[quote author="freedomCM" date=1234877677]also, both the moderates in each party are attacked by the extremes.
this is most easily seen for the GOP, where anyone that will vote for taxes or to keep religion out of the public sphere is challenged in the primaries by a "right thinker".
It also happens to the Dems, mostly in large urban areas, i suspect. this is probably why there are a few more moderates in the Dem party still existent, since they come out of more suburban or rural districts.</blockquote>
It explains how Maxiene Waters.
FWIW, the most radical Republicans are out of suburban districts. It's a breeding ground for that kind of "My taxes are too high/Screw the poor/lock up the criminals/why do my public schools suck so bad/blame the unions" meme.
Few moderate Dems exist in suburban districts that I know of. If you find a rural Dem, they usually look like me. I'd like to vote GOP but I'm not a mini-Hoover (my grandparents came here from Oklahoma during the GD/Dust Bowl and the New Deal programs, while not perfect, made a huge difference to them) nor am I a flat-earther (the problem is excessive taxes and government waste and overregulation OBV........).
Curiously, as I get older, I care less and less. Oh, to be young and a YAFer.