So, have we decided who we are purging from the party yet?

[LostInAnomie]

Democrats in red states need to know now so they have plenty of time to find replacements that won't piss people on the internet off.

[Scootaloo]

1. The idea of favoring liberals over conservatives really seems to worry you

[LostInAnomie]

2. Yes, that would be how someone with no understanding of politics would see it.

The problem is that "liberals" as we on DU would define them are pretty much unelectable in red states.

[Scootaloo]

5. I understand that that's the "delivered wisdom."

So, what, Allison Grimes lost because she was too liberal and didn't attack Obama and the Affordable care Act harshly enough, then?

[LostInAnomie]

7. Yeah, I'm sure she would have faired much better by coming out for gun control...

... and putting restrictions on coal power production. That would have gone over GREAT in Kentucky.

Politics is local and doesn't respond well to orthodoxy.

[Scootaloo]

8. Would she have won by being MORE conservative, Lost?

[Phlem]

11. crickets.

[LostInAnomie]

13. Would she have won running on Bernie Sanders platform?

Allison Grimes was running as a Democrat in a traditionally red state. She was running against the most powerful Republican in DC in an off year election. Let's not pretend she wasn't fighting uphill in the first place.

[Scootaloo]

15. Would being MORE CONSERVATIVE have resulted in a win for her?

[LostInAnomie]

18. You're awfully devoted to an argument that no one has made.

What pure Liberal would have stood a chance in KY?

[Scootaloo]

26. Your argument is that we need conservative democrats to win conservative states

Well, we tried that in Kentucky (and other places) and lost.

I'm asking if you believe Grimes would have won if she were more conservative.

[Rex]

30. LOL!

Don't hold your breath waiting for an answer.

[LostInAnomie]

37. Are we just making shit up now?

You would either have to have serious reading comprehension problems, or be really fucking dense to come up with the shit you just wrote.

The Democratic Party of a state decides which candidate they will run for election. They nominate the person they think has the best chance to win. If the Democrats of KY thought Grimes was the best choice, who they fuck are you to second guess them?

But, since you think you know better than people that actually live in these places, which members of Congress should they look to remove from the party?

[Scootaloo]

41. Well, no, that's the argument you present in post #2

The problem is that "liberals" as we on DU would define them are pretty much unelectable in red states.

Well, okay. So we need to run conservative Democrats to win conservative states, right?

So. we know that Allison Grimes ran a campaign where she distanced herself from the president and his landmark legislation, and emphasized her conservative virtues (and her knowledge of Kentucky college football, I guess) and... lost.

I'm asking if you believe she would have won by being more conservative. I don't know why this simple question is making you so angry.

[LostInAnomie]

65. "Well, okay. So we need to run conservative Democrats to win conservative states, right? "

No, Mr. Strawman that's not what I said. I'll walk you through it because you can't seem to grasp simple ideas.

"The problem is that "liberals" as we on DU would define them..."

DU defines liberals very narrowly. You either accept the leftmost position available fully or you aren't a true liberal. Deviance from orthodoxy is not accepted as valid. Think Sanders, Kucinich, and Warren. DU would define them as liberals.

"...are pretty much unelectable in red states."

Candidates like Sanders, Kucinich, and Warren, would not be electable in most red states. Dennis Kucinich wasn't even electable in his own district after it wasn't gerrymandered for him. This doesn't mean that Democrats have to be DINOs or run as conservatives to win in red states. What it does mean is they have to take positions that make them palatable to the electorate. Any person that understands politics understands this.

Allison Grimes wouldn't have improved her chances by running to the right. But, she would have been destroyed running as a far left candidate. Obama has a 31% approval rating in KY. 56% of KY hates "Obamacare". How do you think hugging stuff with approval like that would help her cause?

[Phlem]

67. wait, whuut?

[Scootaloo]

78. Do we know their "unelectability" for certain?

Returning to Kentucky, there was a conservative Democrat running against a conservative Republican.

