DU: Leaning too far to the right... (No I'm not making this stuff up!)

[asdf2231]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3606761&mesg_id=3606761

baby_mouse  (1000+ posts)       Sat Jul-12-08 02:27 PM
Original message
Poll question: The Neocons have successfully shifted the political spectrum of the US, including DU, to the Right.
 
So, here we are.

DU posters against abortion, DU posters against gay marriage, DU posters for the Death Penalty, DU posters not really that bothered about warrantless wiretapping, la di da. How much things can change in a few small years.

Interesting, isn't it, that somehow its always the DU posters espousing right wing views who know where the centre is?
Poll result (78 votes) 
Yes, they have.  (63 votes, 81%) Vote
No, they haven't.  (12 votes, 15%) Vote
Other (below)  (3 votes, 4%) Vote
 

lostnotforgotten  (978 posts)      Sat Jul-12-08 02:32 PM
Response to Original message
1. I Remember When DU Felt Progressive - That Was Years Ago Now

GreenPartyVoter  (1000+ posts)      Sat Jul-12-08 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
3. I do believe things have shifted rightward. Something like 90 Congressional reps worked on
 getting impeachment hearings and investigations etc for WaterGate. How many are trying to get ** impeached nowadays? Just look at where the so-called Left leaders of the Dems are these days at political compass. All in the same quadrant as the Repubs, except for Dennis K who is in the lower left quadrant where most "liberals" reside.

However, in the case of DU I think we have a lot of disaffected RW and center-right folks who had nowhere else to go when the Repubs went crazy(er), so a change here was to be expected. I am not wild about some of their views, (especially this use of purist/idealist/liberal crap) however we can all agree that we don't need any more **-like "leadership" so I let it go in one ear and out the other most days.

Yeah we are just fleeing the Republican party in DROVES for the island of clear thinking sanity that is the DUmp.  Sorry we are ruining your neighborhoods. It must be how you feel when blacks or Mexicans move next door to you...

housewolf  (1000+ posts)       Sat Jul-12-08 02:41 PM
Response to Original message
5. Just throwing this out as a thouoght...
 Edited on Sat Jul-12-08 02:44 PM by housewolf
not advocating for it, just a possible thought...

Perhaps those issues that you bring up are really matters of personal feelings and beliefs and are not truly left/right issues. Perhaps they are issues that individuals consider and come to their own opinions on because they are person and not rightfully within the realm of left/right politics, inspite of them having been appropriated by political parties. Perhaps issues of morals such as these do not rightfully belong to the world of bi-lateral politics where shades of grey are irrelevant.

baby_mouse  (1000+ posts)       Sat Jul-12-08 02:47 PM
Response to Reply #5
12. ..........
 
I'm going to assume that was a joke.

 

housewolf  (1000+ posts)       Sat Jul-12-08 03:23 PM
Response to Reply #5
29. I'm for free thought and shades of grey
 for people considering issues and making up their own minds about what they think is right and wrong, not for toeing the line of any political party or ideology.

With 300 million people in this country, there is no way that 2 political parties that are polarized against each other are going to represent all the views that are out there. Two polarized paries leave no room for shades of grey, while I believe life is more filled with shades of grey than with black/white polarizations. What's right for one may or may not be right for someone else, particularly regarding social issues, but the field of issues is enormous. To think that everyone who is aligned with you on one (or some) issues needs to be aligned with you on all (or most) issues) is disrespectful of each individuals' rights to think and act for themselves.

Association with a political party is a matter of expedience in order to support candidates in being elected. Adoption of a political ideology is a personal matter based on ones own beliefs in what's right and wrong in the vast spectrum of life (or sould be). People associate within the political party that BEST fits with their ideology but there will always issues where there are differences for the simple fact that regarding most issues, agreement comes in shades of grey rather than black and white.

 Bandit  (1000+ posts)      Sun Jul-13-08 11:43 AM
Response to Reply #29
55. But shades of grey is a Liberal tenet
 With Conservatives it is "Us or Them" "right or wrong" no in betweens. Liberals believe in thought process.

