The Aristotelian Mean, or "moderation in all things," that is found in the Nicomachean Ethics is defined as the middle ground between excess and deficiency.  Granted Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is viewed by many as an attempt to provide a teological explanation of Nature, that is to say Nature works toward an end goal.  In the modern scientific age we live in, this is known to be erroneous.  Nature is non-moral and completly bereft of "goals."  Thank you for demonstrating that to us, Mr. Darwin.

But the Nicomachean Ethic does contain that golden nugget of an idea "The Golden Mean of Behavior," more completely presented yet loosely restated as moderation in all things, excess in none.  That idea does not mean (yet is frequently misinterpreted and misunderstood to mean) that a person can take all things (particularly in re health) with moderation; therefore reasoning that a moderate amount of a bad thing can be indulged.  Wrong!

Here's how my idea of the Aristotelian Moderate Democrats and the philosphy for which they stand is correctly understood.

Far better minds than mine (including that sharp instrument that lurks between Georgia10's ears) have been casting about for a solution to the perceived wonkishness of the Democratic policies.  There's a feeling that we're a piecemeal party.  We have a detailed position on everything -- usually several -- but we're lacking a definition of the core principles on which the party is built.  

Maybe it's only that I'm too old to make a connection with the current zeitgeist, but I don't see why Democrats need a new message, a new frame, or a new way of talking.  All we need is the courage to embrace the philosophy that propelled the party from its inception.