Good god she is brilliant: "I'm not running "from the left." I'm running from the bottom."

[kpete]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

I’m not running “from the left.”
I’m running from the bottom.
I’m running in fierce advocacy of working class Americans.

That’s my North Star.
Always has been.
Always will be.

Link to tweet

[NCTraveler]

1. She really seems like she is going to be excellent.

Sad to see her keep being defined by everything other than her own actions. Really not fair to her but she seems to be very strong.

[Upthevibe]

44. Excellent!

Soooooooooo refreshing......

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread kpete

[True Dough]

3. Lots of reason for optimism

in Ms. Ocasio-Cortez as a rising star!

[empedocles]

4. 'Excellent' perhaps when she gets past some of her own actions

like 'ABOLISH ICE!'. This hurts her cause big time, as well as herself.

In historical retrospect, LBJ's Medicare, Medicaid, civil rights, Great Society achievements, are monumental. No one else, then or since then could ever pass such legislation - and he did it despite powerful, backwards, outright racist/sexist Southern Committee Chairmen.

A serious threat to LBJ's ultimate legislative successes came from what he publicly called liberal 'redhots'. Privately, he forcefully articulated how dangerous these 'righteous' people were to getting anything passed, - and how helpful the 'redhots' were to the Republican cause, [and ultimately to the longterm cause of 'conservative' Republicans].

I do love the ' not running from the left, I'm running from the bottom' quote.

[JI7]

5. Abolish ice was one of the reasons she won

[Blue_true]

11. That works in her district, not elsewhere.

The Democratic Party is a regional and ideological big tent, what works in the Bronx, won't work in North Carolina or much of Florida. I like that she is sharp and is not letting herself be defined by republicans.

[whathehell]

25. Who says? Nothing works Everywhere,

but her district is not unique to the extent that her win can't be replicated elsewhere in the country.

[George II]

49. Exactly, and before anyone "anoints" her (sound familiar?) we have to remember....

....that in the primary she received votes from barely one in twenty registered Democrats in her district.

There are 235,000 registered Democrats in the 14th District, less than 17,000 voted for her in the primary.

There's still a LOT more work to do.

[BlueWI]

58. A rising progressive woman of color wins a contested primary and speaks up for the underrepresented.

I can't see much downside in that. I think that 17,000 Democratic votes and a first place primary finish is an outstanding accomplishment, no matter what. May she continue to set an example for how to run a winning race in 2018!

[SansACause]

6. Have you ever run for office?

It's not an exact science. You make mistakes. You have ideas that don't work. You say things that later look silly.

She has the ability to overcome all these things. She'll do fine.

[Locrian]

7. it's not 1960

If trump has shown one thing - it's that you do not pull your punches. You go after it all, and never stop hammering.
Compromise - sure. But own the narrative and ask for the world.

[LiberalArkie]

8. I.C.E. is a new organization formed in 2003 as a police type operation.

They act like it.. Bush moved Immigration and Customs into this police service.

Yes, let's 'ABOLISH ICE!' and put it back like it was before Bush bastardized the government.

[empedocles]

14. Then 'Replace', etc. and have a much better chance to actually

effectively do something about trump ICE, than shoot ourselves in our righteous ABOLISH ICE foots, and increase our chances of losing in 2018 - and maybe complaining righteously for the next 2 years.

I'm certainly glad for the millions of Great Society beneficiaries, that the practical, very effective LBJ was around at that time and not some 'red hot' candidate instead of LBJ.

I did not like Hillary, but she won a majority of the popular vote. Bernie would not have done as well, and would havve lost some national seats as well.

[chesterslick]

42. Boy what an idiot!

[link:

Link to tweet

|

[grantcart]

18. Nothing new about it

INS was divided into 2 separate organizations

CIS processes visa applications

and

ICE does the same enforcement that INS agents used to do

The only thing that changes is the mission objectives set by the President.

