First of all, yes it was a dig but a very tangential dig as Lt Dan was who I most had in mind.
B. You know I think a commitment to the mythical “middle” is an acquiescence to the leftward moving Overton Window. Anyone, like me, who ever stakes out a piece of land in the middle and says that’s it, I’m not moving - inevitably gets redefined eventually as something right leaning. Nowadays, that means Trump worshipper. Trump, a NewYork liberal / entertainment industry guy.
Secondly, I think this board is a lousy place to observe anyone’s personal criticisms of Trump or private acknowledgment of his success.
To that point, I know you didn’t specifically reference me, but speaking for myself as an example, let me ask you this - Do you think I’ll ever talk about my personal disappointment in anything Trump has done with morons who literally supported Russian collusion etc? Nope. I’m here to make them eat shit, entertain myself and deal with spam.
Its enjoyable to take a huge shit on the leftist propaganda with pro Trump propaganda. But here’s the thing... I do not believe that both propagandas are equally inaccurate. I don’t buy that dead center middle between the two is always where the truth resides. I think that can be a cop out. Sometimes. With some guys. Maybe not you. Maybe not Dan.
Based upon my personal experience here, I don't buy your Overton Window analysis. What I see is when I criticize Trump, I get characterized as a "Never Trumper...leftie...pinko...etc." When I give Trump credit or agree with him on something, I get characterized as any number of the common pejoratives for die-hard Trump supporters. A prime example was my expressed opinions on the original immigration ban from predominately Muslim countries early in Trump's term. The very first ban, I stated that there were certain issues that made that illegal/unconstitutional. I got absolutely ripped by one side of this board. THEN, when the ban was changed....actually making the changes that I asserted were problematic...and I said that it was now legal/constitutional rather or not I agreed with it from a policy perspective. I got absolutely ripped by the other side of the board that had been cheering me on the day before.
I disagree that someone that has more moderate, centered, opinions inevitably gets redefined eventually as right leaning. I see both the right and left focusing and working hard on shifting that Overton Window in defining the more moderate, centered opinions as the "enemy". This board is absolutely prime example of the battle over the Overton Window. Besides, why do you give a f*&k about how you are "defined" based upon your honestly, truly held opinions. That doesn't sound like the Mega I know.
Secondly, I do agree this board is a lousy place to observe anyone's personal criticisms of Trump or private acknowledgment of his success. Furthermore, I think that is really the major problem I have with this board at this point. No you will never talk about your personal disappointment with anything Trump has done here....and that is unfortunate in my opinion. In fact, your refusal to do so at points has led me to consider the possibility that you really have become a TDS, type 2 sufferer. We hashed that out here, I get why you are here and what you are looking to get out of this board. At the same time, you're one of the guys here that I would value and seriously consider your "true" opinions and thoughts on issues of the day. I'm not getting that now, and that disappoints me.
I don't argue that dead center middle between the two is always where the truth resides. I also don't believe that I have claimed or conducted myself here as if I do. I try my damnedest to take the issues as they come, do my research, and reach a conclusion based upon the fact as I understand them...Overton Window or resulting criticism from the left/right be damned. This board is not an easy place to do that, and that is unfortunate IMO. Maybe I'm the naïve one or the one looking at the past here with rose tinted glass for wishing it was different.
Good talk.
The TL: DR: Don't buy the Overton Window analysis. Both left and right are trying to move that window. This board, for various and sundry reasons among the different regular posters, has fractured along binary lines. I don't like that, and miss the "old days" here. I'm probably naïve for thinking or wishing for it not to be fractured like that.