Discussion for article #224436
Some here complain that centrists are simply wishy-washy people with no principles except splitting the difference. I think Howard Baker demonstrates otherwise. Centrists can (and should) have firm principles, principles that can be every bit as strongly held as those on the extremes (and hopefully better for everyone). Where they are flexible is that they will work with whomever they can to advance those principles and would rather move the ball partway to the goal than remain pure, but get nowhere. Howard Baker was such a centrist.
Are there any left like him today? Probably not. Could even he survive as a centrist today? Probably not. And that is deeply sad and troubling.
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Baker would have made a great President.
so would howard dean
I beg to differ, the Senate really only needs about 5 Bakers, to occupy the seats of Cruz, Johnson, Sessions, Vitter and Shelby.
Don’t get to misty eyed about how honest politicians used to be. This was just back in the day when they where almost all a bunch of white guys that weren’t so polar opposite and after the cameras were off would all go to the bar,have a bunch of drinks, and chase women…just sayin’…
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I’d say at this point with 43 Strom Thurmonds anything would be a improvement
Baker had long been considered as a likely future president. When he answered the call to fix the Reagan administration, he knew he was giving up all future political ambition. He was more than willing to do his duty. They don’t make them like that anymore.
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I am a centrist.
Politics is about the deal, the compromise. It is a give and take. The reason why the American political system is broken is because politicians have forgotten this. They are focused on winner take all or scorched earth. Democrats are not innocent of this, but Republicans have taken this mentality to a new low.
Until Republicans stop seeing their opponents as the enemy and remember that they are Americans first, government will continue to be stalemate.
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i’m as partisan as any Baggernut but I have respected Senator Baker since the late 70s… he will be missed
Unfortunately, by todays standards of conservatism, Mr. Baker would be considered a Democrat, and leaning to the liberal side at that.
Even hardline conservatives like Thad Cochran get primaried by Tea Party extremists. Howard Baker wouldn’t stand a chance in a GOP primary today.
There was a short clip of Sen. Baker during the Watergate hearings questioning John Mitchell about his interpretation of presidential powers. I was impressed all over again by his intelligence and his seriousness, his control over his (righteous) anger. No notes. No grandstanding.
And by today’s standards of liberalism, he’d be considered a firebagger and a distraction.