Democratic Party would rather lose to a Republican than win with a progressive
After a socialist candidate won in the Bronx, the news media has spilled a lot of ink about how the Democrats are going too far to the left.
Someone should tell the Democratic Party establishment.
A good example is what happened in Rhode Island this week.
As it tries to fend off a progressive insurgency, the Democratic Party in one of the bluest states in the country is facing open revolt after endorsing candidates — including a Trump-voting former Republican — in primaries against three progressive women up for re-election this year.
...
The long-simmering fight burst into the open this week after the Rhode Island Democratic Party released its slate of endorsements, which critics say is aimed at punishing three women who ousted old-guard incumbents two years ago.
Meanwhile, the party stood by a lawmaker who has previously been indicted on charges of sexual assault and is accused of domestic abuse, and who is currently under indictment on perjury charges. It also backed a former lawmaker with multiple arrests on his record, including one in 1994 vehicular homicide, over the vice chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party Women's Caucus.
While that sounds bad, it's actually much, much worse.
Moira Jayne Walsh, a 27-year-old former waitress and labor organizer, captured a bit of national attention after she won a seat in the Rhode Island House in 2016.
...On June 28, the Rhode Island Democratic Party endorsed challenger Michael Earnheart in a handwritten addition to a printed endorsement sheet submitted to Rhode Island’s Secretary of State. On his Facebook page, Earnheart describes himself as a “moderate” and responded to queries about his political positions in late May with statements of support for the “Second Amendment” and a promise to “defend against legislation that attempts to stop or interfere with lawful gun ownership.”
Some angry Democrats have been circulating screenshots from a Twitter user also named Michael Earnheart, who closely resembles the picture on Michael Earnheart’s Facebook page. In one exchange on May 26, whose authenticity was verified by Slate, Earnheart wrote on Twitter that undocumented immigrants are “self-entitled lawbreakers and thieves,” in response to a tweet from the Washington Post’s Radley Balko criticizing the Trump administration’s child-separation policy. In this thread, Earnheart also alleged that many liberal and left opponents of the Trump administration’s immigration policies “don’t believe in God.”
I gotta give the Democratic Party machine credit - they didn't go half-way in supporting Republicans over progressives.
It isn't just Rhode Island. Remember Dana Balter? She's trying to unseat U.S. Rep. John Katko in the 24th Congressional District race this fall.
The DCCC inserted a less progressive candidate in the primary, which Balter easily defeated. So with the choice coming down to Balter or a Republican, the DCCC hasn't endorsed anyone.
It's even worse in Florida, where the state party is in an all-out war to crush progressives.
The Florida Democratic Party is going all-in on marginalization of its progressive wing, risking its only statewide officeholder, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, any chance of recapturing the governorship, and pickup opportunities in the Florida Legislature.Ramifications of what are known in state Democratic circles as “the corporatist agenda” can easily filter down to the courthouse.
If the Democratic Party ever does become more progressive it'll only happen through a hostile takeover by the voters.
Comments
Watching the ads during the NY 24 primary race
You got the impression that the only difference between Dana Balter and Juanita Perez Williams was that Balter strongly supported a woman's right to choose while JPW once attended an anti-abortion rally...
When the Syracuse Sub-Standard ran a comparison there was virtually no difference in their positions. At least before the primary. Who knows how far to the right JPW would swerve during the general. I'm voting for Howie Hawkins in any case.
Besides, John Katko is 'moderate' and 'independent'. He only voted for the Trump agenda 91% of the time! Including voting for the Trump tax scam...and he wrote the 'moderate' 'compromise' immigration bill that the Freedom Caucus wiped their asses with...
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
Howie Hawkins
It's so good to hear Howie Hawkins is running for office. I remember him from many years ago when he was an anti-war Dartmouth student in the 70s. He had been in the Marine Corps. before college which caused me a little concern in the anti-nuclear movement against Seabrook in New Hampshire at that time. But he said he was a Smedley Butler marine. I looked it up and Smedley Butler was a fascinating individual. Good luck Howie.
Vermonter
Howie has been running for years
The last few gubernatorial elections he put the Green Party over the threshold for having to petition to get on the ballot. He moved the Greens onto the 4th ballot line between the Conservative Party and the Working Families Party in 2014. And I spaced out on the races. He's running for Governor not Congress...
