America's big shift right

[Lone_Star_Dem]

For a generation, he has been considered a model of conservatism in Washington – at moments, perhaps, the model. Over the course of his 34-year career, US Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah has clashed with Big Labor. He has championed right-wing judicial nominees. He has consistently opposed federal gun control measures and backed a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He has sponsored or cosponsored a balanced budget amendment – which would require Congress to spend no more than it collects in revenues – no fewer than 17 times. In 2010, the American Conservative Union gave him a perfect 100 ranking.

Yet today Mr. Hatch faces formidable opposition – for not being conservative enough. Activists on the right are attacking him for his vote for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the financial-market bailout initiative, and his willingness to work with Democrats like the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. They complain that he has voted to raise the debt ceiling 16 times. It's looking increasingly as if Hatch will face a Republican primary challenger next year – and could very well lose.

In some respects, this is simply a case of a senator who's spent more than three decades in Washington butting up against a public mood that is intensely antiestablishment and – particularly on the right – opposed to compromise. Like most longtime public servants, Hatch has cast a number of difficult votes over the years, and he has at times reached across the aisle in order to get things done.

But Hatch's troubles also say something about the way in which the nation's political needle has been moving. Over the past four decades – and more sharply over just the past few years – the geopolitical center of America has shifted rightward. It hasn't happened on all fronts – certainly, there are some areas where the country has clearly moved to the left, such as views on gay rights. But on a host of other issues, from guns to the role of government, the center of debate has edged closer to the conservative position, while activists on the right have moved even further out on the political spectrum.

Read More: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0731/America-s-big-shift-right

[villager]

1. I wonder what the motive for the drive-by unrec was? Did this make someone uncomfortable?

America drifts rightward, toward inexorable collapse...

Perhaps, out of the fragmented rubble, something new can at last arise...

[geckosfeet]

2. Should be -"The MSM and RW tells America about its big shift right"

Cause otherwise this is horseshit.

There are a few RW assholes trying to hijack the entire political process. The only reason we see them because they have megaphones (MSM) and are standing on soapboxes (MSM gives them airtime).

[ThatPoetGuy]

4. Yep -- +1.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. It would appear this is what we're now supposed to assume is the new normal

Frankly, I disagree, but this is the new meme they're pushing.

[abq e streeter]

7. Exactly

[awoke_in_2003]

8. I can't see where you are at...

but living in Texas I can say that yes, the public has shifted to the right, also. The resurgence of religion has aided in this rightward shift.

[geckosfeet]

17. I am in MA. I maintain that the 'shift rightward', is a storyline being propagated by

the MSM, the corporate entities, religious fundamentalism, and of course the RW.

The message is, 'don't be left behind, join us!'

Of course, this is what the nazi's told people in the build up of the third Reich.

[electropop]

18. Media and Pols have shifted right, thanks to Murdoch's blackmail and money.

The population as a whole is more like the Wicked Witch's guards. Break the spell of misinformation and misleadership and they will wake up.

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. I don't think the center drifted right.

The center is what it has always been..the center. Reasonable spending and reasonable cuts geared towards the betterment of peoples live.
No, what has shifted dangerously right are the people that govern and call the shots in this country.

[swilton]

9. The shift right coincids with political leaders'

massive ignorance and parochial religious beliefs = global warming denials + creationism + rapture, et. al.

[swilton]

10. But I think your correct

framing of the article is that the majority of American citizens are conservative - if you go to the infamous Rachel Maddow polls posted on DU many, many times, nothing could be further from the truth. Majorities of Americans want social security, medicare, medicaid protected; want to end the endless wars and also want the wealthy to pay their fair share - that is not rightward thinking. But to read this article you would believe that there has been massive sociological shift.

Benjamin Barber notes that people (US and around the world) are falling back into religious fundamentalism to compensate for their inability to deal with massive social/technological forces changing around them.

[truedelphi]

12. Exactly so.

And with a media owned by the Big Money Interests, and with people such as the Koch Bros using their Big Dough to finance both sides of the aisle, up has become down, wrong has become right, and those who occupy the Highest Positions think of nothing more than political expediency.

Somewheres inside a grave in Chicago land, Saul Alinsky is spinning about madly.

[Bonhomme Richard]

14. The proof is listening to Boner repeat over and over again that

debt reduction is what the people want when he knows it's a lie. He's also never called on it. Of course the people he is really talking about are the ones that sign the checks.

[AndyTiedye]

5. The Right Wing Controls Every Tee Vee Station in the Country

[blkmusclmachine]

11. Rightward shift--BS! The Media are trying to create a reality that suits their Agenda.

n/t

[truedelphi]

13. + My household. n/t

[seeker4ever]

15. Horse Shit! Democrats took both houses and voters elected a guy they thought was a Liberal!

Disappointment and betrayl undermined 2010 not a fucking giant rightward shift into coraporate fascusm.

[electropop]

19. Voters should've looked at Obama's record.

He voted FOR the wiretapping of the entire US population.
He stood up at AIPAC and supported Israel's repression of Palestine.

It was pretty obvious he was going to be Bush III.

That's why I voted for Nader.

[drakonyx]

16. Ghost of Specter

Same thing happened to Alan Specter. He became a Democrat.