Democrats Not Headed Too Far Left, Says Ocasio-Cortez, 'We Are Bringing the Party Home'

[Uncle Joe]

As part of a wave of reaction to comments made by former President Barack Obama who reportedly suggested to "liberal wealthy" party donors late last week that some Democrats were going "too far left," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded by saying progressives are not pushing in some new, radical direction but rather trying to it back to where it came from.

"I want to be the party of the New Deal again," tweeted the freshman Democrat from New York on Saturday, referencing the era of progressive change under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt last century.

"The party of the Civil Rights Act, the one that electrified this nation and fights for all people. For that, many would call us radical," she said.

Link to tweet

(snip)

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/17/democrats-not-headed-too-far-left-says-ocasio-cortez-we-are-bringing-party-home

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. She is 100% correct, and that is what scares the mega donors and their puppets nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Nobody's scared of AOC or "commondreams" propaganda.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Nobody's inspired by donor-driven politics

[paleotn]

104. Yep...

Such things helped get us into this mess.

[Sherman A1]

28. Don't count on it.

These times they are a changin'

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

137. They sure are... AOC rocks!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[wnylib]

86. Uh Oh. The first 2 posts in this thread encapsulize

an underlying issue in the Dem primaries. What direction will we go in, centrist or left? Good candidates in both camps. Which one will represent us best as a party and take the WH?

[rampartc]

201. those lines have been drawn for a long time

it is why we have primaries.

[wnylib]

218. But they are especially significant now when

the outcome in the general is so crucial. My concern is that we remain united regardless of who wins the primaries. I'd hate to see people from either side of the line break that unity if dissatisfied.

Once Trump and his cult are out of power, the line will still be there for us to work out somehow.

[DownriverDem]

107. Focus on

winning enough states to beat trump. What good does it do if your views are not supported by the voters you need to win?

[Thekaspervote]

112. Seems that is a tiny little overlooked fact by all the arm chair experts here

[Eliot Rosewater]

151. There will be ONCE AGAIN a hard push by some to go to the left, which I would love

but NOT at the expense of winning.

If we dont win, wont matter how far left you are or are not, the country will be gone, for real. For good.

When I say this, a certain group will say stuff like "you dont know till you try" or "people are sick of the status quo."

All true, BUT will we still win? I say do polling, if polling shows the move to the left is a winner, do it, and dont if it doesnt.

COMMON SENSE

[Aquaria]

166. No leftist has ever won the White House.

FDR didn’t run as a leftist, and neither did ANY of those victorious Dems after him. The furthest left any of them ever tried to run was moderate left.

If you want to know what happens when someone runs as anything further left than that, look no further than McGovern and Mondale. Those campaigns were disasters because they didn’t tack back to the center after the primaries.

The sad reality is that Americans may love some leftish policies, but certain segments of the left are blind to the positions that the general electorate is NOT leftish about at all (like, oh, national security or crime). Even worse, too many of these blind lefties ignore the fact that what most Americans want in policies vs a leader are two very different things. In their leaders, most of them want pragmatism, stability and order, not wild-eyed dreamers and saboteurs. Look what happened when one of the latter got elected in 2016. Disaster. National embarrassment. Disorder—even chaos. Instability.

The last thing most voters will want in 2020 is the feeling that more chaos is on the way. They want someone who promises to get everything to settle down and some semblance of sense and order restored. They want more along the lines of no-drama Obama than rabble rousers like IQ4.5 or someone further than center-left.

That’s why so many find Biden appealing of late, although I suspect he will self-destruct like he always has whenever he’s run for POTUS. It’s what he does. Then again, nostalgia for the tranquility of life under Obama that he alone represents could very well carry him to victory despite his self-destructive tendencies.

It’s the person who can hold the outer corners of their base together without driving away the centrists and independents who will win in 2020–or any other election year. No Dem or RepubXXX ever wins on their bases alone. And no one who caters to the left ever wins the White House.

That is the enduring reality of American elections. Anyone who’s actually studied electoral history knows this.

[Eyeball_Kid]

190. It's about the branding, folks.

All of the issues that are characterized as "leftist" or left of center are the issues that most US voters want to see addressed and solved, and MOST US VOTERS agree with the "leftist" positions. The corporate controlled media, however, is artificially separating the proposed leftist policies from the wishes of the electorate and calling those positions as unacceptable when they exactly within the mainstream.

Sanders noted this corruption of ideas many times in the 2016 election cycle, but few listened, mostly because the corporate media, heavily influenced by right wing messaging, saturated the conversation with ominous warnings of a "socialist state", if commonly viewed issues like universal health care were seriously explored. Still, right wing media dominates the messaging, and critical social and economic policies are sidelined and tabled, again and again.

[Demsrule86]

191. The left including Ocasio-Cortez need to do their homework first before they bring the

party left, they need to win hearts and minds...getting elected in a solid blue seat is not convincing-Cortez couold not win a statewide election is Iowa-the home of Grassley. The midterms were won not by Cortez and her crew but by moderates. So, she is putting the cart before the horse and will hurt progressives if we move left and lose...will finish us off for a generation IMHO...I would love to move left but I would rather win and send Trump packing. What has she done to earn the right to say where the party goes? Winning a blue seat doesn't cut if for me. She is talented no doubt...now the hard work begins for her and others. Roll up your sleeves and wins hearts and minds countrywide so we can run progressive candidates and win.

[LeftTurn3623]

239. isnt that what she is doing?

I think going door to door and talking about the issues is changing the hearts and mind of this country. Ho w is she supposed to do it by not going out and talking about it?

Just because she doesn't support Biden and threw her support to Bernie doent mean you have to try and makeup some BS to discredit her.


Just amazes me with the Biden supporters. Win at any cost - who cares if we need to go backwards.

So glad when Obama was running the thought wasnt - we need to play it safe. Sorry I need something to believe in not just removing Trump

[Demsrule86]

240. No she is working at the primary level...to win for what she calls the progressive part of the

party. That is not the same thing as going after red or purple seats with a winning message...she goes to Arizona with her message and we lose the Senate...she can't help middle of the road Democrats...and change will come at the grass root levels, state government and house seats-as we win over voters but the candidates must be tailored to the districts they run in until that happens...so she has a job ahead of her. But to run folks on the left who can't possibly win is not helpful to our party or our country. She wins in a blue blue district in New York. She would not win in any district in Ohio. And the GOP will attempt to run against her in 20 and beyond.

[Sherman A1]

27. +1000%

[brush]

147. Might be good idea to get the WH and Senate then legislate as left as we can.

Just sayin'. Get trump out first then do what we want.

[Eliot Rosewater]

200. That is what I am concerned about. POLLING will tell us what to do. If POLLING says

people are afraid of M4All, since that really is what we are talking about, then we adjust.

And how do we do anything AT ALL without the Senate, what are we doing about the SENATE? What are the

"progressives"

doing about WINNING the Senate?

I am asking because I am NOT a progressive, I am a liberal. There is a difference.