[Lars39]

9. ICE is rotten from the top down.

As more information comes out about the abuses, more and more people will call for the abolishment of ICE.

[Blue_true]

13. My sense of ICE.

It has attracted a lot of people that have clear racial animus as a large part of their rationale for seeking a job there. The organization employs some people that used t act as border vigilantes. Instead of using the lazy phrase, Abolish ICE, we must instead highlight the problems with ICE and propose reforms to fix those problems.

[grantcart]

19. Most ICE agents currently in service were hired under Obama administration

Sixty percent of those are first or second generation Hispanics (as they require high degree of Spanish), most of those originally arrived without visas.

The last ICE DRO officer I met I asked what he thought about what was going to happen with DACA kids. He said you don't want law enforcement officers picking which laws to enforce, it's the legislature's responsibility to do that and the people's responsibility to elect the legislature. His eyes filled with tears when he told me that he arrived illegally and was able to get citizenship when his mother married an American, "But for that I would be a dreamer".

[MadDAsHell]

56. Agree. The bumper sticker slogan "Medicare for All" faces the same limitations.

It’s easy to support it if you don’t care about the math behind it. But Medicare for All fails to acknowledge that a huge proportion of providers would go out of business if Medicare rates were their only payment source. For all their problems, the higher commercial payment rates are what make the acceptance of the lower government payment rates (like a Medicare and Medicaid) even mathematically possible. My sister works in an inpatient rehab facility where Medicare only reimburses about 55% of the daily allowable cost. They accept Medicare patients, but can only afford a few, and only if there are enough commercial patients at the same time to make up the shortfall.

From a provider standpoint, Medicare for All only works if the only thing you’re keeping is the name.

[Blue_true]

61. The points that you made are why Medicare Part B was crafted.

To make up the shortfall that Medicare does not pay. Medicaid does not have such a system.
When there is full coverage healthcare for all, the money to pay for it comes from somewhere. In Scandinavia, the money comes from higher tax rates on income of all types, but Scandinavians as a people buy into such a concept, one of what living in a society means. In this country, I don't see such a system easily happening unless we have something catastrophic like a massive depression that wipes pretty much everyon out and bankrupts almost 100% of Americans. The systems in Europe came about as a result of the twin debacles of WWI and WEII, where most of the continent was decimated, we haven't had something equivalent happen here, the closest was the Civil War, but the North and much of the West and Southwest physical environs were largely unaffected by that war. In this country, I don't foresee a system where almost everyone does not pay at least sonething (some more of income, some public service for able bodied people). Republicans go at the concept in a racially charged and punitive way, but democrats not realizing that for universal healthcare to work, every one that can contribute something must contribute is a mistake also, though not remotely as corrosive and evil as republican's purposeful efforts.

Slogans are easy to speak, the details of how to make the slogans a reality is what trips things up.

[MadDAsHell]

63. Very well said. nt

[H2O Man]

20. silly

[IronLionZion]

45. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls for elimination of ICE

Along with these "redhots":

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/02/politics/abolish-ice-democrats-list/index.html

Many Dems have gone on the record that there needs to be changes to ICE's role and mission. The Presidential Administration has a lot of control over how agencies enforce the laws and where they should focus their resources.

[SWBTATTReg]

59. Maybe better oversight by Congress ?

I hesitate to suggest Congress because of the lack of political will or the lack of doing what is right (vs. wrong). Congress is probably the source of a lot of the problems via ICE, being that they fund it, and the president (executive branch) then runs it.

So, both these orgs have blame. Someone else needs to oversight these guys since Congress and Exec. branch have proven they can't.

[ismnotwasm]

10. And it's NOT "white working class"

She’s inclusive.

[bettyellen]

26. That's an important point- the race blind class politics would never work in her district. I grew

up one district over, three blocks away from the Parkchester apartments she lives in. It’s always been heavily immigrant, so this abolish thing plays well. She will likely adjust that rhetoric when she meets her colleagues.

