Is this country overwhelming Conservative or Liberal?

Question

Historically I will say conservative I will elaborate going back all the way to Kennedy (liberal) won by a few thousnd votes notice no challenge from Nixon. Nixon (conservative) landslide driven from office by Democrats. Carter (liberal) barley beat Ford after the Nixon pardon Reagan (conservative)both landslide victories Bush1 (conservative) landslide, Clinton (liberal)both slim victory would have lost if you eliminated Ross Perot out of the election Bush2 (conservative?) slim victory should have been slam dunk for Gore he even lost home state, solid victory the 2nd election. So if you examine it only Carter as a liberal has had a decent victory and he may not have accomplish that if so many did not get tick off at Ford for pardoning Nixon.I would like some other perspective on this

Great answers except a few like Nellie who don't have her facts straight or irrelevant answers Reagan was the president when the hostages (not soldiers) were return from Iran, The electoral college is what decide elections not total votes get some remedial history lessons. Try and read in the future and just answer the questions as asked.

Answer 1

If asked I think most Americans would class themselves as moderate. Those who class themselves as conservative or liberal would be pretty close to an even number. However, your conclusions are correct based on the numbers which show that conservative principles are more popular at the polls than liberal ones. The problem today is that we are lacking for true conservatives in the political scene. There are plenty of politicians who claim to be conservative, but often their actions don't support their rhetoric.

Answer 2

Your question should deal with the present. If you are going back in history why stop at Kennedy? Eisenhower was a moderate and FDR was elected 4 times.

The country is neither overwhelmingly conservative or liberal, In reality most americans are moderate. The 2000 election showed a 50/50 split democrat to republucan and 2004 showed about 54/46 republican and the 2006 congressional elections went to the democrats putting democrat majority in both houses..

PS Chainsaw forgets that Goldwater ran as a conservative and lost in a landslide to Johnson.

Answer 3

I think you are correct in saying the country is basically conservative, but people are angry about the Iraq mess now and they have had 12 years of a Republican Congress and several years of a conservative administration, so they may be ready for a swing to the left. I think they always tend to swing back and forth every 8 years. It's long enough for them to forget what they disliked about liberals in this case, unless the Democratic Congress blows it by being true to its principles. I think they're playing with fire with the out - of - Iraq vote. That may backfire in the long run.

Answer 4

No, it isn't. If the U.S. were overwhelmingly one or the other, there would not be all this lively [and healthy!] debate about the issues. The balance between conservatives and liberals keeps everybody on their toes (i.e., Republicans will do a better job to avoid the criticism of Democrats).

True, there are short waves of predominant conservatism and liberalism, but even then, the dominant party never takes over "overwhelmingly."

Answer 5

This country votes conservative when it is given the opportunity to. There have been 2 times when conservatives ran as conservatives and they won landslides.

There is a message here.

Liberals never win when they run nationally as liberals.

Also note how Democrats will not admit how liberal they are.

Answer 6

Most people in the US are neither liberal nor conservative. The political spectrum has a lot more than two colors in it. Having only two major parties does not serve the country well.

Answer 7

It's neither. Even in the landslide elections that you mentioned, the percentage of the popular vote that the winner got was barely over 60%.

The country is in the middle.

Answer 8

I'd say overwhelmingly polarized these days. I think conservative values resonate more with most Americans but this is severely attenuated by the liberal main stream media.

Answer 9

I think it's clear to anyone who has ever taken a Poli Sci course that the majority of Americans are to be found in the political center, leaning slightly to the right on social matters, and slightly to the left on economic ones. Slightly being the key phrase.

EDIT: I love it! A thumbs down on what is likely the least controversial statement I have ever put up on these boards. I'm sorry if the truth hurts your view of what SHOULD be, but this is the way it really is.

Answer 10

This country is not overwhelmingly conservative or liberal. I believe you will find that it is about half and half. But you have to understand that most of us are centerists with slight leanings right or left.