To supporters of the "big three" - if your candidate wins by drawing significant support

[TooBigaTent]

from repukes and right-wing democrats, what makes you think he/she will push progressive policies when they get to the WH?

Isn't it more likely that they will "dance with thems that brung them to the big house?" Has HRC or JE or BO shown any sign that they ignore their backers and promote policies that the monied powerful disagree with?

[LSparkle]

1. Sometimes it works the other way -- FDR, for example

And I think TR as well. Neither one of them was initially elected to make big change but then moved in a progressive direction once in office.

[TooBigaTent]

3. Very different times. And people. I am looking for a reason to support the

party's (whoever that is) choice.

But all I ever get is "do it to keep the pukes out" and not a single, documented reason showing that any of the three will take a position that I can support.

Yeah, they are better than any of the GOPers. But it will take more than that to EARN my vote this time. And platitudes about bringing everyone together in a group hug does not ease any of my fear that they would move even further to the right to hold on to the power once they obtain it.

And why can't they try to "inspire" us by running as a dynamic liberal? If, as survey after survey shows, Americans support liberal positions on the issues if not the rhetoric that our politics has been reduced to, I would like to think that a candidate who takes that approach would do as well, if not better than, one who runs to the right.

Maybe I am too delusional to think that Americans would like to hear a true Democrat express unabashed Democratic ideals. True progressives are a minority here - less marginalized than in the population as a whole, but still only a small corner of the tent. We feel that we are being thrown out of the tent and our place being given to regressives. Not the future we want to see.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. It is we who will push for progressive policies.

[TooBigaTent]

4. Who is we? Not the "moderates" or repugs who are the objects of the desires

of the Big Three.

[zalinda]

5. Well, I know one thing for sure

Edwards has said out loud and on video that he will not give trial lawyers a seat at the table. He hasn't changed anything on his stump speech since he started to run this time. He is on video stating exactly what he wants to do, and how he is going to do it. He has not been wishy washy at all on his platform. That I appreciate.

He does bring in Independents and Repubs for the simple reason, he is a boot strap type of person. He made it and wants to bring others along. He is saying that if you work hard, you should be able to make it too. That resonates through across party lines.

zalinda

[onenote]

6. allow me to turn the question around

If the Democratic candidate loses because he/she doesn't draw support from a wider base than progressive Democrats, will the policies pushed by the repub winner when he gets to the WH be more conservative, less conservative, or the same as the policies that any one of the top three Democratic candidates are likely to push?