The Greens don't appear to be running anyone in NY24, maybe they'll put Balter on the ballot...Ursula Rozum hasn't run since 2012...
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
Howie rocks!
I saw him in New Orleans in 2002. Too bad he's the only Howie we have.
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.
I watched 24 while
working on the 21
campaigns against Stefanik.
I really expected Perez Williams to pull it out of her ass.
Thank the gods "we" picked up a minor win in Dana Balter!
As for Howie Hawkins, he's run in every race there is in NY I think.
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.
These are facts
tell them to anyone who will listen. This is why people say there isn't any difference between d's and r's. If you defend this kind of maneuvering in any way you obviously believe in electing "more and better democrats".
no difference between d's and r's
Depends on what you mean by "democrat".
If you beLIEve in the Clinton flavor of pseudo-Rethug crapola, the two parties are currently identical.
If you still advocate for the Democrats as continuously-loyal States knew them before Ronnie Raygun got elected to the Presidency, your mileage will vary. And much of this essay's discussion is about the re-appearance of this species onto a world stage from which it was believed to have been permanently banished.....
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
How much longer will some democratic voters keep their heads
in the sand and refuse to see that the democrats are really not that in to them? I think it's quicker to list the campaign promises Barry kept then the ones he didn't.
Pelosi has done nothing while they lost so many seats during Obama's tenure and then after Hillary lost she said that "no I don't see that we need to change anything going forward."
People are counting on the blue wave so that when the democrats take back congress they will impeach Trump. Hello?! She has twice said that she doesn't think that is something she wants to focus on.
Finally, how can people not be aware of these things that the DCCC and others are doing to keep progressives out of congress? Or watch as they choose to back people who are basically republicans? Heads in the sand is as kind as I can be about what people are doing.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I want to know how long --
Bernie Sanders' head stays in the sand about this. Seriously: are we still not supposed to notice what happened under Obama?
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/jan/25/cokie-robert...
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.
During the state of the union he was going to raise taxes on
the rich and corporations. Why did he say that he was going to do that knowing that the republicans would never go for it? To give the democrats something to run on. This is why I'm saying that the democrats don't have to come up with a better message. They can run on the progressive issues that people want knowing damn well that they would never get passed because the republicans hold both houses. Geeze, they can't even lie for sh*t.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Whenever I encounter Democrat loyalists online
I try to present my case for the notion, almost entirely true, that the current purpose of the Democratic Party is to hand power to the Republican Party. It's such an enormous task, though, as there are so many Democrat loyalists out there, busy grandstanding on what they think is the high ground while voting for politicians who do the world enormous harm.
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.
the current purpose of the Democratic Party
The only good conserva......
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Well, other main objectives of the dems
is to knee-cap progressives everywhere, keep convincing the 'base' that they are represented by the dems, and ensure that the wealthy and themselves get whatever they want.
The rest of us can just piss off.
dfarrah
Well, bipartisanship, working with the other side
helps get the r's halfway there at the start. They both agree that the "radical" left must be stopped, so, yeah.
There was a picture of
Dana Balter on Facebook
"interviewing" with the DCCC. Dear Lord, I thought, the DCCC's got their claws in Dana before she's had a chance to celebrate her win. NY-24 is slightly left of my beloved NY-21, but it's hardly the bastion of Liberal politics that Rhode Island is. And Dana is no flaming liberal herself. So one would think the DCCC had found their candidate!! But, nope. Far too liberal for the DCCC. Which shows, of course, that the DCCC (and DNC) have Zero interest in supporting once traditional JFK Democrats. None. Which is good, becuz I didn't want those fucktards contaminating a JFK Dem. I wouldn't be surprised, though, that they, the DCCC, endorse her Repub opponent, Katco. Becuz he So represents the New Dimocrats!! Conservative to the bone.
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.
Hooray for the democrats!
57 Unpatriotic Ways the Corp/Dems Have Enthroned Trumputin
Harvey Wasserman lived in Columbus OH for decades and is now in LA. Worked on election integrity with Bob Fitrakis here and together written 6 books on the topic. Both Harvey and Bob were banned forever on DK by Kos himself. Harvey's 6 decade activism has been focused on anti nuclear.
