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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Freedom Caucus for the left? House progressives aren't so sure:
I do not think that we need a new liberal Freedom Caucus
Link to tweet
From the Slate Article
Even if you can carve out a subportion, a subcaucus, of the Progressive Caucus, even a smaller bloc but one that operates as a bloc, you can generate real power, she said on Jacobins the Dig podcast. Depending on the margin, a bloc of 10 or 30 members, she suggested, could have what the Freedom Caucus has, and is rarely shy to use: effective veto power over leadership on partisan legislation.
The reaction to this idea from Progressive Caucus members I spoke with on Tuesday, thoughat least those who were even willing to comment on itcould best be described as hesitant.
Isnt that what the Progressive Caucus is? Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, a vice chair of the 76-member caucus, said. I think we kind of tend to do that right now with the Progressive Caucus, so I dont understand what she would be doing that wouldnt be duplicative. Gallego said there is already a hardcore group of about 40 Progressive Caucus members who tend to stick closer together than the group at large.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Lord, not Freedom Caucaus
Docreed2003
(16,818 posts)What's wrong with the Progressive Caucus? Why not use that to "generate real power"? Why reinvent the wheel here?
oasis
(49,152 posts)Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Gross.
oasis
(49,152 posts)Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Good god, I am so damned glad to be a DEMOCRAT.
I really cannot tell wtf they represent other than confusion.
Maybe that's the point..Who knows.
oasis
(49,152 posts)leadership on partisan legislation" according to the article.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)when the infighting ensues as they apply their new methods & rules to choosing a candidate.
And Cortez has how much experience in electioneering & public policy again?
We know what this is & its time to stop calling themselves Democrats.
Progressives, sociolists..whatever..go make your own Party. This Dem Party has never suited them anyway.
Bye.
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I do not like the Freedom Caucus having a veto over the GOP now and I would not like to see a similar group have a veto over the Democratic Party if the Democrats take back the House in the midterms
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)buddy Paul.
Mueller knows what's in the "Dear TAD emails from Paul.
Their timing is quite the coincidence !
Appears TAD LIED when he stated he had no contact with Paul since the old days in the Ukraine.
I don't care WHO they are anymore.
If they played any role in the Russian Mob's overthrow of our American gov't..they should all be indicted, property seized & stuck in a dirty prison cell.
Thank You Robert Mueller.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,211 posts)oasis
(49,152 posts)Hopefully, once seated in congress, she'll be able to make amends. I'm sure members will not pass up the opportunity to take this talented young person under their wings.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,211 posts)haele
(12,582 posts)They tend to implode from within.
Too many people of privilege who think their naturally limited vision of equality and social justice from their experience at 50K feet is how the majority of people experience equality and social justice in the real world. Where most people don't get the breaks that can propel someone from wait staff to a small business owner to a politician, no matter how hard they work at it or how good they are or how great their visions are.
On edit - People who play on the national stage like Susan Sarandon and Cenk will take a newcomer like Ortiz and use her enthusiasm and inexperience in politics to prop up their personal views on how "the machine" needs to be taken down from the top, where it impacts them, instead of building politicians up from the ground floor where they learn how governance really works. They're looking at causing a disruption they could put their name to when the Kumbaya moment they think will happen makes everything all peachy-keen - and they can continue live comfortably in their expensive neighborhoods with their nice things, be shown suitable deference from all the now grateful masses, and pat themselves on the back for "finding the new way" to "solving problems" that regular old politicians can't.
Leading a movement and taking part in the governing a large, diverse population are two totally different things. Leading is easy. Governing is hard, nasty, distasteful and disillusioning work if you aren't willing to see all the shades of personality people come in.
Haele
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)oasis
(49,152 posts)be aware that aligning herself with those who scoff at the idea of party unity will negatively impact her chances for future promotion.
brer cat
(24,402 posts)The last thing we need is obstruction from the left. AOC has not even won election to her first seat and she is looking for "veto power over leadership?" Unbelievable chutzpah.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Wwcd
(6,288 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)McCain/Palin ruined the word "maverick".
