Democrats' "Blue Wave" is essentially gone

Three months ago the Democrats were going to crush the Republicans.
Today the Democrats' lead is within the margin of error.
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About six months out from Election Day, 47% of registered voters say they back the Democratic candidate in their district, 44% back the Republican. Voters also are divided almost evenly over whether the country would be better off with the Democrats in control of Congress (31%) or with the GOP in charge (30%). A sizable 34% -- including nearly half of independent voters (48%) -- say it doesn't matter which party controls Congress.
The Democrats' advantage in the generic ballot dipped from 16 points in February to six points in March to just three points now.

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The dip in approval is especially pronounced among millennials.
So why is this happening? What has happened since March?
The most obvious event that has occurred on the Democratic side since March has been the start of the primaries.

So how have they gone? Let's look at today's article.

The Democratic establishment is alive and well, thriving after big wins in the fall that have continued through this early political season.
...On Tuesday, two Democrats without ideologically pure voting records advanced without much friction: Centrist Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana won renomination uncontested, and Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia won by 40 percentage points. They are among the small group of Democrats who supported a rollback of some Obama-era Wall Street regulations and voted for some of President Trump’s nominees, including Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, but have so far faced only minor anti-establishment blowback.
..Democrats had pushed potential anti-establishment challengers out of the way in Arizona, Nevada and Tennessee, seats held by Republicans that, if won by Democrats, could flip the majority.

Well that sure will excite the base, amirite? Nothing like a continuation of a corrupt status quo to get young people to the polls.

And what does the news media think about this?
NY Magazine: ‘Rigging’ Primaries Is Fine. Backing Bad Candidates Isn’t.
NY Times: Actually, National Democrats Should Interfere in Primaries
WashPost: Pelosi defends party intervention in Democratic primaries

vote1.png

So let's add all of this up.

The Democratic establishment, despite being destroyed in the past eight years of elections, having led the party with unprecedented incompetence to century lows, were on the verge of a massive Blue Wave.
So what do they do?
They deliberately undermine their loyal base. They knee-cap the young people who are most enthusiastic. The news media cheers this trend.
Now, with bland moderates in place that don't stand for anything, enthusiasm has waned and the Blue Wave is becoming a mirage.

Have I missed anything? Is that all?
Just this one last thing: This was foreseen six months ago.

Six months ago, the independent report—titled Autopsy: The Democratic Party in Crisis—pointed out that young people “increasingly want politics to be for something profoundly positive rather than just against Republicans.” As a member of the task force that worked on the report, I was struck by how the top echelon of the Democratic Party keeps trying to insulate itself from—and fend off— the tremendous energy that mobilized behind Sanders during the primaries.

In short, the Democratic Party is still dominated by elected officials and power brokers who appear to be deeply worried that a future progressive upsurge of political engagement could loosen—or even end—their corporate-funded grip on the party. As the Autopsy report said, “Emerging sectors of the electorate are compelling the Democratic Party to come to terms with adamant grassroots rejection of economic injustice, institutionalized racism, gender inequality, environmental destruction and corporate domination. Siding with the people who constitute the base isn’t truly possible when party leaders seem to be afraid of them.”

The problem is not Trump.
Trump is a symptom of the problem.
The problem is the Democratic Party.

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Nebraska

Eastman supports Planned Parenthood, age-appropriate sex education, the Expanded Medicare for All Act, and access to contraception. She does not support restrictions on abortion care, stating that “if we really wanted to prevent abortion, we would invest in health care, education, and reducing income inequality—those are ways that we can actually make a dent.”

Eastman said her campaign has knocked on more than 40,000 doors and is listening to voters about the issues they care about. Those include, she said, health care, education, and the environment.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the arm of the party that works to elect members to the U.S. House of Representatives, has lined up behind her primary rival, Brad Ashford—a former Republican, state legislator, and U.S. congressperson—adding him to their high-profile “red to blue” campaign.

