were reluctant to believe that the Dems would betray them. We waited, we hoped and now we are no longer functioning under the illusion we were back then.

You can see that finally progressive organizations like MoveOn, once willing to be quiet when told to do so, are no longer willing to do so.

This really is the Third Rail of politics and across the country Unions and Progressive Orgs together with SS advocacy groups, have formed a coalition big enough to force the WH to finally meet with them. And even after that, they were not convinced and said so. 'There will be hell to pay' if Dems do not fight to protect these programs. They laid out clearly the 'red line' that if crossed, will result in consequences.

This did not happen four years ago. Progressives were willing to be marginalized for a while, but I don't see that happening anymore.

The message has been clear, if they betray those who put them in office, they can no longer take their votes for granted, as they have in the past. It is a good thing this is happening now, two years before the next election. These groups combined have power and we can join them to find candidates to primary anyone who betrays the people. Maybe I am naive, but I do think things are different now than they were four years ago.