Reply #16: I think that if alot of leftists/"liberals" did leave the party, that [View All]

would be a good thing - in the long run. It may hurt a little at first, but there are alot of moderate republicans that would like to vote democrat, because of the influence of the religious right on their party. But they don't because they feel democrats are too far left on economic and defense issues. Many independents feel this way as well. So if you got rid of those that are far to the left, I think the democratic party could redefine itself and claim the ideological center where elections are won.

BTW, I think Howard Dean and the DNC are being very shrewed in having him be the voice of this wing of the party - instead of someone more extreme. Dean is actually a sort of centrist/independent type democrat. If he represents the left of the party, and has the following of the left, then that bodes well for the near future - '08 specifically. He can help move the party to the center.