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Guess they Can't be called the Maverick Caucaus now either!!
question everything
(47,271 posts)and start from scratch.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Burn it all down.
Then we get free stuff . Yippeeee!!
Turbineguy
(37,213 posts)to back it, like they did with the other one!
Wounded Bear
(58,442 posts)a power hungry minority group throwing their weight around.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)They need to make their own Party & figure out how its done without the help of the Dem Party.
Cut the apron strings & set them free.
They'll be fine.
NY_20th
(1,028 posts)I'm not actually certain that it's friendly fire anymore.
If Democrats are your enemy, you are a trump enabling asshole. That's all there is to it.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)"If Democrats are your enemy, you are a trump enabling asshole. That's all there is to it."
Thank You , NY_20th
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I saw a great deal of similar conduct by sanders delegates at the national convention. This current plan has me concerned
We defeated two of the Our Revolution types in the primary run offs in Texas.
Cha
(295,929 posts)pnwmom
(108,925 posts)If we want to overcome Trump, we need to be able to COMPROMISE on at least some bills, and pick up SOME support from the CENTER.
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)There are a number of real democrats who do not like the concept of a new Freedom Caucus https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-wants-house-progressives-to-form-a-hard-line-caucus.html
Youre not going to get me to say yes to anything that resembles the Freedom Caucus, Texas Rep. Beto ORourke said. Though ORourke is not a member of the Progressive CaucusIm not a joiner, he saidand, by nature of his challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz, wouldnt be around to participate in a House Democratic majority anyway, hes run an aggressive progressive campaign. Of the ideas that the right has promoted in its House majority, he said, hed like to see Democrats offer more ability for junior members to rise, either in leadership or committee seniority. House Republicans have a very vigorous [intraparty] debate and discussion on issues, he said, but sometimes counterproductively and destructively.
Firestorm49
(4,004 posts)I think we kind of tend to do that.......
Meanwhile, the rest of us sit here waiting for the party to emerge from the depths and represent a strong united front. Well, Ruben, you just go on sort of doing something.
Get some BALLS!
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I say no thanks to one of our own
awesomerwb1
(4,256 posts)The Sanders faction wants to take control of the Dem party the same way the Tea Partiers have done with what's left of the republican party.
The difference is that the tea partiers will always vote with the republican party.
I'm not sure these new-comers understand how disrupting the Dems plays into the republican parties hands. As if the green party wasn't enough now we get these guys.
MuseRider
(34,060 posts)Whatever happened to being the "Big Tent Party"? Why are we buying a smaller tent? Being together on the same side even though often fairly far apart as to degrees is what made us stronger. I may absolutely disagree with some people here but unless they are obvious trolls, and there are many right now, I will engage now and then but usually not much anymore. If we on the left cannot agree more often than not or solve things together then we just simply need a new party. Factions with today's temperament, will split the party up and make it very difficult just look at the Right, what a freaking mess.
My god, all I see here is finger pointing at Bernie. I have been a long time fan of his and I have never even seen a hint at trying to split up the party. It should be obvious that his return to being an I was his way of not doing that.
I would caution that not hearing or listening to those who are left at any part of the spectrum and driving them out by being the obnoxious jerks I have seen here then give good people with a different perspective (large OR small) a boot will fracture the party quicker than anything. I think, at least here on this forum and thankfully not so much with those who actually govern, it will kill all our chances. So and so endorsed so and so so they are now DEAD to me *hand to forehead* she said something about Obama that I do not like!!!!!*****Grrrrrrr This forum is becoming very tiny and small because of all of that. We need to make certain our party does not get to this point.
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)MuseRider
(34,060 posts)and this is bullshit.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)They are following the practices that brought about Trump, not positive change. They don't see the difference.
Response to Gothmog (Original post)
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