How many of the 57 have been covered here? Are there any more that you can come up with?
rather go down with Titanic
The dems refuse to help progressive candidates, and when they beat their corp toadies the Dems support the Republican. Over and over, it happened with several big seats in the 2016 general. Debbie Wassermutt endorsed 3 republicans in the 2016 over the Dem candidates for those seats in FL.
But Bernie is not a Dem.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Someone that votes 95% of the time with the dems,
is effectively a dem.
Honestly Big Al,
who else should he vote with when there is no third or fourth option? At least he speaks about and represents other alternatives. It's insufficient, yes, but the choices are tragically and severely limited.
Well said.
I do wish Bernie had the will to launch that 3rd option. Hopefully one of these younger, insurgent progressives will take the lead.
I'm in total agreement with you.
Actually there is a third option, it's not voting for
almost every democratic party neoliberal and imperialist bill and act of which he votes for more than most dems. As for voting against republican bills and other measures, then I could see he has a limited choice of voting no which would align him with the dem party. But he doesn't have to vote yes on basically every democratic party measure.
The excuse for Sanders supporters that he's an independent therefore he's not a democrat is pretty thin. But hey, whatever makes people feel good.
I would feel a lot better
if as Eagles said, there were a third progressive party to vote for. I still have some hope that that is possible.
True, but that's a different issue than how Sanders
votes in Congress.
As for progressives, whatever they are, I guess if they wanted to do that they could but it appears they'd primarily prefer trying to reform the democratic party.
I also don’t believe that the democratic party
can transform itself into a party that represents what we all here would wish for. I believe that there might be a possibility to build something better with a third party that more closely represents our ideals if it has the power and support behind it to carry those ideals through. I do question though as many do, whether even then, that governmental power won’t be negated by powers beneath the surface that are greater. In the meantime, I will hold some hope that something better than what many have now is possible through the only avenues available. For me, even if only few lives are improved, it is an achievement.
It once was.
Or rather a majority wing was. The other wing broke off and joined the Republicans.
Then, Democrats made a deal with the devil (Big Business) to return to power (cue Bill Clinton).
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
tragically and severely limited
And yet again the broken record proclaims: "Exactly what else do you expect him -- or US -- to do?"
The limitations on those choices are the problem.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
"Exactly what else do you expect him -- or US -- to do?"
Is that in quotes because you are attributing that line of thinking to me? That’s not what I said, and that’s not what I think.
Please read my last response to Big Al.
quoting myself
No. I am quoting myself there. Big Al, amongst others, would recognize my reference to "a broken record" as to a question I've asked many a time, with little or no substantive, affirmative answers (i.e., "Let's do this") coming back my way. When the "politics never works" argument is hauled out, my question is an honest response; but it is my response, not yours.
My apologies for any confusion.
My usual protocol when quoting another c99er, especially from the same Essay thread, is to blockquote them. This is to make it as clear as possible which ideas are mine and which aren't. Were I quoting you, you would have been blockquoted. (As your question was, above.)
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I too thought you were rebutting Janis B
Glad you clarified that. It's easy to be confusing in print.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
Thank you for clarifying
your response to me, and describing your style of quoting. I appreciate it.
Bill Clinton and Barack Obama supported
Lieberman over the winning Democrat, and we all know how that ended.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
The best they can come up with:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23XFP6Vdgvk&list=PL91819DAEFE0F6DF1]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
I think calling Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, and other dem party
politicians socialists is a mistake not to mention completely inaccurate. It gives the wrong impression for one and gives real socialism a bad name. It equates their agendas to socialism which is not realistic. To ever achieve real socialism, the label should fit real socialists, not capitalist pigs.
Remember Blanche Lincoln and Bill Halter back in oh 2010?
The left including at that time TOP, unions, even Greenwald supported Bill Halter ovr Blanche Mrs. Blue Dog Lincoln in 2010 primary. Polling indicated that Blanche would lose to Halder. Some interesting links.
Looking Back at Daily Kos, Research 2000, and Bill Halter
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/07/looking-back-at-dai...