Now for a political reality check - "close" does not count. This isn't the UK, where who sits in government is determined by percentages. it's a system where winner takes all. Democrats losing as conservatives is no different from Democrats losing as liberals. The two outcomes being the same, there is no valid argument for not running a principled liberal stand. Rather the opposite, as running as staunch liberals against the staunch conservativism of the Republicans creates incentive for liberal-trending stay-at-homers to come out, and makes a clear distinction for the "undecideds" to base a decision off of.

54% of Kentucky voters opted out of voting. The #1 reason people give for not voting, is dissatisfaction with the options on the ballots, a belief that their vote makes no difference. And when candidates are running on essentially the same platform, that's a valid observation about the election.

I contend that liberal democrats are electable everywhere. That the only reason we have "red states" is simply due to conservative orthodoxy going unchallenged, specifically because of this belief that liberals are "unelectable." A constant retreat in the face of conservatives leads to constant victory by the conservative party. Conceding their points in your campaign, just strengthens their campaign - especially if they're the incumbent.

A Democrat will never win by campaigning as a Republican. Even when a Republican is an ineffective and corrupt as Mitch McConnel, the democrat will lose. Why? Because running a conservative Democrat alienates the Democratic party's liberal voting base, while doing nothing to court the Republican's conservative base.

That's why you have DU'ers telling you, flat-out, that you are wrong. That's why we are calling for an abandonment of this ridiculous idea that we can woo Republican voters out from under the Republicans, especially while ignoring and even working against the Democratic party's base while doing so. because this hurts us. it weakens us. it's an act of retreat and concession that leaves entire states in the hands of the republicans.

if you want to see the likes of Allison Grimes win states? I suggest you start looking for moderate republicans instead of conservative Democrats.

[Aerows]

79. Where did you get your numbers

for people that oppose the Obamacare in Kentucky? 58% of the people in Kentucky like it. I have no idea why you are making up statistics that anyone with a second on Google or Bing prove incorrect in about 5 seconds.

[LostInAnomie]

88. Calm your pathetic indignation.

But a 56 percent majority disliked Obamacare...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/kynect-obamacare_n_5310263.html

In Kentucky, a new Marist poll conducted for NBC News finds that 57 percent of registered voters have an unfavorable view of “Obamacare,”
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/polling-obamacare-label-makes-big-difference-n102861

Now, go back to googling people's post history.

[bravenak]

90. How do they feel about KYnect? The Kentucky plan?

I bet that polls better. Same thing. Coulda run ads telling them that instead of shooting guns and running away from the scary black man.
Liberals are better than conservatives in every way. Give the people a choice to vote for the policy they do most times. My state is Red too but the people voted liberal policies and left paper liberals blowing in the wind. Should be a sign.

[LostInAnomie]

93. Even Kynect only has a 29% approval.

That's hardly stellar approval.

If people haven't figured out what the ACA is yet, they definitely aren't going to once a few million dollars in republican ads blur the lines between Kynect and "Obamacare".

[bravenak]

94. Maybe we should just run Liberals anyway.

We are Democrats after all. It is our job to run Liberals.

[LostInAnomie]

95. No, our job is to run as Democrats.

Democrat and liberal are not synonymous.

[bravenak]

96. Democrats yes, but not democrats dressed as republicans.

Our platform is liberal. We should run liberals.

[LostInAnomie]

98. What did Grimes do that woulld qualify as dressing as a Republican?

Here are her positions: http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Alison_Grimes.htm

Pro-Choice
Pro-Gay Marriage
Equal Pay for Women
Willing to talk about marijuana legalization
No subsidies for job exporters
Supports immigration reform
Keep Obamacare
increase minimum wage
Says its shameful to cut foodstamps
Close tax loopholes for wealthy to pay for college loans
Against sending troops to Iraq

The only real place she differs from most liberals is that she is pro-coal (which is a must in KY), and wasn't for sweeping gun regulation. I would hardly say that makes her a DINO.

[bravenak]

99. She coulda admitted to voting for the Democratic President.

Everybody knew what she was.

[LostInAnomie]

102. Meh... It's not really anyone's business.

And, I would hardly say voting for Obama is the hallmark of being a liberal. Hell, half of DU trash talks him every time they get the opportunity.

