Expect the GOP to progress in the coming years. Republicans were once out in front - with Willard Romney's revolutionary, individually-mandated universal health care coverage (He called it "the ultimate conservative idea.) and the historical record will show that it was under his executive leadership that the best-educated state in the nation also set a high precedent for the nation in eliminating gender-discrimination in marriage law. The GOP embraced the Mormon trailblazer and elevated him to the exalted status of presidential nominee, in a fit of irrational exuberance, even proclaiming a "Romney Landslide!" Then, they had an unfortunate relapse. Amidst the prophesies that 2014 will mark the swan song of the Old Party's Grandees, the migration has begun. Just as hunter societies once followed the herds that sustained them, Republican politicians are plodding inexorably after the American electorate. Painfully slow, to be sure, but they'll eventually get there. . I will follow them, follow them Wherever they may go, And near them, I always will be, For nothing can keep me away, They are my destiny. There isn't an ocean too deep, A mountain so high, it can keep, Keep me away, away from the votes! I need them, I need them, I need them! And where they go, I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow... Could accepting the manifest reality of anthropogenic climate change be far behind? I wouldn't be surprised if some of those good ol' boys are already sitting on their arks. .
The GOP's begrudgingly accepting gender equality is just one conspicuous instance of their existential progress. Ron Paul is not yet ready to champion the individual's constitutional right to equal treatment, but he's already beginning to accommodate reality: GOP fuddy duddies take note.
"This may be attributable to Americans becoming more comfortable with the term again." It's less because Democrats appeal to the center, and more because those who self-identify as moderate tend to be left of center. That's probably because people who are actually ideologically liberal don't like the term liberal and so don't self-identify as liberal. Unless you define center as being ideologically on the left.
The trouble with the GOP progressing the the sake of winning elections is they end up giving up all principle and essentially the parties will be identical, which they kinda already are... maybe not in rhetoric, but certainly on how the govern, except for the wedge issues like gay marriage, abortion, etc. That said, if the GOP wants to become the legitimate small government party that would mean doing things like adapting stances that have been traditionally more associated with Democrats, like being more open to gay marriage or being against NSA spying and drones. If they do that, not only can they define themselves as what they've always claimed to be -- the party of small government -- but they can win more elections, too. It's win-win. Rand Paul seems to understand this and be doing it, trouble is he's trying to walk the line and KEEP both sides happy... trying to appeal to the wider base needed to win the general while not pissing off both the Conservative (especially Social Conservative) primary voters AND the GOP establishment voters. Basically, any move to a more "moderate" immigration policy will (*)(*)(*)(*) off the Conservative/Tea Party base and move towards a more "moderate" foreign policy will (*)(*)(*)(*) off the GOP establishment, who are in some ways more dangerous because they are powerful individuals with lots of money.
Are you just making that up or referencing a reliable survey? It's probably about rightists imagining that centrists are "liberals", but labeling has little to do with the predictability of the GOP, having strayed radically rightward, now beginning to return to where the American electorate is and will be on a number of major issues. Just as all but incorrigible berserkers have now abandoned their loony "birther" fixation amidst the laughter, they're coming back to reality regarding immigration policy, equality in marriage law, etc. Will support for universal firearm purchase background checks and climate change awareness follow? Inevitably.
"It's less because Democrats appeal to the center, and more because those who self-identify as moderate tend to be left of center." It's mostly common sense. Your analysis is based on the assumption that moderate=centrist, a false assumption and so again you're making wild assumptions, that 'left of center'=liberal. It's either a wild straw man, or just sheer... I'd better not say. This isn't honest, even remotely objective analysis you're doing. The White House Press Secretary makes more honest and objective analysis.
I see. It's your opinion, and you cannot support it with any reliable data. You don't need to recognize that "liberals" are left-of-center, if you don't want to. What's interesting is watching prominent GOP characters, after the party had been drifting further and further rightward, finally beginning to move back toward the center on key issues where most votes are. It's an existential inevitability. With most Americans - and over 60% of young Republicans - supporting gender equality in marriage law, no one could expect them to persist in opposing it. .
Come on, you can respond to a point. No need to pretend it doesn't exist, and parsing quotes might work to help you ignore a point, but everyone else can see what you're doing, and it's childish. again, trying to ignore points and/or hit straw men. It's your assertion that everyone who is left of center is a liberal that is in dispute. No need to hide from it.
Try to honestly confront the points I have made that get you flustered. The GOP was going too far right, and has begun to hightail it back toward moderation. That's a good thing! If you cannot summon the integrity to admit it, don't.
