2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumNice response from a Democrat to Bernie's Democratic party soul-saving.
Laron Peters
I have been a proud Democrat for 50+ years. The notion that we didn't have a "soul" before Bernie Sanders is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever. The soul of the Democratic party is not hatred for the rich or getting other people to give us free stuff. The soul of the Democratic party is not now or has it ever been Socialism.
Democrats believe in fairness. Socially and economically. We believe that sometimes the government must enforce this. But wanting the rich to pay a little more in taxes or for them to have less say in politics is what we believe. This does not make them evil or the source of all of our problems. We don't hate capitalism. It has made us the envy of the world.
Bernie Sanders has it ALL wrong. This country has problems but Democrats want to work to fix them not throw everything that we have accomplished out and start completely over using an economic model that has been at the core of Cuba for the last 60 years.
(HP)
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)I'll see if Peters will deliver some for my garden. What's his email address, or is that made-up as well.
Response to TheCowsCameHome (Reply #1)
Ash_F This message was self-deleted by its author.
Baobab
(4,667 posts)ago.
Why doesn't Bernie know his place?
Ferd Berfel
(3,687 posts)sounds like DLC, Third Way Neo-Dem fantasy pandering.
Response to TheCowsCameHome (Reply #1)
potisok This message was self-deleted by its author.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)you only need to examine history with a modicum of effort to see the light.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)Baobab
(4,667 posts)Bernie seems to have incredible self control.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)but I could see how a Bernie supporter might have a different view. Let me put it this way, if you look for reporting that is critical of Hillary, do you see that as one of the points made against her? I have not.
Baobab
(4,667 posts)By like her I mean NPD people. Not the most pleasant folk when you get to know them. Flying into a rage is a distinguishing feature, they all do it.
See http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/
skylucy
(3,739 posts)classy and answering lies and right wing smears with clarity and actual FACTS) and just ignoring that reality and making up stuff! Wow. Bill Maher calls it being "in the bubble".
frylock
(34,825 posts)Seen it multiple times.
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)82% believe it should automatically adjust annually.
This position is objectively to the left of Sanders' plan, which is over 6 years.
Sanders is a centrist on this and every other issue.
The Democratic leadership is so far to the right of America that some diehard rank and file democrats can't even see it.
Jitter65
(3,089 posts)TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)The problem is that those people who support that don't fucking vote. Or they actually vote for someone who opposes those positions. Look at the state ligislature (who largly draw districts) and the Congress. They want that stuff? Fucking VOTE for it. Not just for one Presidential candidate, but for all the other bits that may even matter MORE. It doesn't do us any good to have people support the policies if they won't actually participate enough in the system to make the policies happen.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)snowy owl
(2,145 posts)Even in WA state - a blue, blue state supposedly, we have a paralyzed state due to Republicans and a few dinos. A great gov but he's strangled by the right.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)The right, for their all the faults, are vastly over-powered politically becuase they fucking vote for EVERYTHING, and they run batshit crazy right-wing candidates for EVERZYTHING.
Too many people in this country do not understand how political power works in this system. And it will not change until we wrest control from the nutjobs by recognizing that we have the numbers to do it. We just have to care enough to show up.
WhiteTara
(29,704 posts)and don't vote in local elections at all. Of course, this is where the politics are most important because it is where we are really governed.
beedle
(1,235 posts)is set up to minimize the number of people who can vote.
Open up the primaries and let people vote ... if you want them to vote.
"The rules are the rules, if you were too busy a year ago to figure out all the candidates, who they were going to be, and what their policies were likely to be 5 to 12 moths later, then you don't get a right to vote ... now come out and vote".
3rd way: we don't trust you to pick the candidate, so we'll pick the person you have to vote for.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)beedle
(1,235 posts)You want people to get involved at all levels of the political process, but refuse to recognize how hard the party system has made it to do so.
Political activity is not simply 'voting in a vacuum', but that's what establishment party supporters want to limit it to with all the hoops and arbitrary rules.