[brush]

203. Liberals are pragmatic progressives. Things have to be achievable or we're...

fooling ourselves and no one else.

[Eliot Rosewater]

206. Yes, a liberal was a progressive before the term was created or caught on, and some of us

have been proposing very far left stuff for a long time.

Myself especially.

But, I also know when to go for it and when not to.

[Aquaria]

161. Come on

She scares no one. She says nothing new. Same old tired points we’ve all heard before. Heck, she’s indistinguishable from Dennis Kucinich circa 2000s, and not even as interesting or as classy as 1990s Paul Wellstone.

Besides, Dems were at their strongest under the Great Society, not the New Deal. LBJ did more on the domestic front for ALL Americans, and especially the poor, than any other president before or since. His achievements were the ones that scared the living daylights out of the wealthy, the powerful and the racists, far more than FDR ever did.

And like many of the ignorati on the poseur corners of the left, this shameless self-promoter is too ignorant to know that much reality.

Let me know when she wakes up and becomes as remotely liberal as a 60s non-Southern Democrat. Then I might be impressed with something she says or does. For a change.

Until then, I find her underwhelming and stale. Glad the seat is still D, but I could feel that way about many Ds.

[BeckyDem]

192. Yes, yes and yes.

It is a mistake to suggest otherwise, the entire make up of the attacks against her are about keeping mega donors happy.

[tymorial]

226. Oh yes so afraid

[Gothmog]

235. According to Nate-Democratic voters are closer to Biden than Warren/sanders

Link to tweet

[Nanjeanne]

2. It's what keeps me in the Democratic Party.

[The Valley Below]

8. Not me. A commitment to liberalism is what makes the Democratic Party my unwavering home.

[Nanjeanne]

12. That's what makes it a democracy. And what makes it great!

But I definitely support a move toward being the party of the New Deal again. So if that's "too far left" Count Me In!!!!!

[brush]

152. About the New Deal: FDR had Dem Congress and still had to compromise...

to get the New Deal passed, and it was with people in his own party. The cixiecrats insisted that African Americans be left out of the new legislation.

My point is maybe wish for LBJ's Great Society mindset that included everyone.

[Nanjeanne]

157. I wish for this time's New Deal. The 30s and the 60s were their times.

[brush]

174. That I can agree with.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

138. It's all about coming home to the Democratic Party's progressive roots.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Demsrule86]

193. We can't embrace our progressive roots in a center left country and win elections...and every

election we lose pulls us further to the right. We are further to the right than we were in 16 right now. If we lose 20, we lose the courts for a generation and the country moves further right... we might as well go home for thirty years or so...it won't matter who is elected. Put a fork in the progressive movement...no matter the Demographics.

We will be fortunate if the Republic survives...it is that serious. And it seems to me,it is not about going 'home' to Roosevelt policies that are nearly 100 years old but building a new 21st century progressive party which won't happen if we can't attract voters in red and purple states by winning them over to our side policy wise...those who cry Roosevelt,Roosevelt are living in the past. He was a great president no doubt...but now it is time for us to come up with ideas that will move this country and party forward. We are no better than the GOP who worship Reagan if we continue to look backwards for answers to modern 21st century problems instead of considering modern innovative idea..We live in a different world in 2019 than Roosevelt and our
great-grandparents did in 1932 America.

[yaesu]

3. she is right and wherever we bring it it will be far left of the fascists regardless. nt

[The Valley Below]

6. FDR must be rolling in his grave.

[BuffaloJackalope]

39. The abandonment of the original New Deal was overseen by centrist Dems over the last 30 yrs

AOC is closer to FDR than the DLC is.

[The Valley Below]

40. Sure pal.

[BuffaloJackalope]

50. Why do you think we need a new New Deal then?

The fact is FDRs vision has been crippled since Reagan - entirely because of Reagan's policies. And since the '80s centrist Dems have been chasing Reagan's legacy, not FDRs. Dismissing FDRs & AOCs policies as "far-left" does not help.

Which is at least part of the reason we find ourselves in the pickle we're in now.

[Quixote1818]

63. Spot on. nt

[The Valley Below]

70. Nah. The much disparaged by the left Bill Clinton ENDED the Age of Reaganism...

and put our party back in the White House, which was awesome.

Suggesting otherwise is the pure gaslighting of Democrats.

We know why we are in a pickle now. 100%. And it ain't because of Democratic loyalist voters.

[BuffaloJackalope]

73. Bill Clinton was very much a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". Obama even praised Reagan.

Reganism never ended. Bush I, Bush II and now Trump has given us Reagamism on steroids.

[The Valley Below]

74. LOL. No pal.

Are you in the wrong place?

[Quixote1818]

77. Wow, where have you been the past 30 years. This is common knowledge.

Even Rachel Maddow has called Bill Clinton the best Republican president ever:


Irritated at Obama, Maddow calls Clinton 'best Republican president ever'

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/90187-irritated-at-obama-maddow-calls-clinton-best-republican-president-ever

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-28155578

[The Valley Below]

81. Me? I've been volunteering to elect Democrats and voting every time.

Last edited Sun Nov 17, 2019, 09:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Supporting my party as a proud liberal Democrat.

You?

[BuffaloJackalope]

84. "Liberal" Democrats like Uncle Joe?

The guy that says marijuana is a gateway drug?

[Quixote1818]

85. Well, I have been on DU since 2003 and these discussions used to be common place

here years ago. You seriously have never heard Bill Clinton called "The best republican president ever"? I have probably heard that a few dozen times over the years. Don't get me wrong, he was a good President in a lot of ways and he understood courting Wall Street was necessary and I don't blame him for doing that, but by historical standards he is to the right of Eisenhower.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5669911

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-not-just-maddow-bill-_b_718251

[The Valley Below]

93. No. Thank goodness I've never heard Bill Clinton disparaged is such a fashion.

I'm lucky to hang out with true-blue Democrats.

Bill Clinton ended an era of political dominance of the White House by Republicans. He is a hero in my book.

[paleotn]

119. Ah, yes. Triangulation....

and blue dog Dems. And we all know what happened to the blue dogs. A nearly extinct species.

[The Valley Below]

120. Seems like you have some very serious issues with the last two Democratic presidents?

I liked them both. I want more, rather than fewer.

Bill

[paleotn]

125. Umm, Bill.....

Unlike Republicans, Dems, more often than not, think for themselves and don't cotton much to lock step cults. Personally, I dearly love Obama and there's much to respect from Bill Clinton. But do I agree mindlessly with their stances on all issues? Not hardly. It's called critical thinking, Bill. You ought to try it sometime. Might do you some good.

[The Valley Below]

127. LOL. Sounds like you are back-peddling as fast as you can after trashing our last two presidents.

How did HRC do from your commentary? LOL.

I can only imagine.

[ehrnst]

211. Again with the same false dillema fallacy...

You are positing this: people either agree lockstep with you about Democratic leaders or the other person is "mindlessly agreeing with all their stances" and don't show "critical thinking" skills.

