Reply #16: I think a little differently

[Cresent City Kid]

What's left, right and center is like a number line, but I think more in Venn diagrams politically. You have those who believe in helping the poor but oppose gay marriage, and those who believe global warming is real, but their ideal economy is good ol' American capitalism. Most of what appears contradictary takes place within the Democratic Party. The GOP's biggest divide is the big business support of underpaid illegal alien workers against the racism and nationalism of its knuckle dragging voters. What looks like a two party system is actually a multi party system where 3rd place is a distant 3rd, so shrinking by the republicans grew the Democrats to include a hodge podge of various interests. Republicans have a short clear list of likes and dislikes, Democrats can be conflicted, even within one person. I personally have a socialist utopian vision, and some acceptable compromises that move in that direction.

I agree to a point that your original premise is right, the extreme right took the center of gravity with them, making what we call common sense look flaky to the average American.

In other ways, reality is making the far right look as extreme as it is. Concern about global warming is mainstream thought despite business' success in keeping it going. The jury is still out on whether the 2008 election showed that the average voter figured out the fallacy of trickle-down economics, or if it was just throwing out the incumbents, but there's hope.