Seems there's an argument that when picking a candidate one must have been part of the inner circle years ahead of time so that you can study and examine the candidates in detail before coming to a decision .... so obviously you can't just make it easy for low information people to join the party at the last minute and maybe overturn your hard studied 'intelligently made' decision .. yet, in the general election that's exactly what you want to happen. Only instead of allowing them to make their own decisions you want them to just vote for who you tell them to vote for.
Your form of 'democracy' is not 'democracy', it's elitist bullshit. Preventing people from fully participating in the political system on their own terms has never been good for a democratic country ... look at the worst politicians ever elected and see if they were elected when 'too many' people were allowed to vote, or when voter turnout was suppressed. Hint: when only the elites get to vote, only elites end up with the power.
BreakfastClub
(765 posts)our economy with his ridiculous rhetoric. He's a socialist, not a democrat.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)snowy owl
(2,145 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)Armstead
(47,803 posts)Armstead
(47,803 posts)Sounds like a screed from Rush Limbaugh.
Bernie doesn't hate capitalism. But I guess to a conservative, the idea of regulating it and taming the excesses are radical.
northernsouthern
(1,511 posts)I don't think a person trying to make up a democrat attacking Bernie would use talking points from Limbaugh, this is how many in the Third-way think we are as Dems, they purchased our party from Walmart in the 90's, we just never noticed we were under new management.
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)This is more fifties "the Reds are coming" scare tactics. I'm guessing these people are pretty old.
hedda_foil
(16,372 posts)PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)They are great for people to see who all the right wingers on DU are.
DUrec!
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)hatred for the rich
free stuff
Socialism
I didn't even click on the link to see what other teabagger twaddle this douche typed out.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)and the letter in the OP seems like a genuine reaction from a reasonable minded Democrat to me. Granted that Democrat could be described as a "fiscally conservative Democrat" but this is not a vote or view that can be just ignored and ridiculed, not if a candidate is serious about a national election.
frylock
(34,825 posts)Fuck. Them.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)Reagan Democrats abandoned the party. And I still think they have the wrong views on the economy and other issues. You seem to be suggesting that no reliable Democratic voters care whether candidates have sound fiscal programs.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)If you read about what he did as Mayor, you'd see that Sanders managed to make government both progressive and fiscally responsible -- and actually worked with the busines community to make the city a better place for everyone.
A Legacy Of Civic Engagement
http://www.wbur.org/2016/03/18/bernie-sanders-burlington-vermont
People focus on Bernie the socialist and they assume that his highest priority is going to be to expand the government sector, or to suppress the market sector. He did neither, Davis said.
Instead, Davis says Sanders pushed to make the private sector more fair and government more efficient by investing in the nonprofit sector, like the Champlain Land Trust which over the years has helped hundreds of low income families become homeowners and providing a model that cities and towns around the world have copied.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernies-burlington-what-k_b_7510704.html
Bernie was never anti-growth, anti-development, or anti-business, explained Monte. He just wanted businesses to be responsible toward their employees and the community. He wanted local entrepreneurs to thrive. He wanted people to have good jobs that pay a living wage. If you could deal with that, you could deal with Bernie and Bernie would deal with you.
The Sanders administration provided new firms with seed funding, offered technical assistance, helped businesses form trade associations (including the South End Arts and Business Association and the Vermont Convention Bureau), focused attention on helping women become entrepreneurs, funded training programs to give women access to nontraditional jobs, and lobbied the state government to promote business growth.
Most of Burlingtons business leaders initially distrusted Sanders. They didnt know what a socialist would do once he held the reins of power. But even many of Sanderss early opponents came to respect and even admire his willingness to listen to their views and his efforts to adopt progressive municipal policies.............
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)I find that true with a lot of anti-Bernies. They don't want to know. It would require thinking and maybe even changing their minds.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)fiscally or politically. Whatever he accomplished as a Mayor pales in comparison in size and complexity. Nuff said.