Using this logical fallacy in place of an actual reply can also show a lack of some "critical thinking." It's called dualistic thinking or a binary worldview.

It's called critical thinking, Bill. You ought to try it sometime. Might do you some good.

Look up logical fallacies, tn. Might do you some good.

[boomer_wv]

167. If

Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were no left enough for you, then you are going to likely live a very unsatisfied life.

[The Valley Below]

169. I'm a big fan of both these two former presidents.

They are two solid liberal Democrats in the fine tradition of our party.

[boomer_wv]

171. I agree

They are exactly what we should be going for. We've gone to the left before, and those candidates have been crushed.

[betsuni]

129. From Nancy MacLean's "Democracy in Chains":

"In the end, as their representatives in Washington should have known all along, even those voters who revered Ronald Reagan, and cheered on the contract-signing candidates [Contract with America] in principle, were not ready, when they learned that freed markets would leave them with sole responsibility for their own fates, to give up their Social Security and Medicare, their public schools, and their government-backed air, water, and earth protection. As important, Bill Clinton's legendary ability to 'triangulate' -- taking on as his own some of the goals they proposed while drawing the line against such extreme measures as a balanced budget amendment -- took the steam out of the House GOP's sails. To be repeatedly outwitted by Clinton, a president the radical right had spent much effort and untold treasure trying to undermine, made the sting of defeat all the more sharp."

[paleotn]

136. I hear you, but....

I still can't get passed Clinton signing Gramm-Leach-Bliley. Would 2008 have not happened had he vetoed the "financial modernization" act? I'm with Joe Stiglitz and Barrack Obama on that one. Imagine the suffering that would have been avoided.

[paleotn]

96. Sorry, Bill....

Last edited Sun Nov 17, 2019, 09:37 PM - Edit history (1)

but I'm having a very difficult time reconciling that with your prior statements.

[The Valley Below]

115. Flaming people? LOL. Standing up for liberal Democratic presidents "offends" you?

If so, take it up with management.

I support liberal Democrats.

[paleotn]

121. I don't think so.

You support liberal Dems by flaming and trashing liberal Dems. I think you're merely here to cause trouble. A repeat of 2016. If the shoe fits...pal...wear it.

[The Valley Below]

123. LOL. You trash Bill Clinton and accuse *me* of trashing Democrats?

Seems like you took the Seminar in "Re-framing Reality 101."

I also supported HRC in 2016. Got a problem with that as well?

Yikes!

[The Valley Below]

133. Strange on a pro-Democrat website to have our past presidents called "Democratic overlords."

Smells fishy to me.

Maybe, Petrale Sole?

[paleotn]

142. Um, where did I state that?

Specifically, where did I say our past presidents were "Democratic overlords". Reading comprehension, Bill. Reading comprehension.

My point is, you seem to be treating them as Democratic overlords, immune from any criticism whatsoever. Akin to IQ45 saying the could shoot someone on 5th Ave. and people would still vote for him. Or better yet, those who raise their hands and say..hey, wait a minute...are met the Donald Sutherland treatment at the end of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Sorry, Bill. We're Dems, not minions of the Borg.

Now, care to comment on my actual points?

[The Valley Below]

145. You deny it, and then you double down. Too funny!

You are going on pure invention.

See ya!

[Cha]

236. ..Democratic overlords.."..?! not a very wise term

to use on a Democratic Board.. specifically because we do NOT have any.

[ehrnst]

205. Interesting... a false dillema, attacking a straw man, and an ad hominem attack

in one post... A three-fer! Must have really hit a nerve.

"Democratic Overlords?"

Is that other board slow today?

[George II]

212. ...

[KPN]

176. For someone who' been a member here at DU

for 6 whole days, I have to wonder what your motivation is for all the antagonism. You must really want to create fractures it seems. Got to wonder.

[The Valley Below]

178. Too funny! Praising Democratic presidents on a pro-Democratic forum is considered antagonistic?

On what planet?

[KPN]

194. ....

[Thekaspervote]

100. Rachael Maddow calls herself an Eisenhower democrat

[BuffaloJackalope]

113. Rachael Maddow isn't trying to be the Democratic nominee for President.

just sayin'

[Thekaspervote]

131. No...really??? I was responding to a post about racheal maddow

[BuffaloJackalope]

139. You were responding to an accurate description of a president or presidential candidate.

Maddow is neither, so how she describes herself is irrelevant.

[Thekaspervote]

179. Go away...it's a statement of fact

[BannonsLiver]

208. A lot of the folks in the far left camp have hatred for Obama

He didn’t solve all their problems or get them their magic unicorn pony.

[The Valley Below]

209. I really admire President Obama.

I was proud of his presidency, and still am.

[BannonsLiver]

210. +100000

We all should be proud.

[NurseJackie]

213. Remember when BS was suggesting that Obama should be primaried for his 2nd term?

Saying and doing things like that only serves to weaken and divide us. It was at that moment that the veil had been lifted and I knew everything I needed to know about him. I mean, seriously now, what kind of supposed ally of Democrats and the Democratic party would say such a thing? I think it's perfectly fair for me (or anyone) to question the motives of anyone who'd intentionally denigrate Obama in that way. Look, all I'm saying is that it's a legitimate question that deserves an honest answer.

[BannonsLiver]

220. Oh I remember it well

It’s what disqualified Bernie in my eyes the minute he announced back in 2015. He’s been running for president more or less non stop since then, and my feelings have definitely not changed. What he suggested was a disgrace.

[NurseJackie]

251. ▶▶▶ Biden remembers it too...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287356887

... so glad he's talking about it.

[Thekaspervote]

80. Where do you get this stuff??

[Thekaspervote]

99. That's rubbish!

[brooklynite]

188. Reagan was an advocate of universal health care? Who knew?

[Stargleamer]

253. Ended the "Age of Reaganism"?

He took pride in "ending welfare as we know it". and then his involvement with Monica Lewinsky cost Al Gore the election (among other things).

[The Valley Below]

254. Not pure enough for you?

[Quixote1818]

62. You may need to go home and do some homework then.

Here is what happened to the Democratic Party.

1. Dems in the 70's primary source of money was labor unions but Reagan began to break them up to where they the Democratic Party was no longer able to fundraise effectively and Republicans were getting tons of money from big business and Wall Street.

2. Bill Clinton recognized this problem and began courting Wall Street for cash and so the Democratic Party really moved more into the position moderate Republicans were in during the 60's and 70's.

3. This issue only got worse and the DNC knew Wall Street called the shots. Dems were allowed to have their social issues but when it came to fiscal policy Wall Street didn't allow Dems much freedom. Meanwhile they were not standing up to the GOP on things like taxes, wages, regulating banks etc.

4. The progressive FDR wing of the Democratic Party started to feel disenfranchised and began to flex their muscle again and have so far not been very effective but the movement is growing.

This is all very well documented:

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/11/04/elections-2018-democrats-history-liberal-progressive-socialist-222187

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/21/clintons-democratic-party-donors-recover

https://democracyjournal.org/arguments/the-new-old-democrats/

[The Valley Below]

67. LOL. Thank you. I hardly need a lecture on the history of the Democratic Party.

Casting FDR as a democratic-socialist is pure fiction.

