Corporate Democrats are trying to rewrite history
I keep seeing concern trolls by the corporate Democrats telling us that the party will be destroyed if the Dems adopt a progressive agenda.
Let's forget for a moment that corporate Democrats have already led the party to destruction, and they are proven losers.
Instead let's focus on their unwavering nostalgia for the 90's. It reminds me a great deal of how Republicans "remember" a fictional economy under Reagan.
The story the neoliberal Dems like to tell us is that after 12 years in the political wilderness, Heroic Bill Clinton moved the Dems to the center by championing a free-market agenda, and thus restored the Democratic Party to glory.
Their story ends there.
They overlook that Clinton never got 50% of the vote in either 1992 or 1996.
However, the really important item the corporate Dems leave out is what happened to the Democratic Party after they decided to become the Republican-lite, lesser-evil party.
House of Reps
| Year | Repub | Dem |
| 1992 | 167 | 267 |
| 1994 | 176 | 258 |
| 1996 | 230 | 204 |
| 1998 | 226 | 207 |
| 2000 | 223 | 211 |
Senate
| Year | Repub | Dem |
| 1992 | 44 | 56 |
| 1994 | 43 | 57 |
| 1996 | 52 | 48 |
| 1998 | 55 | 45 |
| 2000 | 55 | 45 |
Governorships
| Year | Repub | Dem |
| 1992 | 20 | 28 |
| 1994 | 20 | 29 |
| 1996 | 32 | 17 |
| 1998 | 32 | 17 |
| 2000 | 30 | 18 |
control of State Legislatures
| Year | Repub | Dem |
| 1992 | 6 | 30 |
| 1994 | 8 | 25 |
| 1996 | 19 | 18 |
| 1998 | 18 | 20 |
| 2000 | 17 | 20 |
So the cost of barely winning the White House with a neoliberal agenda was the House, the Senate, most of the governorships and a handful of the state legislatures.
Exactly what is the lesson the corporate Dems are trying to teach us?
Comments
The Lesson is....
Democrats are Libertarians now. Where the fuck ya gonna go, lefties? /s
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.
They're not Libertarians, not even close
I'd take Dr. Paul over most of those clowns any day. People like Booker and Schumer or the Clintons are more along the lines of a crime syndicate, selling influence for money
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
Meh. Ron Paul hid behind the veneer of honesty
while walking in virtual lock step with Repigs and Corporate Dems. He might have said one or two great things about foreign policy, but everything else? He was just another corporate whore.
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 did not know that about Ron Paul
Many years ago, the major issue I had with him was abortion. Being an ob-gyn, he made his money on pre-natal care and delivery.
Then again, when he retired, he required a paid membership in order to have access to what he had to say. That might no longer be the case, but it was then. At the time it reminded me of Oprah moving to cable and flipping the finger at poor people. Greedy. That's definitely a trait of Republicans and Dems alike.
Also, I see no difference between new Republicans and Corporate Dems. Same animal, different stripes, imho. One says they're for small government and few regulations - but pass laws preventing municipalities from passing ordinances that hurt their business buddies (Texas and fracking laws already on the books), and vaginas and goddamn bathrooms. The other says they're for choice but have no problem endorsing tighter and tighter restrictions on abortion; says they're pro environment, but suckle at the teats of every polluting industry out there; and pretend they support the 1st amendment, provided you only say or report what they approve of. No difference, except that maybe Republicans are actually more tolerant of free speech (especially if it's hateful).
Too many of them have changed teams to believe there's any difference. Making up, or pointing out supposed major differences is their form of job security. They are the very same to me. Greedy ass criminals.
I trust independents and greens more than I do Rs or Ds. Is and Gs only jump ship once they sell their souls. They might run on different party tickets, but if they change parties altogether, they sold out and are worthless. Ds and Rs jump ship because they know there's no difference, and they either never had souls to begin with, or it went to the highest bidding John that came around. Every John, thereafter, is simply to feed their habit.
Sorry about the long reply, especially when you weren't even addressing me.
No harm done.
I actually thought about voting for Ron Paul during his 2008 presidential bid. Then I did some actual research into what he and the Libertarian Party actually stood for. In short, the LP whines about government tyranny but completely ignores the tyranny of corporations and other moneyed interests. As for social issues, they're a mixed bag like any other party I guess.
David Koch also ran under the Libertarian banner for Vice President in 1980. And then the Kochs figured that if they couldn't win elections, they'd buy them instead. In fact, they were some of the folks behind the DLC and Third Way. That's why I made the comment above.