[bravenak]

105. Agreed.

We can leave it at that. Good night!

[AgingAmerican]

101. "You either accept the leftmost position available fully or you aren't a true liberal"

That is the Republican definition. Liberalism is the weakest form of leftism. So much for your political expertise, Mr Third Way.

[LostInAnomie]

107. Reading comprehension.

"You either accept the leftmost position available..."

Not the furthest left position. The furthest left position available.

Pro-equal pay, increased minimum wage, pro-marriage equlity, pro-marijuana legalization, pro-ACA, etc., are all examples of the furthest left position politically available for liberals. They aren't even close to the furthest left position.

[JDPriestly]

100. She would have come out much better if she could boast that her party had helped homeowners

and small businesses survive the 2008 recession to the same extent that it helped the big banks survive that recession.

She would not have come out worse had she talked about stopping mass murders through insuring responsible gun control. She would not have come out worse had she called for a rational energy policy that views coal as a transitional energy source and builds an industry that creates alternative energy in Kentucky.

She did not win with her relatively conservative platform. She could have introduced some progressive ideas that would actually offer solutions. She did not run a bad campaign but if she could not win with the relatively conservative stances on those issues that she offered, hey, she could have educated a few voters to think beyond the status quo ideas into progressive ideas.

She ran a good campaign until she refused to admit voting (or not voting) for Obama. That's my understanding. She should have been honest in her answer and explained why she did or did not vote for Obama.

[Marr]

6. Well, everyone can't be an Alison Lundergan Grimes.

I mean, obviously we should defer to the Conservative Democrats, right?

lol.

[LostInAnomie]

10. Yeah, I'm sure if only she would have backed gun control more...

... and talked more about subsidizing solar so we can get rid of coal she would have glided to victory. I mean there's nothing Kentuckians want more than to end coal.

[Marr]

104. Did you know there are liberal issues that aren't gun control or solar power?

Amazing, I know-- but true!

[AgingAmerican]

106. The Third Way see everything through Republican eyes

The most basic things about Democrats or Liberals do not exist in their cartoonish worldview.

[Marr]

108. Yeah-- isn't that bizarre? That's the kind of summary of liberalism I'd expect from

some dyed-in-the-wool Republican, not a Democrat. There's a hell of a lot of populist ground that isn't gun control. I understand how many social issues might be off the table for a Democrat in a Conservative, but if they also refuse to talk about liberal economic ideas... well, what exactly makes them a Democrat at that point?

[Rex]

24. All this fuss over a group of libertarian investment bankers.

You would have thought we discovered who deep throat is.

[Marr]

109. Yeah, I find it hilarious that

"we don't want you to lead the party anymore" is being translated as "PURGE".

Especially considering how often these same types encourage liberals to 'eat their peas' and 'hold their nose' and vote for the Democrat because they'll never get everything they want. Well, doesn't that go both ways? I guess not.

[bravenak]

3. I have noticed that too.

I don't remember a purge. Did we have a purge?

[Phlem]

12. I usually do that by

eating meat only twice a month.

[bravenak]

14. I thought a purge involved a green juice of some sort?

I don't do weird drinks myself.

[Rex]

22. Well the 'conspiracy ploy' didn't work, the 'lets talk about people and not a think tank'

didn't work, the 'word it is meaningless hrmmph' didn't work. And of course the 'purge' or calling liberals 'Stalin lovers' didn't work.

None of their shit works, got to be frustrating.

[bravenak]

33. Now I need a joint!!

None of this is going to work. We are just going to have to get used to the idea that liberal policies won, weak liberals lost. Now, not everywhere, but mostly. We need a new agenda. More liberal, more fight, classic liberal shit.

[Rex]

35. That's what we can call us 'weak liberals' and 'strong liberals'.

Of which the OP is of course the omega liberal that resides over all liberals. We can absorb moderates and conservatives and label them accordingly.

[bravenak]

36. Please stop making me laugh.

I choked on my 'medicine'. Super supreme mega liberal overlord.

