I AM A PROUD 'ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRAT!"

[Cary]

You can call me that every day, all day long. If you think the term is derogatory then what are you?

There are only two sides and my side is Democratic. Which side are you on!

9 votes, 5 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I am a proud "Establishment Democrat!"
	9 (100%)
	I am on the other side.
	0 (0%)
	5 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Turin_C3PO]

1. I don't know what that means.

If establishment means “moderate” then count me out. If it means I am a party member and believe in achieving change through the Democratic Party, then yes I’m establishment.

[Cary]

2. Ask Thom Hartmann

[Cary]

3. The Democratic Party is a coalition

Change is growth and growth is good. But discipline wins elections.

I cannot make.your.definitions for you.

[Turin_C3PO]

4. Well I agree with that.

I remember the Sanders voters calling all Clinton voters “establishment“ and that was stupid, IMO. Hopefully that kind of division doesn’t happen again in 2020.

[Cary]

5. That is the point

VOTE DEMOCRATIC!

[RKP5637]

6. K&R!!! n/t

[George II]

19. Some in the Democratic Party, at least for now, have been demonizing the Democratic Party....

....as "establishment", as though that's a bad thing. It's been going on for years and years, and it's getting to the point of being insulting to people who have been Democrats for decades.

[Shell_Seas]

7. What's the other side? Progressive?

[Cary]

8. The devil goes by many names

I would not have thought "progressive" was one but the devil is a sneaky bastard.

[Shell_Seas]

9. I don't understand what you're saying. Are you calling progressives the devil?

[Cary]

11. I agree

You don't understand.

[Shell_Seas]

13. Ok, well, that clears things up...

[Cary]

14. I was always clear

VOTE DEMOCRATIC!

[Shell_Seas]

15. So, do you think that only centrists will vote blue no matter who?

I'm sorry, I'm still failing to see the correlation between voting blue no matter who and how far left you lean... if that's what you are trying to insinuate.

Doesn't every democrat, progressive, establishment, or otherwise plan on voting against Trump no matter what?

[Cary]

28. Did I say any of that?

No. I did not.

[Shell_Seas]

34. Ok. Riddle me this.

I like turtles.

[Cary]

35. I'm happy for you

People here seem to understand my point well enough.

If you don't understand then I am ok with that. The sun will set in the West tonight.

[Shell_Seas]

38. You're so nice! I like you (even if you confuse me)

[Cary]

41. You should not be confused

You should be all in for Democrats. Simple.

Why?

We have a Nazi in the White House and a whole party with no values. Put aside the petty bickering.

VOTE DEMOCRATIC!

[ChubbyStar]

42. Petty bickering?

There has been some in this thread. Sad.

[Cary]

46. Sunlight is the best disinfectant

Republicans are able to disrupt us because of our petty bickering. If we were smart enough to put our petty bickering aside and focus on the common goal of ridding ourselves of the Nazi and his cult followers, their disruption tactics would be useless.

Plus the trolls would be easily identified. As things stand the trolls hide behind the petty bickerers.

I am not saying there are legitimate concerns to bicker over, mind you. I just believe we can, and have in the past, cut off our noses to spite our faces.

Plus I really don't want to bicker with fellow liberals.

[pangaia]

52. "Should" is a very tricky word to use.

A dear Japanese friend of mine taught me that last year - April 10, to be exact, at the Syracuse airport at about 5:00 AM. sitting on a seat just at the bottom of one of the escalators. I remember the moment well.

I am a slow learner, but she was right.

[robbedvoter]

22. or 🍊. Semantically: unconventional

[George II]

23. I suppose one would have to ask those who've been demonizing many Democrats as...

...."the Democratic Party establishment" for quite some time now. As for me, there's only one "side", specifically members of the Democratic Party.

[Cary]

27. I think shell knows that already

Just my guess. What do you think?

[Hortensis]

10. Yes, but mostly to differentiate myself from hostile nuts. :)

Dissidents are badmouthing as "establishment" the magnificent, highly diverse coming together of the best of America that is the Democratic Party. Including so many who've never felt themselves part of any "establishment."

I am finally and especially very specifically proud to be a Democrat this century, standing with fellow Democrats to protect equality, liberty and justice for all against the Dark Side.

[Cary]

12. "the magnificent,highly diversecoming together of the best of America that is the Democratic Party

Love that!

Thanks Hortensis.