[KPN]

33. Good point!

[a kennedy]

12. Is she to young and inexperienced to run for President??.

Nah, what am I thinking.......

[calimary]

16. She's too young and experienced to run for President - NOW.

Let's get her voted into office and start building a national profile that way. A few years from now, BINGO!

[grantcart]

21. Does anybody bother with the constitution any more?

Article II Clause 5

[a kennedy]

22. Don't know it......what is Article II Clause 5 please??

[grantcart]

23. Minimum age is 35

[7962]

35. Ha!

[calimary]

15. We need the bench strength! And she looks like a GREAT prospect.

Young, smart, ready with an EXCELLENT (and memorable) comeback, and easy on the eyes.

The last part is superficial as hell. YES. Guilty as charged! But in this era, unfortunately, that's just about all that matters.

If it looks good and sounds good, the low-information voter isn't gonna bother looking deeper. Everything is surface. Everything is superficial. Everything is buzzphrases and messaging. Substance? Screw that.

Yeah, I don't like it either.

But

THIS.

IS.

WHERE.

WE.

ARE.

And I'm not happy about that because it lets informed voters off the hook. Also lets too-busy voters off the hook. But, guys, WE NEED THEM, TOO!!! At least enough of them for us to win. Superficial is IT. Nobody bothers to take the time anymore. And if it doesn't grab you in the first few seconds - either visually or audibly - it's nothing.

That's why a clever quick-hit message that can fit either on a bumper sticker or inside a fortune cookie is THE WAY TO GO. This young woman seems to have gotten that, and mastered it. Looks like SHE'S the way to go, too! Better yet, she's quick on the comeback, and she is pretty as can be. YES that's superficial, too. But that's where we ARE, now, and that's the electorate we've got. Voters like us are informed, and take the time to become so. People like her, with approaches like hers, can help us get enough of the OTHERS who've got "better things to do" or don't bother to read below the headline, OR don't bother to read, period - to get US comfortably across the finish line first.

MESSAGING! Short, sweet, to the point. With pretty packaging. Superficial YES. But that's where we are now.

[LiberalLovinLug]

28. +1000

So true. I always thought Democrats should be more creative. They have all the comics, and actors, and creative types.

Yet the Republicans seem to be much better at finding catchy phrases and talking points that they efficiently distribute to every Republican on a daily basis. Many are outright lies, but they are hard, and to the point.

Once in awhile we find one, but it fizzles out, like "Medicare for All". We need to find a few more that are not so foolish as to be able to used against us like "Abolish ICE!". Or watching that video of Kirstjen Nielsen being shamed out of a restaurant, why use the phrase "No borders, No walls...." No borders? Really? That just hands Fox News and other RW media a great clip to repeat over and over.

[calimary]

32. The best thing that Professor George Lakoff recommends (of many) is

DO NOT use the word "regulation" or "regulations".

They're called "PROTECTIONS!"

Simple, so simple it's a single word. Needs no explanation. You IMMEDIATELY get it. There is a worthwhile piece of advice to keep in mind, as depressing as it is. If you're explaining, you're losing. If you have to explain it, you've already lost.

[7962]

37. Youre right. The problem is some on this side DO think that.

I've seen it here in the past; people saying we shouldn't have any border control. Whoever wants to come, let them. Its a silly and dangerous idea, but there are always the extremes. Immigration has been under some kind of control since the late 1800s; it still must be. Unless we want to totally fail as a country.

[AtomicKitten]

17. Yes! K&R

[BlancheSplanchnik]

24. Gave me goosebumps! n/t

[Blue_Tires]

27. I'll admit I've been very impressed

She hasn't put a foot wrong in the minefield...

[Duppers]

29. K & R & R & R

Short and to the point. Like attention-grabbing bumper stickers.

[floWteiuQ]

30. Kicking A$$...

and taking names. Finally what the democratic party needs to rejuvenate themselves!

