Democratic Base: Romney Voters
Progressives appear to be the last ones in America to figure out the new political reality.
Even Bloomberg reports it as simple fact.
On the one hand, they want to get back to their labor roots. On the other hand, electoral trends will pull them in the other direction: In 2016, the group that most swung toward Democrats was wealthy Mitt Romney voters, who will represent the key to Democrats making electoral gains in 2018.
The Dem leadership loves 'em the money, and the money loves 'em back.
On paper, focusing on those labor roots would please the labor interests within the party, and perhaps would win back some of those straying Trump voters.
The problem is even the recent official strategy of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee acknowledges those aren't the voters they'll be targeting. Their main focus will be targeting the 23 seats held by House Republicans in districts that Hillary Clinton won, plus an additional 10 seats in districts that Clinton narrowly lost.
And what we know about those districts that swung toward Clinton is that they're full of rich people who voted for Romney in 2012. The five Republican-held House districts with the biggest swings toward Democrats in the presidential race in 2016 are in Texas and Georgia. All have average household incomes over $100,000 per year. Three of those five districts are on the DCCC list.
Why shouldn't wealthy people love the Dems? Democratic policies are more in-sync with their interests.
Obama has bombed seven countries (more than Bush), deported record numbers of immigrants, killed immigration reform through neglect, undermined climate change accords in Copenhagen in 2009, attacked teachers unions, abandoned “card-check” legislation that would aid union drives, and offered little more than rhetoric on raising wages.
Obama, however, spared no effort to rescue the sinking yachts. In October 2009 the New York Times noted that the bailouts begun a year earlier were fueling a “new era of Wall Street wealth.”
The days of "Republicans golf; Democrats bowl" ended some time ago, but liberals still haven't figured it out.
It doesn't take a genius. Just look at the demographics.
The structural shift in the Democratic base coincides with a long-term decline in manufacturing jobs nationwide. In 1993, 16.9 percent of jobs in the median congressional district were in manufacturing, but by 2013, it was 8.4 percent. In addition, there has been a steady drop in private-sector unionization. Capitalizing on this decline, Republicans increasingly win over manufacturing-intense areas — they control 18 of the top 20 most manufacturing-heavy districts in the current Congress, for example.
At the same time, Democratic voters are warming to trade. As this chart of Gallup poll data shows, more self-identified Democrats view foreign trade as an opportunity for the U.S. than do Republicans:
Comments
I have no doubt
that this is what they believe. I also have no doubt that they will be humiliated yet again in 2018. The PTB may retain control of the Dem party, but what good is that once they are irrelevant? They are fast approaching complete obsolescence.
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
I most certainly agree. The 'New' Turd Way Democrats are as
thick as the proverbial brick. The thing is, I don't care anymore. They're of no use to me and of no use of the majority of the people in this country.
Third Party. Tulsi Gabbard. That's where my sentiments lie.
I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks
Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa
Eventually there will be a backlash against thhe GOP
So it only makes sense to maintain a controlling interest in the Dems.
Correct, and the Dems are only too willing
to be controlled. The D establishment can afford to bide its time. Trump ain't gonna last forever. Representing one half of an all-powerful Duopoly is a pretty good gig, even when your half is temporarily sidelined. An additional benefit for the Dems, is that Trump has forced much of the Deep State to align with them, instead of with the Goopers. Of course the Dems will have no qualms about that, many of them being quite neocon-friendly themselves.
native
"Labor" isn't the same as unions
They've crippled unions enough that even workers (who are not all blue-collar, who may also have advanced degrees and do sophisticated work) who may in principle approve of unions either do not have a real option to join a union or only have a crippled pretense of a union available. The "labor" that would benefit from and might choose a real union is probably the 90%.
"Labor" is not just assembly line workers. The loss of real union rights is also destroying the former upper middle class.
Both major parties (are there really any others?)
are all about following the money and leaving the rest of us not so well endowed to fend for ourselves. Functionally they are nearly identical in their governing, serving their monied masters, with Trump being an outlier insurgent who looks like he is quickly getting with the program
Only for the benefit of the rubes who still vote with the hope of actual change do they don the distinct costumes of characters distinguished largely by a variety of social or religious wedge issues. A few days post election both Republicans and Democrats forget about their costumes and continue their true vocation, working to make the richest among us even richer.
“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024
(No subject)
“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024
Don't over read into the numbers
No surprise, look at how the district lines are drawn in places like Austin texas, Detroit Michigan, Florida, or Pennsylvania.
