A Democratic Party at the Crossroad

[SHRED]

I see this primary fight as a struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party.
Are we going to settle for the post 1992 Democratic Party of the DLC (Democratic Leadership Council) that the Clintons built? The corporate paid-for party, that occasionally throws a crumb to "we the people"?

Or instead are we going to embrace the party of FDR?
A party that is not focused on how much Wall St corporate ass it can kiss but rather on building and strengthening our social safety nets, rebuilding our infrastructure, and revitalizing the middle-class. A populist party once again.

This is the crossroad as I see it.
No matter who is nominated we need to pressure them towards us and keep that pressure on.
I believe it will require far less pressure if Bernie is nominated.

[Skwmom]

1. No amount of pressure on a politician will make them a populist.

They either are or they aren't. They either serve the people or their corporate masters. You can not do both.

As Biden said - I'm no populist.

I am tired of the BIG CON.

[daleanime]

2. +1

[JonLeibowitz]

11. At least is a straight shooter. I can at least respect him. Hillary i will never.

[SHRED]

24. FDR?

My understanding is that he wasn't always. That he rose to the occasion.
Maybe you're right though. Maybe you are or you are not.

[awoke_in_2003]

3. The party of FDR, JFK, and RFK

is dead. And it is a sad thing.

[AgingAmerican]

5. Has evolved into the party of Reagan

Sad indeed...

A Hillary supporter was arguing the other day that hedge fund managers are 'the little guy'.

[Divernan]

12. Hah! Latest spin to cover her grifting son-in-law/hedge fund owner.

"Little guy"!?!?!?

Gimme a fucking break! Sure, all the "little guys" have $10.5 million Manhattan condos!

[Betty Karlson]

4. Take notice that what Sanders has started won't stop even IF Clinton manages to steal the nomination

(by means of superdelegates or some dirty DNC trick or so). This movement will keep growing. The question is: will it grow enough to win Iowa in a few weeks? There is a 50/50 chance that will happen.

[Skwmom]

6. It won't be Clinton - you can already see the shift occurring. n/t

[Betty Karlson]

7. The shift, and the wish of the people is clear.

But this is the DNC we are talking about - DWS has pulled some cunning tricks and low-blow stunts before.

[Skwmom]

8. To clarify -the shift is in the Establishment Democrats and has nothing to do w/what the people want

[Betty Karlson]

9. The establishment Democrats have started to shift too?

Could you help me understand that? I think I failed to see that happening. What are you hinting at, please? I'd really like to take in that encouragement.

[Recursion]

10. Look at our history of Presidential elections before and after 1992

Now, having looked at that, ask yourself why some of us are tepid about a call for a return to pre-1992.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. The tired "lessons of McGovern" talking point to justify the swing to the Right....

That ignores the failure of "supply side economics", the fall of Limbaugh, the age demographic of the national JOKE known as FOX "News", the lessons of the Invasion and SLAUGHTER and TORTURE of the innocent Iraqi people.

What? We can't learn from that? Just ignore it and quiver in fear at the all powerful Right Wing in this country?

Can't beat em so we join them?

No thanks.

It's the 21st century.

Act like it.

[Recursion]

14. Hey, I'm supporting the guy polling at 6% nationally

I've pretty clearly passed the torch over.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. I supported Kucinich....

I know how you feel.

[Recursion]

16. Understood.

Happy Pongal, btw! (It's a seasonal holiday here in India...)

[Spitfire of ATJ]

17. Is that the one where everyone eats for a change?

[Recursion]

18. Umm... maybe?

The first rice harvest of the year is usually cooked for Pongal, if that's what you mean

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. Right. It's a harvest festival....

I like fertility festivals myself.

[BlueMTexpat]

20. I don't even have to look at that history.

I lived much of it. Unfortunately, this "crossroads" rhetoric is all too reminiscent of 2000 for me.

We had an excellent candidate then in Al Gore. But he just wasn't "pure" enough for some. I am still VERY angry about that outcome, which has brought the world to its current sorry state. PBO got us back on the right track. We need to stay there.

Wish that MOM were doing much better in the polls. That he isn't is ridiculous, IMO. But I am very glad to read this am that he will at least be included in the Dem debate this weekend.

[Recursion]

21. I agree it's ridiculous

Though I also know I'm jousting windmills.

[BlueMTexpat]

22. Windmill jousters are

great people, IMO.

[Recursion]

23. They *might* be giants

That is my favorite book ever...