Meanwhile, Bernie does what he does

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced a plan Wednesday that he says will lift the nation's lagging wages by restoring power to unions and protecting workers in the gig economy — both top items on the labor movement’s wish list.

The Workplace Democracy Act, co-sponsored by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and 10 other Democrats, would make it easier for workers to organize, supporters say.

The bill would allow employees to form a union by a majority sign-up process, rather than an election (which proponents say heightens the risk of employer meddling); require companies to negotiate with a new union within 10 days of receiving a request; mandate that workers in every state pay some dues to unions that represent them; and expand the law’s definition of “employer,” a hotly debated term as the country’s contractor workforce expands.

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Amanda Matthews's picture

because they can’t change. The Dims thought the support and contributions would keep rolling in regardless of what they said and did, or didn’t say and do.They’re flailing around desperate to bring back money and support while claiming they have the right to scam supporters and donors at the same time.

Not a winning ‘platform’.

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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

@Amanda Matthews pretty soon it will be Chelseas turn...that'll energize everybody, to stay home.

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k9disc's picture

@Snode

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“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu

IMHO, if they actually won they might be forced to do something and they can't have that. Their plan for a dumbed down electorate isn't working so much on the younger of the cohort who aren't satisfied with electing one more lying shill.

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Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

Wink's picture

keeps winning. How does
@lizzyh7
that keep happening with the "dissatisfaction" numbers well above 50% ? Where is the "Resist!" vote? The pussy hats vote? The "Bernie or Bust!" vote? Where is it?

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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.

@Wink

I'm sitting on the fence. Between the general and primary, we have a great progressive running against Stabenow as an Independent who doesn't stand a snowballs chance in hell. Our race for Governor is a joke. We have one establishment and one batshit crazy Republican running against the establishment Democrat and two progressives, one of whom may not be real. I will probably vote because of the state elections and legal recreational pot on the ballot. Our GOP controlled government is now considering legalizing rec pot before the election so as to tamp down young voter turn out and undermine our referendum process once again. We also have gerrymander reform on the ballot. Yeah, I need to vote. Problem I have is I don't a clue for whom.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Wink's picture

or get the fuck out of the way. Pushing paperwork thru Congress that the Repubs will use to wipe their ass isn't leading.
It's going to take bloodshed to move these fuckers (Oligarchy) out of the halls of Congress, they will Not go quietly, and it's obvious Bernie is not willing to shed his for the cause. Too bad. There would have been a nice statue of him in the Hall and outside the capitol, and we would have had a chance to take back our government. Alas... like Occupy, we go it alone.

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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.

@Wink

can be changed from within, he will remain on the fringes of power not matter how many people show up for his rallies. It's so sad.
And with the DCCC pushing candidates who are either former CIA or military (to the tune of 40% of their 'red to blue' candidates), we could be seeing a bigger take over of our government by the CIA than we have now... if that's even possible.

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"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin

EdMass's picture

Pelosi says she wants to increase taxes

While attempting to survive under the overwhelming debt of their student loans, Millennials ( and their parents btw) definitely want to pay more taxes on what income they can make while still paying their student loans.

How about loan amnesty? How about forcing colleges to stop increasing tuition every year beyond inflation? I graduated BC in 1979. Tuition/room/board = $1,800. Today BC TRB is over $50K. So glad they're paying the janitorial staff (not) as they do their 6 figure professors and of course their Jesuit overlords... Crap.

#Winning

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Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

WaterLily's picture

@EdMass Fellow Eagle here (screen name might be a giveaway). Smile

T, R & B was a slightly higher $16K per year for me ... which seems like a freaking bargain these days. I can't comprehend how anyone attends a private university anymore.

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detroitmechworks's picture

But I'm a damn dirty Russian, donchaknow?

Especially so since we've always been at war with Iran...

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

EdMass's picture

@detroitmechworks

Or was it the other way around? The fog of BS over the decades has affected my memory. Alas.

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Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

Wink's picture

has gone up three, 4
@EdMass
times since '79. College has gone up ten times or more. Mostly more.
Just keeping up with inflation.
Or keeping the riff raff out of the Halls of Academia.

