Who is the most liberal of the top 4?

[Kbick]

After reading most of their policy briefs and tax plans, my ranking of the top 4 in order of being most liberal is the following order:

1. Clark

2. Edwards

3. Dean

4. Kerry

What do you think and why?

[jpgray]

1. It's actually quite difficult to do this

But because I value a record over all:

1. Kerry
2. Dean
3. Edwards
4. Clark

I really can't parse statements without some semblance of a record, and I'd feel bad for underrating anyone.

[sangha]

3. Yes, it is difficult for me too

because Edwards and Clark (and I like both of them) don't have a long record in politics. However, given the uncertainty, I'd say

Kerry, Clark, Edwards, Dean.

[ozone_man]

25. That is my order.

Kerry is a Massachusetts liberal, and Dean is liberal on social issues. Polls indicate, however, that Dean attracts the most liberals, more than Kerry. This is for a number of reasons, some which include his opposition to the Iraq war, grass roots movement, civil unions, health care initiatives, etc. Dean is more conservative when it comes to money and balancing the budget. Dean is an outsider, willing to stand up to the establishment, which is the big draw for liberals and even radicals. Kerry has his war record to pull in some conservatives.

So, while Kerry is more liberal in the traditional sense, Dean is attracting more of the liberal base. Iowa was not a good test ground for this support. NY and California will be.

Edwards and Clark have attracted the conservative Democratic vote. Edwards is a poster boy for lawyers and lobbyists, taking more money from them than even GWB. Clark out does Bush in the war fear factor, so he is a strong contender to Edwards for the conservative vote. I think he wins, partly due to his strong neocon connections and experience, Acxiom, National Endowment for Democracy, School of the Americas, etc.

[blm]

2. Absolutely wrong.

Kerry has by far the most liberal record.

Clark and Edwards would be about the same, switching spots depending on the issue.

Dean is the furthest right of all the candidates and on some issues was even to the right of Lieberman.

[DaisyUCSB]

8. you're definetly right

People get there opinions warped from Dean's rhetoric, including obviously the poster of this thread

Edwards and Clark are definetly more liberal than they tend to come off to most people. Dean definetly comes off as more liberal than he actually is.

Kerry is more like Edwards and Clark but he isn't/wouldn't be able to shake the lib image quite as much as the 2 southernors, but alot more than Dean

[ShaneGR]

39. About Edwards

If you look at his voting record (Minus defense votes) he has the most liberal voting record of them all.

[xultar]

49. Nope Wrong!

Kerry
Clark
Edwards
Dean

[Democrats unite]

4. Heres mine

1. Clark

2. Edwards

3. Kerry

4. Dean

[youngred]

5. I think

1. Clark
2. Kerry
3. Edwards
4. Dean

Dean is a moderate, even by the best estimate. Kerry and Edwards despite their IWR votes are both strongly liberal on most other positions. Clark talks a good line and has the most liberal positions, particularly on gay rights (a pet issue), but I'm leery of his commitment to those

[Bill McBlueState]

6. I think a real understanding of the candidates defies this simple analysis

Dean, for example... his handling of the Vermont budget was almost freakishly conservative.

But he signed a civil unions bill.

Liberal or conservative? :shrug:

[DaisyUCSB]

12. Didn't he take the more conservative option on civil unions?

Alot of people in the state wanted gay marriage, and it was certainly legal and possible for him to have persued that. But he fullfilled the VT supreme court requirment in the more conservative and safe way.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

22. He was not for it at first, the Vermont Legislature forced the issue, and

he signed the bill. Prior to it's passage he mainly told people that he was basically "under duress" to sign the bill and "blamed" the legislature on it's passage. He didn't exactly "celebrate it's passage" and signed the bill almost in private (with 15 aides present).

In fairness, he did step up to the plate once he signed the bill and id take a lot of flak for it. I'm sure it was somewhat of a definign moment for him because he did get threats because of it.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

20. Dean's got a lot more conservative stances than that....

Fought against Medical Marijuana bill, Affirmative Action, Death Penalty, not for the Kyoto Treaty, gun control, welfare reform, snowmobiles in Vermont preserves, cut/underfunded programs to mentally ill, fiscal conservative, harsh on drugs, NAFTA, against methedone programs, cuts in medicare/social security, pro-prosecution, pro-prison, anti-criminal defense, pro-corporation, funds from energy companies, Enron, Halliburton, pro-embargo against Cuba, pro-AIPAC, increase defense spending, campaign finance, not for universal health care, not good on indian affairs, not good on diversity, pro-states rights.

[Jackson Smith]

7. Johnathan Forbes Kerry

Our liberal Ronald Reagan.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. Kerry going away

not even close.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Dunno about the Reagan bit

but Kerry gets my vote as the pound-for-pound liberal leader of the four.