Thanks anyway.

[Quixote1818]

72. Then respond with some actual articles and facts

Fact is as the article says, most Americans are inline with AOC and the "Far left".

https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-socialism-20190213-story.html

[The Valley Below]

76. Try this one.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/16/democrats-socialism-fdr-roosevelt-227622

For what its worth, I don't need opinion writers to do my thinking for me.

And most Americans are definitely NOT in line with AOC and the "Far left."

[BuffaloJackalope]

83. New Poll Shows Basically Everyone Likes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal

about a year old, but ...

https://earther.gizmodo.com/new-poll-shows-basically-everyone-likes-alexandria-ocas-1831158171

[The Valley Below]

87. A year old "online poll" that didn't identify AOC

The Yale poll also didn’t identify that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is among those pushing hardest...

Hardly a ringing endorsement. Doesn't sound like the year old poll included all the non-climate-related parts of her plan.

[BuffaloJackalope]

110. Sounds like when Democratic proposals are presented w/o the color of RW propaganda, people like them

Why are you listening to RW propaganda about AOC?

[Thekaspervote]

111. Agree! People are quick to overlook AOC, and I will say this kindly...missteps

She says she’s for women yet there’s this

She and sanders went to KS to campaign against Sherice David’s. The first REAL Native American elected to the congress... why?

She publicly denounced speaker Pelosi days b4 impeachment hearings were announced saying it was a bigger scandal from her not to impeach dotard than his crimes... really?? Any apology nope!! Wow some support

At a rally in Queens for sanders she went on about how she was on CHIP as a kid and gave sanders credit for it. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sponsored the bill that passed, while sanders voted against it

Everyone likes aoc?? NOT

[sheshe2]

217. +1000

[Thekaspervote]

98. Here's some eye popping numbers/ facts for you. NYT/Sienna poll

Voters are fairly clear about what they would like from a Democrat. They prefer, by 82% to 11%, one who promises to find common ground over one who promises to fight for a progressive agenda; and they prefer a moderate over a liberal, 75% to 19.

More at the link

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287336368#post2

Moderation won the midterm
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/20/moderate-republican-midterm-losses-house

Jimmy Carter warns Democrats: Don't veer too far left, scare off moderates nbcnews.com/politics/elect… via @nbcnews As,does president Obama and speaker Pelosi.

I think they know a tad more than you on winning

[betsuni]

90. President Obama set a record for Wall Street funding when running for president.

"President Obama took more money from Wall Street in the 2008 campaign than anybody ever had. And when it came time to stand up to Wall Street, he passed and signed the toughest regulations since the Great Depression, with the Dodd-Frank regulations." -- Hillary Clinton.

"Wall Street called the shots." No.

[Dem4Life1102]

54. Actually the abandonment of the new deal

was done by FDR himself to build up the industries need to win World War II

[BuffaloJackalope]

60. Oh, right. Which is why Truman tried to build on the New Deal in 1948 with the Fair Deal.

The future of the Democratic Party lies in honoring the "far left" legacy of FDR, Truman, the Kennedys, et al, which is what AOC is doing far more than the centrists in power right now.

[Dem4Life1102]

64. Read some history

Truman was a moderate. FDR dumped Henry Wallace because he was too liberal. Add JFK ran on a liberal agenda but on a missile gap with Russia.

[BuffaloJackalope]

69. The idea that being a hard-nosed Cold Warrior is incomparable with having a social conscience

is something used to attack Democrats, not support them.

[Dem4Life1102]

91. Recognizing reality and history

is only an attack on those who try to revise it.

[BuffaloJackalope]

117. Sort of like what you're doing?

[Dem4Life1102]

153. Projection

[Thekaspervote]

116. Oh but the facts in the those big history books... such pesky little things!!

[Dem4Life1102]

154. Exactly

[Thekaspervote]

78. Sure

[stonecutter357]

134. LOL

[paleotn]

92. You're joking. Right?

Right?

[The Valley Below]

95. Hardly.

[paleotn]

97. Thought so.

Troll much?

[George II]

7. On November 9 my Congressman, John Larson, was meeting with constituents in Hartford...

...our neighboring Congresswoman, Jahana Hayes, was with constituents in Waterbury. Rosa DeLauro was with constituents in New Haven.

That's what GOOD Members of Congress do during House recesses.

[NurseJackie]

14. Excellent point.

I wonder if her constituents are feeling neglected. It's a fair question.

[George II]

18. I can't speak for all of them, but I can for some...

...(I lived ~ a mile from the 14th for 14 years and have friends that do live in that District). My first girlfriend lived in the Bronx section of the 14th.

Many are NOT happy. First, when there wasn't a functioning District office in Queens for five months after the term began, then the Amazon fiasco, then the all-white rally a few blocks from their District, and many other things. They're used to having a Congressman who listens to them and advocates for them.

[NurseJackie]

20. I can't blame then for being dissatisfied.

I would be also.

[George II]

24. I've met three of our state's five members of Congress (well, Esty was one of those three....

....prior to Hayes) Joe Courtney visited our company several times to meet with the employees. It's just what they do.

[NurseJackie]

32. They were responsible and took their position seriously....

... as well as their responsibility to their constituents... that's the way I'd describe it.

[BuffaloJackalope]

102. Ocasio-Cortez Viewed Favorably by Majority of Voters in Her District

https://scri.siena.edu/2019/04/10/ocasio-cortez-viewed-favorably-by-majority-of-voters-in-her-district/

[George II]

114. Here are the top two headlines from your link:

Ocasio-Cortez Viewed Favorably by Majority of Voters in Her District; 48% of All Voters, 61% of Dems Would Re-elect AOC

In a District that has voted 70-80% Democratic in the past half dozen elections, it does not bode well if now less than a majority, 48%, of the District would re-elect their Representative.

Strong Majority of Voters Say Amazon Canceling Planned Queens Headquarters is Bad for NY; Strong Majority Want Amazon to Reconsider

I know Queens politics, and that campaign against Amazon, which was mostly exaggerated and possibly false, has seriously hurt Democrats in the Borough.

[Thekaspervote]

181. Ahh! The voice of recent history...thank you. She will crash and burn at this rate

[George II]

189. Reminder: That's from April, 7 months ago and only 3 months into her term....

Things in NY-14 have changed dramatically since then.

[Kurt V.]

29. i wouldn't say that single metric can determine good or bad members.

[George II]

31. Not that in of itself, but meeting with and knowing one's constituents goes a long way toward...

...being an effective legislator.

Multiple visits to mostly white rural Iowa during House recesses aren't going to shed much light on the concerns of inner city African Americans or Hispanics, which make up more than 60% of NY-14.

[Kurt V.]

52. i would like to see if there is a correlation bt the great legislators of our time and their trips

back home. that'd be interesting

[George II]

55. Some legislators don't go back to their districts during the entire recess, but they stay in DC....

....preparing for their work after the recess is over. VERY few spend their time during recesses going to other states and districts.

