the center will rise

There's a new book by a pair of political scientists entitled Off Center which seeks to analyze American politics to answer why even though most people are demonstrably moderate, the right side of the political spectrum has enjoyed such electoral success. The basic thesis of the book itself will probably be rejected with prejudice by a comitted Republicanist; however, principled conservatives should take notice, as the book is as relevant to them as it is to liberals. More importantly, as Kevin Drum notes in his succinct review, is that the book sets the stage for the following philosophical question:

do Democrats need to fight fire with fire? Or will the center eventually hold if Democrats figure out a more effective way of appealing to moderate voters?

I think that finding an answer to this question should not be a question of tactics, but rather of principle. Clearly, fighting fire with fire can only lead to Democratism at some point down the line; it is absurd to think that there would be restraint suddenly imposed from within.

If we are to renew the political climate in this nation, and build a truye American majority, we need to return to principles as the foundation for the conversation with the American polity.

Ultimately, there question of how to reachout more effectively to the center is not a new one, and it isn't even a secret. Those who argue the Democrats are not a party of ideas are simply wrong; those who argue that marketing those ideas is poor are probably right. But as long as there is some fascination with the tools used by the right to gain dominance - at the expense of conservative principles - those ideas will never have a chance at fair presentation.

NOTE: the book's author's are guest-blogging at Washington Monthly and explain their ideas in more detail.