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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.

gulfgal98's picture

@Wink I regret I have only one rec to give because higher education has become another scam by which the banksters (those who underwrite student loans) financially bleed kids to death.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

@gulfgal98

after graduation. Legalized bribery truly makes the U$ the best democracy money can buy. Besides legacy and heritage, I got my grandkids dual citizenship for a reason. The boy in Sweden may be the beginning of a family underground railroad.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

We could be looking at a situation where there is a high turnout in general election but dems still lose due to progressives simply not voting for establishment candidates but rather going third party.

The lesser of two evils pimp looks to be falling on more and more deaf ears.

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. . . voters.

All their smoke-and-mirrors, "identity politics" posturing and Russia-gate bullshit that they use to supposedly fool the public into believing they offer something different than the Republicans (when in reality, they just offer pretty much the same shit, but dressed up and marketed in a fashion that is more palatable to the people that vote for them), is suckering fewer and fewer people.

Remember that their main goal is not to win. It is to keep the gravy train (in the form of contributions, bribes, lucrative jobs in the private sector, etc.) coming from the people that own them while they do their TRUE WORK: i.e., making sure top elbow out true progressives so that they never get a chance to get near the levers of power. So long as they've done that, and still present some viable semblance of an illusion of a "resistance," or "hope for change," or whatever other thing that gets people to vote for them in reaction to the GOP, the gravy train will keep rolling in and keep them in business.

I recently posted a link to an article that said something like 66% of the American people have no faith in either party. Two thirds of the population doesn't believe either party works for their good or for their interests. If that's true, than only a third still believe in the R v. D scam. Yes, probably a lot of those other two thirds will still vote for a Republican or Democrat, but they will do so with ever waning enthusiasm and conviction as time passes, and this country continues to go down the crapper.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@SoylentGreenisPeople

You've successfully defined the Democratic Party as a fund-raising organization, only. Looking at the Party through that lens brings recent years into sharper focus. Any candidates with a large committed donor base will be endorsed by the Democratic Party. Little wonder party bosses sport a moderate Republican ideology and support the kind of candidates who can pull that off.

One irony of the 2018 midterms, which was apparent early on, is that the Dem's Trump freak-out and Russia hysteria set them up for a rebound win. The Democrats were guaranteed to sweep the midterm elections — but ONLY if they said and did absolutely nothing to break the underdog spell. When they started lying, they lost control over their mental faculties. Every time they open their mouths, they expose their unworthiness by blurting out their selfish feelings and stingy vision. If they could just behave like loyal underdogs and button their lips, they would own the mid-term voters. Sigh.

Another irony for voters is that they are setting themselves up to fall for the illusion of Democracy, again. The winner-takes-all grift of the US election process reinfects them every time. It defines the people as simple-minded voting livestock — and they arrive at the polls thinking they are getting a choice! And most of the time, the outcome will be a relatively close call. "Gee," they say, "We almost won/lost that one. We have to start now and work harder and spend more money on the next race. We could actually lose/win next time!"

The overriding insult here is that they are considered simpletons in a complex system. They are given a pick of two choices [gasp!] that will define them aspirationally, morally, and economically — while satisfying their sense of representation in government. Both choices are inevitably geared to predatory capitalism and violent foreign manipulation. And the people are actually good with that! They muck around in the scraps they are thrown until they find something they can like a little, and then don their team colors. "Yay!" Only in America.

It is increasingly clear that the Democratic brand has been a shape-shifter from the very beginning. It was designed as a sheep-dogger of the humanitarian types, in service to the Oligarchs. That is all this party will ever be. To the extent that more People are more aware, the midterms will likely be dismal for the Dems. But, as long as there are herds of evangelical voters who are conditioned at the pulpit to support god-fearing sociopaths in government, the American people will never achieve even basic human rights.