[Kurt V.]

65. and some legislators don't go back home bc their gerrymandered district (repubs)

Actually don't like them. ha!

[George II]

109. If they don't like them how do they get elected?

[Gothmog]

234. Holding town halls in one's district is something to be encouraged

[betsuni]

9. New Deal and Civil Rights were possible because Democrats had majorities in legislature.

It's not the '30s or '60s, it's the 21st century and Republicans are the problem.

[flying_wahini]

11. But we may be in control of both Sen & the House AND the Pres after the next election!

[LongtimeAZDem]

22. Unlikely; I doubt Kelly can win Arizona, even if we sweep the rest

[W_HAMILTON]

26. Whaaaaaaaaaat?

He's arguably the most likely to win of them all.

If Sinema can beat McSally, you don't think Kelly can?

[LongtimeAZDem]

58. Sinema barely beat McSally, in part because McSally ran such a horrid campaign. But Kelly

is advocating reclassifying assault weapons under the National Firearms Act, making them effectively equivalent to automatic weapons. That will kill him in the general election; it will cost him a good chunk of rural Democrats, and mobilize massive opposition. Throw in the fact that he voted in the Republican primary in '12, and I think he loses the credibility on both sides.

Meanwhile, McSally will be running as an incumbent, defusing policy criticism.

I really wanted Ruben Gallego, a real Arizona Democrat, but he dropped out when Kelly entered.

[Thekaspervote]

122. Oh I think Kelly has a very good shot

McSally is despised after the comments she made about AZ fav son....”hope he hurries up and dies.” Didn’t play well. The McCains still hold a very powerful political hand in AZ. They are supporting Biden and Kelly

That and his poll numbers are very good

[LongtimeAZDem]

144. I hope you're right, but the opposition hasn't even mentioned the gun issue. It will

Last edited Mon Nov 18, 2019, 04:54 PM - Edit history (1)

come up about two months before the election, and they'll bury him with it.

[Thekaspervote]

182. And as you hope I'm right I hope you're wrong

[Celerity]

249. Gardner in CO is by far the surest one that will go down, but I do think we flip AZ as well

[Celerity]

248. you do realise there are 13 flippable seats, AZ is not necessary to regain the majority

but it would be a great pickup and unlike you I think we WILL PICK IT UP

[George II]

19. So much for "forward thinking", eh?

[The Valley Below]

10. The socialists of his day called FDR a plutocrat, a corporatist, and worse...

and they fielded a candidate to oppose him.

That FDR is now a hero to the democratic-socialist left is pretty amusing.

Trying to steal his legacy through revisionism/re-framing/gaslighting is less amusing.

The Democratic Party is already "home."

[Docreed2003]

13. +1

[Nanjeanne]

17. You are right. There are many things FDR stood for that are a problem for me as

a long-time Democrat and a "far left" liberal!

Internment of Japanese Americans
Lack of sympathy for the plight of refugees during WWII
His refusal to support federal anti-lynching legislation

But I still celebrate the good things like taxing the rich and corporations to finance relief programs on a large scale, expanding national parks, the establishment of the Banking Act, the establishment of SS, housing act, labor standards . . .

People - and particularly politicians - can be complex people. That people choose to focus on the things he did that would now be termed democratic-socialist is natural. They were the things Democrats should be proud of.

[oldsoftie]

23. The whole "taxing the rich" from the past is a false premise.

Everyone who clamors for the tax rates of the 50s or earlier misses the facts about tax revenue.
Historically the US has taken in 16-19% of GDP in taxes. Regardless of the rates. That shows the power of deductions. And the motivation to elude high rates.
But still the same 'ol song and dance continues.

[PETRUS]

36. The facts about tax revenue:

Link to tweet

[oldsoftie]

56. A Twitter graph of RATES is meaningless. My numbers are correct; regardless of ANY rates.

Thats the whole point. We paid a higher % of GDP in taxes in 2000 than we did during WW2!
Making rates extremely high for whatever income level passes as "wealthy" is nothing more than a "feel good" move. But the actual impact on govt revenue is ALWAYS far less than projected.
Which is another reason we need a VAT.


https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FYFRGDA188S

[PETRUS]

66. That's not a graph of rates.

It's a graph of what was collected. It comes from a comprehensive analysis of all taxes collected at all levels of government (i.e. not merely Federal income taxes), done by Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman. While it's true that Federal tax receipts have remained within a fairly narrow range as a percentage of GDP, Federal taxes are only part of the picture, and as you can see from the visualization, the tax burden was shifted onto lower income families as it was reduced on higher income families.

[MichMan]

75. Why does the title say "Total Tax Rate" then?

[PETRUS]

82. Because it combines all taxes paid (Federal, State, municipal, etc.). nt

[oldsoftie]

88. But combining local, state & city taxes clouds the issue.

All these new programs proposed are to be funded by the feds.
And remember, when considering corporate rates, those costs are usually passed on to the end user. Trumps tariffs are really just taxes in another word. And we see the results of that; lower revenues & higher prices.
I have no problem with increasing the rates the higher income pays. But we have to be realistic about the outcome. There is a line were people will just say "no". And they'll find a way around it. They always do. And as usual, we're not even considering all the income never taxed; "stated income" payers. Probably a trillion or more in unclaimed income. I know SO many people who do it its amazing.
Which is why a VAT is such a big piece of the puzzle for the countries that have what we want. And what do states, cities and counties do when they need revenue? Put a SPLOST on the ballot. And in my area, they almost always pass. And real revenue gets raised & major projects get funded.

[PETRUS]

89. That's a pretty wordy way of avoiding the admission that you were wrong.

And no, it doesn't "cloud the issue."

[oldsoftie]

159. Of course it does. The feds dont take our state and local taxes.

Everyone who wants upper tax rates to go back to those of the 50s refuse to admit that no one actually paid those rates. And few will pay the wealth tax either. It wont raise NEARLY enough to cover what we need. Its disingenuous to tell the average worker that the rich will cover everything new & they'll need to pay nothing extra.
Unless you just dont care a whit about exploding the debt even faster than Trump is

[PETRUS]

196. You are sidestepping and grasping at straws.

I posted to address the question of whether or not the effect of the tax code in the past was significantly more progressive, or if it just looked that way on paper if one fails to account for loopholes, deductions, and other avoidance schemes. The reality is that is was much, much more progressive even after wealthy citizens did whatever they could to reduce their payments. When confronted with that information, your initial response was a hasty and false assumption about the data, followed by a change of topic. If you want me to address your diversions, I will, as it appears you have some misconceptions on that front as well.

[MichMan]

198. Nowhere in that chart is there anything stating taxes collected

It clearly states that it is Total Tax Rates

I dont why you keep insisting it says anything else.

[PETRUS]

219. It's not immediately apparent if you're not looking beyond my post.

But in the tweet, there's a link to an article that uses clearer language, and the book the article is based on is fairly explicit. The authors of the study and the book are tracking actual tax payments, not statutory rates. I'm insisting because that's what the data behind the graph actually is.

