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Hard pass Adam. Not surprised you’re saying it though. We want progress not more of the same nothing, except more $$$ to the rich of course. Dems have played that game with cons for far too long.

The whole world hates #shitler for being a re-tarded imbecile 😁 He hates everyone because his penis stopped growing when he was 2yo 🤣

Don’t mistake the low engagement voters saying they want a more ‘moderate candidate’ for splitting the difference of radical right and center left. These are the same people that said they didn’t think Kamala had policies. When the opposition defines you it will always be viewed as radical

This is such a white thing to say.

We just need to listen to Black women.

No common ground with fascists

I have to disagree, there's a better path to take beyond what we consider left, centrism, or right. That path doesn't carry labels or prejudice. It is guided by our intelligence and humanity.

Bipartisan, pragmatism, listening, debating are relics of the past we'd benefit from now. But first we need to teach 47 the art of governing in a democracy.

Adam, what do you consider center policies???

A majority want universal healthcare. Is that ‘centrisim?’ A majority want assault guns banned. A majority want abortion safe and legal. A majority want to fund and strengthen public schools. A majority want to fix the broken immigration system. GOP calls them left.

Talk to your college age children, talk to the 20, 30 and 40 somethings because I have them all in my family and they all say this to the last one. They're sick of our status quo and they want tolerance, equality and fairness be afforded for all. No extremes anything. A life, a living & peace. ✌️

I agree

If someone refuses to compromise, you know you are dealing with an extremist. The US is now being run by extremists. It's currently an extremist country not unlike Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia or Russia.

I like you Adam, but no

The center is where you can come together and discuss it like adults. Far from what we have now.

Being in the center means working toward solutions most people can accept. Often in working toward a solution, one side might have more sway in their approach than another.

Please let my magavengelical relatives know it is time for them to set aside their rigid & racist ways and tack center.

The center is now a bunch of Republicans who hate Trump But would have voted for the Big Billionaire Bill. No thanks.

When I was young, we used to refer to someone who was a conservative wacko as being "to right of the John Birch Society." (I was a conservative & it was not a complement.) Today those people are to the far left of the GQP!

Nope. No. The Right snuffed out any chance of centrism when they elected a fucking traitor, adjudicated rapist, felon and madman. And the GOP still stands by this POS, i.e. going on recess to protect their pedophile. Time for Democrats to say screw that and fight or FO.

People have become addicted to the drama. I don't know if that can be fixed.

America is so far to the right that the so-called far left in America would be considered center in most European countries. AOC would be right of center.

Centrism is more destructive and dangerous than far right extremism. MLK said the greatest obstacle to Black equality was the "White moderate"

The problem is, once we have historically settled for centrism, the arc then bends towards the right. It never goes left. That's why we have to reset the bar. because we need to address CURRENT times and current evolving social norms. Not yesterday's I don't want to be just left of anita bryant

The comments make his point for him. When did a centrist mean against human rights? I missed that. Don’t want to defund the police. Not a socialist. The current Republican Party revels in staggering ignorance and duplicity. Cutting taxes for wealthy amid a crushing deficit? No. A centrist.

The problem is that the center has moved too far towards the right. The Dems have appeased the MAGA right to the point of their having taken over the control of all branches of government. Dems play softball while MAGA plays hardball constantly changing the rules of the game.

Centrist? There is no center between tax breaks for billionaires and “all men are created equal” (declaration of independence).

there is only 1 side: facts... all else is bullshit.. The Fact Is I'm a member of the WE the People... ( strangely not recognized for the pure socialist statement that it is: who set goals like ; form a more perfect Union ( another socialist goal) promote the General welfare; all this is Centerism

I’ve been screaming this truth from the mountain tops for years.

I was a centrist 8 years ago. Now they say I’m far left. My views haven’t changed in that time.

I believe that the vast majority of people in the USA are moderates, with most leaning right or left and that often depends upon the particular issue not necessarily what Party they happen to support most often.

Today, there are an estimated 88m Americans registered “Independent” - or a centrist party which believes in compromise. Why should they be forced to vote for a party whom they do not subscribe to its ideology? Who is representing them in both house. Almost no one.

That's what you call it — the Binary Society. The very fact - except soccer, tie scores do not exist in any other major sports in US. Only winner or loser. A good reflection on the American society.

