Moderates in Politics. Oh those poor souls. We just finished another round of elections in the United States with the Republicans taking over both the House and Senate majorities. The term you here whenever the minority party becomes the majority after an election is “Mandate.”
Let me be clear. NO NO NO NO!
It is not a mandate when the Congressional Approval rating is at 20%.
It is not a mandate when citizens think things will be just as bad whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress.
It is not a mandate when the feet dragging, lack of compromise and overall government stand still is par for the course no matter which party is in office.
And it certainly isn’t a mandate when in most races you only beat your opponent by 4-6 pecentage points.
And where are the moderates and their voice in both parties? Either they are shouted out as not true to their party (as far right Tea Party candidates do to their more moderate brethren in the Republican party) or they just don’t fight back for the soul of the party and compromise which is what the American people really want. This article from the National Journal really shows the House Divided nature of our Congress.
Somehow we complain but don’t hold the moderates to the fire for not standing up to their beliefs and not pushing for their agenda. As a coalition on both the left and right, moderates would have a large voting bloc that could move legislation or kill it. They need to start working across the aisle instead of appeasing the extremists in the party.
Finally a warning for the Republican led Senate and House. You can take this majority and continue to divide Congress to the point that Democrats dig their heels in like you did as the minority. Thus in two year, when an open Presidential race is on the line, you will lose. Or you can lead by coalition building across the aisle and prove you are the party for 2016 to have not only the House and Senate but also the Presidency.
*** Side note: Sorry if anyone thought I gave up on the site as you couldn’t get to it. Took three days to deal with a hotlinking attack on the site. Hoping things are better. If you see anything wonky going forward please let me know.
