Are you satisfied with the current Democratic establishment?

[TheDormouse]

We've heard a lot of talk about "the Establishment" during this campaign.

Two questions for you:

1. Do you feel that the current establishment adequately represents your interests?

2. Are you basically satisfied with the establishment as it is (with maybe just a few nips and tucks here and there) -- versus
Do you want to see the establishment completely overhauled?

[2banon]

1. number 3

please edit post to insert #3 ...

thanks!

[TheDormouse]

3. what is number 3?

[Chan790]

6. A nice delusion. n/t

[randome]

7. I think 2banon meant that the formatting makes it look as if you intended there to be a #3.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[2banon]

9. the question you asked following #2

this line:

Do you want to see the establishment completely overhauled?

[TheDormouse]

23. That was just to put #2 in context (not a separate question) sry for confusion nt

[2banon]

32. hmm. Was it rhetorical?

not sure why you didn't separate the second part of #2 as a question separate from the second half of #2.

unless you intended it as a rhetorical question, and I just didn't "get it" the first time around.

sorry i'm simply being dense.

[TheDormouse]

42. I was trying to clarify

I wanted to make it clear what the choices were, namely (a) as-is vs (b) complete overhaul.

As-is doesn't necessarily mean happy with every aspect of things exactly as they are. For example, Hillary is basically running on a platform of more-of-the-same, but she clearly does want to make a few minor changes here and there. She's obviously opposed to a complete overhaul.

[randome]

2. Why would anyone be satisfied with anything other than the death of the GOP?

So that real progress can be made. But I honestly have to say that I don't know of anything that politicians have done that has affected me in the past two decades or more.

9/11? A little more waiting time at the airport. No big deal. Everything else is sort of theorizing on what might be best. Pushing for minority rights, voting rights, abortion rights, etc. And yes, again in theory, that affects me or my daughters or my friends, but never directly.

Nevertheless, all of those issues need more focus. That's why I vote for the Democratic party. A complete overhaul? Don't see it happening until there are pitchforks in the street -never.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[HereSince1628]

12. I'll be sad to see them go. I want a strongly Moderate-Liberal GOP

that pushes the dems further left.

I base that on what I've seen of American foreign policy after the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of capitalization of communism in China, as well as the rush of the American Military Establishment into evangelical Christianity as it faces adversaries identified as Islamic.


Having a strong GOP occupying the center is the best hope for American labor, and all things progressive.

[randome]

17. Interesting viewpoint. The death of the GOP would leave a vacuum and that can be dangerous.

Yeah, I wouldn't have a problem with the GOP if they stopped being the Crazy Party. That could actually be a good thing, as you said. Imagine if we had 2 parties vying for the same electorate! Sweet!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[HereSince1628]

19. Yes just look at the righward movement of 3rd Way as traditional repubicanism collapses

[randome]

35. I think that was more a question of survival. The Reagan Reign left deep-lasting scars.

To survive as a party, the Democrats had to tack a bit rightward. The problem now is that they are suffering from a collective PTSD and find it hard to see themselves as anything other than victims. They're still allowing themselves to be bullied.

If they can poke their heads above their bunker mentality and realize the GOP is collapsing, maybe they can start to realize their potential again. And if the GOP manages to right itself and become coherent again, they might be more inclined to move ever leftward to differentiate themselves. Which would be cool.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[HereSince1628]

45. No, I don't think they did. What happened was a power shift toward the south

that elevated more conservative dems and the DLC.

[revbones]

52. Do you fly a lot?

Aside from the tragedy of 9/11 and it being used as a rhetorical weapon in discussing political issues, to your point of it meaning a little more waiting time at the airport.

It actually is a big deal to many. The increased TSA expenses, the corruption of body scanners being required and sold by Michael Chertoff as well as their increased health risks, and so on. I would argue it's much more than the delays I have to face every other week at the airport or even the foot fungus you catch walking through the security line unless you've paid the $80+ to get pre-screened.

[Chan790]

4. Two Answers.

1.) No. Not even remotely. I view the Democratic establishment as nearly as perfect of an enemy as I view the GOP. I am a believer in the suggestion that "there's only one party and the American people aren't in it."

2.) I'd like to see it overhauled and made less welcoming for DLC types and those fleeing the shit-hole of the GOP.

[guillaumeb]

26. Great answer. I second it. eom

[2banon]

34. spot the frack on!

[840high]

36. .+1

[SheenaR]

37. n/t

[SamKnause]

55. ...

[ViseGrip]

5. Overhaul!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. No. Not since '68.

The establishment foisted Humpty on us which gave us Nixon.

[2banon]

10. bingo!

[VulgarPoet]

11. Two answers.

1.) Hell the fuck no;

and 2.) Complete overhaul. Extreme Home Makeover-- tear out the walls, torch the ancient insulation, put new insulation up, hang the drywall back, prime and paint, new carpets, new fixtures, new marble countertops-- we're supposed to be the greatest nation in the world? We teach our kids the damnable lie of American Exceptionalism? How about we have our government look and act the part, rather than selling out we the people?

