Rockefeller Republicans

[rebeltarian]

They're still out there making an impact, albeit in the other party.  A more relavant term for them nowadays should be Gravel Democrats:  Fiscally moderate, socially libertarian, white-collar suburbanites.  My boss is one, she campaigned for Obama, but is a registered independent and self-described "moderate republican".  She despises the Hannity/Limbaugh crowd, but she says Democrats "spend too much money".

Most Rockefeller Republicans were located in the northeast.  They're basically the counterpart to the populist dixiecrats of the South.  Neither party can ever carry both the south and the northeast, since both regions are so culturally polarized against each other. 

[rebeltarian]

People love to interpret posts the way they want to on this board.  The times have changed, guys.  Most white collar suburbanites couldn't careless about gays, drugs, school prayer, etc.  Their main issue of concern is economics and inteligent governance.  While they don't align perfectly with the campaign platform of Nelson Rockefeller in 1964, they are the children of this voting demographic, and this is 2010, not 1964!  It's a matter of generational shift.  Children of RR's are much more tolerant to alternative lifestyles and perhaps Rockefeller himself would be more socially liberal if he were around today.

P.S. Gravel is a liberal-leaning libertarian on the nolan chart, right cozy next to Jim Jeffords.