Democrats are being forced to change who they campaign for based on the simple reality of what constituencies are effectively able to vote for them. The people targeted by Democrats are in lean D through lean R districts, basically swingy districts.
More shockingly really is the fact that the Dems haven't figured out that the under 40 demo is much more conveniently distributed and is very capable of turning republican gerrymanders into dummymanders. Her failness had figured this out to an extent, its why she even gave the college tuition issue a time of day to the extent that she did, luckily votes are not bought so easily.
@luminous
OK, but how can votes matter any more? US (s)elections have been sealed off and are 'top-secret National Security' issues between TPTB and... well, TPTB - which control all branches of government and are served by all agencies, especially those now headed by billionaires eager to become trillionaires by draining us all and willing to destroy civilization and the natural life-support system to do it.
So which of the Two-Faced Corporate Trade-Off Parties do you vote for, does it matter which gets in, and how would you ever know whether your pointless vote was actually counted anyway?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN-cYCjAAXI
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
@Ellen North
Cheer for shadow and illusion all you want, your just using convenient rationalizations to avoid reality.
Flat fact, our first past the post voting system makes third parties numerically impossible, learn to live with it by voting in the primaries, or running for office yourself.
Also, and while many will disagree with me on this, vote either for the greater good, or to burn it down, NEVER vote for the lesser evil, lesser evil voting is what created the Clinton's, it is what sustains the corporate control of the Dems.
We can all Bern together, or will be surely all Burn separately.
@luminous
If you haven't yet seen that Sane Progressive video detailing what's being done to American elections on top of the usual rigging, you might want to.
Far from cheering an illusion, I was pointing out the reality with which we must deal, and which cements the US electoral rigging into top-secrecy and a valid election result into... well, unfortunately, illusion.
Edited just to mention that one of your next-door neighbours, Canada, is still stuck with a first-past-the-post system and had 4 parties in government.
The NDP were predicted to win the last Canadian Federal election until the idiot then (newly) heading the party considered dropping the social democracy platform and was dropped like a hot potato-head by the public - strategically and frantically voting out the Conservatives by choosing either NDP or (corrupt) Liberals (ICK!) because the Greens were considered not big enough/well enough known, despite Party Leader Elizabeth May being the only consistent fighter in Parliament.
So, multiple parties are not impossible unless electoral cheating is occurring, at least in a Parliamentary system, (and Bernie was, and reverted back to being, an Indie, if you recall, so don't believe the Corporate Party propaganda of impossibility) although first-past-the-post's a stupid system and does make it more difficult.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
@Ellen North
I couldn't give three shits for the Canadian system, They are only a little behind the US system third party wise, the neo-lib party won their last election as the left wing surrendered to lesser evil voting to avoid Harper winning again. The NDP party will continue to shrink as people choose to strategically vote to avoid any more tory governments, and the Lib's will basically do all the same things as the tory's would have, just stretched out so as to lessen the pain, so people notice less, maybe with better social policy. Canadian district lines are not nearly as rigged as the US as well, creating more competitive opportunity.
The Green's are a joke regardless of what Nation they are running in, a sectarian party, that is to often a tool used to siphon votes from the major liberal party to allow conservative wins.
@luminous
Actually, the point I was making there was that there was a first-past-the-post system right next door with multiple parties represented in the Federal government, so that this was not impossible.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
the last place I saw "lines" like that.....
The last place I saw "lines" like that (other than a political district map)? Let me offer my fellow c99p'ers a musical clue:
[video:https://youtu.be/9TiHC4SUh5k width:480 height:270]
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Get out your true factual history books, guys!!
The Democratic Party is the oldest political party in America. All the others have perished or reformed into something else. As far as I'm (and millions like me) conerned, its expiration date is long overdue. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Don't say this on TOP
i.e. web site Team Blue
Over there this whole essay would be White Privilege
Funny to think, I used to believe Democrats were smarter than Republicans. TOP taught me the folly of my ways.
I've been pondering California, a Democratic lock state. The Democrats there are already showing signs of an entrenched power party, with corruption and identification with their wealthy donors. They mirror the Democratic party nationwide, except they have no meaningful opposition. This causes me to think any schism that might afflict the Democratic party might start there first. If Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsome reveal themselves as the second coming of DiFi, I strongly suspect a progressive/young coalition there could eventually spark a viable third party.
Please help support caucus99percent!
"white privilege"
Despite the fact that this essay is complaining about the Dems' shift towards privileged whites!
(Yes, I know this is the way of the BBB/DOV-world. Out here IRL, your mileage will vary considerably!)
