trying to frame the democratic position or somehow trying to purge every vestige of progressivism and free thought from the party.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. single issue voters

I know some single issue voters, and they will vote against their best interests to support "pro-life" candidates. I know of a person on permanent disability who has had his benefits slashed so he can barely survive. He agrees it is Bush's fault, but says it is "worth it" to suffer to protect "the unborn".

[GrpCaptMandrake]

10. With all due respect

and none of this :popcorn: I beg to differ. No "single issue voter" who voted for Dear Leader on account of abortion may ever be considered "moderate." For those sick, hypocritical freaks, none of the things you mentioned ("this administration's evident incompetence, love of torture, invasion of our civil rights, and blatant cronyism") will ever outweigh their totalitarian commitment that the whole of the United States is worth sacrificing to stop one woman from making one medical decision.

"Moderate" is just another frame for "people who will vote Republican even if the candidate has horns, cloven hooves and a pointy tail," and it was invented by the Republican Party to give cover to people who aren't comfortable being as openly weird and hateful as the mainstream of the Party, but still like to vote that way.

"Nothing demanded by the Party is beneath the dignity of any man." Gneral Yevgraf in "Dr. Zhivago"

On edit: Republican authorship of the frame is somewhat suspect as "moderate" used to be applied to the fellow travellers of the Democratic Party who would contenance the hateful, bigoted, racist sputum of the "conservative democrats" of the South as long said "conservative democrats" voted in sufficient numbers to maintain the Democratic power bloc.

In short, the Repigs may not have invented it, but they have certainly refined and mastered it.

[xchrom]

5. since moderates only want to help dig the hole deeper

they just want shorter shifts with the shovel than their partners -- what about moderates isn't extreme?

[killbotfactory]

7. Ban violent video games and flag burning

It's the only way to appeal to moderates!

[Telly Savalas]

9. The fact that Bush's poll numbers have dropped by about 10 points

in the last year suggests that a "mushy middle" does exist. My suspicion is that a lot of these people are folks who aren't that politically engaged and aren't well versed on current political issues. (e.g. the sort of people whose vote can be influenced by a 30-second commercial spot. Such people must exist, otherwise both parties wouldn't be sinking millions into the production and airing of TV ads.)

But your point stands. Common sense progressive ideas like universal health care and an end to the war are less likely to alientate these voters than nominating a candidate with a bad haircut.

[jonnyblitz]

11. no more ads for movies that refute fundies on left blogs PLEASE

or all the WOO WOO, snake handling "moderates" will NEVER vote for the DEMS. :sarcasm:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5615287

[stray cat]

12. I know plenty who don't like either party/candidate

and can't decide between the lesser of two evils - see both sides as two extreme and not representing them.