Conversely, if an actual political party that represents the Left in America were to form — for the first time in US history — it would certainly be a step in the right direction. The US may be one of the only Democratic nations that does not have a political party that represents the Left. Americans may not know this due to their constant propaganda, but the rest of the world does. Efforts to create such a party would be met with the same violence and sabotage that the Oligarchs used against the early Labor movement in the 1880s. If such a thing were to happen, the US government would be discredited the world over. That, perhaps, is another path toward regime change in the US.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
thanatokephaloides's picture

@Pluto's Republic

As long as there are evangelical voters, Americans will never achieve even basic human rights.

What "basic human rights" do you see evangelicals opposing as a unified bloc?

For America will always have evangelical voters. Colonial era European Monarchs made sure of that!

But an actual political party that represents the Left in America — for the first time in US history — would be a step in the right direction.

That it would, indeed.

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Pluto's Republic's picture

@thanatokephaloides

...via support of the sociopathic party ideology, to withhold basic human rights from the American People.

Basic human rights the world over include Freedom from hunger, adequate housing, health care including dental care, protection from the death penalty, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment and slavery while incarcerated, etc.

If you were thinking of comparing the US to Bangladesh or Ghana to make a point of how good we have it, please don't.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
thanatokephaloides's picture

@Pluto's Republic

Evangelical voters empower Our Overlords via support of the sociopathic party ideology, to withhold basic human rights from the American People.

Basic human rights the world over include Freedom from hunger, adequate housing, health care including dental care, protection from the death penalty, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment and slavery while incarcerated, etc.

Not to mention freedom from the Evangelicals' cruel religion! Smile

And multo grazie for the list, by the way!

If you were thinking of comparing the US to Bangladesh or Ghana to make a point of how good we have it, please don't.

The parallels between Ghana and the US are actually rather frightening! Ghana has an official, admitted militarized police system; and
its Wikipedia article includes this remark:

Ghana retains and exercises the death penalty for treason, corruption, robbery, piracy, drug trafficking, rape, and homicide.

Ghana also is a heavy military spender, partially for hegemonic reasons. Yet another disturbing parallel with the US!

As for Bangladesh, they've got problems with their own evangelical (Muslim) voters, so the parallels with the US appear here also!

Not only do we not have it any better from a human rights standpoint, but from that aspect, we're essentially equal! Only in the matter of LGBTQ rights are we appreciably better off; both Bangldesh and Ghana felonize homosexuality. And Bangladesh and Ghana have a relatively high excuse level for the economic rights, both being poor nations struggling to develop to the point where these rights are implementable as such. As the richest nation on Earth, the USA has no such excuse.

Diablo

Wikipedia:

Bangladesh
Human Rights in Bangladesh
Ghana
Human Rights in Ghana
LGBT rights in Ghana

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Strife Delivery's picture

@SoylentGreenisPeople

Remember that their main goal is not to win. It is to keep the gravy train (in the form of contributions, bribes, lucrative jobs in the private sector, etc.) coming from the people that own them while they do their TRUE WORK: i.e., making sure top elbow out true progressives so that they never get a chance to get near the levers of power. So long as they've done that, and still present some viable semblance of an illusion of a "resistance," or "hope for change," or whatever other thing that gets people to vote for them in reaction to the GOP, the gravy train will keep rolling in and keep them in business.

This.

I've seen far too many people (not particularly this site) talking about how the Democrats haven't learned anything or why aren't they doing this or that or hullabaloo.

The existence of the Democratic Party isn't to win.
The existence of the Democratic Party is to prevent the left from ascending. They are the guardians at the gate. That is their one job. That is it. They are then handsomely paid for it.

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@Strife Delivery EXACTLY. Took me until 2016 to fully and finally see them for what they truly are. Even their "hero" FDR, whose legacy they now usually completely disavow, was only saving Capitalism by tinkering around the edges. Save the system at all cost is truly their only goal.

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Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

@lizzyh7
His accomplishments, though greater than any other 20th century president, are much less than his aspirations. FDR wanted universal health care. He wanted to move further in the direction of guaranteed income.

