What is the Center Left?
Mike McKain has posted a reply to my query about the intellectual diversity in the Democratic '08 field, saying:
You can read the rest of Mike's post here (I recommend it, he needs to blog more often!). I think he touches on some interesting points.
It seems the fundamental shaping influence is still the New Deal coalition, and as Mike says, "much of the unifying ideology is the notion that government has the power and obligation to help its citizens in times of need. The 1960s and the Vietnam War led to an awkward alliance of anti-war leftist[s]."
Most of the Democratic presidential nominees were no less hawkish than their Republican counterparts, save George McGovern (who lost all but Washington, DC and Massechusetts in 1972). This seems to have changed (though Obama now thoroughly vexes me).
I think maybe that while there are Republican candidates specifically representing the various Republican coalition members (Brownback, Huckabee, Paul), the Democratic coalition are represented virtually by each candidate in the field.
While one type of candidate tends to do well, I would argue that the modern Democratic Party is made up of a coalition with many divergent ideas and origins, and that much like the Republicans, different special interest groups tug at and influence the individual candidates in various ways.
You can read the rest of Mike's post here (I recommend it, he needs to blog more often!). I think he touches on some interesting points.
It seems the fundamental shaping influence is still the New Deal coalition, and as Mike says, "much of the unifying ideology is the notion that government has the power and obligation to help its citizens in times of need. The 1960s and the Vietnam War led to an awkward alliance of anti-war leftist[s]."
Most of the Democratic presidential nominees were no less hawkish than their Republican counterparts, save George McGovern (who lost all but Washington, DC and Massechusetts in 1972). This seems to have changed (though Obama now thoroughly vexes me).
I think maybe that while there are Republican candidates specifically representing the various Republican coalition members (Brownback, Huckabee, Paul), the Democratic coalition are represented virtually by each candidate in the field.
Labels: 2008 Watch
| Permalink | 
