If all you want is a party that looks

[mmonk]

only at election results and polling numbers and each time wonders what positions they can be more Republican on, then keep the status quo. If you want a party that listens to its base voters and also represents what is right and correct and stands on principle, then join movement politics such as the Forward Together movement and fusion politics. The Democratic Party lost because many do not know what it stands for anymore and is uninspiring.

[blkmusclmachine]

1. Here's what the Democrats stand for now: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[RobertEarl]

2. Let's be clear $$$ is big

But it is just our elites that have fallen into the $$$ trap.

Sure, many here on DU are more than willing to give the elites a pass while verbally attacking progressives, but they are just about played out. One can hope so, anyway.

[Scootaloo]

3. Even a generous analysis concludes the Democrats are diluting themselves

They want to be the party of social justice... but they also want to be tough on crime, win the drug war, look tough on immigration, and divorce themselves from welfare

They want to have labor at their rallies... but htye also want to bust unions as part of "free trade."

They want to be the environmental party... but htey also want to support gcoal, fracking, and the automotive industry.

They want to be the party for the 'littl guy"... but boy those investment bankers cut some nice big checks.

They want to be the peace party... but gotta be hard on terorrism and look tough agaisnt Putin and assure US dominance in the developing world!

At best the Democratic party is looking really damn schizophrenic.

[ladyVet]

5. No one can serve two masters.

It's not possible, and trying to do it loses elections. Wise up, Democrats. You win by moving left, not right.

[Rex]

4. See that is what is wrong, I've been corrected

and now understand that it is WE that have to inspire our leaders - not the other way around. I know, all that 'leader' stuff leads you to believe they should be inspiring us to VOTE...but no, other way around.

That is what a long time DUer told me with a straight face.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

6. Actually, that scenario would be an improvement.

Remember, on a variety of liberal issues, the general public racks up approval ratings in the 60s all the way up to the 90s. (For things like Universal background checks.)

Yet the Democratic party refuses to actually stand firmly behind issues with overwhelming public support, preferring to go more conservative than the general public.

Dems could actually start winning more gerrymandered districts if they actually promised to poll the constituents and vote via the polling. And they'd STILL be delivering more 'liberal' votes overall, even if their constituents still had them voting 'red' on many issues.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. The world is on a deadly track in so many ways, and

the time we have to make drastic changes in our course is rapidly disappearing.

I have a problem with, for example, politicians who acknowledge global warming and all that it means, but continue to subsidize fossil fuels at the expense of cutting funding for green energy R&D & putting our water supplies at grave risk with their pipelines and fracking chemicals.

I have a a bone to pick with any party that shows no serious intent to address the "Piketty Problem," i.e. the ballooning of wealth at the very top at the expense of all the rest of us.

I have a problem with politicians who accede to (or worse, promulgate) the privatization of everything from education to the prisons.

At best, continuing to choose the lesser of two evils rather than finding and backing someone who convincingly campaigns on working toward the great changes we need constitutes a delaying action, a way to somewhat slow down some of the minor aspects of the survival-threatening disasters into which we are headed.

I'm not sure how much longer I'm willing to do this, how much longer I can in good conscience vote for politicians who lack the necessary vision to stand up for the kind of changes we so desperately need to implement the policies we need to save the biosphere.

[stillwaiting]

8. Agreed. Many of us believe this, and I believe many of the elected Dems know this, BUT...

... they can't become filthy rich if they change the Party to something that would be appealing to us (and ultimately the masses).

That's a problem...