 

baby_mouse  (1000+ posts)       Sat Jul-12-08 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #6
11. No it isn't.
 
The neocons have set the agenda for the past 8 years and gradually, this site has slid rightwards on order to pick up right wing voters that have decided the neocons have gone too far. As a result we now have loads of right wing people on the board.

The site is now completely focussed on winning at all costs, no matter what the policy is, and any semblance of left wing theory is automatically derided subtly, as too "extreme". This is useless.

If you're not winning FOR anything, why bother winning?

When I joined this site, it was a left wing site. It isn't any more. It's becoming more and more like a general political discussion board.

This person might actually be so stupid they need a machine to help them breath or poop. Not because of any injury or illness... Just because they lack the grey matter to handle what should be unconscious functions.

lynettebro440 (444 posts)       Sat Jul-12-08 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #22
48. Plus I remember in the good old days
 of fighting them more then fighting ourselves. The people here today are racist, bigoted, foul mouth, demeaning and opinionated to a point where the enjoyment sure is gone. What was just doesn't seem to be what is. People have changed too much.

DU: Worse than Stormfront!!!!

pnwmom (1000+ posts)      Sat Jul-12-08 03:17 PM
Response to Original message
25. It wasn't the neocons.
 It was the break-up of the Soviet Union. Without the Soviet Union holding down the left flank, the whole system moved more to the right. Suddenly, our "moderates" became "leftists."

 





 

[Chris_]

DU has never gotten over the breakup of their beloved Soviet Union.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Poll result (78 votes) 
Yes, they have.  (63 votes, 81%) Vote
No, they haven't.  (12 votes, 15%) Vote
Other (below)  (3 votes, 4%) Vote

Is it not the most remarkable irony that to complain DU is too rightist you yourself must be situated well to the left. Yet, we find 81% of the respondents in just such a situation.

Thus this poll tells us that 81% of DU respondents are clueless idiots that complain about phatasms to explain away their arrogance-born impotence.

[Lord Undies]

The Soviet Union gave the lefty liberals hope and somewhere to call home.  It did not matter that it had to be held together by armed force and intimidation.  No one was suppose to notice the foundation of its structure.  Everyone was suppose to marvel at the phony veneer of contentment, the false storefront of equality for all, the vapor thin facade of superiority, and the mirage of success.      

DU and the rest of the loony left want us to believe the Soviet Union fell apart due to internal reconcilable differences which could have been healed with a little more government and a little more time to perfect.

[Miss Mia]

The problem is that some DUers think that the democratic party should be well to the FAR left.  I'm not far left.  I consider myself a democrat.  The party hasn't shifted, except in those DUers minds.  The majority of this country are centrists. 

Edited to add:  Those on DU that feel it's too far to the right, are wanting to purge itself of posters like me.  You know, rational ones. 

[Rebel]

The problem is that some DUers think that the democratic party should be well to the FAR left.  I'm not far left.  I consider myself a democrat.  The party hasn't shifted, except in those DUers minds.  The majority of this country are centrists. 

Edited to add:  Those on DU that feel it's too far to the right, are wanting to purge itself of posters like me.  You know, rational ones. 

So, when are you getting OMC here? 

As for the Democratic Party, sorry sweets, eventually the entire party will leave you. There are Democrats down here that are becoming independents and Republicans, even though they've been Democrats their entire lives. Some over 40 years.

[Miss Mia]

The problem is that some DUers think that the democratic party should be well to the FAR left.  I'm not far left.  I consider myself a democrat.  The party hasn't shifted, except in those DUers minds.  The majority of this country are centrists. 

Edited to add:  Those on DU that feel it's too far to the right, are wanting to purge itself of posters like me.  You know, rational ones. 

So, when are you getting OMC here? 

As for the Democratic Party, sorry sweets, eventually the entire party will leave you. There are Democrats down here that are becoming independents and Republicans, even though they've been Democrats their entire lives. Some over 40 years.

I don't ever actually post to OMC, I don't know him, otherwise I'd invite him over.  Plus, I'm not "Miss Mia" on DU either.