US Democrats are struggling to make sense of a socialist surge

[Soph0571]

The most prominent among them is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who won an important New York Democratic party primary election, beating an established incumbent in the Bronx-Queens. This posits the question that centrist predecessors least like to dwell on: if we were so great, why are we losing out to the old hard left and Trump? And it poses an urgent tactical question for the midterms and beyond as to how far the party machinery should aid candidates running on platforms that differ from the leadership’s. A leading figure on Hillary Clinton’s campaign says it boils down to “a devil’s pact with a lot of small print. Does the party machine help candidates who don’t share our politics over the line in tight races to get rid of a greater threat? Or do we end up driving the working-class voters we lost even further away?”

[link:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/19/us-democrats-are-struggling-to-make-sense-of-a-socialist-surge|

Interesting article that raises some very interesting issues. Worth a full read

[beachbum bob]

1. lol, there is no dissention. What works in one particular race will not work everywhere else.

Cortez would have never won a democratic primary in any Illinois downstate district.

this is just more nonsense intended to breed dissent and won't work this time. We are big tent party WITH NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL. We have conservative and liberal elements as well as the centrists.

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Amen

But I'm glad OP posted this.

If we are aware the M$M is taking this route - we can leverage it locally.

And agree - in my district AOC couldn't have won. I would compare her to Peter Jacob (I supported him in 2016) -

For a Democratic to win here? The Obama Glamour and States Rights are the way to do it.

[Trust Buster]

2. Promising what can't be delivered is a foolish strategy IMO.

[Glamrock]

3. Thanks Soph

Good read!

[JI7]

4. there is no socialist surge. liberal blue states like vermont, mass, maryland

have republican governors.

ben jealous who is actually liberal/progressive on all issues is wayy down in the poll against a moderate republican governor who has high approvals.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. I'm not

We are canvassing today for a Democratic slate of candidates - and I'm on a locally elected Committee seat.

This never comes up at local or county meetings.

I wonder why the media keeps trying to disconnect the left from each other when from where I sit, in my precinct and town - we are snatching the tea bags and take my country back signs - from the IndieTeaPublicans?

Maybe the Guardian will see you shared this link and reach out to me. I hope they do. They will get an earful of Red Baiting that has been extremely effective in this GOP held district, council, Mayor, School Board etc etc which is where the Revolution starts.

And yes - in my Revolutionary War trail historical town in NJ - Revolution, Despot, States Rights - that energy is working.

The Left is United to everyone but those who benefit financially from a non existent Horse Race.

And yes - we will flip our House Seat. Yes we can.

[Squinch]

7. Sigh.

[2naSalit]

8. +1