In the end I decided to cast a vote for Nader that year because as far as Obama went the writing was on the wall by the time the general election began. I cast my ballot for Stein this year for the same reason.
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.
They don't ignore it
...they refuse to believe it exists.
Their religion states that if it isn't government then its liberty. Only government, and poor people, are bad. (poor people are bad because they are lazy. the proof of their laziness is that they are poor)
Libertarians will tell you that a) people get what they deserve, and will admit that b) the world isn't fair.
And they won't see the contradiction.
OT, but have you ever considered . . .
a vlog/podcast?
Reading what you write, including the hoops you jump through only not to land a job or be allowed even benefits, I'm thinking you'd be damn good at video/podcast interaction kind of thing, not just based on your experiences either. You have a great written voice, and you're smart. No traditional vehicle or driver's license necessary.
And that Koch strategy
is working out very well for them. They've got almost enough state houses to call for a Constitutional Convention, and the goal there is to fully cement their libertarian agenda so that it can never be repealed. Free markets for them, shit sandwich for anyone who can't play their selfish and ruthless game.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
They don't need a convention.
Honestly, given where things are now, we're already there. An actual convention would just be a formality at this point. Besides, Dubya inadvertently pointed out what people like the Kochs already know when he said "The Constitution is just a god damned piece of paper."
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GQmXINgPQY]
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.
This makes little sense to me
I'm an Independent. The reason I'm an Independent is that I have a moral and ethical compass which I value more than I do tribalism. Accordingly, I would "jump ship" readily in whatever way seemed most appropriate to me in order to achieve my objectives. I see little downside in "jumping ship" since I had no loyalty to start with. That's what it means to be "independent".
I could be working hard to get Democrats elected in '18 and the reasons might not be as straightforward as getting some populist Democrats elected. I have no loyalty to the Green party or to the "anti-establishment" party either. I just want my own personal sense of ethics to prevail.
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
That about sums me up too.
I gave up on loyalty to groups and parties because once they have enough "Loyal" (I.E. Controllable ) members, members who place loyalty to their "Party" over their own sense of right and wrong, that is when the fucking begins.
They can't fuck you unless you stick around and let them, but they have to have enough of you to make the solid rogering profitable. TPTB are not going to pay you big bucks for screwing over a couple dozen people, screwing millions is where the money is at...
A lot of "Democrats" have sure been DTF lately it seems... {Sigh}
Sorry for the rant, I am just so sick and disgusted with the average citizens attention span, sense of morality, and intelligence lately.
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
Dems are Neoliberal Corporatists
just like the Repubs.
The differ only on Gawd, Guns, Gays, and Gynocolgy -- just as a way of splitting us into two warring tribes for easier manipulation.
Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.
The Repubs are just Democrats on steroids
Virtually every policy of Democrats are watered down Republican ones. Pick a subject, any subject and the only thing the Democrats have to offer is what they have essentially argued all along is "we suck less", the 'boil them frogs slowly' Party.
Obama puts up Arne "privatize all education' Duncan, the steroid version comes with De Voss, he brings in Goldman Sachs advisors, the Steroid Party brings their bosses, he keeps Robert Gates (the pragmatic face for rampant war), the SB Party Drones death from above in seven Countries while the SP drops MOAB, the mother of all bombs second only to nukes (which has been hinted at) the SP brings people like "Mad Dog" Mattis,the Slow Boilers bring in Mr. China China (5x), THE guy for exporting jobs to China but he had to sell it thru the Obama administration, Trump brings the Leader to his home for dinner, The SB Leader brags about authorizing enuf pipelines for fossil fuel products "to circle the earth", the SP appoints (only thru Slow Boiling members support) a former Atty. Gen. well known for lawsuits against the EPA now heads the Dept. etc. etc. etc. .
At least the Trump has awakened many people to activism but many are like Amy Goodman's recent guest on Democracy Now!, Alec Baldwin,who admitted that..
"ALEC BALDWIN: Well, I think that — I am guilty in the last eight years — I am guilty, from 2008 on, which I never did before, but I really found for some reason — I don’t know why. I need to kind of examine this. I am very guilty of sitting there when Obama came in, especially in Obama’s second term, and saying "our guy is in there, we’re good." I took a long nap politically. I turned all of my attention toward the arts..."
