I am sick of this “pox on both houses” outlook on American politics. People like Tom Friedman and other so-called “centrists” keep pining for this fantastical blend of today’s Republicans and Democrats. This idea is entirely flawed.
The past four years have been characterized by deliberate Republican obstructionism with the expressed intent to hamstring our nation’s duly-elected president. The policies considered “conservative” today are unlike anything advocated before in this country’s history. Today’s Republicans have made a drastic shift toward an illogical right, while the spineless Democrats have allows themselves to be dragged closer to the center.
If you want a president who is entirely about bridging divides and brokering compromises, vote for Barack Obama. Obama is the centrist president. What we need in this election is a liberal.