[JohnKleeb]

13. Its just John not Johnathan

Personally I think Kerry is very JFK like.

[Jackson Smith]

29. I know, I was just kidding :)

[JohnKleeb]

38. yeha heh

I really think Kerry is pretty Kennedysque.

[Jackson Smith]

41. I think Edwards is pretty Kennedyesque.

He even has the small children thing going.

[JohnKleeb]

42. I didnt see it until I saw the two americas speech

I say Kerry is more like Jack and Edwards more like Bobby, the new americas is something bobby would do. Great guys, I would love to se them team up.

[Hoppin_Mad]

19. I HATE that Contra Terrorist War Waging POS Ronald Reagan !

with every bone in my body - I might even hate him worse than Bush - not sure.

Whenever I go to Hollywood Blvd in L.A. I make sure to spit on his star on Hollywood Blvd. Feels GOOD ! Very cathartic.

You like him ?

[fujiyama]

55. LOL...I don't recall...

seeing his star but I think I'll hock a loogie on his star if I'm ever in Hollywood.

As for this ranking --

Kerry
Edwards
Clark -- difficult to position him because of no voting/plitical record

Dean -- IWR, but otherwise pretty much a moderate...In all honesty, I don't have a problem with his policies and admire him for his brave and proper stance on the war...but I really can't see him winning after yesterday's outburst (but didn't really before yesterday either)...It's too bad. I think his policy stances are quite sensible and would appeal to quite a few, but I think the way he delivers his message won't fit with many.

[sandnsea]

35. Don't even need to think twice

Absolute champion of liberal causes for 30 years.

[AP]

10. Edwards has the most liberal class politics.

In other words, he has put progressive politics front and center in a way that I've never seen in a presidential campaign, including, perhaps. Dukakis. However, he clearly exudes an aura of conservativism, which I guess should be welcomed.

Kerry has a great history of being liberal on all the key liberal issues.

Clark is definitely the liberal warrior.

Dean's liberalism is smoke and mirrors. He's a libertarian -- socially liberal to hide a fondness for big corporations.

[JohnKleeb]

15. The Two Americas

Loved it. I saw why DK did what he did with Edwards, its totally cool. Edwards did quite well, I think he could do well in NH too.

[goodhue]

28. yes

Edwards is the biggest economic populist of the bunch, or at least that's how he ran in Iowa. I suppose Kerry is the most "liberal" in the conventional sense. Clark and Dean are both moderates as far as I can tell.

[leftist_rebel1569]

32. I agree with you there

It really is hard to put the candidates on a list at this point, and describing their stances is a bit easier...so, i'm not gonna try to make a list.

[minkyboodle]

54. great signature

Our vertical leap is way beyond your comprehension....
Love the Mooninites!!!!
Scott

[kerry-is-my-prez]

14. Kerry, Clark, Edwards, Dean.

I've been reading up on all of them except Edwards....

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. Check out vote-smart.org

Kerry is definately the most liberal of Dean, Edwards, Kerry.

Clark? who knows? I guess if you were to go by his voting record he is least liberal of the four by far.

[IndianaGreen]

17. A better question is who has the longest record of liberalism?

The answer is John Kerry. Despite my strong disagreement with Kerry on his IWR vote, no one can honestly challenge Kerry's long and distinguished record as a liberal.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. Thanks.

You get high marks for honesty with this post.

:yourock:

[windansea]

18. Kerry, Clark, Dean, Edwards

[kerry-is-my-prez]

34. Edwards to the left of Clark and Dean.... What makes him so Conservative

I wonder... Don't know much about his record at all...

[windansea]

47. Edwards is to the right of Clark and Dean n/t

[chaska]

21. Electability is the ONLY issue.

[youngred]

27. if more than one is electible?

as is the case, then go with the best option

[mmonk]

23. All are liberal on something

some are conservative on some things. All are fine.

[Mattforclark]

24. In Tiers

I think it works better than a number ranking



Reality:

More liberal tier: Clark and Kerry

Less liberal tier: Dean and Edwards



Perception:

More liberal tier: Dean and Kerry

Less liberal tier: Clark and Edwards



Which is, to me, one of many good arguments for Clark.

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. I think

Clark

Kerry

Edwards

Dean

[isbister]

31. Kerry has a very long record to back plans up

1. Kerry

2. Edwards

3. Dean

?. Clark

Kerry has a very long record to back his plans up.

Edwards doen't have as long a record and is a bit more right.

Dean's even further right than Edwards and has a longer record.

Clark has some nice promises but he has no record except for his word about which president's he's voted for in the past.