The 'napper' came up with this prediction, and it really proves he has been a deep nap for a while..."The other thing is, I think Mueller is going to come up with an indictment. Mueller is going to hand that indictment to the House Judiciary Committee. They have to decide whether they want to bring articles of impeachment. They’re going to go to Trump and something will be finessed where Trump will resign. And they need to do that quickly to get that smell, that stench out of the room so they can prop up Pence to run as the nominee, because they will go in one four year period from controlling the White House and both houses of Congress to losing all three in 2020. Trump will be responsible for the most catastrophic political reversal in American history, I believe. I’ll have to check on those facts and see. But. I think that — I think that Mueller’s going to indict Trump. I really do." (all emphasis mine) https://www.democracynow.org/2017/8/23/predicting_trump_won_t_last_full
That's not napping, that's really deep toking
of some really strong hallucinogen. Not. Gonna. Happen.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Exactly what is the lesson the corporate D"s are trying to teach
stupid is as stupid does
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
They are absolutely correct, the party will be destroyed
Or, at least, the party as it's currently constituted. That absolutely must happen and it'll either happen internally within the Democratic party or externally as with the People's Convergence.
They know what they are talking about. THEIR party will be destroyed and their gravy train will become a lot less comfortable. But I agree with them. I think they should reject the left (you know, 66% of the population). They've done so already and look how well it's working for them. I think they shouldn't mess with a good thing!
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
OK: Buddhist forgiveness and thanks for the day..
We can all send this one out to DWS, Hillary, Podesta etc. for their good work in hastening the inevitable. Thanks!
Took the words right out of my mouth
Losing a thousand legislative seats and numerous gubernatorial offices is winning?
What lesson?
Send them money. It's akin to the guy who killed his parents, then asked the court for mercy because he was an orphan. We're in danger; send money!
Orwell: Where's the omelette?
Clinton only won because of a third party.
Remember Perot?
That was the last time any third party EVER got any attention. The MSM learned that lesson quite well. Even Bernie was forced to run as a Dem, because if he'd even thought about running as an Indie, the silencing that we saw would have been even greater. There would have been no mention of him, no debates, no inclusion. His online streams would have been censored, or blocked. His rallies would have had their venues revoked. His inclusion on the ballot would have been in question, and legally challenged at every turn.
A 3rd party would win ANY fair election at this point in time. Therefore, we will never have a fair election again.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
@detroitmechworks
Thanks for nailing an ugly situation so beautifully.
I have only a few words to add: Homeland Security (and the unnamed but specified 'private parties' allowed a seat at the electoral table - where the American public can have information withheld) has complete control of all electoral infrastructure, including voter registration, to be certain that the chosen lackey of Those Who Matter wins, every time, hereon after...
Edited for missed punctuation, just to be a little less predictable than the usual letter typo, etc.
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 lesson is
All that matters is that Dems, no matter how few, make money as long as they're there.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
TYT took $20M in Hellery Payola
Kinda related so I'll drop this here.
Saw this on the Sane Progressive's facebook page. TYT apparently took $20Mill from the Clinton Crime family. So I guess that splains why Cenk turned full throated Hellery Shill after Bernie lost the CA primary (or was it even before that? I forget)
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/clinton-machine-paid-young-turks-underm...
Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.
@Citizen Of Earth
And doesn't that explain a lot! Especially why I stopped trusting them (and the claimed progressive party they were pushing after the primary selection) due to the drastic change. Thanks for posting it!
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.
That's probably what happened
right before March 15 at ToP, when it was pronounced "mathematically impossible" for anyone but Her to win.
Though the money pill was probably several times larger.
Neither of the two major US Parties
is willing to address, or even to acknowledge the existence, of the hidden power structure that underlies, supports, and severely delimits them both. This power structure is composed of a supra-governmental, trans-national, and bi-partisan alliance of various corporate behemoths, global banking entities, and defense-related industries. It operates independently of the official Government, and is largely unaffected by the results of any particular election.
In this presentation, former CIA officer Kevin Shipp talks about these entities, how they are interrelated, and how they they maintain their influence over the US Government, in both its foreign and domestic policies.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHbrOg092GA]
native
@native
Great video, thanks! Well worth the time to hear it, even just to hear somebody point out that government exists to serve the people.
The People and country do not exist to enrich and empower a relative few at the expense of their health, freedom, a decent living standard and everything they might still own.
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.
Yes, it's encouraging... and instructive,
to hear someone speak out so candidly from within the belly of the beast. It's also a very brave thing to do. Sun Tzu lays it on the line, regarding how to deal with one's enemies:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
native