Double the size of the liberal cohort.
Political ideology in the U.S. held steady in 2011, with 40% of Americans continuing to describe their views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal. This marks the third straight year that conservatives have outnumbered moderates, after more than a decade in which moderates mainly tied or outnumbered conservatives.
The percentage of Americans calling themselves “moderate” has gradually diminished in the U.S. since it was 43% in 1992. That is the year Gallup started routinely measuring ideology with the current question. It fell to 39% in 2002 and has been 35% since 2010. At the same time, the country became more politically polarized, with the percentages of Americans calling themselves either “conservative” or “liberal” each increasing.
So conservatives are the largest group, but we leave it to an open caucus and primary in bluish states to pick the nominee of our party. And the government keeps growing year after year. Madness.
I an one of the idiots who voted for a third party candidate in 1992—and foolishly helped elect Bill Clinton. We fell for the purity nonsense. Our candidates had to be fire breathing conservatives to receive our support. This effectively empowers leftist Democrats. We need to currently vote for the best available candidates, and increase our efforts to select conservatives in the primaries.
You, sir, have rediscovered the “Buckley Rule,” first articulated by William F. Buckley Jr. (no lefty, he) in 1967.
It’s usually paraphrased as “vote for the most conservative candidate with a realistic chance of winning.”
I too was one of those idiots. There were a lot of us. But I learned my lesson. This year, ABO- Anyone But Obama. Let’s face it, until we clean out Both houses of Congress, and I mean completely clean out, mandate term limits, take away all the perks, and do away with special interest and PACs, things are not going to change. And that’s not happening because too many hate Congress, but like THEIR congressman who arranges earmarks that benefit the district. The legislature doen’t act in the Country’s best interest, it acts in its own.
In my experience this poll is meaningless. I know plenty of flaming liberals who think the NY Times is a moderate, balanced publication. Decades of leftist media control has convinced them they are the moderate middle. I suspect a sizeable number of self-described moderates are in fact creatures of the left.
makes sense as the influences that be attempt to paint conservatives as a fringe minority yet the loony left is touted as moderate and numerous
“We need to currently vote for the best available candidates, and increase our efforts to select conservatives in the primaries.”
Nonsense! That principal is how we got Berry. If the two choices are a Marxist and a Socialist, is there really any choice?
It’s looking as if Mitt will buy the (R) nomination. So the 2012 election will be between the Marxist Obama and the Socialist Romney. Whoopie! Left or Far Left?
So long as Conservatives follow the ‘Best available Candidate’ rule, we will allow the left to choose our candidates. Heads they win, tails we lose.
Combine that with the fact that ‘Conservative’ is an evolving principal and you can see why America is in such dire straits. Romney claims to be a conservative, and he was by the standards of the 60′s and 70′s.
Well, it’s the 21st century and he is a RINO by today’s standards. Bill Clinton is a conservative by the standards Mitt and the Electables are using. After all, Billy Blue dress was the last POTUS to balance the budget.
Conservative principals of the 21st century;
A belief in God.
Abortion is murder.
Must own firarms and practice with them.
Homosexuals are social deviants and should be studied until a cure can be found.
Nothing to do with fiscal responsibility. 3 out of 4 ain’t good enough.
The left uses the term ‘values voters’. Moral or ethical voters would work also. Politicians without values, morals or ethics got us where we are today.
The only way to change for the better is by voting conservative.
NO COMPROMISE! Win or die fighting!