this post was submitted on 31 Jan 2026
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Mildly Interesting
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I think it's fairer to compare them to the actual centre.
The typical centrist is social liberal or a Christian democrat. Kind of the "I just wanna grill" person. Will treat anybody with respect and probably kick out whoever threatens with violence against people like him or not that far off his views.
Nobody on the list is far-left. The closest to that would be someone from the Black Panther Party, but those no longer exist as a unified entity.
AOC and Mamdani I'd label as democratic socialists, so left.
Bernie Sanders is a typical centre-left politician, pretty good.
Joe Biden I'd label as a centrist, centre-right Christian democrat. His fiscal teachings are somewhat coloured by Catholic social teaching - moreso than the next.
Liz Cheney would almost be a Christian democrat, were it not for her heavily libertarian leanings rather than supporting subsidiarity, which would be much more in line with Christian social teaching. In the latter, people would first take care of their family and friends, and after that, the state. She'd be centre-right, closer to right-wing, due to her libertarian mindset.
George W. Bush would be inbetween a conservative liberal and a right-wing populist, leaning closer to the latter. He's right wing.
DeSantis, Musk, and Trump, are all far-right. There's no need for meaningful distinction between, as they're all enemies of the people.
Personally, I think most 'normal' people would consider the (nonexistent) far-left crazy, AOC up to Joe Biden 'normal', and Liz a bit wack but still someone one could talk to.
Bush and the rest, they're crazy. Bush can be seen as an enabler of the rest, just like how Reagan enabled politicians like him to fetter.
In more normal areas, it'd be considered political suicide to take stances like those of Liz and further to the right.
Biden was anti bussing, put the crackhiuse and crime bills through, etc.
He's not socially liberal at all. Just neoliberal.