[Rex]

39. I, for one, welcome our supreme mega liberal overlord!

Hopefully he brought some really good space weed for us unworthy mendicants.

[bravenak]

45. I'm planning the resistance.

They'll never take me alive!!
But, seriously, they lost. We lost. So.. New plan?
The resistance to change in here is amazing.

[Rex]

49. Well how many years have thousands of people in here been saying over and over

you can't run republican-lite. It's like you know racists/bigots are going to pick Foxnews over CNN...oh sure CNN is nice, but the good shit they like is on Fox. CNN might call for pro-life, but Foxnews will call for legitimate rape.

[bravenak]

54. I have no idea why anyone thinks a Republican will be fooled by us dressing up as one of them.

Nobody is that stupid. Them or us.
I have decided that it is funny. In a sad way, but still funny nevertheless.

[Aerows]

40. He called himself "amazing"

on DU2, stated how big his penis is, and voiced his sexual prowess.

Is that somebody that should be condescending, or the subject of ridicule when they try to be condescending to others?

I kind of feel sorry for him.

[bravenak]

43. That did NOT happen!?!?

Who cares how big it is? People who talk big....
That is terribly sad.

[Aerows]

47. It did.

I feel rather sorry for him. That doesn't mean I will put up with his bullshit without pointing out the antics he has done.

Best thing is to just let people know what they are dealing with so that they can choose their way of dealing with him.

[bravenak]

53. Now that I know, I can just not take it seriously.

Seems like we have some attention seeking behavior. Purge? Yeah right. Who's purging who? That's what I want to know. Seems like a bit of projection.

[Aerows]

55. Sounds like it to me, too

Or at least some political theater to rub losses in Dems faces and thereby attempt to quarantine Progressive, Liberal voters.

[bravenak]

59. Yep. This is a show.

We are merely the audience of this persons theater of 'Liberal Magnificence'. If only I could dream about being one such as he.... Maybe if I just move to the right, I'll be a 'Real Serious Liberal'.

[Aerows]

61. Why so serious?

Too right, Brave. That seems to be the over-arcing theme of these folks. I'm not fooled, Rex doesn't sound fooled, and you for damn sure don't sound fooled either.

[bravenak]

63. I can smell bullshit from a mile a way.

You learn a lot about people and psychology working in Strip Clubs for five years. Especially about penis talkers and such.
Get women naked in a dark room full of people and you see what people really are if you are the product. People are bullshitters, easy to read even from miles away.

[Aerows]

69. I didn't get an education from the school of hard knocks

But I'd say I am a bit above average at bullshit detection.

[bravenak]

72. Once you smell it once, you can never forget it.nt

[Aerows]

52. Link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8063593

[bravenak]

56. Stupid.

I love myself too, though! I should do a me appreciation thread too. Never once thought about it though, the idea never crossed my mind. I need more Ego.

[Aerows]

58. I know

Never crossed my mind either.

[Aerows]

38. Please! on DU2

He started a self-appreciation thread praising his penis size and sexual prowess.

Know what you are dealing with. I have a link to it down thread.

[Rex]

42. Well he did bring up pointless masturbation.

Personally he lost me when he said DU is full of stupid crazy people. He can keep trying hard as far as I care. Evidently he has major cred and so we should listen.

[Aerows]

44. Ignore and pity him

He's in the weeds for certain. And I don't mean smoking it, I mean lost in the weeds and brambles.

[merrily]

70. woo me with science has pointed out, the purpose is to disrupt discussion, not to

persuade. If he or she is correct, then it does work beautifully simply because we are posting on this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025767160

[Aerows]

75. Too true

Though I like the conversations I'm having in it with genuine DUers.

We have some intelligent people on this board, and I love interacting with them.

That said, the OP was flamebait, but it's kind of a bust, too. Now everyone knows that posters history and comments.

[merrily]

80. Posting with like-minded people is nice. Wish we had a forum for

traditional (FDR/HST/LBJ) Democrats and those left of them.

DU already has a lot of forums, but that could be catch all.