FDR was constrained by the Supreme Court and had to worry about a coalition of Republicans and (mostly) southern Democrats who could have solidified. He was forced to replace Henry Wallace with Harry Truman in 1944. FDR's accomplishments were less than his dreams.

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Shahryar's picture

If, as Lizzy says, the Dems don't want to win (I think I come down on the side of "they don't care if they win or lose") then what is their goal?

They'd have to be pretty dumb to not have noticed all the lost seats. Yet if they were that dumb they wouldn't be able to have such a strong hold on these primaries, such a strong hold on the press. I think it can be established that they are only interested in your $3, or the corporate $1 mil.

More of a problem is the electorate that doesn't see through it. Or maybe it's obvious, everyone knows and they don't actually count votes. Only half kidding there.

We all remember how terrified they were when they had 60 Senate seats and a large majority in the House. I guess they're more comfortable where they are.

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@Shahryar
little by little

A county Democratic committee in New York voted down an extreme proposal on Tuesday night that would have required all members to pledge loyalty to candidates endorsed by the state, local, or national party.

Progressives on the committee in Chemung County, on the Pennsylvania border, viewed the proposed loyalty pledge as an attempt by establishment Democrats to silence their dissent; they spent the week leading up to the meeting organizing opposition from members of the 20-person committee.

At the meeting, the committee voted down the oath in its current format, but did not get rid of it entirely.

“First we voted on removing that paragraph entirely, and we lost,” said Deb Lynch, first vice chair of the committee. “Then we voted on rewriting it in a way that was palatable to everyone in a month, so that’s where we’re at.”

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Shahryar's picture

@gjohnsit

sad to say, I'm rooting for the collapse of the party, to be replaced by something else. It's happened before!

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WoodsDweller's picture

A Socialist/Democrat coalition would win in a landslide, but would need to implement socialist programs to get re-elected. Democrats can no longer win without socialist votes, and socialist voters have been burned too many times. To attract socialist voters the Democrats need to deliver first, but they don't have any power and wouldn't deliver if they did.
How many Democratic voters would vote socialist? That's the only way this is going to get better.
This will shape up into three parties in our two party system -- fascists who lay claim to the Republican brand, neoliberal/neoconservative DINO/RINOs who lay claim to the Democratic brand, and a yet-to-form socialist party with a new brand.

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

EdMass's picture

@WoodsDweller

that will trigger this formation. I can't figure it out. Inertia of the Political system seems to be the rule for decades.

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Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

gulfgal98's picture

@EdMass is exactly what the establishment wants when it comes to doing things that actually benefit we the people. But on the other, when it comes to war and military funding, it is amazing how much agreement there is across party lines.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

detroitmechworks's picture

@gulfgal98 a bill to give Trump Dictatorial powers, they aren't even bothering to hide behind masks of giving a shit about the people anymore.

I've officially given up on the idea that the people can do a goddamn thing, short of cheese shops.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3KBuQHHKx0]

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

snoopydawg's picture

@gulfgal98

IMG_1948.JPG

Yep!

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

gulfgal98's picture

@snoopydawg this Venn diagram! And the areas of non-agreement are getting smaller and smaller.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Hillbilly Dem's picture

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"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey

@WoodsDweller

"neoliberal/neoconservative DINO/RINOs who lay claim to the Democratic brand"

are just as much fascists as the GOP people are. Hell, just look at Senator Ben Cardin and his sponsor-ship of a bill that would have criminalized criticism of Israel (which he ultimately backed away from after people like Glenn Greenwald called attention to it.)

The Democrats are just better at hiding the reality by way of their rhetoric and identity-politics bullshit.

Remember, Musoulini said that "fascism" could be properly called "corporatism" because it represented a union between corporate and state power. Most dictionary definitions also throw in the characteristics of aggressive/militaristic foreign policy and authoritarian domestic rulership. By all these definitions, the Democrats certainly qualify as "fascists." The fact that you didn't recognize them as such, just shows me how effective their disguises have been and still are.