[Nanjeanne]

42. Really? Didn't know that. I think of the Revenue Tax Act of 1935 being a part

of FDR’s admin and if I recall my history correctly (sorry can’t look up details on my phone now) I thought that was the one that FDR signed that raised income tax on the higher levels with the wealth tax. I believe up to 75% over what was $1 million in 1935.

If my history serves me well it was called “soak the rich tax”

But maybe I’m misremembering and confused by all the singing and dancing.

What any of this talk about FDR has to do with the 50s I’m not sure. But thanks for giving me the historical data. I’ll be sure to check it out when I get to a computer.

[oldsoftie]

57. You are correct with the rates. But what was actually PAID is all that matters.

See my post above yours for the chart link

[Nanjeanne]

59. Oh well if that's all that matters.

[oldsoftie]

207. Well, obviously. Real revenue is what matters, not feel-good BS.

Sure, set the tax rate back to 90%. Nobody will pay it, but it sure will feel good to stick to the rich!

[loyalsister]

38. His WPA discriminated against disabled people

The League of the Physically Handicapped mounted quite a protest over it. He was definitely a flawed person.

[Nanjeanne]

47. Yes as I said - definitely flawed and hopefully if we instituted something like

the WPA we would do an even better job. It amazes me as someone who works with an organization that has a mission of employing adults with disabilities that the ADA was passed in 1990 and it was Papà Bush who signed it.

[loyalsister]

105. Not only that, his son signed amendments

Of course, the fact that they are also responsible for increasing the numbers of people who need that law is relevant to me.
I think that there are Democrats in the race who are willing to acknowledge where we have made mistakes and want to do things differently and better. Happily, more than one candidate has addressed the sub-minimum wage problem as well as the disincentives to work and marry.

[Thekaspervote]

126. I mean really... let's trash every good dem ever ..for what. We ALL have our faults

[loyalsister]

135. He isn't here to confirm or deny whether he thinks the difference is positive

But it is a fact that if a modern WPA like program were put in place, we have a civil rights protections that would not permit it to exist as it was originally established and administered.
I think that is a good thing, and I like to believe he would agree.

[betsuni]

21. And he was called a warmonger.

[The Valley Below]

25. How could I have left out that little detail?

Shame on me!

[Kurt V.]

30. that shows a progression of all the parties you mention since then.

[The Valley Below]

35. Not sure if I'm following your point.

[Kurt V.]

48. all those groups, the socialist, new dealers and today's democratic party have progressed or

evolved into something different than in those days. so i don't think anyone is being revisionists or co-opting, just fitting it into todays framework

[ChubbyStar]

37. Hey WELCOME to DU

[Dem4Life1102]

53. Well said

[Thekaspervote]

124. You nailed that one. When aoc has some political capital to wield then....

[Voltaire2]

15. Yup.

[SterlingPound]

16. Once again i like AOC's responce

[url=https://imgflip.com/i/33pqmn][img][/img][/url][url=https://imgflip.com/memegenerator]via Imgflip Meme Generator[/url]

[melman]

33. She's the best

For lots of reasons but one is the people that hate her.

I mean if those types hate you you are definitely doing something right.

[George II]

41. "Those types"? Whatever are you talking about?

[melman]

44. The people that hate Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

I'm sure you've seen them on twitter and elsewhere. They're always the worst kind of right wing trash.

[ehrnst]

199. Like the ones who hate HRC.

"on twitter and elsewhere..." Disgusting, right wing trash indeed, amirite?

[NurseJackie]

221. ...

[ehrnst]

222. I know. That was just too easy.

[NurseJackie]

224. If someone hands it to you on a platter...

TAKE IT!!

[ehrnst]

225. It was like someone sang "Shave and a haircut...."

what was I supposed to do? Nothing?

[NurseJackie]

228. TWO BITS!!!

[ehrnst]

229. SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!!!???

[Mariana]

46. I won't speak for Melman

but my impression is that he was speaking of the Republicans who hate her. There certainly are plenty of those.

Who did you think he was talking about?

[H2O Man]

202. Fair question.

All good Democrats should appreciate Alexandria. That's why republicans fear and hate her.

[NurseJackie]

223. Sharice Davids...

All good Democrats should appreciate Alexandria.

It's all rather subjective, isn't it? Who is anyone to tell me whether or not I'm a "good Democrat" (or not) based on my feelings about AOC? Is that really where we want to be now?

For example, Sharice Davids is someone that I admire and "appreciate" more than AOC. So I guess that excludes me from "all good Democrats", eh?

[ehrnst]

227. Katie Porter... they really fear her even more. She's quiet, doesn't crave the spotlight

and comes out of nowhere with competence, deadly accuracy, nerves of steel, and facts. No twitter wars, no drama, nothing to mock.

https://newrepublic.com/article/155268/house-representative-katie-porter-schools-ben-carson-orea-jamie-dimon

[H2O Man]

231. Katie Porter

is great!

[H2O Man]

230. Oh, of course not.

I didn't say Alexandria was your favorite. But I will speculate that you enjoyed her questioning of Michael Cohen about Trump's taxes.

I think it's best if we all get along during the primaries, and stay focused on kicking Trump out of the White House.

[NurseJackie]

243. Nobody accused you of saying that.

I didn't say Alexandria was your favorite.

Actually, nobody accused you of saying that. What you said was "all good Democrats should appreciate Alexandria" and with that, comes the implication that if someone happens to not feel the same way that you do about her, then they aren't a "good Democrat".

But I will speculate that you enjoyed her questioning of Michael Cohen about Trump's taxes.

Not particularly. I didn't see her do anything extraordinary that any other member couldn't also do. There are others who impress me much more and who I admire and "appreciate" much more.

I think it's best if we all get along during the primaries,

If that's true, then you probably also agree with me that it's counterproductive for anyone to put people into little boxes based on highly subjective criteria of who qualifies to be a "good Democrat" and who doesn't.

[ehrnst]

244. +1000. (nt)

[H2O Man]

245. Thank you!

I am the product of an extended Irish-American family. We call all Democrats "Good Democrats" by habit. Thus, when I have face-to-face conversations with others about a politician, I always refer to them as a "Good Democrat." It is my error to assume that translates on the internet, to those unfamiliar with this.

My younger son, a Good Democrat, handily won his 2018 election for local office, getting exactly 109 times as many votes than his opponent. I'm proud of him, and respect his opinions. He is not sure why I am such a strong supporter of Alexandria -- I joined her campaign when it first started, and was not being taken seriously by many. He does not think she is as powerful as I do .....which I believe is in large part due to age. Old people like myself tend to look at the members of the younger generations to identify future leadership, and I view her in that exact manner. Still, I am currently beginning work on two other congressional contests in my state, including the district I live in (for re-election) and another nearby (to unseat a toxic republican).

I hope that you are enjoying the impeachment hearings. They are providing stark evidence that our nation is at a point where we cannot be divided as we approach 2020. We need to be supporting the Good Democrat we nominate for president, and the Good Democrats running for the House, Senate, state and local offices.

