Your ideal congressional leader

[tpfkaw]

Imagine there were a party in your country's parliament whose political views generally aligned with your own.  What attributes would you prefer its leadership to have?

(highlight answers)

High profile, or low profile?

Confrontational (subpoenas, etc.) or cooperative?

Perceived as: An ideologue (always follows party ideology), a party man (always follows whatever the majority of party members want), or a moderate hero (occasionally takes opposite party positions)?

Actually: An ideologue, a party man, or a moderate hero?

Spends more time: Trying to pass legislation or campaigning?

Runs the party as: a big tent (favors moderate heros and "unconventional" party members in leadership positions like committee chairmanships), a small tent (mainly ideologues in leadership positions), or a private club (friends and senior members in leadership positions)?

When in the majority:  Will seek some level of bipartisan support (however small) for every bill, even if that means watering it down somewhat, or will ram them through without consulting the other party?

When in the minority:  Will lend support to initiatives against party ideology if they can be watered down, or seek unanimous opposition using whatever means necessary?

Will keep "controversial" proposals that nevertheless are in keeping with party ideology from coming to vote, or embrace them even if they are doomed to fail?

(If in a parliament with constituencies): From a safe district, or a swing district?

[Mint]

Imagine there were a party in your country's parliament whose political views generally aligned with your own.

Definitely a fantasy scenario.

[useful idiot]

Any party whose views aligned with my own would probably be too small for its leadership to be of any consequence....

[afleitch]

Any party whose views aligned with my own would probably be too small for its leadership to be of any consequence....

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[#CriminalizeSobriety]

High profile, or low profile?

Confrontational (subpoenas, etc.) or cooperative?

Perceived as: An ideologue (always follows party ideology), a party man (always follows whatever the majority of party members want), or a moderate hero (occasionally takes opposite party positions)?

Actually: An ideologue, a party man, or a moderate hero?

Spends more time: Trying to pass legislation or campaigning?

Runs the party as: a big tent (favors moderate heros and "unconventional" party members in leadership positions like committee chairmanships), a small tent (mainly ideologues in leadership positions), or a private club (friends and senior members in leadership positions)?

When in the majority:  Will seek some level of bipartisan support (however small) for every bill, even if that means watering it down somewhat, or will ram them through without consulting the other party?

When in the minority:  Will lend support to initiatives against party ideology if they can be watered down, or seek unanimous opposition using whatever means necessary?

Will keep "controversial" proposals that nevertheless are in keeping with party ideology from coming to vote, or embrace them even if they are doomed to fail?

(If in a parliament with constituencies): From a safe district, or a swing district?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

High profile, or low profile?

Confrontational (subpoenas, etc.) or cooperative?

Perceived as: An ideologue (always follows party ideology), a party man (always follows whatever the majority of party members want), or a moderate hero (occasionally takes opposite party positions)?

Actually: An ideologue, a party man, or a moderate hero?

Spends more time: Trying to pass legislation or campaigning?

Runs the party as: a big tent (favors moderate heros and "unconventional" party members in leadership positions like committee chairmanships), a small tent (mainly ideologues in leadership positions), or a private club (friends and senior members in leadership positions)?

When in the majority:  Will seek some level of bipartisan support (however small) for every bill, even if that means watering it down somewhat, or will ram them through without consulting the other party?

When in the minority:  Will lend support to initiatives against party ideology if they can be watered down, or seek unanimous opposition using whatever means necessary?

Will keep "controversial" proposals that nevertheless are in keeping with party ideology from coming to vote, or embrace them even if they are doomed to fail?

(If in a parliament with constituencies): From a safe district, or a swing district?

[-]

High profile, or low profile?

Confrontational (subpoenas, etc.) or cooperative?

Perceived as: An ideologue (always follows party ideology), a party man (always follows whatever the majority of party members want), or a moderate hero (occasionally takes opposite party positions)?

Actually: An ideologue, a party man, or a moderate hero?

Spends more time: Trying to pass legislation or campaigning?

Runs the party as: a big tent (favors moderate heros and "unconventional" party members in leadership positions like committee chairmanships), a small tent (mainly ideologues in leadership positions), or a private club (friends and senior members in leadership positions)?

When in the majority:  Will seek some level of bipartisan support (however small) for every bill, even if that means watering it down somewhat, or will ram them through without consulting the other party?

When in the minority:  Will lend support to initiatives against party ideology if they can be watered down, or seek unanimous opposition using whatever means necessary?

Will keep "controversial" proposals that nevertheless are in keeping with party ideology from coming to vote, or embrace them even if they are doomed to fail?

(If in a parliament with constituencies): From a safe district, or a swing district?

[memphis]

Somebody who can get sh!t done and is from a friendly state. The rest doesn't matter all that much.

[useful idiot]

Any party whose views aligned with my own would probably be too small for its leadership to be of any consequence....

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I'm too much of a mixed bag, and the I'm too far one way or the other on every issue for there to be enough like minded people to make up a cohesive party. Hence why I tend to support individual candidates rather than a party. I'd be a pariah in a left wing, right wing, libertarian, or social right/economic left party.