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)Mayor has budget commensurate with his need. President one commensurate with his need. Both may run deficit. But "deficits don't matter" as I recall.
And "whatever he accomplished" means you don't know what he accomplished. So why are you so sure he can't do it nationally? But you aren't really interested in knowing. You are only interested in bashing him. Closed minds do that.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)Democrats used to have those.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)Bernie and his supporters will have some input this time I believe. Lets hope that we can look back and see many benefits from his campaign in the future.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)snowy owl
(2,145 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)Anyone who would utilize it is a conservative.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)Why not address the point that was made about how Sanders is going to pay for his proposed programs or is that too conservative of an idea?
frylock
(34,825 posts)northernsouthern
(1,511 posts)When he has said a million times how, and yet all of them were fine when Hillary can't stick to an actual way that she will pay for things in the debates, even when asked repeatedly.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)moriah
(8,311 posts)But I believe the government has a role in saving capitalism from itself, and in the end, I think I heard Bernie agree with that statement, not that we should overthrow capitalism.
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)They still have relatively clean water and environment because they've been isolated. I'm not sure the Cubans are going to be so happy with their new freedom. Will be interesting. There are always trade offs.
highprincipleswork
(3,111 posts)If you'll notice, there are a whole lot of people who have also been Democrats a very long time who absolutely do not agree with you.
We do agree with Bernie. We support him. And we think he's the best thing to happen to the Democratic for a long, long time. Right up there with FDR, the Kennedy's, Johnson's civil rights breakthroughs, etc.
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)We are missing compassion in our politics and politicians today. That's the thing I noticed early about Bernie. He's not hardened emotionally.
highprincipleswork
(3,111 posts)may not be thinking so much as knee-jerk reaction, cultivated by years of Ronald Reagan imitators and repeaters of false ideas and tough talk.
I'm for a much kinder, gentler nation. And I believe it would be better for business too. And with climate change knocking harder at our door every year, it may also be necessary for our survival.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)"The soul of the Democratic party is not hatred for the rich or getting other people to give us free stuff."
People want opportunities. They want to have some hope that their kids will get an education and have a better future ahead of them. In my area we have 3% unemployment and 24% povertty.
People hear the rosey economic stats and it pisses them off because they are completely irrelevant to the picture politicians want to paint.
Anger over working more than 1 job and still not able to afford healthcare then having to pay a fine is completely reasonable.
It's not about hating anyone. It's anger over being excluded and having hopes for better opportunities belittled.
When a Democrat shows disdain for people who just want their lives to be a little easier and for their kids to have an opportunity for a better life it is a vivid display of how far we've fallen.
northernsouthern
(1,511 posts)That is a republican smear attack that is used in every election I have ever voted in. The fact that HRC fans are using it now is very telling. Also yes we have been F@CKING SOCIALISM! What the F@CK was FDR? We are teh party of the people, we are or rather were unions...this has to be one of the most obvious republican posts I have read here! Really CUBA? What a massive contemptible fraud. How about any of the European countries or Canada that are more socialist than us?
And not even sure what this jumble of stuff was about...
The first line is basically describing socialism, the second line that starts with "but" does not even make sense because it is setting up for a negative, perhaps he meant "by"? As it is it is saying we want them to "pay a little more" or for them to have less say???? It almost makes it sound like we want them to have less say than others, like they should be second class citizens? But the final line is hilarious, no capitalism is not the envy of the word, it is why so many hate us, and why people say they are from Canada when they are over seas. We are seen as greedy pigs in many places.
Demnorth
(68 posts)and seems a fair representation of what Sanders has said.
He promises free tuition?
He is a self-described democratic socialist?
"Hatred" might be a strong word - though not nearly as strong as other words I've read here - but he does portray the wealthy as the oppressor, and the revolution as the answer.
Generally, it doesn't seem an offensive take at all on what I've heard him say.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)B Calm
(28,762 posts)And DU as well. You see their "free stuff" crap from the Hillary people everywhere
B Calm
(28,762 posts)Ditto Heads.
Ferd Berfel
(3,687 posts)Our Tent has been too dam big
If you listen to Hartmann you will have heard his say over and over again that you need to get involved. That you need to join your local Democratic party to get inside to change the party because that's what the Tea Baggers did on the right to the republicans.
It should be obvious that this is exactly what the disenfranchised republicans have done to the Democratic Party. Beginning with the DLC sale of the Party to Koch Bros (and others) in '85 by the Clinton's (and others) - a few months before Hillary was appointed to the board of Wall Mart.
Our tent has been too damn big. A life long republican can switch and say "well I'm a democrat now', the party says great and moves on. But no one questions: Did this republican all of a sudden renounce their previous life long held belief that a woman does not have the right to choose, had an Epiphany, and magically is just fine with choice now? That republican has supported privatizing Social Security and ending Medicare all their life (or career), but they're magically now a democrat... who STILL is working towards killing both, and did they renounce the neo-liberal ideology of Cheney, Bush, Rove, or did they brin that along with them also...and so on and so on.... This is how the Democratic Party of the Working Class and Middle Class has become a caricature of it's former self and morphed into the democrat party or Neo-Dems
I've been having the exact same arguments here, with Clinton Supporters that I have in my private life with my Republican friends and acquaintances. The same damned arguments with people claiming to be democrats. It's a step through the "looking glass".
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)Now we have to endure a party that represents more conservatives that the traditional democrat. So, you've clarified for me that I'm not arguing with democrats anymore. And I get so angry at them. They are, indeed, republicans who have been wooed by a party moving right.
And all these old people who say they've always been democrats? Well, it's now just a label folks. In a way, that leaves the young and those of us who still know what being a democrat used to mean without a party.
Ferd Berfel
(3,687 posts)Damn it, if that's not the truth.
We seem to have two republican parties now. One openly racist, off the deep end and the other the disenfranchised republicans still pretending to give a shit about the middle-class, Unions, Poor, but continuing the right wing push to corporatism. Regardless of which "faction" is in control (Republican or DLC Third Way Corporatist) the direction is the same. Right wing.
Obama, putting Social Security on the chopping block, mouthing the words that he's for Single Payer - having made the deal 6 mos earlier to push the Heritage Foundation's version of Health Insurance 'reform' - and finally pushing what will be the coup de grace to US government sovereignty at all levels, ceding it to Corporate domination - TPP.
And Wild Bill........setting it all up
Tarc
(10,476 posts)Spot-on.
Eugene Debs ran for president 5 times and lost. The US is the leading world economy...by a mile...and never had to dip into democratic socialism to do so. No reason why we need to give it a go in the 21st century.
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)blackspade
(10,056 posts)" The US is the leading world economy...by a mile...and never had to dip into democratic socialism to do so."
Really? Does the New Deal ring a bell to you? The Great Society?
Tarc
(10,476 posts)Run along now...
beedle
(1,235 posts)The Revenue Act of 1935, 49 Stat. 1014 (Aug. 30, 1935), raised federal income tax on higher income levels, by introducing the "Wealth Tax". It was a progressive tax that took up to 75 percent of the highest incomes.[1]
It was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)Try again?
beedle
(1,235 posts)How about you tell us specifically what you think Socialism is and what you think it specifically has to do with Sanders and his policies.?
Gets tiring trying to read the minds of bumper sticker philosophers.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)As in Socialism, Democratically enabled in the face of yet another capitalist system collapse.
I'm sure your response will be scintillating....
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)hobbit709
(41,694 posts)trying to make him think probably would make his head hurt.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)But the responses are bound to be entertaining as the desperation and foot stomping escalate.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)This kinda worshipful bullcrap (no soul before Bernie..WTF??) is where rational thought goes out the window and cultism starts.
