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re: Chafee's Campaign

I couldn't possibly agree more. I would like to see Chafee, Lieberman, Snowe, Specter, Casey and other moderates actually form an independent block in the Senate. Modeled on the "Gang of 14," they would have sufficient leverage to pass or block any legislation in their chamber. By threatening to defect on bad policy--and refusing to rubber-stamp pork projects--the independents could elevate common sense over the current partisanship that rules the Senate.

In this case, Ariel Sharon's Kadima Party provides an excellent prototype. An alliance of conservative Democrats, genuine Independents, and liberal Republicans--along with an bona fide centrist for President--could offer a viable alternative to the extremes of both traditional parties.

by Stephen Steigleder on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 03:53:32 PM EST
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re: Viable Moderate Parties

Indeed, I had really wished to see more come out of that very sensibly "Gang of 14" decision than a simple quieting down of the firey "nuclear option" rhetoric which was being spewed around the Hill. For the most part, these folks are all highly electable in their home states, regardless of their party. It is his own personal charisma and voting record that keeps a guy like Chafee in his Senate seat for a "deep-blue" state like Rhode Island, certainly not his party affliation. Only 2 states had higher margins of victory for Kerry in 2004.

The power of such a moderate block could not be denied, and I believe you would see much of the vitriolic 2-party rhetoric on the Hill vanish, as both sides tried to mellow their messages to play to the center.

by jparis on Mon Jul 24, 2006 at 04:27:43 PM EST
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