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Centrists Losing Ground in Democratic Tug of War
the los angeles times ^
| june 21, 2003
| Ronald Brownstein, Times Staff Writer
Posted on 06/21/2003 12:41:30 PM PDT by liberalnot
Edited on 06/21/2003 12:47:13 PM PDT by Admin Moderator.
[history]
WASHINGTON ? After soaring in prestige under former President Clinton, the centrist "New Democrat" movement is struggling to maintain its influence in the party as the 2004 presidential race accelerates.
In recent months, New Democrat leaders have engaged in escalating confrontations with more liberal party elements ? battles that could help determine whether Democrats largely follow Clinton's centrist course or tilt to the left in their challenge to President Bush next year.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; democrat; dlc; left; newdemocrat; politics; postclinton
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brownstein's a democrat shill, but this is an excellent article if you want a summing-up of the current problems as perceived from the democrat left vs. the new democrat centrists.
To: liberalnot
Sharpton '04
2
posted on
06/21/2003 12:45:03 PM PDT
by
Drango
(A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
To: Drango
and maybe Jerry (moonbeam)Brown as Sharptons running mate?
To: Drango
yeah, right!
i heard on the radio the other day that sharpton has 2% rating for the presidency.
oh god, my head hurts! you hafta wonder what that 2% has been ingesting.
4
posted on
06/21/2003 12:49:21 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
To: Drango
Sharpton/Dean 04
5
posted on
06/21/2003 12:49:24 PM PDT
by
Husker24
To: liberalnot
How about a link?
6
posted on
06/21/2003 12:50:07 PM PDT
by
BCrago66
To: liberalnot
You see how much is left?
That's about how much we are allowed to leave when it is a LA Times or Washington Post owned property. Thanks, AM
To: BCrago66
8
posted on
06/21/2003 12:52:21 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
To: liberalnot
Clinton's a centrist? (btw, your link doesn't work)
To: LibWhacker
i just tried it and it did work.
10
posted on
06/21/2003 12:54:17 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
To: liberalnot; Admin Moderator
Broken link.
But if it says what I suspect, there is no need to whine for those in the "center". The Pubs seemed to making best speed away from the right and toward the center to rescue them.
11
posted on
06/21/2003 12:54:31 PM PDT
by
LTCJ
(In the mean time, I hope "conservative" is latin for "great swimmer".)
To: liberalnot
Sorry, I was referring to the original. #8 is fine, thanks.
To: LTCJ
13
posted on
06/21/2003 12:55:15 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
To: LibWhacker
you're welcome!
14
posted on
06/21/2003 12:55:57 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
To: liberalnot
Could you give us the central points of it? Are New Democrats the money center of the party? Will blacks go for a ND candidate?
15
posted on
06/21/2003 12:58:19 PM PDT
by
DPB101
(They (the clergy) preach sedition openly from their pulpits."--Earl Lord Percy, Boston, 1774)
To: LibWhacker
clinton moved to the center in order to beat bush pere.
if clinton had not done so, he would not have won the 1992 election.
that's what a "new democrat" is.
as the article states, clinton was expert at dealing with the democrat left. now, they're back and the coalition is falling apart.
don't you think that hillary wants the dems to fall apart in 2004? obviously, the clinton-pukes do not want another democrat to win in 2004.
16
posted on
06/21/2003 12:58:54 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
To: DPB101
sure.
i've got the print edition here and i'll scan back thru' it and post the key issues to you within the next 5 minutes.
17
posted on
06/21/2003 12:59:55 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
To: Joe Boucher
and maybe Jerry (moonbeam)Brown as Sharptons running mate? Say what you will about Moonbeam, but he supported a version of the flat tax, as even he realized that our tax code is one major messed up system. Also, from what I hear, he's been a reasonably good mayor of Oakland, as good as can be expected....
18
posted on
06/21/2003 1:00:36 PM PDT
by
Koblenz
(There's usually a free market solution)
To: liberalnot
Thanks! Think others will appreciate the highlights of the article too. I should register and will. Like to keep up on the enemy camp.
19
posted on
06/21/2003 1:07:22 PM PDT
by
DPB101
(They (the clergy) preach sedition openly from their pulpits."--Earl Lord Percy, Boston, 1774)
To: DPB101
1. for the last 20 years the new democrats has scuffled with the leftist democrats over the direction of the democrat party.
2. these new democrats are the moderates of the party and provided the support for bill clinton and al gore in 1992 and 1996. they worked thru' the dlc = democrat leadership council.
3. but now with the 2004 presidential elections coming up this coalition has fallen apart.
4. now the dlc is under a blistering attack from the left by the two most liberal 2004 candidates--rep. richard gephardt and gov. howard dean. the latter accuses the dlc of blurring the differences between dems and pubs.
5. some of clinton's ideas such as reforming welfare and a tough crime stance have become dem party consensus. but other clinton agreements are under attack: particulary the importance of balancing the budget.
6. with dean and others arguing for the party to sharpen its differences with the republicans, others are worried that swing voters will be alienated. the leftist position is devisive and doesn't help getting money or the white house.
7. meanwhile, the dlc was founded by al from and a group of mostly southern and western dems after mondale lost to reagan in 1984. from the start, the dlc was to move the democrat party to the center.
8. the dlc hit its stride after the dems lost the 1988 race.
9. the progressive policy inst is the dlc's think tank. al from convinced bill clinton to serve as chairman.
10. jesse jackson objected, saying that the dems had abandoned the po', and that dems were for the leisure class.
11. the conflict between the democrat left and the moderate dlc was never resolved.
12. in 2000, dlc members privately fumed that gore had moved back to the left.
13. dean's recent memos have inflamed the party.
14. some dlc members are backing john f. kerry and john edwards.
that's 'bout the jist of things.
20
posted on
06/21/2003 1:16:07 PM PDT
by
liberalnot
(what democrats fear the most is democracy . /s)
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