When it comes to political activists says Bridgeport resident David Walker, the nation’s former top auditor, too many people on the left, too many on the right and not enough at the “sensible center” where the majority of Americans prefer decision making.
Tuesday night I attended a discussion hosted by Walker at his house in Black Rock, the one he purchased from former Congressman Christopher Shays who was also in attendance with 50 or so other guests. The subject matter was www.nolabels.org an upstart national organization “created to provide a voice for America’s vital center, where ideas are judged on their merits, a position which is underrepresented in our current politics.” No Labels is appealing to Americans to get involved to urge Washington pols to end the “hyper-partisanship and extreme ideology.”
Walker is the author of Comeback America, a national bestseller that urges sanity back in the decision-making process in Washington. Walker received three presidential appointments, one each from Ronald Reagan, George Bush 41 and Bill Clinton so he knows how to navigate Republicans and Democrats. As the former head of the nation’s Government Accountability Office he had issued an urgent storm warning well before the country hit the financial rocks.
Walker, an unaffiliated voter, is volunteering his time to No Labels to illustrate the critical need for centrist agreement amidst polarization in Washington. Shays, a moderate Republican, spoke about peers in Congress who told him they couldn’t be seen together in public for fear of retribution by Democratic Party leaders. Lisa Borders, former Democratic president of the Atlanta, Georgia City Council shared the same insight she experienced reaching across party lines as a mayoral candidate. Guests, both Democrats and Republicans, spoke about the entrenched mindset of party leaders.
Lots of OIB friends were in attendance. Walker didn’t stack the deck with cream-puff questions from guests. Several folks invited into his home were highly skeptical that No Labels could achieve its goal of “a government and a political system that works – one shared by purpose and common sense.” It seemed like some guests were cynical of a Washington loaded with common sense, and perhaps that provided No Labels representatives a taste of what to expect. But hey, at least someone is trying.
One area No Labels is staying far away from is social issues with split “ideological extremes” such as pro choice or pro life. Let’s work on the budget! Smart move. And who knows … maybe some strong independent candidates may emerge if the No Labels movement takes hold.
The No Labels Party has a nice ring.
Very interesting. I too, have been frustrated the last few years, trying to decipher the rhetoric out there by today’s politicians. No labels sounds like a grass-roots movement that will grow, slowly but surely.
It is my opinion that partisan politics have ground this nation’s democracy to a complete halt.
*** Sounds like a plan, no? After all in the center there’s more balance for smaller local things to get moving! Would like to hear more. *** Back to Basics ***
Little left, little right—what’s in the center?
Their egos and wallets. None of them care about us little people—Not4Nuttin!
As long as the mainstream media continues to give credence to divisive figures like the Sarah Palins of this world, the country will continue to become more and more divided along extreme ideological lines. Their goal is to whip people into a frenzy. That’s how they make money and remain in power and the mainstream media feeds into it because the more people who watch and listen, the more money they make. There’s nothing to exploit in the center so it does not sell.
BPT 1, one of the points hammered home at Walker’s event touched on your point: in Congress there’s no reward for being in the middle and the role media plays for exploiting the divide.
I wish I had known about this discussion group because it sounds like something I would really have been interested in attending.
It was a very interesting discussion last night at David Walker’s house. I like the idea of building an organization like No Labels that will support elected officials who are willing to sit down with members of the opposing party to work out pragmatic ways to move the country forward.
Right now there is far too much ideological posturing and far too little rational discussion.
We need to get away from shrill and simple-minded bumper sticker politics and start rewarding those politicians who are willing to work together to do what’s in the best long-term interests of the country and not simply the short-term interests of a particular party or faction.
It’s time to stop the childish politics of extremism and to put the grownups back in charge.
We are honored to have David Walker in town and his book is full of great ideas.
David Walker has written a thoughtful book.
He has provided us with a ray of light and God knows we need it.
Bpt 1:
The “mainstream” media is by their nature in the middle. Yeah, we are out to sell newspapers or get TV ratings, but the Sarah Palins are observed to HAVE followings–we don’t create them.
Politicians get themselves in all sorts of problems by trying to tack to the middle. Former Republican Rep. Chris Shays is an excellent example.
Shays tried to support his president, conservative Republican George W. Bush, while maintaining some independence in his beliefs over the president’s. He ended up ticking off some Republicans and many Democrats. The voters unelected him. Shays should have few complaints; he had nine terms in office.
But guys who stay forever tend to establish a black-and-white political stance and refuse to acknowledge the grays. Shays had some sense of the grays.
As has been stated on this board time and again, Shays’ position was not good enough for some people–even though his positions for an urban area like Bridgeport were excellent for a Republican. I’d argue they were pretty good regardless of party.
The guy who I think best expressed this problem was a pol by the name of Jim Hightower, a liberal Democrat from Texas. Years ago he was asked why he didn’t moderate his beliefs to make himself more appealing to people who weren’t liberals.
His response: “Son, the only thing in the middle of the road is a dead armadillo.”
Jim Callahan // Oct 27, 2010 at 11:11 am
To your posting …
Jim,
I would offer that too few candidates have any idea of the depth and complexity of issues to be resolved in either chamber in DC, in either chamber at the State Capitol, and in either the legislative or executive chambers of our local government, so they resort to the nuttiness and negativity we are witness to today.
But when all is said and done you and I know the mountain can only be moved by the voter.
