The right ran 200 yards further right. As much as I hate Reagan, that guy wouldn't recognize the current GOP. There are barely any moderate republicans left.
The current GOP is defunding everything from the state department, EPA to education. Meanwhile the democrats (outside of Sanders who's a self-defined independent, and Warren) are afraid to even suggest universal healthcare because it would be too left-leaning.
If a significant portion of the US population doesn't want Universal Healthcare, then it is too left leaning. Just because many European countries have adopted a policy doesn't mean the US should, especially if the populace disagrees.
No, my point is that moderate SHOULD mean somewhere in the middle. But if the geometric middle is moved 100 yards right, then "moderate" loses its meaning.
The "left" is moderate, the current right is something else.
There were far more candidates that did not run on racist, misogynist platforms, ie. Bush, Rubio, Johnson. Trump was never the most moderate. The Republican party didn't even choose him. Their constituents did. And if they had been paying attention they would have known a demagogue could have walked off with the party base.
I take that back; Kasich was the most moderate. He also had very little charisma, unfortunately. He could have been a perfect VP for this administration if the two could get along.
Trump was typically more moderate on the economy and tax policy, abortion, military. His stance on immigration is the more conservative than the rest. Rubio and most of the rest were very strict on abortion, had typical Republican ideas on tax, support interventionist military campaigns, but had varying but less conservative stances on immigration. Although Trump's behavior was boorish and comedic at times, that appeals to Americans and gets you media exposure. Just like the coolness of Obama and Bill Clinton.
If the DNC didn't engage in shenanigans, wouldn't the Democratic demagogue have had a much better chance at winning than Hillary?
Which is interesting, because Kasich is not in any objective sense a moderate. (I live in his state) Relative to the rest of that field, sure, but that's what is alarming.
Well, the media liked giving him lots of attention and air time. It was in the best interest of left wing demagogues to get a fresh new bad guy for the new season of American Politics.
Those were the days. Sadly, of the issues for which Candidate Trump was politically moderate, few have survived into his presidency. Actually, I can't think of any.
The current GOP is defunding everything from the state department, EPA to education. Meanwhile the democrats (outside of Sanders who's a self-defined independent, and Warren) are afraid to even suggest universal healthcare because it would be too left-leaning.
The democrats are TOO moderate.