CenterBHSFan;1859692 wrote:@Boogie:
I think that you are also "somewhat" right. However, where I disagree with you is the idea that this extreme political disparity is somewhat even. In my own view it is the left that has been transgressing on this, in a multitude of ways. Not the least of which is visibility (internet news, paper news, cable news). Over time, they have successfully push people more and more to the right, even those that are generally grounded towards the center. The reason I say this is because of President Trump. It is still my contention that people voted for Trump as a giant middle finger towards not only the establishment and Clinton, but also progressivism (turns off vast amounts of people), identity politics and shame-gaming. We have to keep in mind that there were people on the right who voted both times for Obama. Just like there were people who voted for Trump that voted twice for Obama. What the left has been up to for years now couldn't have played into the the right's hands more if they tried really hard and twice on Sundays. It's why the republicans have the House, Senate and WH (I still think Trump is a charlatan who is no more republican than Cenk Ugyur). And the left better cool their heels and rethink the message they want to tout or it's going to be a long hard road for them.
There is a lot of truth in what you're saying. From my perspective, the extreme right has been the initiator of this poisonous discourse. I think right wingers have successfully used simplification to demonize the word "liberal" to the point that calling yourself one in mixed company equates to saying you hate the US. But since I am a center left person, my bias is in there. As far as Trump being a FU to progressives, that may be. But that kind of thing is typical in elections. Obama was an FU to the neoconservative Bush years. Bush was an FU to the Clinton politics and shenanigans. Clinton was an FU to the country club republican way, etc. etc.