Reply #2: WAPO - The Political Center Makes a Comeback

[Mnemosyne]

By David S. Broder

Sunday, November 13, 2005; Page B07

In Congress and in constituencies across the country, last week demonstrated a powerful and welcome trend: After a long eclipse, the people in the political center, the moderates, have regained their voice and are reasserting themselves.

Beginning in the mid-1990s, and increasingly from 2000 onward, American politics was dominated by a notion that Republicans had found the key to mobilizing their voter base on issues of taxes and conservative social beliefs. In response, Democrats went back to their base -- the pro-government constituencies and the liberal interest groups -- to mount a resistance effort.


In the past decade, national elections became largely contests to see which side could turn out more of its committed partisans. The tools of motivation were highly emotional appeals. Persuasion of the undecided became a matter of secondary or minimal importance.

Both sides succeeded -- for a time. In 2004 John Kerry far outran Al Gore's 2000 vote but lost because George Bush improved on his own first run by even larger numbers.

more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111101638.html