[Union Scribe]

48. My first thoughts exactly.

From my experience people, myself included, reveal ourselves sometimes in what we get defensive about. For whatever reason the OP has been very defensive over the idea that the party should try listening to the left a bit more.

[Lithos]

4. Me, me, me!

Please purge me!

I hate to be associated with intolerant people.

L-

[ZombieHorde]

16. Are you intolerant of intolerant people?

[W_HAMILTON]

9. I thought most of them already got purged last week.

And add in Joe Manchin. He'll be such a great champion of Republican policies that WV voters will choose a Republican over him the next time they get the chance.

[sabrina 1]

17. Ask The Third Way. THEY have been purging Liberals for several decades now. Any actual Progressive

Dems in the current Presidential Cabinet? Any Liberals invited to the WH on a regular basis to discuss important issues?

It's a good question, how many MORE Liberals will be purged from their party before WE do something about it?

[LostInAnomie]

20. You mean voters have been purging them.

Since, you know, that is who elects people.

[sabrina 1]

27. Wrong, in 2010 voters made sure almost all the Progressive Dems retained their seats. Had the Third

Way leadership not supported Dinos over Progressives in several races, the voters would have put MORE Liberals in Congress. But the the Party Leadership insisted on putting their money and energy into supporting candidates the voters clearly stated they would not support. THEY lost, voters keep their word, maybe the Party should listen.

And this time voters went out and supported Progressive Issues wherever they appeared on the Ballot. They again told DC THIS is what we want.

The party supported Chris Christie over Buono, a good Democratic candidate. An outrage actually that probably lost them even more voters.

The Third Way purges Liberals by not letting them run and if some do the Third Way makes sure to heavily finance their choice of candidates. It's been long process, but little by little they are purging Liberals from the Dem Party.

[LostInAnomie]

31. Yeah, Alan Grayson is a real conserva-dem.

"The Third Way purges Liberals by not letting them run"

I'm really doubting you know how elections work.

[Rex]

19. You tell me, you came up with the idea that there was some great purging going on.

Tell us all mighty username.

[LostInAnomie]

21. If there isn't going to be a purge, then what is the fucking point...

... of all the nonsense talk about getting rid of "turd way" democrats?

If you aren't actually going to do anything it's pointless masturbation.

[Rex]

23. The point is just to waste more of your time.

Since you created some kind of false crisis, I guess you have to deal with the fallout now.

[LostInAnomie]

28. I didn't create it.

Unless there is some point to whining about the Third Way and Blue Dogs in the party, then it is all impotent rage.

It's more armchair revolutionary talk from people that think creating a boogieman to rail against is the same as actually doing something.

[Rex]

29. Yes you did.

You can whine until they cows come home.

[LostOne4Ever]

25. We need to purge the party of bean lovers

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal] Cause having to wait in line to vote in the primaries with them can REEK at times!

[/font]

[Aerows]

32. I live in an extremely red, Deep South state

I don't accept your defeatism that no one can win in red states if they are liberals. MS, while still red, increased the number of votes for Democratic candidates.

So I disagree with your premise.

Listen, you have been on here for the last couple of days calling people crackpots and generally being condescending. On DU2, you bragged about your "huge wiener" in a self-appreciation thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8063593

You need to grow up and act like an adult before you go off on a condescending, sneering tirade.

[LostInAnomie]

46. Yeah, liberals are doing great in Mississippi.

With their Republican governor, Republican state Congress and Senate, both Republican senators, and three out of four Republican congressmen.



"On DU2, you bragged about your "huge wiener" in a self-appreciation thread."

Good job on looking up a 6 year old lounge post. Now, go back to your fainting couch so you can fan yourself.

[Aerows]

51. I hope you get some

help with your self-esteem issues. They seem to be extremely evident by the way you have been posting - i.e. not for discussion, but to belittle and denigrate other posters.

When you have to tear down others to make yourself feel better, it's a symptom of a greater problem, and not with the people you attempt to tear down.

[LostInAnomie]

66. Ouch, that really burns...

... especially from someone that went through my post history all the way back to 2008 to find "dirt" on me.

Talk about "symptom of a greater problem".

[Aerows]

74. You are aware of Google, right?

Search your name. It was the first result.

If that is digging, then the Mariana Trench is the deep end of the pool.

[LostInAnomie]

76. Seems pretty pathetic.

Especially, since you don't seem smart enough to understand sarcasm from a lounge thread. But, if google stalking is your thing, have at it.

[Aerows]

81. I don't need you to condone

my usage of Google, but I am utterly thrilled to have your blessing.

[Puglover]

114. When backed into a corner

with egg dripping from your face use the word "stalker" or some variation. They must learn it at their seminars.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

34. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, SORRY nt

[merrily]

50. FFS. How many of threads about imaginary purges from the Party of officeholders do we need?

Seems as though the average IQ of DU dropped 30 points after the election. Were these losses really that much of a shock to people who are supposed to be knowledgeable about politics that we need one almost identical flame bait thread after another for a week--and counting?

Or is there some other reason for all the similar threads about imaginary purges?

[bravenak]

57. Oh, I think we will see a few more from this person alone.

I have noticed that this is a singular battle fought mostly in one persons mind.

[Aerows]

60. +1 n/t

[merrily]

62. Probably right as to this one, but I am 100% sure other posters started almost identical threads.

officeholders being "purged" from the party, and while Republicans are about to take more seats than they've had since 1928, no less.

What does the word "purge" bring to mind?

And exactly how do you go about revoking someone's voter registration, especially a current officeholder?

Pure nonsensical, anti-liberal 100-proof bullshit dumbass flamebait. Then again, why did I ignore good advice like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025767160

[bravenak]

64. They have found a Dragon to Slay!!!

They do not care that dragons do not exist. They will kill it anyway. Fake problem based on guilty consciences. Most liberals are for progressive change, some... Move to the right no matter what.

[merrily]

68. "Move to the right" would be a subject one could discuss with a modicum of intelligence.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5797271

Shit like "purging" current officeholders from office is not.

I have to wonder how it happens that several posters thought posting the same nonsense in almost identical words was a good idea. Did this week's instructions go out to more than one poster, or did someone think this stupidity bore repeating?

(BTW, watch for the phrase "the more the merrier" when discussing the possibility of Sanders or others entering the primaries. I've now seen it from at least five different party liners. But, if you press further, they don't really support anyone entering the primaries.) )

[bravenak]

71. Thank you for that link. It explains how I feel right now.

Why are we even discussing the possibility of moving right? Maybe they're right. Maybe millennials are stupid, I feel stupid. I usually can understand where people are coming from but this time I do not.
I live in a Red State!! We have Oil!! We still like our water drinkable. Everybody does. Maybe we need to give people in Red State a definitive choice. Run somebody in every race, even if we have to stalk college kids and beg THEM to run.


I sum this up as such, " Dumb minds think alike."

[merrily]

82. Maybe, but I firmly believe some posters post for message control.

I have no other explanation for some of things I've seen.

[Aerows]

84. It is indeed message control

I'd offer you links for days, but I have to go to bed.

Search for:

Stratfor
Cass Sunstein social networking
Those two will keep you up all night (and at night).

[merrily]

85. Thanks, but do I really have to read about Sunstein or his wife?

Have a good rest.

[bravenak]

86. Indeed. I agree.

I notice it's only a few. Others seem to have real issues to focus on. I don't I'm lame. I can only bitch about the drug war for 12 hours a day. Don't want to wear myself out. We all have our pet issues. Some care about policy, some care to control what other people talk about.

[merrily]

87. I "love" the control freaks.

Almost invariably, they inspire me to do the opposite of what they are postersplaining to me. For example, start an OP shaming DU for curse words and you will probably turn me into a poster who tries to include at least once curse words in every fucking post.

bravenak, you are far from lame. If your pet issue were (insert here something that Paris Hilton Hilton is famous for), that might be lame. Drugs is not. I hope you post some OPs in GD about it.

And, with that, I am off to get some rest. I wish you a great and refreshing rest.

[bravenak]

89. Good night!!

I have a late time zone.

I also treat control freaks like that. Do the opposite. My stepdad was authoritarian. I drove him crazy....

[merrily]

73. I will say again: the writing style in your posts is very appealing.

[bravenak]

83. I read a lot of fantasy and Dystopian. Too much fiction. GRRM.

Makes me sort of idealistic. I do write poetry. Trying to finish some fiction too. I feel like I should get all my posts together that make any type of sense and make it into a book. My musings on politics in America.

Thank you for saying that. I love words and how they make people feel about life. Words are powerful.

[Lil Missy]

77. What's this "we" you refer to? Got a turd in your pocket? n/t

[bravenak]

92. The Royal We.nt

[JDPriestly]

91. Some of them were already purged in the most recent election.

It's kind of a warning to others who forget about values and just pander to conservative voters.

If the Democratic Party does not represent the interests of Americans who work for their livings (and that certainly includes a lot of professional people and small business owners), then it is irrelevant. If that is the case, it has nothing to say.

If Democratic candidates can't stick to the reelevant issues of social and economic justice for all Americans and not just for the corporations and wealthy, then there is no need for the Democratic party.

And the Democratic Party will just gradually be purged by the voters.

That's how democracy works.

The Whig Party is no more.

In its two decades of existence, the Whig Party had two of its candidates, William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor, elected President. Both died in office. John Tyler succeeded to the Presidency after Harrison's death, but was expelled from the party. Millard Fillmore, who became President after Taylor's death, was the last Whig to hold the nation's highest office.

The party was ultimately destroyed by the question of whether to allow the expansion of slavery to the territories. With deep fissures in the party on this question, the anti-slavery faction prevented the nomination for a full-term of its own incumbent, President Fillmore, in the 1852 presidential election; instead, the party nominated General Winfield Scott. Most Whig party leaders eventually quit politics (as Abraham Lincoln did temporarily) or changed parties. The northern voter base mostly joined the new Republican Party. By the 1856 presidential election, the party was virtually defunct. In the South, the party vanished, but Whig ideology as a policy orientation persisted for decades and played a major role in shaping the modernizing policies of the state governments during Reconstruction.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_Party_%28United_States%29

A political party must stay relevant. It must offer solutions to the pressing problems of the time. And it must have a constituency for which it speaks, a constituency that it represents.

Obama has been a relevant candidate. That's why we won in 2008 and 2012. The Democrats who lost the election did not persuade voters that the Democratic Party and they as candidates were relevant and could offer the best solutions to the voters' problems.

Candidates who offer relevant answers to voters' problems win elections. The rest of the candidates get purged. Let the purge begin. Because we need to win in 2016.

Each person who runs for office as a Democrat should be asked by Democrats what the relevancy of his/her message is to the voters who didn't vote this time (in 2014).

[Electric Monk]

97. Groucho Marx

[AgingAmerican]

103. You assume that Democrats in red states think like Republicans

And that republicans in red states will vote for Democrats if they act like like Republicans. You are wrong on both counts, Mr Strawman.

[IdiocracyTheNewNorm]

110. Well considering that the south has been sending DINOs to DC for the last 30+ years is no reason to

think they will continue to do otherwise now.

[GeorgeGist]

111. Frankly, red Dems would be first on my list.

[Bandit]

112. You don't have to purge anyone, a lot of people like myself will just purge themselves.

Democrats offer nothing and neither do Republicans. Why bother?

[Zorra]

113. You are the only poster talking about purging people, so we'll leave it up to you.

I suggest you start at the very far left and work your way toward until you hit the center. Then join the Republican party because at that point the Democratic party becomes completely useless as an opposition party. And the Left will have no choice but to merge with the Greens.Then you can finally be rid of those whiny leftists who insist that the Democratic party needs to be an opposition party to Republicans. At least that will give the left a chance to change the national dialogue and no longer have to fuck with fools who believe that moving the party to the right is an effective avenue for change.

[Orsino]

115. I might suggest listing people trying to invoke Stalin to defend The Third Way.

By using the word "purge."

So we'll be ready when the death camps are in place.