re: #198 goddamnedfrank

This, exactly. A lot of people here don’t like it when I say he has a gang mentality. That at best he sees his role here as a pr / marketing one to just round off the sharp edges and present a slightly softer, more palatable image of conservatism. But that’s exactly what D_F’s role is now, inherently deceptive image management, under the lovable ruse of self deprecating “honesty.”

OTOH-An unnecessarily harsh description of a moderate Republican that would like to see real change in the GOP. Caught between the rock on the right and the hard place on his left.

His situation is complicated by this-Few hard core Democratic partisans really want to see the GOP mend its ways. That would just be a tougher opponent in the elections. People that put a lower priority on party influence than policy views look at that tough spot with more sympathy.

It’s a lot like how anyone who speaks up for gun rights is often burdened with the extremes the leadership & ILA side of the NRA presents. The moderates earn the contempt of both ends of the spectrum. Twice as many critics as a partisan.