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Bisbonian's picture

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

EdMass's picture

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Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

@EdMass

a socialist wave

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This isn't just the party undermining candidates, this is D party members not interested in real change.

I didn't see any of Bernie's backed candidates getting the nomination....not one. Most people don't give a shit, or at minimum feel participation is pointless. Unless or until, the non-voting majority starts getting out, socialists and progs are out of the picture.

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@Blueslide
Yes the registered Dems aren't demanding progressive candidates.

OTOH, no. If the registered Dems didn't at least want progressive candidates, then the Dem establishment wouldn't have to be putting their thumb on the scales.

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@gjohnsit I think the Dem establishment is putting their thumb on the scales because they like power. It's out of an abundance of caution that they use all the leverage they have built into the party structure and governance. If registered Dems have a problem with this, they would demand the party change it's leadership -they still got Schumer, Pelosi, Perez and super-delegates. Many of the registered rank and file Dems that wanted changes have left the party in a Demexit leaving the shell of a party to flounder.

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@Blueslide

>I didn't see any of Bernie's backed candidates getting the nomination....not one.

Many Berniecrats and progressive Dems inspired by Bernie have won (though most were not directly endorsed by Bernie, since he has endorsed relatively few). Many have lost too, but you're being too pessimistic in saying none won. Here is a list of some who have won so far (all of these candidates support Medicare-for-All and other Bernie-like positions):

Texas: - note that Texas has runoff elections if no candidate receives 50%+ of the vote

Congressional District 5 - Dan Wood

Congressional District 7 - Laura Moser

Congressional District 12 - Vanessa Adia

Congressional District 14 - Adrienne Bell

Congressional District 21 - Mary Wilson made the runoff

Congressional District 23 - Rick Trevino made the runoff

Congressional District 24 - Jan McDowell

Congressional District 25 - two progressives in a runoff with each other - Julie Oliver and Chris Perri

Congressional District 26 - Linsey Fagan

Congressional District 31 - Christine Mann made the runoff

Congressional District 32 - Colin Allred

Congressional District 36 - Dayna Steele

State Senate District 25 - Steve Kling

Illinois:

Congressional District 4 - Chuy Garcia

State Senate District 8 - Ram Villivalam

State House District 1 - Aaron Ortiz

State House District 4 - Delia Ramirez

North Carolina: - Note that North Carolina has runoff elections if no candidate receives 40%+ of the vote.

Congressional District 10 - David Wilson Brown

Congressional District 11 - There may be a runoff with a progressive Berniecrat (Steve Woodsmall) in it

Indiana:

Congressional District 5 - Dee Thornton

Congressional District 9 - Liz Watson

State House District 15- Chris Chyung

Ohio:

Congressional District 15 - Rick Neal

State House District 13 - Michael Skindell

West Virginia:

Congressional District 3- Richard Ojeda

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now it is true that they've only won the nomination of the Dem party (or made the runoff election). They still have to face an opponent in the general election in November. But people should know that there are some wins in our column so far.

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@Scientist34again

As someone pointed out, it took the right 40 years to take over the world and destroy our country and the planet. Movements don't happen overnight, but it is a painful wait.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

@Scientist34again I used the most recent election results of Tuesday as my guide. According to the "Our Revolution" webpage, Harvey Epstein and Brian Pine won regional races. The other 14 candidates all lost. . And Brian Pine is a VT Progressive, a party which wins in VT rather regularly and has been doing so since before "Our Revolution" though definitely has Bernie roots.

So I agree, I was being overly pessimistic, but not by a lot

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Lenzabi's picture

refuse to go extinct and are choking the rest of us in the meantime.

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So long, and thanks for all the fish

gulfgal98's picture

We have a party that stands for nothing and whose only motto is we are not Trump. We have a party that has openly bragged that they have the right to choose any candidate they wish regardless of the wishes of the voters. In other words, we have a party that is telling its voters that their votes do not count. We have a party that has done everything to reject and ignore the biggest and potentially most enthusiastic voting block, the youth. We have a party that is so out of touch and ossified that they refuse to listen to the electorate over and over. We have a party that cheated Bernie Sanders voters in the last Presidential election, thus handing the Presidency over to Trump.

