Finding the middle ground: The Six Moderate Senators - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

host · 04-21-2005, 11:16 PM

Finding the middle ground !
<a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=HI1&search=selectScore&chamber=Senate&zip=&x=40&y=10">http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=HI1&search=selectScore&chamber=Senate&zip=&x=40&y=10</a>
The site linked above lists six senators (4 Republican, 1 Democrat, and 1 Independent) Who score between 55.83 and 29.37 on the site's "Progressive Scale". On the farther end of the scale, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R) scores a 4.08, and Minority Leader Harry Reid scores a 81.01.

Check the criteria for scoring; I see this as a unique way to get a picture of where there is consensus, as related to recent senate votes in a range of issue categories.

The site claims to be non-partisan, if you want to criticize the methodolgy that they used, or shoot the messenger, "me", kindly post an alternative site that compares and scores the voting records of all senators, in a way that seems fairer to you. If you can't include a reference like I just described, don't post non-constructive comments, please.

Feel free to comment constructively, positively or negatively, (references encouraged to back your arguments) about the issues and positions of these senators, or of the other 94 senators.

If you're conservative, post an opinion as to why these middle of the road senators are too liberal for your political leanings, and if you're liberal, or libertarian post why these senators' voting records are too conservative or contrary to your leanings. Get it ? Let's use this as a template to figure out if there is any potential for consensus on any issues........

Quote:

RANK (_/100) PROGRESSIVE SCORE(%) MEMBER OF CONGRESS PARTY STATE

44 55.83 <a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=VTI">Jeffords, James</a> I VT

45 50.86 <a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=NEI">Nelson, Ben</a> D NE

46 40.44 <a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=RII">Chafee, Lincoln </a> R RI

47 35.50 <a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=PAIII">Specter, Arlen</a> R PA

48 31.35 <a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MEI">Snowe, Olympia</a> R ME

49 29.37 <a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MEII">Collins, Susan</a> R ME

raveneye · 04-22-2005, 04:51 AM

Host, that is a VERY cool site, thanks for the pointer to it. I can see I'm not going to get much done today. . . .

I notice that Kerry is right smack on the 25th percentile, sounds about right to me.

I'll look it over and get back to you.

Kadath · 04-22-2005, 07:21 AM

Santorum continues to be foremost in my political thoughts. I was surprised to see him so high (relatively speaking) on the list, and so I looked at his record. What he's progressive on is corporate welfare. 42%, and that all comes from his agriculture stance. In no other category does he score higher than 7.02, and then on is government checks on corporate power. I want that man out of office so badly I..gah...argh, I'm choking on my own rage here!

This is indeed quite a cool site.

Paq · 04-22-2005, 12:59 PM

scares me that progressive rating goes from 72.9 to single digits within 15 people...

i also find it odd that the number 50 person is at 16....and that there really are very very few in the middle ground.

I have been thinking that politics today are reaching a point where the extremes take over and there really is no middle ground, no room to compromise...

raveneye · 04-22-2005, 01:21 PM

Just to give y'all a nice visual of what host is talking about here, check out this:

THis is a histogram of the overall scores of all 100 senators. The horizontal axis is the score (from conservative on the left to liberal on the right). The vertical axis is the number of senators with the score in that range.

It shows, in no uncertain terms, just how polarized our country is at the moment. There is one cluster of senators centered at around 15 and another around 95.

The 6 moderates host is referring to are the six blue bars in the middle of the graph, sitting there in the middle of the no mans land between the two sides.

raveneye · 04-22-2005, 04:59 PM

I haven't had a chance to look at all of the 6 in detail yet, but I've looked pretty closely at the two ends of the 6, James Jeffords and Susan Collins.

I have to say I have no major criticism of Jeffords at all. I think he's done a very good job overall. Collins, however, is a big no for me. Her votes on many of the tax bills I think are repellent.

Jeffords is the senator from Vermont who shocked the republicans by switching from R to I. I would consider him to be an excellent compromise. I admire him for voting against Bush's "Clear Skies" initiative and helping to essentially kill it.

I read just today that he decided not to run for re-election. That's a shame.