[TakebackAmerica]

33. Easy

1. Clark

2 Kerry

3 Dean

4. Edwards

[MikeG]

36. The question should be who is most likely to beat W.

We can't take a chance of giving four more years to W. He could get to pick as many as three Supreme Court Justices.

[cryofan]

37. "Economic" Liberalism vs "Civil liberties" liberalism??

Which is more liberal on "Economic liberalism"? I suppose I would define that as more progressive taxation, i.e., making rich people pay more in taxes; also supporting a strong welfare state, such as food stamps, welfare, unemployment, taxpayer funded college.

Maybe Edwards? Maybe Clark? Kerry? Not Dean, I think.....

Which is more liberal on "Civil Liberties"? For example, on gay marriage, war on drugs, assisted suicide.

I think this is the area where Dean is more liberal. Edwards definitely less liberal.

[TexasSissy]

40. Edwards is conservative & has voted Repub some of the time.

I wouldn't characterize him as liberal at all, at all. Nothing wrong with that, BTW (except to a liberal, I guess).

I don't know all their positions on all issues, so I can't call it, myself.

I just care about the main issues, so.....

[John_H]

43. Easy: From lib to centrist it's Kerry, Clark, Edwards, Dean

[George_Bonanza]

44. Hooray for JohnKleeb!

After being a great ambassador for Kerry, glad to see that you've expressed your support by a endorsing his name on your avatar.

The most liberal is clearly Kerry, if you look behind IWR and Patriot (and I keep saying that Wellstone also voted for it so it's really a moot point in regards for liberalism). I am not sure about Clark, since he has words but little action to verify his beliefs, although Moore and McGovern's endorsements are quite an accomplishment.

[JohnKleeb]

45. No problem buddy and call me Kleeb please

Its true, Ive had Kerry at number 2 since early summer. I am willing to support Kucinich/Kerry equally. I am gonna have a post later on why I support Kerry now. Last night was really important in my decision. I would agree its Kerry. The Comeback Kerry as Ted Kennedy aptly said. Your welcome. Thanks.

[minkyboodle]

56. Kleeb

I have admired your posts in support of Kucinich for months now. Like you I also admire Kerry but don't give up on Dennis he may not get the nomination but I still believe his candidacy is important especially if he can gain some momentum going into the convention and play a part in the parties platform for 2004. For me its GO DENNIS, GO KERRY and GO Edwards..
Scott

[Killarney]

46. Kerry

[Loren645]

48. Clark, Kerry, Edwards, Dean

Based on the policys they speak of and have posted at
their websites, and they way they led (the records).

I think Clark is by far the most progressive man
with the most progressive agenda (taxes, higher ed, affirmative
action, voter rights, etc).

[genius]

50. After Kucinich, it's Edwards and Kerry depending on the issues.

Clark is much more liberal than Dean.

With Gephard dropping out, Kucinich has moved up from fifth.

[Freddie Stubbs]

52. Edwards is more conservative than Lieberman

and Kerry. Look at how they vote, not at what they say.

[cryofan]

60. specifics?

And can you please separate economic and social liberalism? For example, we know Edwards is SOCIALLY conservative. He says he cannot support gay marriage. OK, fine. It's really a minor issue. But does he vote on progressive taxation? Now, that is a MAJOR issue!

[Freddie Stubbs]

63. Lieberman had a more liberal voting record in 2002

http://www.adaction.org/SenateVR2002.htm

[mitchum]

51. John Kerry (and then John Edwards)

[flaminbats]

53. liberal as in pro-liberty?

1. Dean...liberal on the social issues and foreign policy, but more progressive on economics.
2. Kerry...liberal on the social issues, moderate on economics, conservative on foreign policy.
3. Clark...a moderate on social issues, more moderate on economics, moderate on foreign policy.
4. Edwards...moderate on social issues, conservative on economics, conservative on foreign policy.

But politically, I consider myself a radical...

[CalebHayes]

57. Dean!

I have no doubt.

[shivaji]

58. Edwards/Kerry (tie), Dean. Clark is UNrated

since he has no votes on record.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

59. Kucinich first by a longshot..

Then Edwards/Kerry, then Clark, then Dean.

TWL

[Iverson]

61. Which company sells the best vanilla ice cream?

America wants to know!

:silly:

[arwalden]

62. Edys

[evil_orange_cat]

64. www.politicalcompass.org had a great compilation based on voting records

plus they don't use the silly left/right thing... they use a two dimensional scale.



I hope the picture shows...

Kerry seems the most socially liberal/economically left candidate... then Clark, then Dean... based on their results, Edwards is close to Bush.

I would take these results with a grain of salt. ;) Kucinich is backing Edwards, so I doubt he's that close to Bushy.