And now this same party and the same people who continue to run it are expecting people to come out in a blue wave to elect more of the same ossified candidates that they keep shoving down our throats? This voter is saying nevermore.

I am not wasting my time and my effort on a party that so disrespects its own members and the sanctity of the election process. I refuse to give any validity to the corrupt Democratic party until it either dies or changes. And I believe that those who run the party would rather it die than change.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

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snoopydawg's picture

@gjohnsit

"Quit Resisting!" "Quit Resisting!" "Quit Resisting!"

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@snoopydawg that really pissed me off too. And then asshole had the nerve to basically say "well, you protested" so you should expect just this. I cannot WAIT for the day some of these bastards start losing pensions and medical care and then start screaming bloody murder about it. They'll fully expect all the people they've beaten down over their careers to support them in their fight against their owners. I hope people ignore them and let them just die already. I know, terribly vindictive of me but there it is.

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Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

@snoopydawg
Exactly what resisting was the old man doing that required dislocating his arm?
Was it because he resisted being quiet?
And if there weren't a whole bank of cameras, how much force would the police have used?

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detroitmechworks's picture

@gjohnsit And they always run in packs.

Of course, then they call anyone who opposes them in equal numbers a gang, and break out the guns.

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Big Al's picture

but now they don't. I suppose they don't talk about third parties either. It's all meant to keep the power with and attention on these two corrupted political parties.
The "blue wave" as predicated by the oligarchy's corporate media, was and is the same bullshit we've heard forever with this political system.

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State Republicans right where they want them!

Democratic Party Chair
Follow this newsletter to keep current on the events shaping our state and the work our party is doing to win in 2018 and beyond.

Republicans are panicked...
This weekend, Wisconsin Republicans will meet in Milwaukee for their annual state convention where one word is on every Republicans’ mind: panic.

Scott Walker and the GOP's time has run out. People are starting to see Wisconsin Republicans for who they are -- a party that has showered its donors and wealthy corporations with tax breaks while our schools, roads, and local economies have been left behind by their failed leadership.

They're panicked because they've lost two high profile races this year despite pouring massive amounts of money into those races, they’re losing voters thanks to their extremism and divisive brand of politics, and because Wisconsin Republicans are blatantly ignoring their constituents' needs in order to enrich their wealthy donors, Democrats are flipping seats that have been red for decades.

Scott Walker himself is so panicked he can’t even remember what he stands for -- he just knows it’s whatever will get him re-elected.

The GOP can spend the weekend scheming and scrambling to pull out a win in November, but at the end of the day, Scott Walker and his colleagues in the legislature won’t be able to distance themselves from the fact their legacy is one of doling out tax cuts for wealthy corporations while robbing thousands of Wisconsinites of health care.

It’s why Democrats and progressives across the state are energized like never before. We’re mobilizing to take back our state, to lead with our Wisconsin values and create a better future for Wisconsin.

Whether it’s our commitment to ensuring affordable, quality health care for all, our pledge to fully fund our public classrooms or our promise to build an economy that works for everyone, Wisconsinites from all walks of life are responding enthusiastically to our positive vision for the state. It’s why Scott Walker and Republicans will spend this weekend panicking.

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O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.

Bob In Portland's picture

If they actually wanted to win all the Democrats would have to do is start addressing the growing wealth gap. That's all.

Instead we get more crap on Trump's affairs, more hints that this Russian or that made a deal with this lawyer or that, etc.

The people running the Democratic Party are finally proving that there really is no difference between the Repubs and the Demos except maybe an automatic weapon here and a TED talk there.

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I really think it is by design. If they were to win, the gig would be up. The democrats would be completely exposed for the corporate shills and, at the risk of being redundant - warmongers that they are. From the minority, they can sort of continue the pretense that they stand on ethical ground, at least sometimes.

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