Democrats launch new group aimed at Republican strongholds

[TexasTowelie]

ATLANTA — Dissatisfied with Democratic fortunes in the era of President Donald Trump, a group of prominent Democrats is forming an organization outside the formal party structure with the goal of winning again in Republican-dominated middle America.

Calling itself "New Democracy," the group includes sitting and former governors, former Cabinet members, mayors and lawmakers from Congress to statehouses. Among the affiliated politicians: Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, considered a possible future presidential candidate; former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, also a former Iowa governor; and Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, current head of the nonpartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors.

"We have to expand this party, and make it a bigger tent," said Will Marshall, the Democratic policy veteran who is running the group.

Another one of the organizers, former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, told The Associated Press in a recent interview that Democrats "cannot be a successful national policy by winning races only on our two coasts." The party, Beshear said, "has to get back to the basics and appeal to folks all over our country."

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/democrats-launch-new-group-aimed-at-republican-strongholds/439331273/

[Initech]

1. Now this is what draining the swamp should be!

We have got to get these fucking assholes out of office, and now! Every last god damn one of them! They don't deserve it. We cannot afford to wait!

[elleng]

2. Beshear is good.

What about the others?

[eleny]

3. Hickenlooper is my governor

And I dread his running against Trump if Trump lasts till 2020. Trump would unleash the tactics he used in the primaries and steamroll. Hickenlooper is just too mild mannered to take on Trump and prevail.

I don't think Hickenlooper would be a terrible president. But he leans too heavily in favor of the oil and gas industry. He's been too favorable to fracking for my taste.

[lostnfound]

4. "Too favorable to fracking" sounds so quaint now...!

No offense. I know it's a big deal.
But after 6 months of trump, and a day of nuclear talk, I'm just commenting on the gigantic contrast between worry over immediate trump-induced Armageddon and the more routine complaints about centrist democrats.

[eleny]

7. I understand your reaction

But now they're fracking near housing developments in Colorado. So it's not just in areas of lower population. Not that this doesn't pose danger to nearby residents "out in the country".

But given the international gongs on right now, I can see your response. The order of things gets reshuffled.

[mcar]

5. Good move!

[DFW]

6. A 50 State strategy

A friend of mine suggested that a little over ten years ago. As I recall, it worked rather well.

[ATL Ebony]

8. K&R, glad to know they're not just giving lip service.

[DFW]

9. Howard has never deviated from his conviction that it was the right thing to do

Unfortunately, he hasn't been DNC chairman since 2009.

[ATL Ebony]

10. I know, seems to be a good, solid group. Glad they're on our side and taking action.

[DFW]

11. I'm in regular touch with his brother, Jim (head of DFA)

And Howard still acts as a voice of encouragement in the background, even if they disagree at times (Sanders vs Clinton, e.g.). Jim can discuss almost any congressional race off the top of his head, and tell you what he thinks of the chances, whether DFA is involved or not. Definitely not just on the coasts!