would these folks fit into today's Democratic party?

[the skeptic]

Considering how much the party has moved to the left/right (depending on who you talk to) would these past party bigwigs fit into the Democratic party of 2004?

1)JFK?
2)LBJ?
3)FDR?
4)George Wallace?
5)William Jennings Bryan?
6)Thomas Jefferson?

1) JFK-Without a doubt, he'd be in the mainstream of the party. It can be said that JFK's style (rhetorical liberal, cautious moderate in action) is what the modern party has patterned itself after.

2)LBJ-He was quite literally all things to all people during his long career in politics. Had a mix of conservative(not exactly a friend of unions) and liberal(Great Society programs) positions. Would be a Democrat, but a unique one. On economics and the role of government he'd be considered a wide-eyed radical.

3)FDR-Actually, the main complaint about FDR, especially when he first ran for president in 1932, was that he was too vague in his positions and didn't really stand for anything other than anti-Hoover (hmmm, where have we heard THAT before???). He'd fit into today's party, but would be considered beyond the pale on economic matters (due to his insistence on taxing corporations and the rich, something a significant segment of the party feels uncomfortable about doing).

4)George Wallace-The Pre-1972 version would probably be GOP, despite his relative economic liberalism. Race and other social issues would drive him toward the Republicans.

5)William Jennings Bryan-On economics, well to the left of many modern democrats (Gee, do we see a trend here, folks?). This is a guy who called for the U.S. to switch to the Silver standard and was a bitter foe of Wall Street. On social issues, an evangelical type that would fit in with the GOP. Would probably be an independent because of his apostasy on social issues.

6)Thomas Jefferson-A little tricky, because it can said Jefferson's ideas influence BOTH parties in various degrees. His espousal of religious freedom would endear him to Democrats, but his overall negative view of government would make him a republican.