[UglyGreed]

14. Sounds like a plan

good reply and I second the motion

[TheDormouse]

24. lol nt

[Dont call me Shirley]

13. 1. NO 2. NO 3. Establishment and 99% need to have the playing field leveled (to swipe a phrase

from the establishment itself).

[dana_b]

15. No, No, Yes

I left the Dem party because of the way that it went. I am an independent now but if it went back to the ways of FDR, I would rejoin.

[Triana]

16. No. n/t

[RiverLover]

18. No. /nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. 1. Nope 2. Nope

Nope, nope, nope, etc...

[bobthedrummer]

21. No. 1. No. 2. No. Get rid of the global corporatist elite "leadership". They're OUR class enemies.

They are literally killing US.

[Myrina]

22. No, and ....

.... I want to see it returned to its FDR roots. If that means a full overhaul, then so be it.

[Maedhros]

25. My answers:

1. No. They have positioned themselves as my political enemies.

2. No. It needs to be disgraced, dismantled and discarded.

[mahina]

27. You can post a poll for these questions :). It's easy

[whatchamacallit]

28. Yes. As a plutocrat, I believe the establishment represents my interests and am quite satisfied.

[2banon]

38. ...

[onecaliberal]

29. Overhaul, top to bottom. Leave nothing in place currently.

[mahina]

30. Also

1. No
2. No (no to first part of this part, yes to second)

[Armstead]

31. No and No

[LostOne4Ever]

33. 1) No 2) No, and I want it overhauled nt

[auntpurl]

39. 1. Yes

The Democratic Party could always do more, but I'm satisfied that it represents my interests in a realistic way, ie, I'm not ever going to get everything I want, because the federal gov't has to decide things for 350m people so there has to be compromise.

2. Yes, I'm satisfied with the establishment the way it is, although gradual progress would always be welcome.

And yes, I am a Hillary supporter.

[sufrommich]

40. Which Democratic establishment?

I'm satisfied with a whole lot of elected democratic leaders,others not so much. The democrats aren't the Borg,they aren't all the same.

[TheDormouse]

44. no, they're not, but their collective action (or inaction) produces a result

Same as, all the people/factions/parties/agents of the US government are not the same, but their collective action produces a result that the rest of the world regards as the work of "the US government."

[sufrommich]

48. Oh bullshit. This "burn it down" nonsense

is Ron Paul grade stupid. Is Al Frankin the enemy? How about John Lewis,or Tammy Duckworth,or Sherrod Brown,or Kirstin Gillibrand or Tammy Baldwin? The list goes on and on. Black and white thinking is dumb.

[TheDormouse]

49. now that you got that off your chest, what are your responses to questions 1 & 2? nt

[Scuba]

41. Under DWS, Democrats have lost 900+ state legislature seats, 12 governors, 69 House seats ...

... and 13 Senate seats.


What's not to like?

[bkkyosemite]

43. No! No! and Yes!

[EndElectoral]

46. 1. Hell no. 2. Overhauled

[Waiting For Everyman]

47. 1) Hell no! and 2) Completely overhauled

Money has to stop buying our law. That means all of our Establishment has to go (both parties) with few exceptions, because that's the game they are in -- selling our law.

Then we can begin to get more Democratic policies.

[Land of Enchantment]

50. No, No, Yes. Primarily because there is no recusal of the leadership and their

obvious choice for president.

Leadership of the DNC--ALL UNCOMMITTED SUPERDELEGATES. YEAH, RIGHT!

National Chair: Debbie Wasserman Schultz[9]

Vice Chairs:
Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary–Treasurer of the AFL-CIO[9]

Donna Brazile, political analyst, campaign manager for Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign

Raymond Buckley, Pres.Assn.State Democratic Chairs, Chair of the NH Democratic Party

R. T. Rybak, former Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota

Executive Director: Amy Dacey

Treasurer: Andrew Tobias, businessman, author, and financial self-help guru

Secretary: Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor of Baltimore[10]

Communications Director: Mo Elleithee[11]

National Finance Chair: Henry Muñoz III[9]

In addition, a National Advisory Board exists for purposes of fundraising and advising the executive. The present chair is Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Democratic_Party_superdelegates,_2016

[LuvLoogie]

51. a. When did you stop beating your wife? b. Would you do it again?

whatever....

[lastone]

53. Overhaul

Two questions for you:

1. Do you feel that the current establishment adequately represents your interests?
NO - DNC / DWS have completely undermined the democratic process by undercutting the only true liberal in the race, Bernie Sanders.

2. Are you basically satisfied with the establishment as it is (with maybe just a few nips and tucks here and there) -- versus
Do you want to see the establishment completely overhauled?
Overhaul, executive order within the first month of the Sander's presidency will overturn Citizens United and start to rebuild the foundation of representative democracy in this country.

[TheDormouse]

56. but an executive order can't overturn a SCOTUS ruling nt

[Warren DeMontague]

54. You mean Debbie "prison sentences for medical marijuana users" Wasserman Schultz?

In a word, no.

[LWolf]

57. 1. Fuck No.

2. No, and Fuck Yes.

[Jitter65]

58. No, but I won't abandon it either. Hope to help make good changes. nt

[tokenlib]

59. #3 burn it down, rebuild and exile New Dem/Third Way to..

..some country as close to hell as possible..