Who represents "centrist" in the United States?

[El Pinko]

Which of these personalities best represents a "centrist" viewpoint in the United States?

[elleng]

1. Maybe Chafee;

but he no longer 'represents' anyone, right?

[El Pinko]

2. I merely posed the question because what represents the "center" of the US spectrum...

...still seems so right-wing and reactionary that calling any of these people "centrist" leaves a bad taste in my mouth, since centrist almost always is equated with moderation, common-sense, cooperation, etc.

When I think of a "centrist" I think of someone who falls between the extremes of fascism and communism - someone like a Ted Kennedy or a Barbara Boxer.

These figures are all so friendly to the military-expansionist, pro-corporate worldview that it's really hard for me to ever consider any of them truly "centrist", even if they do fall in the middle of the US political spectrum which runs from centrist democrat to the extremist ultra-right-wing GOP privatizers.

[zeos3]

3. I agree

All we hear about, though, is the liberal this the liberal that, the far left, etc. The political dialog has shifted to the right in this country yet we hear how both of our candidates are so "liberal".

[elleng]

10. We could write pages and pages about this stuff,

and continue to discuss and disagree.

You seem to focus on 'economic' issues, and to leave 'social' issues elsewhere. That's another book, of course! As to 'military-expansionist, pro-corporate,' that's PNACers, IMO, and probably doesn't include any on your list.

O'Reilly is just a jerk, and russert and matthews mouthpieces with no related minds.

[Selatius]

4. In the US, the center is pretty far right compared to globally. Look here.

Compare Bush to world leaders:



Now, look at where Stalin and Hitler were:



Now, look at candidates in the American primaries:



http://www.politicalcompass.org/usprimaries2008

[El Pinko]

6. Ron Paul seems to be to the right of Bush...

...interesting. the fact that his cult continues to grow is yet another testament to how far right our nation's mentality has slid.

[Selatius]

7. Yeah, he's more of the Milton Friedman neoliberal. Bush is more corporate-oriented.

The difference between the two being Friedman neoliberals oppose the kind of corporate subsidies that corporatists usually support for their constituent business interests, but ultimately, both are united in opposition to labor and leftism in general.

[sharesunited]

5. Seems like you look for the center on an issue by issue basis.

The greater a majority in agreement constitutes the center.

The political spectrum is something of a bell curve.

[EFerrari]

8. I love DU.

All those people do seem mostly to the right to me, too.

[livvy]

9. Gee...no wonder I have so much "trouble" with politicians. LOL

They almost ran out of quadrant space to get my red dot on there. :rofl: