It's not a mystery why incumbent and establishment Democrats are losing

[realmirage]

In case anyone hasn’t yet noticed, the Democratic Party is just about completely shut out of federal government. That means the establishment, or whatever you want to call it, is going to see some changes. There aren’t many incumbents that have lost yet in this cycle (two years from now how much bigger is the wave?), but those that have lost are making headlines because they were important incumbents or establishment picks. Joe Crowley was poised to replace Pelosi.

Not sure why this should be controversial or difficult for people to accept. In most business models, when the company takes a major dive, leadership gets replaced. It doesn’t matter whether the replacements have similar approaches or not. You don’t just keep the same people who were behind the wheel when it all went off the rails.

I will also add that this is the same reason the “establishment” in general is under fire including Pelosi and Schumer. I’m talking about progressives and, I’m sure, quite a few who don’t identify as progressive. I’d be shocked if the establishment wasn’t under attack in a situation like this.

Edit - “establishment” added to title for clarification

[RandySF]

1. How many incumbents lost in 2018?

[realmirage]

2. Not as many as expected actually

And the ones that have, everyone makes a big deal out of it.

[RandySF]

3. Two House members

I remember when 2 senators and and at least 5 House members lost primaries in 1992.

[realmirage]

4. You can't ignore the many voices

Speaking out against the establishment and the ridiculously big deal that’s being made out of the few incumbent losses. And these weren’t just any old incumbents that lost. That’s the main point here.

[RandySF]

6. That an average of four incumbents lose primaries in a given election year

Where at four now if you count the two Republicans and the primaries are almost over.

[realmirage]

7. Still missing the point

[RandySF]

8. You're using two incumbent losses as evidence of some mass uprising.

[realmirage]

9. Still

missing the point and the fact that the people losing primaries to more progressive candidates aren’t just any old Democrats

[LanternWaste]

12. Still moving the goalposts, eh?

I get it. When our original allegation is shown to be spurious at best, we have to pretend we meant something other than what we actually said.

[realmirage]

14. The goalposts are in the original post

The establishment is under attack and important long serving incumbents have lost, which is all over the news if you haven’t noticed. People here also argue endlessly over why people like Pressley should have defeated Capuano when they share many views and use this to deny the reality of the changes happening within the party. People can hide themselves from reality but they can’t hide reality.

[Kaleva]

13. They were two incumbents the vast majority of us never heard of

[realmirage]

15. If you read the news

You’ll find that Joe Crowley was poised to replace Pelosi. Is that important enough for you? Just because you haven’t heard of them doesn’t mean “vast majority” has never heard of them or that they aren’t important or that the progressive movement isn’t real.

[Kaleva]

20. So where is your evidence that they were well known and aren't just any old Democrats?

My guess is that if you were to ask a couple of dozen random people who were the two Dem incumbents that were defeated in a primary this year, almost none will be able to give you a correct answer.

And as you should know, power or importance in Washington doesn't always translate to power or importance in one's home district.

"The phrase, "all politics is local" is a common phrase in U.S. politics.[1] The former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Tip O'Neill is most closely associated with this phrase."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_politics_is_local#cite_note-Esquire-2

Rep. Caputo is so unkown, he's already been forgotten about here at DU. Same with Crowley. That alone ought to be an indication about how unimportant those two are.

[realmirage]

24. If you don't know hat Crowley was in line for

Pelosi’s job then I don’t think you’ve been paying attention

[Kaleva]

25. I don't even think you heard of Crowley and Capuano before either.

I looked at your old posts and couldn't find one that mentioned either. If the two were as important as you say they were, I would think you'd have at least mentioned them in passing at one point or another.

Maybe I'm wrong as I can only do basic search as I'm not a star member. If you can provide links to posts you made about either before they lost in their respective primary, I'll gladly concede the point.

[realmirage]

11. Progressive movement is real

Can’t ignore it no matter how much people may want to. When the possible replacement for pelosi loses to a socialist you may want take a look at what’s happening. And it’s not just incumbents, it’s races like the one in Florida where Gillum beat Graham. It’s happening whether people choose to see it or not.

[disillusioned73]

16. I'll give you points for trying... ;)

[realmirage]

17. : )

Haven’t completely given up just yet

[disillusioned73]

18. I know the feeling...

[mythology]

30. So you admit that not very many incumbent Democrats have lost

and that the outliers are being made a big deal of, in the same thread where you're claiming that incumbent and "establishment" Democrats are being voted out? Um, okay.

Also Pressley herself said there are very few policy differences between her and Capuano. Hardly a ringing endorsement of your claim.

[fishwax]

5. When you're winning you get to develop your bench. When you're losing you start tweaking the lineup.

I agree. This is a pretty natural set of developments we're seeing here.

[realmirage]

10. Exactly. Fresh energy is a good thing

[MineralMan]

19. All that from just two Democratic incumbents losing primaries.

Wow! What a projection!

[realmirage]

21. It might help you to read

the above conversations

[MineralMan]

22. What makes you think I didn't?

[realmirage]

23. Your post

[Squinch]

26. Oh, fer fuck's sake. This shit again.

[Lisa0825]

27. .

[Squinch]

28. .

😉

[Me.]

29. Crowley Wasn't Poised To Take Over From Nancy Pelosi

he wanted the job, that doesn't mean he was going to get it. Other people wanted it, like Ryan, and didn't get it. If SHE decides to give up her position Clyburn will run for it and probably win.

[Eko]

31. Not sure why you think dissing the majority of Democrats

before an election is a good thing, are you also one of those that thinks reaching out to republicans is a good thing?

[WhiteTara]

32. Tom Carper just won his race 64-36, Just saying.

[Scurrilous]

33. Democrats in Disarray Derp.