I'm re-posting an excellent comment (from a different chain) by D.B. below:
--] TaBooTenente: "We may have a slightly different perspective on this, but we're probably fairly close. I'd be willing to look at another model. But where would you classify the "fringe left"? Where would you place the following: T. Kennedy, Gore, Kerry, MM, GWBush, McCain, and A. Coultier? Why? Maybe this is the place to start "
--] D.B. "I think we are as well. Perhaps this is a matter of what the word "fringe" means. I would characterize "fringe" in the context of American politics, not using the world as a frame of reference. Let's put this in terms of a Gaussian statistical distribution. As such, the middle (plus or minus one sigma) would be 68% of the political spectrum, the left would be the 13.5% (from minus one sigma to minus two sigma) on the left and the right the 13.5% on the right. This accounts for 95% of the political viewpoints taken on the whole, leaving 2.5% on the "fringe" left and 2.5% on the "fringe" right.
Using the Senate as a model, 2.5 Senators could be considered fringe left and 2.5 fringe right. I think it's fair to characterize Kerry and Kennedy as those two on the fringe left (though arguments could be made for others, had Wellstone not passed he'd be a candidate as would Boxer and Mikulski). I'm willing to assume Gore's Brown Shirt speech is an aberration, based on his voting when he was in the Senate, he would likely be part of the 68% middle, McCain belongs here as well.
I also think it's fair to place GW in the middle for a number of reasons. As part of the right (13.5% or the fringe right 2.5%) he would not have supported a NCLB type of government program, he would not have supported as much spending as he has, he would not support Civil Unions, etc. All it takes to substantiate this placement is a look at the country/congress support within the context and time frame of when these issues were/are on the table (Example: 87 Senators voted FOR NCLB, i.e. 13 or 13% either voted aginst it or didn't vote, somewhere around 55% support Civil Unions and somewhere around 65% are against Gay marriage depending on what polls you look at). Obviously, what comprises the "middle" on specific issues will change some from issue to issue (which is why it is difficult to categorize people) however, when an individual is in the super minority most of the time (that 13 to 16 %) it is fair to "label" them as left or right and when they are in the 2 to 3% most of the time it is fair to label them "fringe".
MM it seems to me (as indicated by his world view and support for Nader in 2000 - about 2.7% voting for) is fair to be called "fringe" as is Pat Buchanan (even more so as indicated by the .4% in 2000) and Anne Coulter."
Thanks, D.B.
TBT
