This Democratic Party Is Going Nowhere. Can Progressives Take it Over and Change the World?

[marmar]

from truthdig:


This Democratic Party Is Going Nowhere. Can Progressives Take it Over and Change the World?

Posted on Nov 8, 2014
By Alan Minsky


Tuesday’s crushing defeat of the centrist Clinton/Obama Democratic Party provides an opening for the American left. The next few years are not going to be pretty, but they could be the beginning of something beautiful.

In 2009, shortly after its most crushing national electoral defeat in 44 years, the GOP was sparked back to life by the tea party insurgency. America’s right wing revived its moribund conservative party with a stark challenge to the Republican establishment. The GOP gained 63 House seats in 2010.

Could the left do something similar to bring the Democrats back to life? Many barriers have to be confronted, but leftist progressives who are serious about making positive changes in our society need to get going now—for two reasons.

First: The moderate, pro-corporate, Democratic Leadership Council wing that has dominated the Democratic Party since 1992 is reeling, unable to compete with a well-funded and reactionary GOP. Without a charismatic frontman or -woman, this Democratic Party cannot mobilize its middle- and working-class base for the simple reason that it doesn’t represent their interests. Only leftist progressives stand for the welfare of average Americans, and they have to stand up, make this distinction and stake their claim before all focus turns to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Second: The country and the world are a mess. The economy, the justice system, the environment, education, immigration and foreign policy are all out of whack. Obama, Hillary and the centrist Democrats aren’t going to set these right; as for the GOP, God forbid. If leftist progressives really believe that their program for America is the best possible program, which they do, the state of the world demands that they get to it right away. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/this_democratic_party_is_going_nowhere_20141108

[Rex]

1. We tried in 2000 but the PTB freaked out at the thought of a liberal POTUS.

Had another great liberal POTUS, but some asshole went and shot him.

RIP Kennedy brothers.

[LiberalElite]

5. That was then this is now nt

[Rex]

8. If Bernie jumps over to our party, he will get my vote.

I don't think he can win as an independent, but who knows with so much voter apathy out there. Maybe he can.

[leftofcool]

2. Of course, just ask any tea party member. They did it.

[LiberalElite]

3. K&R

[wyldwolf]

4. If history is any indication no progressives cannot

[SolutionisSolidarity]

6. If history is any indication America is done

We've already devolved into a totally corrupt state where private interest repeatedly trumps public good. Not much point in being politically involved at all in such a country.

[wyldwolf]

7. Then why are you?

[SolutionisSolidarity]

9. Because everyone I love lives here, so I can't just give up as you'd have me do.

But if you are right, and this is the best Democrats can do, I won't be staying at DU. I've voted Democrat to keep Republicans out for 15 years, but at this point it's just enabling a corrupt party leadership.

[wyldwolf]

10. Okay see you around.

[treestar]

11. Why wasn't that done after 2010?

We've been hearing about this for over 4 years now. It seems this is to be done by any way except convincing the voters. It is to be by inspirational leaders only. That's not happening, as leaders do not descend from the sky.

[MineralMan]

12. Of course they can take it over. All it takes is for thousands of progressives

across the country to step into local Democratic organizations and vote the old guard out. In every county organization, a couple dozen progressives who joined the organization, showed up for every meeting and voted together could replace the current leadership. Then, all of those county members join together to replace the district and state organization's leaders with progressives.

That's how you take over a political party. How many progressives it will take will depend on the size of the current organization. You just have to have enough people to vote out the old leadership.

I can't think of any other way to do it, though. Do progressives have the numbers who are willing to step up and do what is necessary? I don't know the answer to that question. I do know that progressive Democrats are the leadership of my congressional district's organization already. I'd guess that it would take about 100 delegates to replace the current group, but it looks like the goal has already been reached here.

Join in numbers and take over control. It's easy, if you have the numbers. If you don't, though, it's impossible.

[L0oniX]

13. You'd have to get people on fire about voting for someone who has no big money support.

They'd have to be critical thinkers or at least recognize campaign ads for what they are ...mostly lies and distortion ...backed by big money with agendas ...willing to spend the time to become knowledgeable about who they can vote for ...demand equal ...oh whatever ...wearing out my keyboard for this is not worth it.