If the democratic party thought that a fiscally conservaitve, pro gun...

[killbotfactory]

Governer from a rural state, and balanced the budget every year in office while raising minimum wage and covering almost all of the children in the state with health insurance was a fringe left nutjob, what makes a moderate?

If saying you think waging wars without solid evidence of a threat is a bad idea, what makes a moderate?

If saying we shouldn't lead this country into mosterous debt is a bad idea, what makes a moderate?

Is it someone who will just say "I agree, only I'd do it better!" on every goddamn issue? if that's what you're selling, people won't buy it.

[Comicstripper]

1. You're right

Dean rocks, and was a great moderate- socially progressive, fiscally responsible.

[killbotfactory]

3. Like most people I know

socially progressive, fiscally conservative.

And not this crazy faux fiscal conservative bullshit about bankrupting the gov't into submission, either. I'm talking about real fiscal conservatism.

The fact is, we win on almost ALL the issues. Kerry just didn't convince the public he was the "real deal" on them for whatever reason. We don't have to alter our stances just because the hardcore republican base got the shit scared out of them and turned out stronger than expected.

[Comicstripper]

14. Kerry failed because he let the GOP define him

Wasn't entirely his fault, as the media gave free time to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. People question Kerry's service more than they question Bush's.

[HFishbine]

2. Amen, brother.

Look, Kerry would have been head and shoulders above Bush, but this moderate vs. lefty notion has been turned on its head.

[killbotfactory]

6. No doubt about it.

Kerry would have made a kickass president.

But we need a solid definition of "moderate" if we are going to try and elect one.

[geek tragedy]

4. But he's not from the South, so he's not a worthy candidate.

Didn't you get the memo?

[killbotfactory]

5. Oh, that's right! I'm so glad we nominated a New England Senator, instead

He was in Vietnam, he can't be too liberal for the south!

[DaveinMD]

7. he ran as a liberal

I agree he isn't one, but that is not how he positioned himself.

[killbotfactory]

8. Not really.

He was painted as one by the media, but he never campaigned as a liberal.

He always campaigned as a socially progressive, fiscal conservative.

[DaveinMD]

9. he said he was running

from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. That was a way of calling himself a liberal without using the word.

[killbotfactory]

10. I thought it was more of a way of saying he had backbone

and wasn't ashamed to be a democrat, but whatever. I don't care.

In the end he was moderate, described all his policies in a non-nonsense way, and was painted as a flaming liberal who will lose in a landslide because he's oh-so-liberal we can't stand it, but the DLC and others of their ilk.

[NYCGirl]

12. I always thought that meant he was an old-school Democrat, not

the DLC faux-Republicans.

[killbotfactory]

13. Ditto...

Don't know where the old school democrat = fringe liberal idea came from, but it's wrong.

[ibegurpard]

11. Here's what the "strategists" don't get:

The right wing CONTROLS ALL AVENUES OF GETTING OUT THE MESSAGE. They can turn the best candidate the Democratic Party could put up into Osama bin Laden. We have no local infrastructure and social networks like the churches to reinforce OUR values to counteract the propaganda.