Erin Kelly of the Burlington Free Press asserts that if Martha Rainville is elected to the US House of Representatives, she will join an elite, and dying group of moderates
Rainville, running in a close race against Democrat Peter Welch, has said she wants to work to strengthen the moderates' voice in Congress if elected. The problem is that there are almost no moderates left, said Roger Davidson, professor emeritus of government and politics at the University of Maryland.
"They're on the verge of disappearing," Davidson said.
In the 30 years from 1968 to 1998, middle-of-the-road members of Congress plummeted from 64 percent of House members to 28 percent, according to "The Case of the Vanishing Moderates," a study by University of Texas political scientist Sean Theriault. During the period, moderates in the Senate fell from 54 percent to 36 percent.
While I agree with this, it is telling that Peter Welch is not being judged a moderate. Which would make Mr Welch an extremist. A leftist extremist.
But does the country want moderates? Does Vermont?
As the Nov. 7 congressional election draws near, Republican moderates are among the most vulnerable incumbents.
One could argue Vermont wants to elect Extremeists. I mean we've elected Socialist Bernie Sanders how many times now? And now we may make him a Senator?
And while Bernie is an extremist, Tarrant is clearly a "Republican" moderate.
But maybe Vermonters don't want "moderates" representing them in Washington.
Maybe, Vermonters like their extremists.