Its sickening and scary to many democrats.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)... and it's a bit arrogant.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Nothing.
snowy owl
(2,145 posts)Simply put. And we've moved a long way to the right. To ignore that fact is to ignore history and where the democratic party was before Reagan, Clinton, From, and the DLC.
And no one is asking for a Cuban economic model. We want to go back to the old one when the elite paid a lot more taxes. Ninety percent under Eisenhower. Aren't you just full of fifties-scare buzzwords: "Cuba" and "socialism." This is McCarthyism. And it is false.
merrily
(45,251 posts)GeorgeGist
(25,319 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)...with the conservadems here.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)This is a collection of Neoliberal talking points....
It's thinking like this that has led to the ineffectual and inept Democratic establishment we have today.
No vision for the future and no understanding of the past.
randome
(34,845 posts)It's very naive to think that everything will change if only we change our messaging. Our message is about fairness and equality. It is not "We are evil!", which is what Sanders supporters trumpet all day long, at least here on DU.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)[/center][/font][hr]
blackspade
(10,056 posts)When you have shitty candidates with shitty messaging regardless of the Party platform, you lose.
You have to inspire people to vote, not bully them with "vote for me or else...," which is the go-to messaging of both the National and State Parties these days.
The OP reeks of this Neoliberal way of thinking with its collection of nonsensical talking points.
wyldwolf
(43,867 posts)En route, they've created all sorts of myths and revised history to support their mission, the most obvious ones being the nature of FDR's and JFK's administrations.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)If you are referring to truly hard left socialists and communists and anarchists.....They don't bother with the Democratic Party or current electoral politics at all. It's all irrelevant to them.
But you are tossing into the same category strong progressives, democratic socialists, strong clear liberals....For them, if we have a two-party system, then yeah the party of FDR, JFK and even LBJ is the logical place. And that's what the pasty CLAIMS to represent......So it is not unreasonable to expect it to walk the talk as an institution.
None of those Presidents you mentioned were perfect. They were a product of their times in many ways. But the consistent contributions and the positive values they represented....Those are still relevant today as guideposts.
wyldwolf
(43,867 posts)Where 'progressives' go wrong is to flat-out deny those Presidents would be unacceptable to them today (and were to 'progressives' then.)
strong progressives, democratic socialists, strong clear liberals
Who have no real issues with today's party, just imagined ones.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)It seems like you define "progressive" as anyone who does not totally buy into whatever the Brand name Democratic Candidates say and do 100 percent.
wyldwolf
(43,867 posts)"strong progressives, democratic socialists, strong clear liberals" will vote for Democrats after the bellyache about it. The rest will pout and shake their fists.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)each will do whatever they do.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)Armstead
(47,803 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)Sanders proposals are not "free stuff" they are recovery programs designed for a system that has become way out of balance.
The current "free stuff" is all going to the top. Bernie wants out tax dollars to benefit us for a change, the wealthy to merely pay their fair share. and you get jackasses like Laron Peters posting this claiming they are a Democrat? I'm calling bullshit.
QC
(26,371 posts)Free stuff, Cuba, red-baiting, etc.
Larkspur
(12,804 posts)It's the Clintonistas or Corpro-crats(Corporate Democrats) who believe in selling their souls to the Big Money fat cats and in selling the core principles of the Democratic Party to the highest bidder.
Thanks.
Skwmom
(12,685 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)... studying to be a moronic douchbag.
Carry on.
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)Other Democrats have other ideas. Your critique of socialism is weak, by the way. Might want to study up on that a bit before firing another volley.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)since Bill Clinton ushered in the DLC, and they commandeered the party?
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Note: I like Cuban music and black beans and rice.
timmymoff
(1,947 posts)aikoaiko
(34,169 posts)And a red-baiting ass.
skylucy
(3,739 posts)are denigrating the party with right wing smears need to stop getting their history lessons from Faux News and Cruz/Trump talking points. Good Lord. Do these people really believe this stuff?