Conservative Democrats versus liberal Republicans

Maybe it's just a perception, but it seems to me that there are a lot more conservatives who call themselves Democrats than there are liberals who call themselves Republicans.

I can name dozens of Democrats who support conservative views on several issues. But how many Republicans are there who support liberal views? Not as many as the conservative Democrats, it seems.

I think this is the real problem. American government is dominated by the conservatives, regardless of party. I think the DLC plays a big part in this, and I view the DLC as a cancer on the Democratic party. They really need to go. I view them as nothing more than Republican operatives, personally.

I don't remember all of the numbers, but like 37% of Democrats identify themselves as Liberal, 37% are moderate and 23% Conservative.

With Republicans, only about 8% are Liberal.

The thing is, with the 2006 election, some were saying even though control of Congress switched parties, it actually became more Conservative. I don't know how true this is, but the most stark example is Lincoln Chaffee losing his Senate seat for Rhode Island. Sure, we gained a seat with Bob Casey in PA, but Chafee was more liberal than Casey is. OF course, Casey is better than Santorum, but it is still an example of a shift to the right.

If any of them are reading this, take it from this ex- liberal Republican: it's past time to jump ship.

But he's dead.

The right-wing Republicans in Congress have an affinity with their base and share the same basic values.
By very stark contrast, most (though certainly not all) Democrats in Congress -- particularly the most influential and longest-serving ones in the Senate like Feinstein -- have contempt for their base and share virtually none of their values.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/09/23/feinstein/

how silly of me! I didn't really research all of her record, I just knew about her being Pro-Choice.

Like wolves have an affinity for sheep.

As in "let's get elected by being more centrist sounding". There are, no doubt, conservative Dems - but wresting control away from the Republicans requires some good politicking in those areas with a higher percentage of conservatives. I think some are just saying what takes to seem "reasonable" and "centrist". I didn't invent the concept of politics, so please don't shoot the messenger - I'm not suggesting that I agree with the way politics is carried out in this country.