This election could be even bigger than we all think: The return of the big tent party.

[ddbaj]

I am in my early twenties, so I have to rely on my parents for stories of the old democratic party. The party that was damn near unbeatable, between FDR and Reagan. The big tent party.

I think the last election could be the start of a return to that. If the democratic party becomes a party that accepts progressives but also moderates, people who may have different views on some issues like abortion but still support the overall message of economic justice, supporiting education and scientific research, quality healthcare, etc.

Now, to purists this may seem bad... but it's actually great! Lets take abortion for example.Remember: THE THREAT TO ABORTION COMES FROM APPOINTING EXTREMIST JUDGES THAT MAY OVERTURN ROE v WADE, not from individual congresspeople's views on the issue. So if we have to allow some of our candidates to be pro-abortion, but this leads to the end of the GOP ability to appoint EXTREME right-wing judges, it's an overall win for the pro-choice movement.

So I hope you see that those pro-abortion voters hurt us A LOT more in the GOP camp than in the Dem camp. So in effect, by being a big tent party, we moderate the impact of people who have views to the right of us. They no longer can throw those views into a party that will push for the most extreme manifestation of those views, but rather, they go into the big tent of the Democratic Party, where the end result will be a moderate to progressive policy on the issue.

Big tent is good, let the GOP become the party of religious conservatives. Progressives, moderates and independents will be busy running the United States of America.

[JeffR]

1. Well spoken

We must build bridges between our various factions. This election, I think, showed that the factions were able to work together and achieve victory. We must build on this now.

[adamuu]

2. I am so proud of the Democrats and America.

I feel proud of America again.
This is the way its supposed to be.
Can you believe it?

The Democratic party is fully capable of having a full-spectrum internal debate about abortion, healtcare, the economy, or any other issue.
And the result is closer to, though never identical to, what everyone, including the purists, wanted.

We've pulled the government to the left!!!