[ehrnst]

232. I appreciate some things, and worry about others. (nt)

[Quixote1818]

148. I am guessing they are talking about Republicans who hate her

Last edited Mon Nov 18, 2019, 01:26 AM - Edit history (1)

Are you suggesting you hate AOC?

[George II]

150. bwahahahahaha!!!!

[Quixote1818]

175. Well, that is exactly how it comes across. Pretty much every

pro or negative AOC thread you show up taking the opposite side of her. Something about her seems to set you off enough to get involved with most AOC threads (including this one). Not sure what it is.

[George II]

247. Well, you asked "Are you suggesting you hate AOC?". So, are YOU suggesting I "hate AOC"?

[Mariana]

49. This post got alerted, melman.

Apparently someone thinks this is a divisive group attack. It is very odd, because don't think I've ever seen anyone on DU say that they "hate" Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. So, how could you be criticizing any DUers with this post?

[melman]

51. Very odd indeed

[Lucky Luciano]

94. The anti-Bernie extremists despise AOC...we all know who they are. nt

[H2O Man]

204. Indeed, it did.

I found that strange, since it seemed obvious to me that melman was speaking exclusively about republicans and the Fox News types.

[NurseJackie]

241. Uh-huh.

[Thekaspervote]

128. I don't hate her. She's inexperienced and quick to rush in without all the facts

She says she’s for women yet there’s this

She and sanders went to KS to campaign against Sherice David’s. The first REAL Native American elected to the congress... why?

She publicly denounced speaker Pelosi days b4 impeachment hearings were announced saying it was a bigger scandal from her not to impeach dotard than his crimes... really?? Any apology nope!! Wow some support

At a rally in Queens for sanders she went on about how she was on CHIP as a kid and gave sanders credit for it. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sponsored the bill that passed, while sanders voted against it

Everyone likes aoc?? NOT

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

140. Over the target catching flak, as they say.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Kurt V.]

34. we need the new green deal. Its imperative

[George II]

43. She's right, Democrats aren't headed too far to the left, mostly because the Democrats...

...who have been trying to do so have been losing their primaries.

[JoeOtterbein]

45. K n R

AOC is cool with me!

[warmfeet]

61. Too far left

is code speak for helping others, not necessarily in my group/tribe.

I'm all in. Let's help as many people as we can.

I love A.O.C.

My tribe is life.

[beastie boy]

68. That's a winning message, Uncle Joe, not talks of a revolution.

Kudos to AOC for being such astute politician!

[MRDAWG]

71. Blacks and Independents are not going to vote for Pete. Warren or Bernie**

*

[treestar]

79. How are we not

a party of civil rights or the principles of the new deal?

[betsuni]

118. Justice Democrats believe the following:

After McGovern's loss, the party decided New Deal ideas couldn't win elections and began shifting to the Right. Unions were the primary financial source for Democrats until Reagan weakened them so much they lost most of their power and money, so Bill Clinton turned to Wall Street for funding. Ever since, the Democratic Party has been bought and paid for by Wall Street/corporations/1%, completely abandoning unions and working/middle classes in favor of wealthy elites just like them. The same as Republicans except for social issues. They pretend to support progressive ideas but in fact despise and fear them. The End.

Republicans are oddly absent, innocent bystanders. They seriously believe these things.

[Ferrets are Cool]

101. Agree

[AllyCat]

103. Yes!! This is who we are as a party and as a nation

We care for each other and protect each other. The slime that has infiltrated our once great nation must be stopped and restore the power to the people.

[CentralMass]

106. Exactly. Right on AOC.

[dchill]

108. I have yet to disagree with AOC.

[doc03]

141. Democrats 'home" has never been that far left. Every time she speaks we lose

votes where we need them to win the election. Not saying I disagree with her entirely just saying
that won't help us in the purple states.

[ehrnst]

237. Indeed. (nt)

[democrank]

143. Kicking for AOC

[ismnotwasm]

146. I wish she didn't toss Democrats under the bus so consistently

There are a lot of Democrats in a lot of places who have done a lot of just work to maintain our platform much less the backbreaking work to advance Democratic causes.

And I would really really really like to see more diversity.

I would also like Bernie Sanders to stop taking credit for things like healthcare reform, and Climate change activism being pushed to the forefront. Did we forget Al Gore? Hillary Clinton? I mean seriously what the fuck.

(I understand and accept the fact that Bernie Sanders is increasingly unlikely to be the Democratic nominee is disturbing to some)

[BuffaloJackalope]

149. The Party is moving left - as it should. So, who's throwing who under the bus here?

[ismnotwasm]

160. What the hell are you talking about?

The party is acting like political parties should, responding to the people involved in them

[BuffaloJackalope]

163. AOC was responding the way people being unfairly criticized should.

She's not throwing anyone under the bus.

[TreasonousBastard]

158. Apparently, throwing Democrats under the bus is appropriate when...

they are the "wrong" Democrats.

Say anything you want about Gabbard or Bloomberg, but God help your sorry ass if you dare suggest AOC or Bernie aren't sent directly from Mt Olympus with The Truth.

[BuffaloJackalope]

164. AOC and Bernie aren't the right kind of Democrats for you?

But Gabbard or Bloomberg are?

[TreasonousBastard]

168. I see what you did there...

Never once did I mention my personal thoughts about any of them.

I merely observed that some Democrats are more equal than others around here.

[Dem4Life1102]

180. For the record

Sanders isn’t a Democrat.

[Thekaspervote]

183. And your post is proof of treasonbastards post #158

“I think they doth protest too much!”

[Gothmog]

216. Warren's latest health plan is causing concerns for some centrist, moderate and rural Democrats

I and other true Democrats have been working hard to turn Texas blue. We hope to pick up six congressional seats in addition to the two seats we flipped in 2018. We have a chance to defeat Cornyn in the Senate. The Democrats picked up 12 seats in the Texas House and need 9 more to take control of the Texas House prior to the next redistricting session. If Biden is the nominee, Texas will be a battleground state. If Warren or sanders is the nominee. Texas will not be a battle ground state and we can forget about keeping the two seats that we flipped in 2018

Speaker Pelosi is worried about losing control of the House with a weak top of the ballot ticket with a program that will kill down ballot candidates
.

Link to tweet

The most-vulnerable Democrat in Colorado’s state House, Bri Buentello, is dreading door-knocking in her rural district now that Elizabeth Warren dropped her massive “Medicare for All” plan into the presidential arena.
“This is going to cause down-ballot damage in swing districts and states if she’s the nominee,” Buentello says, describing how her Pueblo-area constituents — who voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump in 2016 — were already echoing criticisms about a giant, one-size-fits-all big government run plan that cancels private health insurance and raises taxes.
Story Continued Below

The fear of blowback is indicative of the broad and largely negative response to Warren’s proposal from centrist, moderate and rural Democrats — many of whom, like Buentello, back Joe Biden in the primary. And it exposes the fault line between those who fret about winning voters in the center and the activist progressive base propelling Warren to the front of the Democratic pack.