In this case a mountain of apathy, cynicism, ignorance and egotism tends to make up the composite of the voter today, while the composite of the current crop of candidates certainly reflects the same cynicism, ignorance and egotism. The apathy is replaced by arrogance.
In rare instances these days, the genuine public-service candidate does appear who knows the issues, takes his/her voter seriously and expects that the voter’s vote will only come with the voter’s trust. It turns out that the character profile of these rare individuals for us in Connecticut resembles … the Stu McKinnys, the Chris Shays, and the Nancy Wymans.
I’ve seen really good candidates get elected as you have Jim, but what our choices are for the most part today, are for shallow, superficial people.
NO LABEL is proof-positive that we are in a condition today that calls for a voting populist uprising … the trick is not to refrain from voting, but to flood the gates with our votes so we can stop the nonsense of the few and the immaturity of the many …
Hey Jim,
At the risk of sounding like a “dead armadillo,” the left and the right have to start talking and negotiating with each other or nothing will get accomplished.
Jim: Sarah Palin and her ilk may have a following, but that following is a minority of people in this country. But because they are a loud and vocal minority saying outlandish things, they get more airtime than they deserve making them seem more important than they are. People interested in buying into that rhetoric have a media empire in Rupert Murdoch devoted to their talking points. The rest of us should not have to be constantly subjected to those talking points, say on a morning show like Good Morning America. There is no need to have their nonsense regurgitated to an audience of people who are more interested in getting their kids off to school than in divisive politics. If they are trying to gain viewership by appealing to the Tea Party set, they’re wasting their time because those people only watch FOX anyway.
Yeah, and then the dead armadillo gets kicked to the left or to the right for feasting by flies.
Carol:
You are right. I’ve seen good guys (and gals) get elected. My favorites are the ones who are not insensitive to what people have to say, but believe something and are not afraid to stand for election on it.
I disagree about the “complexity” stuff. Public issues are always a pain in the ass. We elect regular people, not necessarily scientists and intellectuals. And I don’t think they would always do a better job at any rate.
Jimmy Carter was a really smart guy and not a good president. Ronald Reagan was an average guy and did a pretty good job. My personal favorite pres in my lifetime was George H.W. Bush. Bush lasted only one term, so what do I know? (All right, you can all stop hooting at me.) I’ll give Clinton his due. He beat my guy but I thought he did a very good job–even with the bimbo eruptions.
We somehow muddle onwards, and seem to get the government we need/deserve. It only really gets bad when people give up. So I don’t give up. That’s my idealistic rant of the day. (I guess I’ll go back to being cynical. It’s more comfortable.)
John: You are right too. I’ve observed that both sides like to play chicken anymore. They are two cars heading pell-mell at each other waiting for the other guy to blink. No blink, big collision. That seems to be the modern way of doing things.
We cut out backroom dealing (or have tried to) because it wasn’t in the public interest.
I’m a little old-fashioned to begin with. Maybe there was something to be said for smoke-filled rooms, bourbon and a poker game.
My mind is rummaging around now. I said MAYBE.
Bpt 1:
Sorry I missed you in my last post.
I see your point but people watch what they want.
Murdoch is dreadful to old-fashioned guys like me who like “objective” reporting, but Fox gets ratings with opinionated personalities.
I too think Sarah Palin, et al., are generally a minority. But they have claimed a spotlight no one else has fought for. They have an opinion, they stand up for it and I give them credit for it.
In some parts of the United States, they ARE NOT a minority. That’s how folks feel. I know some of them. I respect them. They’ve allowed some wacky people to be their leader, I think.
Truthfully, that’s about as subjective as I get about this stuff. I may think someone is daft and the issue nuts, but you guys decide. I like to write about it and point stuff out.
But it is our system. It’s the reason we run elections.
Jim: “Murdoch is dreadful to old-fashioned guys like me who like “objective” reporting, but Fox gets ratings with opinionated personalities.”
That’s my point exactly! The tremendous ratings Murdoch has generated has set the bar so there is less and less “objective” reporting from other news outlets hoping to cash in on the bonanza. People are being spoonfed someone else’s opinion in the guise of news. Other than your local morning or evening news channels, the rest of it can more truthfully be considered “infotainment.” I fear it’s only a matter of time before I can’t even watch my local FOX affiliate!
Hey jfbr good to hear from you, will you be giving us updates from BR on Tuesday??? One of my favorite posters since 2007. What’s your take on the Debicella and Himes race??? Speaking of Imbecilla check out this
www .youtube.com/watch?v=nuV7NO1upGQ
Hey donj,
Yes, I will be at Black Rock School and I will either post turnout numbers and final totals or call them in to Lennie.
As for Himes, no great insight. If Bpt turnout is 40% or higher I think he wins, if not he loses. In ’08 turnout was just under 60% in ’06 it was less than half that.
Maybe now that Himes has moved back to Obama Bpt will hit 40% but it’s going to be tough.
OK John thanks man see you at the polls!!!
donj–Will you love me in November like you loved me in July??? I thought I was one of your favorites!!!
Clinton is coming to Bridgeport for a Halloween Treat!!!
hahaha Of course you are one you’ve been on the blog forever just like jfbr!!!! Clinton to Bpt that’s news to me.
Believe it Brother!!! Let the Good Himes Roll!!!
*** Don’t believe the HYPE! ***