Bayh hates the idea of being irrelevant

[Lunar]

Wow, a lot of people are delusional in this thread as to where the Democrat’s 59 majority comes from, or, hell, even their 51 seat majority.

[Democratic Hawk]

Wow, a lot of people are delusional in this thread as to where the Democrat’s 59 majority comes from, or, hell, even their 51 seat majority.

I'm under no such delusion

For the Democratic Party to be an enduring majority party, it must hold the "center" (and by a solid margin, too), which is why I'd, vehemently, oppose any Stalinist-like purges by left-liberal groups to rid the Democratic Party of its "moderates". Furthermore, Obama won many swing states, handidly, because of significant support from conservatives

Obama, and the Democrats, need to be focused on policies that are going to a) work and b) deliver, especially as far as the economy and quality of life issues are concerned. Accomplish that, with no major defense, foreign or national security policy mishaps, and a new realignment could be in the making

Dave

[Lief 🗽]

Wow, a lot of people are delusional in this thread as to where the Democrat’s 59 majority comes from, or, hell, even their 51 seat majority.

The center. These "centrists" and "moderates" are siding with the far-right wing Republicans against sensible, centrist legislation.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You can't possibly be liberal and win statewide in Indiana.

Evan's daddy and Obama won it, and are much better than Evan.

[JSojourner]

You can't possibly be liberal and win statewide in Indiana.

Evan's daddy and Obama won it, and are much better than Evan.

Obama, barely.  He won by a c*nt hair.

Birch did win a couple terms...which still surprises me,  But LBJ took the state in 64 so maybe that had something to do with it.

Pound for pound, we have contributed a very small number of gems (Birch Bayh is one of the very few) to Congress.  Maybe Pete Visclosky and Lee Hamilton.  But oh so many extreme right wingers -- Mark Souder, Dan Quayle, William Jenner, Dan Burton, Dan Coats, Mike Pence, Chris Chocola, Steve Buyer, Dave McIntosh, John Hostetler and Homer Capehart were/are all pretty much in the Michelle Bachman-Marilyn Musgrave mold. In short, slightly to the right of Rush Limbaugh. 

We've had a few sensible conservative Republicans like Dick Lugar.

As to Governors, Doc Bowen and Mitch Daniels are probably the farthest right...but Bob Orr was no moderate, either.

On the D side...aside from Birch Bayh, it's pretty hard to name an Indiana liberal -- unless you talk about House members.  Even then, only a few -- Visclosky, Julia Carson, maybe Jim Jontz (who lasted a term or two only).  Otherwise, this state produces Dems out of the Evan Bayh mold only.  While I am sorry that's so, I still prefer a centrist Democrat to a rightist Republican.