Right-Wing Populism

[Kelley]

At 01:48 PM 2/10/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Kelley wrote:
>
>>why on earth should we call something centrist?  what on earth could that 
>>possibly mean?  the best shot you give, below, is that they are against 
>>the two parties.  well, that makes them *for* nothing actually so 
>>centrism is what?  nothing?
>>
>>the use of the word "centrist" is a cop out by people who are ashamed for 
>>one reason or another to identify with this or that policy.
>
>But that includes much, maybe most, of the American electorate.

that isn't in dispute.


>They don't want to rock the boat; they reject extremism of all kinds; and 
>value the candidate's personal qualities over ideology. Basically, to 
>quote the old Bush I arms control formula, it's status quo plus - an 
>inertia that was hardwired into the U.S. system of government by the 
>constitution.
>
>Doug

when people call themselves centrist, it's because they don't want to be 
labeled dem or rep, left or right.  it's like saying, "i'm not a feminist 
but..."

feh.

kelley