LOL! Are you saying the Clinton administration was leftist? Who'd have thunk it! I agree it was a leap to the left. I don't know where the statistics come from that it was the conservatives who abandoned the party but that seems to be a popular notion.
Anecdotally, based upon people I know or have had conversations with, it looks to me like a lot of blue collar and Joe 6 Pack types went for Perot. Many of these people had voted for Reagan and had been the famous "Reagan Democrats." I admit there are disillusioned or disgruntled true believing conservatives but I find them few and far between. I do, however, find amongst the nonpolitico centrists, a lot of head scratching about what this administration is doing. Since '92 I guess it's been more of a snowball rolling downhill, gaining size, speed and momentum to the left with the aid of the Washington establishment Republicans under Clinton and their endorsement under Bush.
Personally, I have a hard time not viewing this as pandering at best or blatant buying of votes. Sad to say, the welfare state is winning.
I cannot disagree wit hyour assessment ,but can you name a major reason why? And ,please ,none of that RINO crap, because that root cause is MUCH deeper than that. Fact is, I think you know,because I think that is one of our shared frustrations.