Are there any conservatives out there who have any major criticisms of Jeffords?

alansmithee · 04-22-2005, 05:14 PM

Very interesting site. Kudos to host for posting it. I was a bit suprised that my state's senators ranked so high (MI). I personally never seen them as that far out of center (if I had guessed before I would have assumed they'd be around 75-80 on the scale).

And I really feel sorry for poor Ben Nelson (D). With Jeffords' retirement, Nelson might be the last true moderate in the Senate. He will have a difference of around 20 points on one side and 10 on the other after Jeffords retires. I personally think that host was a bit generous saying that those who score in the 30's are moderate.

And also a kudos to raveneye for the graph. Very sharp, and gives a good snapshot.

Willravel · 04-22-2005, 06:07 PM

It's a shame that's not a larger list. Fantastic site, host. It's fair in a way that is quite rare right now.

04-22-2005, 07:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kadath Muffled Location: Camazotz	Santorum continues to be foremost in my political thoughts. I was surprised to see him so high (relatively speaking) on the list, and so I looked at his record. What he's progressive on is corporate welfare. 42%, and that all comes from his agriculture stance. In no other category does he score higher than 7.02, and then on is government checks on corporate power. I want that man out of office so badly I..gah...argh, I'm choking on my own rage here! This is indeed quite a cool site. __________________ it's quiet in here Last edited by Kadath; 04-22-2005 at 07:24 AM..

04-22-2005, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paq Junkie Location: South Carolina	scares me that progressive rating goes from 72.9 to single digits within 15 people... i also find it odd that the number 50 person is at 16....and that there really are very very few in the middle ground. I have been thinking that politics today are reaching a point where the extremes take over and there really is no middle ground, no room to compromise... __________________ Live. Chris

04-22-2005, 04:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
raveneye Born Against	I haven't had a chance to look at all of the 6 in detail yet, but I've looked pretty closely at the two ends of the 6, James Jeffords and Susan Collins. I have to say I have no major criticism of Jeffords at all. I think he's done a very good job overall. Collins, however, is a big no for me. Her votes on many of the tax bills I think are repellent. Jeffords is the senator from Vermont who shocked the republicans by switching from R to I. I would consider him to be an excellent compromise. I admire him for voting against Bush's "Clear Skies" initiative and helping to essentially kill it. I read just today that he decided not to run for re-election. That's a shame. Are there any conservatives out there who have any major criticisms of Jeffords? Last edited by raveneye; 04-22-2005 at 05:23 PM.. Reason: spelling

04-22-2005, 05:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
alansmithee Junkie	Very interesting site. Kudos to host for posting it. I was a bit suprised that my state's senators ranked so high (MI). I personally never seen them as that far out of center (if I had guessed before I would have assumed they'd be around 75-80 on the scale). And I really feel sorry for poor Ben Nelson (D). With Jeffords' retirement, Nelson might be the last true moderate in the Senate. He will have a difference of around 20 points on one side and 10 on the other after Jeffords retires. I personally think that host was a bit generous saying that those who score in the 30's are moderate. And also a kudos to raveneye for the graph. Very sharp, and gives a good snapshot. Last edited by alansmithee; 04-22-2005 at 05:16 PM..

04-22-2005, 04:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
raveneye Born Against	Host, that is a VERY cool site, thanks for the pointer to it. I can see I'm not going to get much done today. . . . I notice that Kerry is right smack on the 25th percentile, sounds about right to me. I'll look it over and get back to you.

04-22-2005, 01:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
raveneye Born Against	Just to give y'all a nice visual of what host is talking about here, check out this: THis is a histogram of the overall scores of all 100 senators. The horizontal axis is the score (from conservative on the left to liberal on the right). The vertical axis is the number of senators with the score in that range. It shows, in no uncertain terms, just how polarized our country is at the moment. There is one cluster of senators centered at around 15 and another around 95. The 6 moderates host is referring to are the six blue bars in the middle of the graph, sitting there in the middle of the no mans land between the two sides.

04-22-2005, 06:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	It's a shame that's not a larger list. Fantastic site, host. It's fair in a way that is quite rare right now.