The problem is the that the Overton Window keeps getting dragged farther and farther to the right by the extremists and their right wing billionaire controlled media. So that the Democrats these days are moving Center-Right to chase after voters they'll never catch. I don't want that "Center".

“The middle of the road is for yellow lines and dead armadillos” -Jim Hightower

So where do we start?

It’s hard to compromise with insatiable avarice combined with religious zealotry and gleeful bigotry

Not sure it's programming. Those who are better educated seem to be able to see that society is complex and complex issues are not easily solved. Those who are less educated need simple solutions. They can relate to simple solutions; not complex ones. Of course this isn't without exceptions!

Admittedly intended for a UK audience, but as far as I can gather what 'centrism' means in the USA, I suspect it would apply on your side of the pond as well. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx6H...

Adam, with respect; you are speaking to the wrong side of the aisle.

Considering the extremism on the right I don't find centrism acceptable. Where is the center? Is halfway to bat shit crazy really the way to go?

I agree with this but….how the heck do we come back from where we are at. I honestly don’t know how we change at this point unless we get a presidential candidate that can can make the point of how ridiculous this has become and both parties coalesce around that candidate.

brace for impact

We need THIS messaging! youtu.be/OLwaADLZphc?...

I agree completely. Radical views lead only to polarization. We must come together to defeat the insanity of the MAGAS. Many who went too far left or right might be able to meet on middle ground. We aren’t never to get everything we want, but give and take will strengthen our decency and democracy.

this is the worst take ive ever read. centrism is the reason we are in this place with a alleged pedophile as president. centrism is cowardice. Not taking any position on anything is not heroic and trying to compromise/make deals with nazis + oligarchs is the root of americas problems.

Sure, but every issue people vote on is a binary one.

Fact

Fuck off with that bullshit. Just fuck all the way off. Fuckin rethugs... Stripes never change...

the ai art is linked with a bad take, who woulda guessed

This is how parties in other countries won elections when they moved to the center and left crazies on either side. Not working in a two party system. We would need a new party with sane leadership.

I have long thought that binary politics is the problem, and that a better solution is Inclusivity. Like some models of local governance, in which political perspectives are not a condition of participation, and elections are non-partisan.

Democrats are centrists everywhere that isn't the USA...

When one party shifts things so far to the right that the center becomes what was once considered conservative orthodoxy, just fucking no!

Sorry….no. It’s going to take left leaning people to clean up this horrendous mess if we can throw this regime out. Reps politicians refuse to operate in good faith. That time has past.

I wish we had a legitimate centrist party. I'd be the first to join! But since we don't, the only logical party for me is the Democratic Party. We are too far gone for Republicans and Democrats to actually work together for a common good. That won't happen in any of our lifetimes.

There is no ‘middle ground’ between White Supremacy and democracy.

It didn’t used to be like this. There were reasons why we don’t allow politicization of non political topics.

sorry disagree You speak as a politician not a poor or middle class american in a country completely infested with greed fascism corruption & hate. Centrism encampasses modérate politicy views advocating for gradual policy change & programática approaches to problem solving we are not there longer!

Middle of the road bullshit gets run over and squashed

I don’t disagree with you. However, those of us outside the cult have nothing to apologize for. It’s way more than ideology. The insanity of maga is responsible for all of this. We don’t need to extend our hands. They need to denounce trump and everything he represents and ask us for forgiveness.

The radical middle

What is the center of government spending as part of GDP? Must be 50%, right?

This is some ignorant shit Adam. How are you going to find a middle ground with fascism? You spent years as a GOP rep helping giving validation to the rise of their hateful platform. The time to rebel was well before Trump came along and you failed miserably.

I agree, the gray area is where the answers are. It's called negotiation. Adam, I don't know what will save this country anymore. But, a guy like you, with your voice and true service to this country are the people we need to lead the U.S.A. in the right direction. Your generation is our hope.

This is stupid

Agreed. I’d love a Buttigieg/kinzinger ticket!!

Yes, red lines are fine on certain issues. But let's pick a random issue, such as say immigration/border. Are you telling me that doing it the way one party wants to do it is the best solution?

🎯

US-Americans will have to be VERY lucky if they will have ANY free&democratic -no Russian style fake-election AT ALL Didn't you hear him say, last autumn, that you need to vote only this LAST time? Can you show me ANY of his anti-democratic promisses he didnt achieve, at least mostly inbetween?