[calimary]

53. Welcome to DU, floWteiuQ.

That's exactly what we need. Smart, quick-witted, young, unafraid, and photogenic, too!

[NBachers]

31. I support Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; I have contributed to her. I'll continue to support & contribute

[KPN]

34. K&R.

She's pretty darned effective from what I see so far.

[pansypoo53219]

36. she needs to recruit a new team of democratic election strategists. talk to them about

BETTER MESSAGING. that is BRILLIANT! FIRE-BREATHING DEMOCRAT!

[certainot]

38. local and national rw radio blowhards have been attacking her and maxine waters

for sticking their necks out there, and because the left does not recognize much less challenge rw radio they will continue to take free potshots at them as long as the left ignores the right's most important weapon

they are outspoken brown women and limbaugh will continue to make 'examples' of them.....

ocasio- cortez is a socialist, communist, stalinist, leninist etc, - do they do that on fox? not anywhere near like they get away with on radio

when limbaugh wants to get racist on someone like alexandria he will pronounce her name accurately but mockingly with flair as if only liberals would do that - and i heard one of the locals do exactly the same thing along with quoting and crediting limbaugh on another issue

it starts with limbaugh, and he has made trump 'acceptable' - trump and the right will fall apart when the left finally stops ignoring rw radio.

[BadgerMom]

39. Wow.

Please take over party messaging ASAP.

[Orangepeel]

40. B Jealous:I am not running to the left.I am not running to the right.I am running towards the people

https://www.facebook.com/81719864573/posts/10156690271519574/

“I am not running to the left. I am not running to the right. I am running towards the people of our state. Health care, education, ending mass incarceration, ending the student-debt crisis, and protecting the environment are people issues...and unlike Larry Hogan, I have the vision, the plans, the experience, and the courage to risk my own political standing for progress.”

Good theme

[democrank]

43. Fantastic theme

[zipplewrath]

48. I like these

I'd say "I'm not running to the left or right. I'm running WITH the people of my district, who struggle every day with..."

[democrank]

41. BAM!

We need a zillion more just like her.

[melman]

46. Excellent

Brilliant indeed. She is a force.

[volstork]

47. Bring on the new generation of Democrats!

Go Alexandria!

[empedocles]

50. Alexandria will be heavily promoted as the head of the Blue Wave Democrats

She is becoming a national figure, and she is not even in Congress yet.

Alexandria's strongest, most powerful, most influential supporter, the person making her a national figure is easy to guess - TRUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

trump hurting from desperate separated children coverage among Republicans also. trump needs to divert attention from issues that don't help him. trump himself smiling and talking democrat 'ABOLITION'. trump will run on this hard until the election . . . and any President has a big megaphone. Cable news seems to be putting ABOLITION ahead of desperate separated children in coverage recently. We need to take advantage of trump's bold, loud mistakes. Not let trump take advantage of our bold, loud, political problematics.

For all their faults, we won with LBJ, Carter, Bill Clinton and lost with the many, more liberal [now forgotten] candidates.

This is a huge election coming up. The Republicon machine must be interrupted. If we don't learn the lessons of history, we are bound to repeat [the above usual liberal losses]. We may not like some of the results of democracy, but we need to respect the process, and those beyond our base. I'm not a centrist, etc. I do want and need Democrats to win though.

[Ferrets are Cool]

51. So far, she has been a bright star shining in the murkiness of

politics. Hopefully, it doesn't diminish.

[PatrickforO]

52. I think we can expect great things from this young woman.

Maybe she, and other young people like her, will become OUR North Star.

Think?

[zentrum]

54. K&R!

[Tiggeroshii]

55. Ocasio Cortez for Prez 2024!

Maaybe?

[stopwastingmymoney]

57. If things go as we hope we'll have a Democratic incumbent that year

She'll be old enough in 2028 though

[mountain grammy]

60. Perfect!

[moondust]

62. Starting at the bottom.

What a quaint idea. Is that even legal in Murca?