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Not sure
I'm not sure if there are enough progressive voters or that they are equipped to answer corporate Democrats within the party. Nor am I sure if an independent progressive movement can create a third party.
What I do know is that the Democratic Party is essentially a waste of time and effort for working class people.
While all of that
is likely true, is very hard to argue with, what is hard to swallow is the Repub party snagging "our" voters.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
There's only one party. The Vulture Capitalist Party. Each
corrupt wing taking their turn screwing over the peasantry.
More here: The Uncomfortable Truth: Are We Hating Donald Trump for the Wrong Reasons?
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - JFK | "The more I see of the moneyed peoples, the more I understand the guillotine." - G. B. Shaw Bernie/Tulsi 2020
So knowing all this --
They're still going to lead some sort of tame effort to "take over the Democratic Party" in the midst of a vastly-more-powerful effort to switch the base of the Democratic Party to the New England and California bourgeoisie?
The ruling classes need an extra party to make the rest of us feel as if we participate in democracy. That's what the Democrats are for. They make the US more durable than the Soviet Union was.
Big Rec!
For using the word bourgeoisie.
It's these aspirants to great wealth, or those who get a vicarious thrill reading about them & dreaming, who will gather to the Coprophagic Dems - but, there's not all that many of them
compared to us high school grads go-to-work-with-a-name-tag-on-your-shirt types who want a decent reliable wage, health care, and enough money for a dignified retirement. Provide that, and get many votes in key states.
"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"
First the working class
needs to believe that it's going to get something out of the political process.
The ruling classes need an extra party to make the rest of us feel as if we participate in democracy. That's what the Democrats are for. They make the US more durable than the Soviet Union was.
Bill Kristol is a douchbag
Kristol Needs a Labor History Lesson
It looks like Bill Kristol needs a little labor history lesson. To say today's immigration situation is similar to the early 20th century is ridiculous. At the turn of the 20th century, we were still experiencing an industrial revolution. As an example of a labor shortage, European immigrants were recruited to work in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and Illinois, the lead mines of Missouri, and the iron ore mines of Michigan and Minnesota. Cities grew rapidly and people outside these areas were still making a living farming. For Kristol to say the native born people during the early 20th century were lazy and the descendants of these immigrants are lazy today is beyond arrogant.
@karl pearson
Looks to me as though he's saying that if Americans are 'too lazy' to work their butts off for starvation wages, they should be replaced by starving, desperate immigrants who don't make the error of thinking that their government and country belongs to them, or that their rights and interests should matter and be protected over those of the parasite class.
But it seems to me that an awful lot of Americans are working their butts off - sometimes at multiple jobs - for starvation wages and that this is their country and government intended under overriding Constitutional law to be protecting their rights and interests. Silly me.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
You're right about Mr. Pompous
Exactly! Bill Kristol likes to present himself as an intellectual, so it's fun to poke holes in his arguments. I wonder why he has an uncanny ability to recognize "lazy spoiled" people? Hmmmm!
@karl pearson
Hey, he probably just figures that if the American parasite class disposes of the American citizens to bring in outside serfs until the robots replace them, they're less likely to invest in personal pitchforks and torches.
That is what he's saying - that the parasite class is laying claim to owning the country and that the citizens can be replaced by them.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Dirty Bill Kristol has
never been right about anything. Ever.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
@Ellen North Boot straps. Pull
Boot straps. Pull yourself up. St. Ronnie said so.
Ever since Reagan, if you are poor (white), it is all on you, lazy bastard.
I totally get it that Trump is nuts.
But I thought Reagan was. I have lived decades within the parameters set, the talking points, the whole "if you are poor, it is your fault, for shame!" America.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
@on the cusp
Can't afford boots. Can straps be bought separately?
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
@Ellen North I remember
I remember thinking he was nuts when he ran for governor. My Republican friends have his picture hung up on their walls.
They didn't notice he was fucking nuts.
I bought my boots during the Carter administration.
I have pulled on the straps until they have disintegrated.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Well, if the corporate Dems are to humiliated, help them along
Work against the Democrats in Romney voter disctricts. Proudly and loudly. Take credit for handing out defeat. Make clear to the donors that they'll never get their money's worth funding a corrupt Dem. Whether you want to reform the party or destroy it, it seems like lefties should make a name for themselves as punishers to be feared.
the republican women who voted for HRC in those districts
but voted GOP in the congressional races are not going to vote Democratic in the midterm congressional races, and the notion that they will do so is toxically stupid.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.