There is a difference in trust in voting machines and trust in candidates .

This moderate independent would vote for that ticket.

Centrism is why we're in this mess 🖕

America as a culture is so messed up that a basic things like health care for all is a radical commie position.😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 Unions n workers rights=commie. Environmental safety regulation aka clean air and clean soils holding big polluters accountable=commie. Where is center here Adam ?????

Problem is, the right has been going further and further right and then demanding the left meets them in the center for years. Screw that it's time to go left. FDR/Ike left

That was not, what I tried to say. But, ja, it doesn't make it better. Anyway UK, France and, as far as I know Australia/ New Zealand drive towards the other direction. Maybe we get away with only one blue eye? :-)

democratic socialism is radical centrism. maybe

Who defines “centrism?” Because it sure as hell ain’t you.

Only way we can change the extremest views in each party is for voters to get educated on the issues and speak up.

I’ll consider centrism when centrism doesn’t mean attacking the humanity of trans people in exchange for some healthcare or a better tax rate for middle class people.

You are saying basically what I've said for decades. Sometimes there is black and white, clear good and bad. But often somewhere in the grey is where I live. Sadly, like you say, both extremes feed off each other.

Ew

At this point, I can not agree. We are seeing the right destroy democracy, the rule of law, and we the people. Sitting anywhere near the right would, in fact, condone it all. To get out of this mess, we need to be progressive. We learn and from our mistakes, then change it.

Centrism is necessary to keep both parties from self destructive impulses whether they're center left or center right. I think parties promote purity and driving centrists out do nothing but self harm, and it's how we got here.

The pull to the center is so strong it's causing the light to come out of that flashlight completely backwards

My general persuasion is pretty far left but I'm a pragmatist, so I can see the value of centrism, which is essentially compromise to a shared middle. That's fine. But very few big, bold experiments and ideas live in the middle, and there are good ones on both poles. How do you make room for those?

Being left or right is not necessarily radical or extreme. But I will agree that a centrist mindset is necessary to find common ground, prevent polarisation in the society and get things done in a way that even if both sides are not satisfied, they can work with it while pursuing their agendas.

We've been programmed that way, because we've been divided into red and blue since 2000.

The media does us a great disservice when they force an alternative view to facts just for the sake of presenting an alternative view.

Oh wow Having read @adamkinzinger.substack.com text on substack its so sickening to read most of the comments here. There are only 2 ways to summarize: Either they did not read it Or its Quod erat demonstrandum At its worst. So, they most stubborn cattle choose their own butcher

Even calling something centrist is still engaging in the same game. Let's get back to debating policies on the merits of the arguments, based on facts, not rhetoric, propaganda and labels. That's the politics I want to be part of.

From what I've seen, Centrist only concern themselves with whom they see fit. Not the LGBTQIA, POC, Indigenous and all the others. It's how we are where we are. What's your version? I'd really like to know.

Nawwwwwwwwwww

Centrism is part of the reason why we are here right now. There is no “middle ground” with fascism.

Fuck off neocon twat You're why we're here #MedicareForAll #EatTheRich #ZohranLuigi28

It’s more about the rich against the poor. Fix that the. We can talk about other things!

Doing well and are happy as a country! Can you agree with these statements?

Israel receives about $11M per day from us. Their citizens all get healthcare and free college educations. You're absolutely right; healthcare should be a human right in today's times.

Black ppl should be slaves or Black ppl should be free….what’s the centrist position? Jim Crow?

As a Republican, of course you’d settle for centrism before endorsing the progressive “far left”! But where has centrism gotten us?!?😡 The current centrist/moderate Democratic Party has failed Americans miserably!!!😡

Yet still a Conservative Republican

The "Left" is still very far right of center in the US. I would give anything for an actual center because then we wouldn't need to argue about liveable waves, healthcare coverage, housing exploitation via corporations, and many more basic dignities that the US denies its people.

Let’s be on the side of democracy #VA73 secure.actblue.com/donate/lesli...

📌

Nope. Indecision and compromise are the issues. Literally centrist ideals to the core. Sometimes, the sky is just blue and doesn't need debate. Study, sure, but it's still just blue. Nobody got rights by negotiating with their oppressors.