> >>>> The leadership of the Democratic party in Congress are from the left end of
> >>>> the spectrum. The centrist Democrats need to take back their party every
> >>>> bit as much as the Republican middle did (and does). (During the last 12
> >>>> years a lot of moderates from both sides lost their seats, to more
> >>>> extreme candidates from the other party, thus increasing the polarization.)
> >>>> In Congress, the solution is to resolve the splinter issues, disempower
> >>>> the extremist constituents of both parties, and get to real work. While
> >>>> splinter or wedge issues, like abortion rights, could be resolved to the
> >>>> satisfaction of most folk, there is no reason for the leadership of the
> >>>> two parties to come to such an accommodation, since it would immediately
> >>>> disempower them.
> >>>> To encourage, blackmail, or flog Congress toward such activities, it
> >>>> would be useful to have a President who isn't worrying about a second
> >>>> term, who is willing to play dirty with Congress and honest with the
> >>>> public, and who is not beholding to the leadership of his own party. I'd
> >>>> happily settle for two out of three.
> >>>> The Other Mickey
> >>> Good points -
> >>> - "a President who isn't worrying about a second term"
> >>> - "is willing to play dirty with Congress and honest with the public"
> >>> - "who is not beholding to the leadership of his own party"
> >>> Seems to me that an very successful independent businessman with
> >>> proven experienced in the private and political sector is much closer
> >>> to those suggestions - than a stale 20yr career politician who's
> >>> biggest claims to political fame are agreeing with and being courted
> >>> to join the opposing party.
> >> McCain is only really courted by the most moderate Democrats, other
> >> mavericks like Lieberman, if you will - folk more interested in
> >> advancing the people's business as they understand it, rather than their
> >> party's political agenda. (I really have to discount any stories
> >> suggesting he seriously considered crossing the aisle to run with
> >> Kerry.) I do find his immigration stance troubling, but without a full
> >> explanation from him of what he expected to accomplish, I will to give
> >> him the benefit of the doubt. In any event, he repudiated that piece of
> >> proposed legislation.
