Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Why Democrats' 'Talking Points Are Not Enough'
New York TimesMore than a year later, as the president seeks to pass a robust spending package of social policies that represent the bulk of his domestic agenda, many of the same leaders are looking for a return on their political investment.
In an interview with The New York Times, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, one of the country’s most prominent progressives, questioned whether Democratic leaders and the White House understood the scope of the demands coming from the party’s base.
The interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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or asked for, which is fine. I’m not here to tell people how to run their races. But at the same time, to consider the members here that have some of the tightest relationships to our political base as just a uniform liability — and not something that can be selectively deployed, or consulted, or anything — I think it’s just sad. I think it was a mistake.
And we saw a big youth turnout collapse. Not a single person asked me to send an email, not even to my own list. And then they turn around and say, “It’s their fault.” When I think it was communicated quite expressly that we were unwelcome to pitch in.
The idea that we just accept a collapse in youth turnout — and essentially turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy — in times when races are decided by such narrow margin points: I think it’s ill advised.'
Holee shit. 
it's getting deep.
Thank you, Hortensis.
You've put it in terms that makes sense.
The legislative voting record speaks for itself.
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"those who call themselves progressive but inexplicably voted against the giant infrastructure and jobs bill are reportedly having trouble explaining themselves to the satisfaction of their genuinely progressive constituents."
Want to understand the kind of opposition that can turn "Progressive" into an oxymoron? Ask political psychologists. They're experts on radical-leaning and extremist political groups, who're drawn to them, and why they fail.
"Voters can do with just knowing that, in over 130 years of active federal-level progressivism, factions unable to accept the compromises required by representative government of, by and for ALL people have NEVER achieved progressive change.
Their score card: 0.
They're not the ones."
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have politicized the term "lunatic fringe"; and FDR's New Dealers, also plagued with hoards of upside-down wannabe revolutionaries, also used it.
"Lunatic fringe" had originally been inspired by an edgy new style of bangs, not seen by all as flattering. Those who hated walking forward, especially in women!, reportedly likened them to the hacked-off hair of women in asylums.
These days I wouldn't doubt it for a minute.
Just saw an interview with one who supported the BREATHE act last year, interviewer asked the representative to explain why. Closing all federal prisons? "But in ten years!"
It was as if she hadn't read the bill, couldn't say anything coherent. This is fine for an activist, not fine for a legislator. "Talking points are not enough" indeed.
tagged #FiveWhiteMen lead the way, helping elect candidates who promised them to vote against Pelosi. I'd love to know what else Nancy knows. They failed, of course. And also got their moderate-conservative asses handed to them when two of them tried to run for the Democratic nomination.
Then of course the far left freshmen who claimed they'd promised their constituents to oust the Republican's most ferocious opponent in congress. Uhuh. Congressional observers now occasionally refer to them as the sabotage squad, only when something sparks it of course.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, to NY Magazine during the 2020 primaries.
Since her current party, like Biden and Pelosi, is committed to liberal progressive principles and ideals, presumably it'd be socialist. Which explains her calls to grievance and disaffection at a time of great achievement, or especially. If the Biden Plan's social infrastructure bills were twice as big as they are, 25 times, they wouldn't be socialist and thus tragically inadequate. If she were in another party she could say so.
