Tired of 'tea party' sniping, moderates organize

[babylonsister]

Tired of 'tea party' sniping, moderates organize

In Washington, a new advocacy group decries 'the tyranny of hyperpartisanship.' And powerful New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg throws his support behind candidates willing to reach across the aisle.


Reporting from Washington —

Galvanized by the lightning-in-a-bottle success of conservative "tea party" candidates, moderate Republicans and others in the political center are looking for ways to push back against what they see as an advancing tide of ideological extremism.

The efforts are loosely organized and embryonic, but politicians, advocacy groups and others are piecing together a framework to promote moderate candidates and advance positions they say have been eclipsed by partisan sniping on the right and left.

"Middle America is being ignored by Washington and the media. Centrists are desperate for a voice today; they feel entirely unrepresented," said Mark McKinnon, a political strategist and former advisor to President George W. Bush.

"The tea party has tapped into voter frustration and anger," he said, "but does not represent millions of Americans in the vast middle."

The moves reflect political divisions that have only grown deeper as tea-party-backed insurgents have toppled candidates supported by the GOP establishment around the country.

Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire mayor of New York and possible future presidential candidate, has labeled the tea party movement a "fad" and a "boomlet." He has vowed to use his personal popularity, his reputation as a pragmatic voice, and his wealth to promote Democratic and Republican moderates as candidates this fall.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-moderates-20100926,0,7372349.story

[KharmaTrain]

1. Yep...Haven't We Heard This Before?

When Bloomberg puts some of his billions where his mouth is then it might have some merit. Otherwise its more verbal masturbation from the submissives who are too scared of the teabaggers and not genuine or honest enough to leave their corrupt party.

[babylonsister]

2. I'm hoping they put up a fight against the baggers; just my

eternally optimistic soul at work, I guess. :D

[IndianaJoe]

3. Sadly, there are no moderate equivalents of the Koch Brothers

to fund bipartisanship. Until the Tea Party GOP is voted into Dodo oblivion, I don't think we're going to see much sanity from the right. But like you, I remain optimistic. Stupidity can only carry a party so far and then the roof caves in. Sooner or later I think that's what will happen with the hyper-stupidity of the GOP.