Agreed. And this is part of the problem with most of the anti-Trump Republicans. Other than criticizing him verbally or in print, there just isn't that much they can do to oppose the man without betraying their own political beliefs. He'll probably get some push back on trade policy, they backed sanctions on Russia when Trump didn't want them. They'll stand up to him when they actually disagree and care about an issue. But that just won't happen very much because they largely agree with Trump on policy just not on anything else.
Flake against Trump
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Agreed. And this is part of the problem with most of the anti-Trump Republicans. Other than criticizing him verbally or in print, there just isn't that much they can do to oppose the man without betraying their own political beliefs. He'll probably get some push back on trade policy, they backed sanctions on Russia when Trump didn't want them. They'll stand up to him when they actually disagree and care about an issue. But that just won't happen very much because they largely agree with Trump on policy just not on anything else.
It's pretty poor that the only time they grow a backbone is when they have no future career.
I will respect the first GOP Senator or Representative who actually decides to put country before short term career.
They'd probably have a better long term career prospects once this administration is gone and exactly how bad it was becomes clear. I'd like to think that cheerleaders for Trump would get punished by the electorate at that time.
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
Sorry, but I think making opposition to Trump a pure ideological issue is a horrid mistake.
The real problem with Trump is he totally unfit for the office of presidency.
So if I am a moderate Conservative...a "Schwarznegger Republican" where do I go if I despise Trump but can't sign on to a hard left ideology?
The real problem with Trump is he totally unfit for the office of presidency.
So if I am a moderate Conservative...a "Schwarznegger Republican" where do I go if I despise Trump but can't sign on to a hard left ideology?
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
I also think there is a problem with a Anti Trump Democrats who are insisting you sign on to a left wing political agenda before being allowed in the resistence.
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
From a European perspective, that would be to the left of the Democratic Party.
I appreciate that there appears to be a huge gulf between the Trumpist (and before that fundamentalist and Tea Party) GOP and the Democratic Party but it's not because the Democratic Party is full of rabid left-wingers and socialists. IMO the Democratic Party is now a centre-right party and the US does not have a major left wing party in the usual sense of the word.
The middle party you propose would still be very much a right wing party. IMO it would certainly be to the right of the Eisenhower and Nixon GOP, likely to be to the right of the Reagan GOP. I'm also not sure what it would espouse.
Right wing orthodoxy has had tax cuts for the wealthy at all costs to promote "trickle-down" (which appears not to work in the US), a strengthening of the military, curtailment of welfare and other aid programmes and a greater devolution of powers to the states. All of this is already in the current GOP programme.
How do you see the sensible middle party differing significantly from the Democratic Party (and by this I mean actual policies as proposed or implemented, not the caricature of the party as presented in certain parts of the media) ?
How are these differences any different from the current GOP ?
I got a feeling ,Don, you would feel the way about ANY Republican in the White House that your feel about Trump.
That is really sad, it makes you no better then the hard line RIght Wingers you hate so much.
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
The Democratic Party. By European standards they are centre-right
This is not Europe, Don.
America is much more Free Marketed oriented then Europe. I do not see this changing.
You just don't seem to get this.
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
What people here are saying is you need to be on the Political Left to be opposed to Trump, I totally reject that.
What/which Democratic policies (as opposed to press caricatures of same) do you oppose ?
If there are a lot then the GOP is your natural home and the issues are ones of tone.
Spindrift
Time Person of the Year, 2006
What The Don is saying is that the Democratic party isn't really on the Political Left.
Correct. It's pretty much the GOP of maybe 30 years ago with added social liberalism.
ponderingturtle
Orthogonal Vector
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Only if you want to win political office.
ponderingturtle
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But reagan with a heart doesn't win conservatives over to them, they need someone far to the right of Reagan.
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
Then who in on the political left in the US?
What I am saying is this is the United States and we are not required to accept the European standard of "Left and Right".
I am not a progressive. I do not agree with the idea of a massive state totally dominating the economy. I am not a lasseiz faire guy, either...for instance I support some form of Universal Health Care....but I do see the private sector as a cow that exists only to be milked for the benefit of the Government,which seems to be the Progressive viewpoint. They see private business as a necessary evil, to be tolerated because it can generate wealth and growth...but to be replaced if they can ever figure out a way for The State to do that.
I go issue by issue,and swing to the right on some issues and to the left on the other.
I think there are a lot like me in the US, and sooner or later we will find our voice.
ponderingturtle
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Unless you are all death to the gays that makes you a democrat. An actual democrat not the republican strawman democrat.
Spindrift
Time Person of the Year, 2006
In the US, Democrats are to the left of Republicans but in the broad political spectrum there's almost no one on the far left, at least as an organized political party.
Maybe but if someone like dudalb - and other moderate conservatives - thinks that the current GOP has left them it may be an idea to remind them that the modern incarnation of the party they fell in love with (Reagan or earlier GOP) is the Democratic Party.
dudalb
Penultimate Amazing
Or maybe a third centrist party.
I don't want a totally dominant party, whether it be the GOP or the Dems.
And ,yes, I the Dems in a postion of total power would become as arrogant and an authoritarian as the GOP. Power corrupts.period. The only way to control is it to see that no party has a monopoly of power.
Irony is if all moderate Republicans were to switch to the Dems, it would move the party to the right...not want I think you guys want.
Neither is the Democratic Party. One criticism of Hillary was that she was too corporate and Obama was to the right of her.
Difference between actual policy and caricature
Like saying Republicans want people to die in the street.