Post 169 is very wise, very well written. I do, however, see trends. Our nation is growing ever more polarized. It's only natural, now that our choices of news sources has so abruptly expanded. Each side is certain that it's news sourcing is more accurate. This is a healthy, yet turbulent process. And like I said, polarizing.
Some are banking that being 'more centrist' is in. I don't think so. The energy level of each base is a vast powerhouse just begging for leadership that fits it's agenda. Centrists do not reach either base.
I don't want some smoke-filled room calling the shots in the primary process and pick some worthless centrist and then find out that all their strategery was folly. As you noted, many of us will vote for the winner of the primary. After all I said about Giulianni, when it comes down to primary time, what am I supposed to do? Let some rat win?
Once the primary is over, there are only three choices: vote for one, vote for the other, or protest. Only one choice is clear at that point: the lesser of two evils.
We NEED, ABSOLUTELY NEED, to pick a conservative before the primary, someone who can rally conservatives the way Howard Dean rallied the left. The primary is front loaded now. It moves very quickly. That means, unless we want some rolodex to pick our candidate, we need to hash this out ahead of time.
Dear Arthur Wildfire! March,
"Some are banking that being 'more centrist' is in. I don't think so. The energy level of each base is a vast powerhouse just begging for leadership that fits it's agenda. Centrists do not reach either base."
I'm inclined to agree. The bases of each of the two major parties are more polarized than ever before. I know. As a fairly rabid social conservative, I know that I just would never consider voting for anyone at all nominated by the Party of Satan, no matter how "centrist." I'm unreachable by the Dammocraps. Look at how I refer to them. The chasm between them and me, and my folks, family, friends, is unbridgeable. And we represent easily 30% - 40% of the entire population.
Conversely, the bases of the Democrat Party feel similarly. Anyone who thinks that the typical Democrat is not going to think "fascist" when looking at Mr. Giuliani is dreaming. All the Democrat nominee has to say to keep the folks from wandering is, "Abner Louima."
Anyone who thinks that he can pull as a "centrist" doesn't really understand just how much the 30% - 40% of the population that is yellow dog Dammocrap hates anyone with an R after his name. They're not gonna vote for Rudy. No way, no how.
The "centrist" not only will not pull from the core 30% of the other guys, but will likely alienate a majority of the 30% core constituency of his own party. There ain't enough votes in the middle to win without the base of one or the other political party.
And, in the case of Mr. Giuliani, we're not even talking about an actual, real, live, "centrist." We're talking about a fellow who, on social issues, is to the left of a pretty big chunk of the DAMMOCRAP Party, no less the Republican Party. Even lots of Dammocraps were willing to vote to ban partial birth abortion, for the Defense of Marriage Act, etc.
No, if Mr. Giuliani is really serious about becoming president, he'll need to change the "R" to a "D."
He could team up with Sen. Lieberman, and run from the Scoop Jackson wing of the Democrat Party.
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