[brer cat]

16. +++

Well said, Hortensis.

[Vinca]

17. I don't think we should slice and dice the party.

[Cary]

26. I don't have any control over that

If I did I assure you things would be different.

I play the cards as they are dealt to me in my tiny corner.

[FakeNoose]

18. I think I understand your point

In order to win next year we need to maintain party discipline and cohesion. I do agree with regard to our registered party members, however we're under a very large and growing tent.

Consider the many independents who never registered as Democrats but generally vote with us anyway. (For many years I was one of those indies, and I do get it.) It goes without saying that we must get the indies on our side and the right nominee will do that, the wrong one might not. Besides the independents, we can hope to attract some never-Trumpers and many disaffected former GOPers. These people will vote against Chump (hopefully) but not necessarily for our candidate.

The candidate we choose to be our standard-bearer next year needs to be someone who can embrace these non-Democrats and yet not turn his/her back on the core Democratic principles. The party faithful need to understand that some posturing or backpeddling will happen now and then, and it's not a sign of weakness.

Not everyone will warm up to the term "establishment" Democrat because many of us are Baby Boomers who grew up with an anti-establishment mentality. So ... you know ....

[tishaLA]

20. It wasn't that long ago that Planned Parenthood was called establishment

If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that, if PP is "the establishment," the establishment is necessary and vital in our current political climate.

[robbedvoter]

21. The word "establishment" is dumb. Voted for that choice to show my contempt.

Even 🍊 is calling himself "against the establishment" with MSM cheering him on. Lazy definitions for little minds.

[Cary]

24. The word "establishment" is unnecessary

However if people are going to use it with intent to offend then I will highlight their stupidity by wearing it proudly.

[DFW]

25. I reject the label game altogether

It's one reason I refuse to post on the so-called "Primaries" board. You have to have an emblem at the bottom of your page to be allowed to post there.

I don't need an emblem to state my opinion on one candidate or another, or to define my party affiliation. I like what I like, and no one candidate will ALWAYS do and say only things that I like. I realize there are people on here who think one candidate or another can do and say no wrong. Fine if that's what floats your boat, but that smells very Republican to me, and I just feel differently.

Sometimes, I feel like the black boxer who was denied boarding on the Titanic in Jaimie Brockett's version of the story. When Jack Johnson wanted to buy a ticket, he was asked (in Brockett's version) what color ticket he wanted ("we got red tickets, we got blue tickets...." ). Then, when he tried to board the Titanic, he was told "wrong color." He asked, "the ticket or me?" he was told, "you!" And so he never got to board the Titanic, although his ultimate voyage home was probably a little more pleasant as a result. That's what it feels like to me every time there is a post on the "Primaries" board I feel I'd like to respond to. I'm with Howard--I feel connected to the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

[Cary]

30. What better way to protest than to embrace it?

[DFW]

45. What better way to avoid grief than to pass it by?

It's the month before I leave for the States for 6 weeks. I have about 7 weeks of work to cram into the next 3. I'm getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night as it is. I'm not going to lose more of it responding to angry people supporting points of view that I find ridiculous and unrealistic to the point of being suspect in origin.

Like we used to say in the days of the Vietnam conflict: What if they had a war and nobody came?

[Cary]

47. Election season is here

Strap in.

[DFW]

48. I may live in Europe

But I remain a citizen of the USA. Back where I come from, the election isn't until next year. I have time, and anyway, I still work for a living, and there is no rest for the weary.

As a matter of fact, I have to get up in 4 hours to run down to Spain (well, Catalunya, anyway) for the day, so TBC.

[rampartc]

29. i am certainly not on "the other side"

by which I hope you mean the criminal conspiracy known as the republican party.

but there are elements within the party establishment that I will continue to oppose. if a democrat is corrupt or if a faction of the party is forgetting a commitment to the people they must be opposed, or at the very least not supported.

certainly, this is why primaries exist. otherwise the precinct captain will hand me a sample ballot with the establishment choices and the game is over. I don't roll that way.

[Cary]

31. ICH BIN EIN BERLINER!

[brooklynite]

39. Mmmm...

[DFW]

49. I was gonna say

Just because one prominent American declared to the world that he was a jelly-filled donut, doesn't mean that we have to follow his example.

