Ross Douthat thinks this might be the case:

Quote :

"There is a conceit, especially popular among the press corps, that the salvation of America depends exclusively on self-described moderates and centrists. If there’s a path out of gridlock and insolvency, this theory goes, it can’t be charted by consistent conservatives or liberals. Instead, the nation needs the leadership of ideologically flexible, politically ambidextrous mavericks: Democrats like Evan Bayh, perhaps, and Republicans like Susan Collins, with President Michael Bloomberg waiting to sign whatever compromises they devise. This vision doesn’t leave much room for a figure like Tom Coburn, Oklahoma’s junior Republican senator. Coburn came to Washington as a congressman in 1994, and distinguished himself by remaining incorruptibly right-wing while many Republican revolutionaries accustomed themselves to the perks of governing. Since his 2004 election to the Senate, he’s remained a conservative’s conservative, equally resolute in his opposition to earmarks, Obamacare and abortion. But in the last two years, Coburn has also proved himself braver than many of his colleagues, more creative on public policy, and more intellectually honest about the consequences of popular legislation. His example suggests that America may be saved from fiscal ruin, not by politicians who trim their sails at every opportunity, but by lawmakers with stiff backbones and unwavering convictions."

12/13/2010 2:42:49 PM

those who put us in this fiscal mess have that exact stiff backbone and unwavering conviction.

that's like suggesting you could put out an oil well fire by spraying more oil on it.

12/13/2010 4:20:53 PM

Quote :

"he’s remained a conservative’s conservative, equally resolute in his opposition to earmarks"

Opposing earmarks isn't conservative. Its as center of the road as it gets.

The only thing more nonpartisan is to vote for earmarks while staunchly opposing them in your speeches.

12/13/2010 4:25:21 PM

I can't stand when Republicans talk about how earmarks are these terrible things. An earmark is just an appropriation, and it's their fucking job to appropriate money...not the executive branch's. People are just opposed to stupid earmarks.

12/13/2010 5:44:12 PM

Only revolution can save this country. And moderates don't do revolutions unless something wakes them up.

12/13/2010 5:51:58 PM

Quote :

"those who put us in this fiscal mess have that exact stiff backbone and unwavering conviction"

Want to expand on that?

12/13/2010 5:58:05 PM

I kind of take issue with the characterization of that the compromisers are ideologically flexible or ambidextrous mavericks. That's way too nice when you consider dick bags like Ben Nelson and pretty much every fuck face that requires some sort of provision to a bill to support it or that will put a stealth hold on something preventing it from coming to a vote. These people sit nearer to the center because they know they can pull in more campaign dollars by appealing to a larger base of would be suitors. Fuck these people.

I'd be perfectly fine with ideologues if we had more than two parties.

12/13/2010 6:56:40 PM

Compromise in Congress boils down to, "okay, we'll let you slip your bullshit into the final bill if you promise to vote for it, even if you might disagree with a lot of what's in it." Supplanter, I'm positive that you are adequately knowledgeable when it comes to the legislative process. Don't you think there's something wrong with the way things get done? Giant bills that no one ever reads completely, people openly voting for things they object to, and everyone getting their little pieces of bacon? Is that really how laws should be passed?

It seems to me that these bargaining chips that representatives toss around in Congress do not belong to them. They know that they'll be judged on effectiveness (and other useless measures that are so commonly observed in political science), which means doing what it takes to get something passed, or if the opposing party is in power, doing what it takes to make sure nothing gets passed. Legislation needs to be simplified greatly. Unrelated laws should not be voted for in a single bill. Appropriations should not be bundled in with "reform."

12/13/2010 8:09:09 PM

all this talk has to do with Obama

and he didn't "compromise"

he gave in

12/13/2010 8:25:25 PM

The problem isn't "moderates" it's politicians without moral character and without conviction. Career politicians who's motive is not serving the interests of the people but rather their own self serving ends and power gains. Unfortunately the pool of people whom would make good politicians vs the types of people that are attracted to politics makes the likelihood of having a government of such fine individuals about as likely as Janet Reno being voted #1 playboy bunny for life.

12/13/2010 11:08:07 PM

Quote :

"The problem isn't "moderates" it's politicians without moral character and without conviction. Career politicians who's motive is not serving the interests of the people but rather their own self serving ends and power gains. Unfortunately the pool of people whom would make good politicians vs the types of people that are attracted to politics makes the likelihood of having a government of such fine individuals about as likely as Janet Reno being voted #1 playboy bunny for life."

The problem is our system, which incentivizes the marginalization of the common voter. The problem is that corporations can buy both political parties fairly easily and then voters like you and me have literally no mechanism by which to punish anybody

12/15/2010 1:02:39 PM

message_topic.aspx?topic=604067&page=1#14468353

12/15/2010 1:20:13 PM

Quote :

"The problem is that corporations can buy both political parties fairly easily and then voters like you and me have literally no mechanism by which to punish anybody"

As I've said before, this is not the problem. The problem is that it's worthwhile for the corporations to buy the political parties in the first place. Our founding fathers understood this concept, hence the limited powers of government. Since the founding of this country, the people have continuously voted to give the government more power, which make it more useful and profitable to be in control of the government.

12/15/2010 1:38:20 PM