What's your take on politicians and parties who say they're "beyond left or right"?

[Ken Burch]

My question is:

Is there any reason why we shouldn't take that phrase as meaning "you have no right to hold me to anything"?

What do you think of it?

[Oregone]

1. Its political rhetoric aimed at the directionless

Its supposed to be a positive attribute, but its devoid of any true meaning

[arbusto_baboso]

2. That they are complete fucking liars trying to hide their agendas from the stupid.

[Snotcicles]

3. What they mean is I'm beyond left or right, I was hard ass right days ago. nt

[stray cat]

4. Maybe it means they have a brain and will use it?

[kenny blankenship]

5. it equals "I have no coherent worked out view of the relation between politics, economy & society"

("That is - none aside from the one that is already screwing you and millions of your fellow Americans into the ground. If I should zig or zag in one new direction or other, it's just temporary - expect no long term trend other than the ones you are already suffering under. Expect no changes but cosmetic ones that wear off quickly. For I serve the status quo and myself.")

[CTyankee]

14. you win the prize...it is self serving rhetoric...if they can't moor themselves to something

concrete, they will be forever wafting in the wind...

screw them...

[rbrnmw]

6. BS Doublespeak

[mitchum]

7. That they are proponents of third way bullshit...

AKA corporate lap dogs that don't use racial or sexual slurs

[xchrom]

8. It means they always 'lean' to the right.

The 'left' has established as a boogeyman and
You're gonna show how you're
Not beholden to those 'interests''.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. It means that they are wanting to be re-elected. Aim to everyone.

It means, look very very close at their voting record. That will show that they are not "beyond" some side.

[MisterP]

10. it means they're pretending to be a Carlin when they're repeating what Lomborg or Richard Berman

faxed them and told to "funny up" (Penn and Teller come to mind)

[OHdem10]

11. They are saying : We have no core values,. Our primary loyalty

is to Business and Corporate Interests,

[Over Caffeinated]

12. Depends on the context. Why pigeonhole people instead of listening to them?

Being "right" or "left" varies, depending on your reference point. For instance, many on the "right" in the Northeast are much more moderate than the Republicans in the South. And in Massachusetts, you will find various degrees of being on the "left", with Cambridge and the Pioneer Valley being the most liberal areas.

If someone wants to conveniently place everyone into two simple camps, then so be it. Who am I to stop them?

[JVS]

13. I don't mind if they say it, but if they mean it they are beyond hopeless.