(Correct German would have been "Ich bin Berliner." )

At least he didn't say "Ich bin ein Nürnberger" in Nürnberg (a sausage), "ich bin ein Bremer" in Bremen (a fishburger), or worse, "ich bin ein Pariser" for Germans living in France (I am a condom).

[G_j]

32. I remember when seemingly most of us here

knew that the Bush-Cheney case for illegally attacking Iraq was total BS. A lot of us were also heart broken that
so many Dems voted for it. Was that the “establishment”? I don’t know, but there is some baggage
there.

[Cary]

40. The past is prologue

[LakeArenal]

33. Not a label person.

I declare Democrat because I have to. But I honestly vote my ideals. Just happens, no Republican has ever shared the same.

[Cary]

36. Isn't that the purpose of a coalition?

Democracy is the worst system ever devised by people, except for everything else.

[shanny]

54. Deep.

[Cary]

58. I like it

Is your disapproval supposed to mean something to me?

[Gothmog]

43. I am also a proud establishment Democrat

[sheshe2]

50. I am an 'Establishment Democrat'.

I "established"myself as a Democrat when I first voted. I have always been a Democrat. Period.

[JI7]

51. im with planned parenthood

[Kurt V.]

53. I'm against buckley v. valeo. there ya have it.

[betsuni]

55. Establishment Democrat means anti-progressive and progressive means anti-establishment

in The Pseudo Revolutionary's Dictionary.

[Cha]

56. Absolutely! I'm with John Lewis and the rest

of our Democratic "Establishment" including you, Cary!

[Polybius]

57. I like Bernie and AOC

So I guess I have to vote no.

[Cary]

59. Where is that written?

[Polybius]

61. They are not establishment

So I can't pick option 1.

[Cary]

62. Sez who?

[Polybius]

64. Everyone?

There are anti-establishment Democrats (who are more liberal than the old guard and rest of the Party), just like there are anti-establishment Republicans who are more conservative than the rest. Rand Paul and Mike Lee would be the right-wing anti-establishments.

[Cary]

65. So you speak for everyone

I seriously doubt that. In fact I would bet dollars to donuts that most Democrats have no use for that concept.

[Polybius]

67. I know establishment is what isn't it

I gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, and frankly I'm shocked that you don't agree.

[Cary]

68. Look up

It seems 95% agree with me.

[Polybius]

69. This thread does not make up the majority

Many just don't wanna argue with someone who is so persistent and won't admit they are wrong. Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden are very establishment (and that's fine, Biden is probably my candidate as of now). Bernie and AOC are anti-establishment. Beto is sorta in between, but leans toward anti. Kamala Harris is the same, only she leans toward establishment.

Case closed.

[Cary]

70. I am willing to admit I'm wrong if someone proves me wrong

I can also distinguish between a convincing argument and ad hominem.

I am pretty sure that my views are representative of the majority. If you have a problem with that or with anything else I say then you have a problem.

I use that phrase a lot too. I mean it.

[Polybius]

71. I always gladly admit it too when I'm wrong

While I don't know if I'm older than you, I have heard people say "establishment" when referring to career politicians for quite some time, although it reached its peak in 2016. Here's a nice article. Enjoy.

https://www.npr.org/2016/02/11/466049701/how-establishment-became-the-buzzword-of-the-2016-election

[Cary]

72. What's your point?

You seem to have missed my point entirely. I really don't care what Jack Black, the author of your article, you, or anyone else thinks the word "establishment" means.

We have a Nazi in the White House.

[Polybius]

73. My point is that with all due respect, you were wrong in your OP

Saying that "We have a Nazi in the White House" doesn't change that fact. But let's move on, 2020 is approaching and we must not have any infighting. We must unite and stick together, as I'm sure we agree on many issues.

[Cary]

74. You apparently don't understand my point

I'm sorry but 94% do understand and that is far better than I expected.

I think to expect 100% is irrational.

As for whether you really don't understand, or whether you have another agenda, I will never know.

[JonLP24]

60. I'm not establishment at all

The establishment wouldn't consider me part of it anyway.

[ecstatic]

63. I'm a pragmatic liberal democrat who wants 45 impeached ASAP

and currently supports EW for president. For me, I think the label "Obama democrat" fits as well, although I'm not sure what other people think that it means.

I've been lumped into the "establishment" category many times over the years. Currently, however, I'm clearly at odds with the establishment on the topic of impeachment.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

66. I'm a Liberal, Yellow Dog Democrat.