Do you consider yourself a moderate?

[The Duke]

I am not a moderate.  I am a centrist.

Hmm. Why the distinction?

A moderate is very wishy washy, not confident in their views.  I'm certainly not very wishy washy.

[??????????]

Moderate is code word for "lacking balls".

[Joe Republic]

A moderate is very wishy washy, not confident in their views.  I'm certainly not very wishy washy.

Moderate is code word for "lacking balls".

Did either of you consider that perhaps being moderate also means that you're prepared to breach the partisan divide, take the POVs of both sides in hand, and try and come up with the best compromise to whatever issue it is that caused the divide in the first place?  Surely that's a more ideal form of politics than arguing all the time?

[The Duke]

A moderate is very wishy washy, not confident in their views.  I'm certainly not very wishy washy.

Moderate is code word for "lacking balls".

Did either of you consider that perhaps being moderate also means that you're prepared to breach the partisan divide, take the POVs of both sides in hand, and try and come up with the best compromise to whatever issue it is that caused the divide in the first place?  Surely that's a more ideal form of politics than arguing all the time?

A camel is a horse built by committee.  Compromise is overrated.

[Joe Republic]

A camel is a horse built by committee.  Compromise is overrated.

So you favor the current system of bitching whenever the other side does something you disagree with, and not even attempting to reach a suitable solution that most people can agree on?  Is politics all about beating the 'other guys' to you?

[Gabu]

Moderate is code word for "lacking balls".

If considering all points of view before making a decision, instead of simply saying the same thing ad infinitum in the hopes that people will agree with it, makes me "lack balls", then I didn't want them in the first place.

A camel is a horse built by committee.  Compromise is overrated.

Compromise doesn't always work, to be sure, but that doesn't mean you should just throw it out before you get started and do nothing but pursue your own self-interest to the exclusion of everything else.  In the prisoners' dilemma in game theory, if the prisoners compromise and stick to it, then both will come out with several years less jail time than what they would have if they both simply did what was best for themselves.

[??????????]

A camel is a horse built by committee.  Compromise is overrated.

So you favor the current system of bitching whenever the other side does something you disagree with, and not even attempting to reach a suitable solution that most people can agree on?  Is politics all about beating the 'other guys' to you?

It most certainly should be that way. Standing by ones principles are a strong showing of solid character.

[Gabu]

It most certainly should be that way. Standing by ones principles are a strong showing of solid character.

Reflexively standing by one's principles when a very good argument to the contrary is staring you in the face is a strong showing of stupidity, not solid character.

[Joe Republic]

It's little wonder this country is so divided, sometimes.

[YRABNNRM]

I'll admit to it.

[Colin]

Yes I do. Considering the current political climate in America, which makes social issues paramount to economic issues, I am a moderate.

[nclib]

Not an extremist, but definitely not a moderate.

Moderate is code word for "lacking balls".

If considering all points of view before making a decision, instead of simply saying the same thing ad infinitum in the hopes that people will agree with it, makes me "lack balls", then I didn't want them in the first place.

It is certainly good to consider all points of view before making a decision, but one can do so and not be a moderate.

[TomC]

On social issues, I'm pretty liberal. I'll take a stand in the culture war. On tax and spend and defense, I'm not. I am very much a capitalist yet I'm not a conservative. I like bipartisan actions like the one about judges and filibusters the other day, even though some of the judges make me very uncomforable.

[MaC]

I am not a moderate.  I am a centrist.

Centrist is another word for liberal.  Centrists want a strong central government.  I agree with States and Jake, those who are moderates usually (not always) lack opinions or cajones.

[TomC]

I am not a moderate.  I am a centrist.

Centrist is another word for liberal.  Centrists want a strong central government.  I agree with States and Jake, those who are moderates usually (not always) lack opinions or cajones.

That is NOT what centrist means at all. It is defined as "someone in the political center, a moderate."

[??????????]

I am not a moderate.  I am a centrist.

Centrist is another word for liberal.  Centrists want a strong central government.  I agree with States and Jake, those who are moderates usually (not always) lack opinions or cajones.

That is NOT what centrist means at all. It is defined as "someone in the political center, a moderate."

Why be wishy washy? Why not stand tall in your principles? If a man truly believes what he says he stands by it and does not compromise himself to an ideology he disagrees with. "Republicans" who do this are no better then liberal enablers and very similar to the sort who helped Hitler ascend to power in Germany.

[Erc]

Interesting to see the partisan divide here...

Either Democrats are so deluded that they think their views are moderate...or...they aren't really socialists after all ( ).

As for me, I'm a conservative.

Well, I'm a moderate on social issues, and I don't give a damn about those, so I still consider myself conservative.

[??????????]

Interesting to see the partisan divide here...

Either Democrats are so deluded that they think their views are moderate...or...they aren't really socialists after all ( ).

As for me, I'm a conservative.

Well, I'm a moderate on social issues, and I don't give a damn about those, so I still consider myself conservative.

I could consider that the term "moderate" could have several different meanings. The negative term for moderate could be a panderer to the other side. The positive term for moderate could be one who, on certain issues, is very uncaring. Such as you seem to say you are.

[TeePee4Prez]

Yes, because there are issues such as affirmative action, trade, and welfare reform, I'm very pragmatic on being my position is very difficult to pinpoint.

[The Duke]

A camel is a horse built by committee.  Compromise is overrated.

So you favor the current system of bitching whenever the other side does something you disagree with, and not even attempting to reach a suitable solution that most people can agree on?  Is politics all about beating the 'other guys' to you?

It is about beating the other guys.  They're wrong, I'm right.  If I didin't think they were wrong and I was right, I'd not disagree with them to begin with.

This is not to say that I'm unwilling to ever compromise.  I'll give the other side whatever they want, so long as its not something I didn't want to give.

Take what you can now, get the rest later.

[angus]

only about 25 minutes, dammit.

you should have stopped by!  i've got southern comfort and some good stories to tell.

whoa, Southern Comfort.  one of the few alcoholic beverages that actually thickens the blood.  There's a greek drink called Ouzo, or absinthe, that's even more viscous, but that's an acquired taste.  One I've never acquired.  When the Swedish guy next door moved out, he bequeathed to me his liquor collection, and among the treasure was a half-full bottle of Southern Comfort.  Not that I'd turn down a free drink, but I'm generally a cuba libre man when it comes to cocktails.  Ron Pampero, from venezuela, coca-cola, rocks, and just a drop or two of lime.

I bet you do have some stories by now.  Getting grades and scoring with the babes.  What a stud.  Well, I'm heading back to Manhattan this weekend.  If you're ever in the city, send me a message.  I'll show you Sid's, on 73 between 1st and 2nd ave.  They don't allow wife-beaters or cutoffs, but I think you'd like it.  Lots of nice old-fashioned chicks with mile-long legs protruding from miniskirts hang out there.  I'll stick with the rum & coke.  Or a bottle or two of cheap red wine.  Have a great summer, man.  Peace.

[TheresNoMoney]

10 years ago, I would be considered moderate. These days, I'd be considered borderline liberal.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

no

[John Dibble]

No, as I'm extremely commited to defending liberty - moderation is for chumps.

Still, I am a realist, and I'd rather get stuff done for my cause than attempt repeated total failures due to unwillingness to compromise on anything.

[The Duke]

10 years ago, I would be considered moderate. These days, I'd be considered borderline liberal.

Assuming you mean the border between North Korea and the PRC, I can see that.