Instead of Primarying Effective, Established Democrats in Congress,

[MineralMan]

How about working on flipping some districts currently held by Republicans? Why cut off your nose to spite your face? Instead, work on cutting off the noses of Republicans.

Why do we do such stupid things and then complain when we lose? I'll never understand that.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Good idea

Since it is often said that progressives can credibly challenge Republicans in blood-red districts with the right message, why not put up some hardcore progressives up for races in seats with unopposed Republicans instead of primarying effective Democrats?

[MineralMan]

2. Yeah. That oughta work real good.

What a plan!

[Hortensis]

15. Seriously, populist passions and resentments are very much the same on left and right,

and studies say most people choose their "group" and then adopt their new leader's ideology. Not vice versa. Bernie tried to draw a bunch to him in 2016 and succeeded to some degree.

I think I'd like to see Bernie-approved candidates run in red districts where resentful populists have only "establishment" Republican candidates to vote for. And where mainstream Democrats could not win. At worst could ramp up the divisions. And if they won, great!

[MineralMan]

27. I think red districts should always have strong Democrats running

for office. Sadly, many Republicans go unopposed. I can't even imagine that. If I were in such a district, I'd run, myself, before I'd let a ballot with no Democrat on it go to the voters.

[JI7]

3. Because the goal of some is to help republicans win

[MineralMan]

5. Oh. I see.

Well, then...carry on, by all means.

[Maven]

4. There's this notion held by some on the left that we expect Republicans to be shitty

and therefore Democrats who are more centrist or conservative are actually more of a threat than Republicans because they make the status quo just palatable enough to keep real change from happening. It's absolutely ignorant of how our two-party system functions and how progress is actually made. In other words, it's self-defeating bullshit. Yet, these people would rather undermine our potential to form a governing majority than go after Republicans. And in the process, they give Republicans a pass! It's madness.

[MineralMan]

7. Well, "real change" is happening right now, after 2016.

Was that the "real change" people were looking for, because it's sure happening, even as we watch.

Change, in itself is not necessarily a good thing, but we're sure getting changes, aren't we?

[Maven]

9. Yes, we certainly are.

And somehow, the people who told us the status quo was the worst outcome are not the same people who are suffering the most from the "real change" we are getting.

[MineralMan]

10. It makes you wonder what it is some people want, doesn't it?

Maybe some people have goals we don't understand. Hmm....

[TreasonousBastard]

6. It's the Purity Police-- our version of teabaggers...

but we're more effective at it. The losing part, anyway.

Take a reasonably middle of the road Democrat and force a primary to get a fiery left-winger (i.e. Progressive) in there and end up losing the seat.

[MineralMan]

8. Well, we may be on track to do just that.

And even if the "fiery left-winger" doesn't win the primary, that candidate might alienate enough voters so we'd lose anyhow.

Now, that's progress!

[wryter2000]

11. And then we can have the revolution

Real progress

[hfojvt]

12. isn't it odd

how some people in a democracy expect their representative to represent their interests instead of being "effective" corporate tools.

Silly rabbits, representation is only for those who can afford it.

[MineralMan]

25. Just those people's interests?

Last I heard, members of Congress are elected by an entire district. That probably includes people with many different interests. Which interests are most important, I wonder? In my Congressional District, our representative does a great job of representing most people's interests. That's why she keeps winning with a 60% majority.

Now, I suppose there are some in her district to feel that their particular interests are not being represented. It's a diverse world. That's why we have elections. If enough people aren't having their interests represented, they'll surely make a change, right?

My Congressional Representative is Betty McCollum. Who is yours?

[hfojvt]

34. my "representative" os a Republican

who keeps winning with 60% majority.

"that's why we have elections"

Indeed, and that includes PRIMARY elections.

[Demsrule86]

31. How some people lose a perfectly good Democrat who doesn't agree with every single thing some people

in a Democracy demand and gain a shitty Republican who doesn't agree with anything the 'some people' believe...wow what a victory! for the GOP anyway ...silly rabbits enabling GOP victories and their own demise after an evil GOP agenda is implemented.

[TeamPooka]

13. Yeah screw that whole "holding them accountable for their votes" stuff.

They should be able to vote with the GOP when they want to and suffer no repercussions from their party's base.
Why keep your rep's feet to the fire like the GOP does?
It's not like their plan has worked and they control all levels of government right now.
Stay the course and never change.

[Demsrule86]

32. This has nothing to do with how Feinstien voted...she said something that 'some people'

didn't like...some are going to destroy any shot at beating the GOP in 18/20 and then wring their hands and say how did this happen...look in the mirror.

[haveahart]

14. But that makes too much sense for some. And doesn't hurt Democrats enough.

[R B Garr]

16. Not only primarying, but recalling! There is a recall effort from so-called

Bernie people to RECALL an elected Democrat, even though they don't live in his district.

https://ballotpedia.org/Anthony_Rendon_recall,_California_State_Assembly_(2017)

There is no excuse for this. It is beyond outrageous. Bernie needs to call this out.

[Gothmog]

17. I totally agree with your analysis

[CousinIT]

18. 10,0000000 +++++ n/t

[brush]

19. Makes too much sense.

Another related thing I don't get is how allegedly left-leaning third parties always attack Dems more, who are more closely politically aligned with them, than they do repugs?

[leftstreet]

20. Centrism is dead. Established Democrats have to deal with it

If they can change positions, they'll do fine

[leftofcool]

30. Really?

Don't tell anyone in Kentucky that. We are trying to get the Democrat Amy McGrath elected instead of the idiot Republican Andy Barr.

[white_wolf]

21. Because primaries are a way to hold people accountable

There's nothing wrong with voters want a representative more responsive to their needs and goals. Politicians are owed nothing. They work for us not the other way around.

[Demsrule86]

33. There is everything wrong with it when the GOP owns it all and we could spend the money and

time kicking the GOP out of office instead of going after safe Democratic seat and making it easier for the GOP to pick off our Senators in a year that is not in our favor. I for one will never give one dime to any organization who primaries sitting Dems at this moment...I emailed every organization and stopped giving money to Move On. These organizations, their candidates (some who aren't even Dems), and their supporters can all screw themselves.

[mcar]

22. What a concept!

[FreepFryer]

23. Yes, yes - but how does that help Russia? Paid trolls wanna know. (n/t)

[m-lekktor]

24. you know the DEM party "deep state" isn't going to let long time establishment DEMS get primaried!!

didn't you follow that eye opening lawsuit against the DNC trial? silly MineralMan. geeez

[MineralMan]

28. Well, anyone can file to run in a primary. That's true where I am, for sure.

Some weird-ass people run every election. We even had a teabagger run as a Democrat against our House Rep last time. What a moron!

[samnsara]

26. cuz whiners gotta whine

[comradebillyboy]

29. I remember my Russian history class reading

about the rivalry between the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) and the Left SRs. After the revolution the Bolsheviks exterminated both groups.