Poll: Bill Halter should beat Blanche Lincoln Tuesday
https://www.salon.com/2010/06/04/bill_halter_blanche_lincoln_runoff_tues...
Lincoln won the primary and went onto losing to the goper. I later read not too much afterward that the democratic party establishment did shit like drastically reduce polling places while also moving them around--indicative to me that Halter was cheated up and down.
Afterward Obama complained about the leftist groups supporting Halter and wasting resources (for what, a losing candidate?). Later Obama's press secretary complained abou the professiona left.
But one thing to think about given how so many democrats do vote for the establishment democrats even though polls show the establishment democrats do not support popular policy among democrats.
It may be the case, the ugly as I have written before, the democratic base is NOT progressive, nor much liberal except on social issues. That even takin away the cheating, progressives would still lose most of their elections as the party is simply not into them.
Here's the choice: you get
Ebola or you get the Bubonic Plaque. Guaranteed, and there's no escaping it.
Which do voters prefer?
If you have the right notion in mind: exercising the vote is important to keeping voting a meaningful thing, if only in principle and if only for the future, and you show up to vote .... this is the choice people have today with the duopoly as it stands.
I wouldn't read too much into the character of the populace given the constraints we have throughout the system, top-down.
Orwell: Where's the omelette?
I disagree
In my experience ordinary Democratic voters are much more united on bread and butter issues than on social issues. They think the rich should pay more. They think the government should protect the marketplace from monopoly and unfair practices. They think the government should take action against unsafe goods. They are against pollution. They are pro-union, pro-Social Security, pro-Medicare. They often disagree on Affirmative Action, seeing it as reverse discrimination. They are often wary of gays (not the younger ones), Muslims (fearing terrorists), and feminists (seeing them as anti-male).
Working class Republicans either emphasize the social issues or believe that one day they will be rich too so they want the rich to be privileged.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
TOP is bunch of loudmouths
Ordinary people are far more reasonable. Heck I had a conversation with an ex- military relative and while we disagree violently on most things we agreed that neither duopoly candidate represented our views. So she voted lib instead of the the orange hairball.
We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg
loudmouths
Especially since the decent folks left it for greener pastures (like this one).
TOP has become:
-- Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act V, Scene 5
source
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
America Is A Sad Place
The system is totally rigged against any third party. And the Duopoly (Dems/Repubs) are just two parties of corporate whores with diff color jerseys.
Dems proved your premise by railroading Bernie (Dems would rather lose to a Republican than win with a progressive). The few inroads progressives have made into the Dem fold will be of little consequence. This ain't your Father's Dem Party.
Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.
Let the Wookie Win
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN0T5tyJlo8]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Americans would rather be ruled by wanna be kings.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkNEBjJScbk]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Sounds bad??
I used to live in Rhode Island back in the 1980s. There were mob hits on federal hill, the mayor of Providence was convicted of hiring the police chief to whack his ex girlfriend’s lover and the Chief Justice was regularly eating lunch with organized crime figures. One proposed slogan for the city was “Mobstahs and Lobstahs”. Said mayor went to jail, got out and started a radio talk show and finally got re-elected.
So this all seems pretty milquetoast by historical standards...
We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg
Here now
Working on an 'inside job' at the state committee level. Flushing the establishment out with new, progressive voices. Assembling a bloc to over ride the rules and platform. Establishment dems are having to garner signatures, as they are no longer running un-opposed. This stink on endorsing a neo-nazi has heavy resistance within the state committee. Hell to pay. We are going to out-number neo-cons and make progressive the new majority. Give the voters a choice in the primaries. Or so I hope.
question everything
It cuts both ways
Ted Cruz came out and said vote for the Dem and not the Nazi in Illinois. The Repugs trashed him...
Then the R Gov came out and said don't vote for the Dem.
Illinois Gov Says Voters Shouldn’t Support Dem Over Nazi GOP Candidate
You think we have problems...
Go figure.
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!
Make America a Shithole
#MAS #Merica
Beware the bullshit factories.
shithole
Again.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Update
RI Dems back down
Oops, too late
they've already shown their hand. Rescinding now only means they are not doubling down. Hell to pay.
question everything