Why AOC is AOK

[ProfessorPlum]

Ask yourself: why does AOC excite people? It isn't a personality cult. She is exciting because she (and other members of the progressive caucus and Justice Democrats) give(s) people hope that their government might do (even) more things that make their lives better.

That really is the point of government: WE are the government. It is ours, and a tool to make our lives better. It has been hijacked, steadily over 40 years of bad supreme court decisions, by the wealthiest among us to serve only THEIR goals and line THEIR pockets and siphon more and more wealth from the rest of us, make our lives more miserable, and change the rules so that we have less and less say over what government does. Those changes happen much more quickly with the completely corrupt Republicans, and more slowly under Democrats, because of the changes the elites have made to our system.

By being unapologetic about the government's role in making our lives better - it's REAL role - Justice Democrats can ask themselves, without any conflict of interest, "I know what the corporations want - but what do the actual people who do most of the living and dying and working here want?"

It's a sliver of hope. And the fact that she is smart, and sharp, and excellent at MESSAGING means that more and more people will wake up from the fog that started with Reagan and begin taking back the government as a means to make our lives better.

She's quite a competent carrier for the message. But it's the MESSAGE itself that excites me.

[snowybirdie]

1. The attacks against her

are building. They must be afraid, very afraid!

[jalan48]

3. Yes, it seems some feel very threatened. She must be hitting a nerve.

[NurseJackie]

7. I think it's something else. The close association with Cenk Uygur's "Justice Democrats" and their..

... obvious contempt for the Democratic party (with a "destroy it to rebuild it" philosophy) is troubling. And the early false insinuations that the Democratic party was a party of do-nothings and that Democrats didn't care about climate change.

3. Yes, it seems some feel very threatened. She must be hitting a nerve.

All I'm saying is that this has nothing to do with "hitting a nerve" and that the negative responses to these types of attacks and questionable associations with GOP funded assholes like Cenk are justifiable and not as easily dismissed as some would like. It's perfectly reasonable to be asking these questions and to expect honest answers.

[jalan48]

8. Possibly, but I would bet that her tax proposal idea on the super wealthy is generating lots

of activity behind the scenes by that group. I expect to see an increase in negative AOC articles and editorials popping up on a continuous basis in an attempt to smear her. I do think that's a well funded nerve that's being hit.

[backabby-blue]

2. I love AOC

but some of the Justice Democrats are not who you think they are. I judge people individually and not as a group.

[ProfessorPlum]

4. Thank you for the spooky and mysterious warning.

[fescuerescue]

10. This is most paranoid forum on the Internet

Nothing scares folks here more than a possible right-winger making a liberal post pretending to be liberal.

[Honeycombe8]

13. Just a point: If the Repubs had been on the lookout, they wouldn't have been invaded by Russians

The trolls were able to take over the Republican Party because alt-righters were all too eager to believe anything or anyone who agreed with their extremist views, and then went farther with the conspiracy theories. No questions asked.

It's not paranoia to think there are troublemakers at the gate, if there aretroublemakers at the gate.

Just sayin'.

[Bettie]

21. It is way simpler than that

they weren't "invaded" by Russians, they invited them in.

They were promised money and power and they wanted that.

They were promised that they could do anything they desired and they wanted that.

They were promised that they could ruin those they hate (which is everyone who doesn't fit into their narrow view), and they wanted that.

Now, they are remaking our society into what they want, a place where a few very rich people run everything and everyone else is too afraid to lose their meager existence to fight back.

[Honeycombe8]

22. I'm talking about the internet trolls that trolled the unwitting, stupid Trumpers.

They didn't invite anyone or promise them money. They don't have money. They were just foolish in believing any internet post or tweet that fed into their hatred and bigotry. No questions asked. Photoshopped pics, when it was obvious...no problem for them.

[Bettie]

23. Oh, you're talking about the voters...

I was talking about congresscritters!

[Power 2 the People]

5. +1000

[progressoid]

6. It's sad that some of the people chastising her, have forgotten that they were once in her place.

CH CH CH CH CHANGES

And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through...

[Kind of Blue]

17. Yes, Sir, "Immune to your consultations..." n/t

[UTUSN]

9. I like that she scares wingnuts shitless.

[rocktivity]

11. I haven't nicknamed her "Cardi A Plus" for nothing

More important, Nancy Pelosi is allowing her to be to her what Joe Biden was to President Obama.


rocktivity

[ProfessorPlum]

12. I have to say, I really am impressed with the way that Pelosi is allowing

these new progressives into positions of power in the house. you get the feeling that she has played the best game she can inside of a corrupt money/political system, but that she relishes the chance to really change that system, or allow it to be challenged. That is an excellent position from someone who is within/of the system.

"make me do it", as FDR would say.

[Kind of Blue]

16. + 1000 and LOL! Cardi A Plus and let her be,

well said.

[manhattan123]

14. She does seem to bother the right-wingers, and apparently

She does seem to bother the right-wingers, and apparently some Democrats. I notice the same couple of screen names showing up on AOC threads here who seem very perturbed about her.

I don't know if they are elderly and see their days dwindling down to a precious few so are annoyed at youth, or hate NYC, or think she's uppity, but it is interesting how the same few people manage to be so invested in criticizing a Democratic congresswoman who, I'm guessing, is not their congresswoman.

[Honeycombe8]

15. She's being criticized (and obviously praised) because she's out there being verbal...

attracting attention, tweeting a lot, saying things, and has a large personality. She's attracted attention. Attention means a lot of over the top praise, and over the top criticism. That's the way it goes. (Remember Avenatti?) If she'd hunker down and study the bills being introduced in the House, or work out a plan to solve some problems, she wouldn't be criticized (or praised) as much, because she wouldn't have that much attention.

What matters is what she does that helps solve problems or make things better. What matters is that she vote with the Democrats on bills they think should be passed to deal with current problems. It's important that the Democrats be united at this critical time.

So has she voted for the bills that Pelosi & the House have put up for a vote? (The bills started being introduced on Day One by reps who hunkered down and crafted those bills beforehand.) If you don't know, I can tell you. But since you're a fan of hers, I guess you know her voting record.

[George II]

19. She has now voted against two bills to open the government, the only Democrat to do so.

[bhikkhu]

18. If I had any criticism of Obama back in the day...

it was that the messaging wasn't always there. The right wing would spin a web and I'd know what it was myself, but there was no response in any reasonably modern time-frame from the admin. No drama was one thing, good in a way, but no counter-punch was another. As far as messaging and just being there, I think too much was expected from a not always well informed electorate.

I don't see that issue anymore; Pelosi and AOC, and likely all the newer members are right on it. I'm just fine with that.

Incidentally - I love thatTrump tweets from his phone, while Pelosi responds in writing, with her letterhead from her office.

[disillusioned73]

20. K&R..

Yes, this!!!



The only ppl interested in tearing her down are the purveyors on the status quo..