[concerned about politics]

the concept of political 'triangulation' does not work

It does for Democrats, though. Their base isn't large enough to win elections by themselves. They have to lie during campains and try to decieve the voters. Once they get to washington, they can revert back to the image of the serpant.
As for Republicans, honesty is not only the best policy, but it's demanded by their base.
Rove is right. Don't lie to Republicans. We don't like it.
'Triangulation' will not work for Republicans. Passion without precision is chaos.

[Zack Nguyen]

It does for Democrats, though. Their base isn't large enough to win elections by themselves.

It also works, I believe, because their base is less principled than conservatives, and thus more willing to wink and nod while their candidates lie to the "herd" to get the "ignorant" vote.

[ewing]

And Bush's 60% is more than likely rock hard support, instead of the previous occupant of the office who bottomed out at 37% during impeachemnt

[Sonny M]

Triangulation I don't think works period. Clinton didn't win because of it. He won his first election because his base came out to support him, and Perot peeled off votes from Bush sr, not to mention that Bush sr alienated his base. Clinton's second election had similiarites with his base, and again a 3rd party canidate peeling off of Dole who couldn't solidify his base either. The left wing base is small, but they are pure broken glass, they would vote for Hitler if he ran as a democrat vs the pope if he ran as a republican. The conservative base is well known for being more "finicky" in its support. They have a higher standard for there canidates, and it has shown. If a conservative turns and has an affair, (I'm not debating if this right or wrong, just stating facts), they will either not vote for him, or simply vote against him in the election. Even though conservatives outnumber liberals, it is far harder to get and keep there support. Independents, who do swing back and forth, always despise left wing open liberals, are generally right leaning, and personally conservative, but do not consider themselves conservative in view of government. The key to winning an election and drawing independents, is to not move towards them, but make them, move towards you. Ronald Reagan did this with pure genius, Jeb Bush does this with flair down in Florida, as well, as several other republicans.

[section9]

It does for Democrats, though. Their base isn't large enough to win elections by themselves. They have to lie during campains and try to decieve the voters. Once they get to washington, they can revert back to the image of the serpant.

One of the reasons I felt that Clinton's triangulation was so successful was that it allowed him to poach a huge block of Republican women. His base hated him for it, but in the end, they had nowhere else to go. Black folks weren't gonna vote for Bob Dole now, were they?

That's the peril of the Democratic base voter. They have nowhere else to go.

Be Seeing You,

Chris