Seriously. Can anyone tell me what centrists believe other than 'winning one for the team'?

[readmoreoften]

If you ask me what a progressive/liberal believes politically, I can tell you.
If you ask me what a communist or socialist believes, I can tell you.
If you ask me what the far right believes, I can tell you.
If you ask me what a libertarian believes, I can tell you.
Hell, if you ask me what a MODERATE REPUBLICAN believes I can tell you. (Usually more moderate on social issues, willing to raise taxes when pressed, etc.)

I have ZERO clue what a "Centrist Democrat" believes in or stands for, other than a cynical win for Team Democrat. I'm not trying to be nasty. I simply don't get it. No offense, but they seem like moderate Republicans who just hate the far-right wing of the Republican party so much that they want to belong to another party, any other party so long as it has power, just so they can get back at them. They seem to agree with them on most issues (war, unions, privatization of the commons). :shrug: I just can't fathom what they stand for.

And maybe that's why they're so damn unpopular when they run openly as centrists. They register to me as pure political opportunists. If I'm wrong, please clarify.

[JVS]

1. They believe that Nebraskans shouldn't have to pay a fucking cent for medicare.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. No. They are evil robots sent here to destroy you by General Zod.

They only believe in eating the flesh of their own children. Also, they fear ice cream.

[readmoreoften]

4. Thank you for clarifying.

Perhaps progressives should begin serving ice cream at local precinct meetings.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. It certainly couldn't hurt. n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Corporatism

That's ALL the DLC believes in.

[readmoreoften]

6. And this differs from Republicans, how?

Oh, right. Republicans hate gays and oppose abortion too.

[progressoid]

18. That's exactly the point. It doesn't differ.

Not much contrast between liberal Repubs and conservative Dems.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. Actually, the DLC believes in Lysentopolism.

The veneer of corporatism is simply a cover for their real Lysentopolistic agenda. It's truly shocking how many people are unwilling to dig deeper than what they read in the blogopshere.

[tkmorris]

10. You're funny

Your snark is an obvious cover for the fact that you have no serious answer to the question, but at least you amuse while doing it.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

13. The question is completely silly.

No, I can't tell you what an incredibly vast, extremely vaguely defined group of people believe. Political beliefs are like snowflakes - they're made of frozen water crystals and melt or sublimate when exposed to certain temperature or pressure conditions. Especially in Massachusetts. I mean, have you seen the way those people drive?

[readmoreoften]

17. Yet ever other "vast political entity" can somehow hit a political principle with a stick.

But not this particularly "incredibly vast, extremely well-defined" entity. Maybe that's because there is no such thing as a "Centrist Democrat" and the entire concept is simple right-wing disruption. Maybe "Centrist Democrat" is code for the segment of the American right-wing who dislikes the Republican moniker.

[NuttyFluffers]

19. So Centrist Dems are the Tao? the "wind" in the reed, the flute, and the flatulence?

i'm beginning to understand...

:smoke: :evilgrin:

[JVS]

5. They believed in expanding medicare as recently as last September, but come December believed...

that was a bad idea.

[Justitia]

8. That being contrary makes you popular????

There is a saying in TX....the only thing in the middle of the road are yellow lines and dead armadillos.

[rpannier]

11. How quickly can we get Lieberman down to TX?

Nelson and Bayh can go too

[Justitia]

12. LOL, at least armadillos are kinda cute. -eom

[Jamastiene]

14. I can demonstrate what they stand for better than explaining it using text.

How To Be a Centrist (Moderate) Democrat

1. Go outside on a windy day.
2. Lick your finger and stick it in the air.
3. Rotate your finger until you can determine which way the wind is blowing.
4. Base everything on that and proceed from there always going in the direction of the wind.
5. When your term is up and you are up for re-election, repeat Steps 1-4.
6. When in doubt, or on days that are not windy, side with the Republicans and promote and vote for Republican policies straight down the line; Meanwhile, get on the TV as often as possible and say you support the opposite of what you are really doing.
7. In all other cases, refer to Step 6 and repeat as often as necessary.

Those are their "beliefs" in a nutshell.

[readmoreoften]

15. So long as when they're choosing a direction, it always points to the right.

I mean, when has their direction EVER pointed left? When they cynically use leftist history (si, se puede, etc.)? They clearly don't MEAN those things they say. So... what do they mean? If they mean what the Republicans mean, why not be Republicans? Why not improve the Republican party?

Oh wait. I answered my own question. Because that would leave room for an actually left to take over the Democratic Party... and the corporate funding would end.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. They just want two minutes!

[Odin2005]

20. They believe in kindler, gentler Fascism.

[Orsino]

21. Coasting.

They believe in coasting, and not much beyond that.

[Toasterlad]

22. They Believe In Getting Paid.