The long-awaited plan to raise the $20.5 trillion she says is needed to pay for single-payer health care in America is Warren’s attempt to answer critics after weeks of questions from rival candidates about the cost of her proposal and the prospect of higher taxes. Warren promised, as she has in the past, that "not one penny in middle-class tax increases” is necessary to finance the effort.

[highplainsdem]

156. I'll listen to Obama (and Pelosi, and HRC) rather than AOC.

[TreasonousBastard]

162. She really should study a bit of history before shooting her mouth off...

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 exists thanks largely to the efforts of Everett Dirkson, the Republican who shepherded it through the Senate which was controlled by segregationist Southern Democrats at the time.

Which brings me to the minor point that the Democrats have been much in the business of progressive leadership. Most of the the good things that happened in the 30s or 40s were from the necessities of the Depression and WWII, neither of which are happening now.

There was a Progressive Party ror a while, but it didn't do very well. Not even with a great progressive Republican leading it. (Betcha hardly anyone remembers La Follette or Henry Wallace, though...)

The one grand progressive stand the Democratic Party made was giving the nod to the guy who gave the Cross of Gold speech. A pacifist and spokesman for the Midwestern farmer. You may remember him more for the Scopes trial.

Democrats have been responsible for much progressive thought and legislation, but have never been more than leaning left.

[BuffaloJackalope]

165. And the racist Dems that opposed it then became Republicans. Maybe you should study a bit.

[TreasonousBastard]

170. I am well aware of that. I even know that LBJ admitted they lost the South by...

doing the right thing.

What I don't understand is how that's all you got out of my post.

[Thekaspervote]

184. maybe didn't read your post?? Just wants to pot stir. Angry...all of the above

[Capt. America]

172. testify sister

[KPN]

177. Right on AOC!

[Joe941]

185. She is correct and Bernie will lead the way.

[Otto Lidenbrock]

186. When did the Democratic Party fight for Queer Liberation then stop?

There was no administration who better served our LGBTQ friends than the last one.

[brooklynite]

187. Easy to say when your home is a D+29 safe Blue District.

[LanternWaste]

195. Great. More astroturf divisions being created under the pretense of "more progressive than thou"

Great. More astroturf divisions being created under the pretense of the "more progressive than thou" routine.

It's a great t-shirt slogan that drives off the non-hipster demographics of the Democratic party.

[Gothmog]

197. Polling does not support this claim by AOC

Link to tweet

Nearly half of respondents in a new poll said the Democratic Party has moved "too far left."
The survey from Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday found that 47 percent of registered voters polled said the Democratic Party has moved “too far left;" however, most of those voters identified as Republicans.

The poll found that 79 percent of Republicans surveyed said the Democrats had moved too far left, but only 17 percent of Democrats agreed. Just under half, or 48 percent, of independents said the party has drifted too far left.

There was also a gap by gender, with 57 percent of male respondents saying the party was too far to the left and only 37 percent of women saying the same. Similarly, the view was split by race, with 53 percent of white voters polled agreeing, 33 percent of Hispanic voters and just 17 percent of black voter

[samir.g]

214. AOC 2028

[Gothmog]

215. Florida Democrats want a moderate.

Link to tweet

A group of current and former elected Democratic officials in Broward County said Tuesday they’d like to see their party nominate former Vice President Joe Biden for president in 2020.

Their second choice in a straw vote is Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind.

They definitely don’t want either U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts or U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the progressive candidates who are performing near the top of public opinion polls, along with Biden.....

But they believe the Democratic Party’s overriding goal of defeating President Donald Trump can be best achieved by nominating a candidate — like Biden or maybe Buttigieg — who they believe can better to appeal to swing voters in a handful of states that will decide the election.

[Gothmog]

233. Support for a public option has been increasing, and for Medicare-for-All has been decreasing

Link to tweet

[LeftTurn3623]

238. I love AOC

makes me want to vote for Bernie lol

[Uncle Joe]

242. As do I LeftTurn.

[Gothmog]

246. How Moderates Are Seizing the Moment in the Democratic Primary

Link to tweet

After spending months in anxious passivity, staking their hopes on Joseph R. Biden Jr. and little else, moderate Democrats appear suddenly determined to fight for control of their party in the 2020 elections.,,,

In Nevada, where more than a dozen candidates were gathered for the state party’s “First in the West” dinner, Representative Dina Titus was holding up the Democrats’ off-year victories as a reason for optimism heading into 2020. But Ms. Titus, who has not endorsed a candidate in the presidential race, urged the presidential field to be mindful of the “moderate Democrats in suburban districts” who flipped control of the House last year.

“We have just got to make sure that we appeal across the board,” said Ms. Titus, who introduced both Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders at events this weekend. “We are a big-tent party.”

That proved to be true this month, at least in Louisiana and Kentucky. The Democratic victors in both states, Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana and Andy Beshear, the governor-elect of Kentucky, ran on expanding health care coverage at the state level and largely avoided national issues, like impeachment. Mr. Edwards in particular positioned himself well to the right of the national Democratic Party, opposing abortion rights and new efforts to regulate firearms.

No Democratic leaders believe either state will be in play at the presidential level in 2020, and few would argue that the party should shift as far to the right as Mr. Edwards in order to compete.

But Representative Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, a leading supporter of Mr. Biden, said on Sunday that Democrats should take the election in his state as a sign that “the country is not as far to the left as people would have us believe.”

“If you look at Kentucky, if you look at Louisiana, it shows 2020 could be a very good year for Democrats,” Mr. Richmond said, “but we have to read the tea leaves right, learn the real lesson of what these races are saying.”

[Gothmog]

250. Obama tells Democrats worried about the primary field to 'chill out'

Link to tweet

Appearing at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser attended by about 100 of Silicon Valley’s deep-pocketed donors, the former president told the crowd that it is paramount that the party stay focused on defeating President Trump next November rather than be consumed by intraparty squabbles and purity tests, CNN reported.

“Everybody needs to chill out about the candidates but gin up about the prospect of rallying behind whoever emerges from this process,” Obama said in response to a question about the primary, according to CNN....

“I’m always suspicious of purity tests during elections,” Obama said, according to the New York Times. “Because you know what? The country’s complicated.”....

“This is still a country that is less revolutionary than it is interested in improvement,” Obama said at a Nov. 15 meeting of the Democracy Alliance in Washington. “They like seeing things improved. But the average American doesn’t think that we have to completely tear down the system and remake it. And I think it’s important for us not to lose sight of that.

“My point is that even as we push the envelope and we are bold in our vision,” he said Nov. 15, “we also have to be rooted in reality and the fact that voters, including Democratic voters and certainly persuadable independents or even moderate Republicans, are not driven by the same views that are reflected on certain, you know, left-leaning Twitter feeds or the activist wing of our party.”

[gibraltar72]

252. She like myself

are from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.

[Gothmog]

255. Polling show MFAIs a bad idea

Link to tweet