Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,402 posts)
82. We definitely need to figure out some way to address
Fri Aug 4, 2017, 09:44 AM
Aug 2017

Republican-based electoral shenanigans like gerrymandering and voter suppression for sure and make sure that every eligible voter who wants to cast a vote can cast a vote and that their vote is cast for the right person. After last year's fiasco, we definitely need to make sure our voter machine and electoral infrastructure is secure. Our platform and policies are generally popular and well-accepted by the public but there is a serious problem when we can win the majority of votes and not win the requisite number of seats. Also, we need to figure some better way to hit back against the Republican slime machine during campaigns. As I said before, Democratic policies are generally popular with the public, which is why the Republicans have to lie, twist, and distort them and use propaganda and fear until the Democratic candidate looks little better than pond scum by the time of the election. Oh, and of course, every eligible Democratic voter needs to get out to vote in every.single.election. NO EXCEPTIONS. We can't get and keep a majority if we get out to vote in one major election every 4 years but then sit on our butts during the midterms or all of the local and state elections. Republican voters do it. Why can't ours?

Nope ProudLib72 Aug 2017 #1
Those aren't the only issues. Ken Burch Aug 2017 #8
That's not my point ProudLib72 Aug 2017 #15
They couldn't have been so successful in those efforts if they didn't already have so much control. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #19
He didn't say the result was EXCLUSIVELY our party's fault. Ken Burch Aug 2017 #92
We do make changes ProudLib72 Aug 2017 #99
To my knowledge, nobody here is saying we DON'T need to fight against those things, Ken Burch Aug 2017 #100
The gist of the OP was that changes need to be made to win elections ProudLib72 Aug 2017 #104
And how do you do that by continuing to lose elections? Bradshaw3 Aug 2017 #9
Easier to get away with those things when you have such massive majorities at every level of gov't. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #12
THANK YOU! LenaBaby61 Aug 2017 #13
Dems have been getting their asses handed to them since long before 2016. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #20
Your definition of "getting their asses handed to them" differs from mine. stevenleser Aug 2017 #96
State Houses, State Senates, Governorships, the US House...GOP domination. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #112
And yet win the national election popular vote virtually every time stevenleser Aug 2017 #126
The White House is not all that matters. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #130
But it does matter and you don't account for that. nt stevenleser Aug 2017 #131
The Dem POTUS candidate has won the pop. vote in 6 of 7 elections. There. Now... Garrett78 Aug 2017 #133
+1000 LiberalLovinLug Aug 2017 #102
Concur misanthrope Aug 2017 #138
word. nt TheFrenchRazor Aug 2017 #151
Like what? ismnotwasm Aug 2017 #2
Like a much stronger defense of BLM, a woman's right to choose, etc. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #16
I agree and would add that I think we need Dark n Stormy Knight Aug 2017 #22
Yes. Media literacy, along with sex education, in *every* school. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #23
Yes. And the sex ed can't be that "abstinence only" nonsense. Dark n Stormy Knight Aug 2017 #24
I think you may want to read this article in full from New York Times ..... A lot of Kathy M Aug 2017 #124
So, Shareblue approached the problem in a way that was "wrong." Dark n Stormy Knight Aug 2017 #164
That's too much Awsi Dooger Aug 2017 #31
You may be right, but I'm not sure those with such short attention spans can be won over. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #48
Bernie, currently the most popular politician, has shown us the way. InAbLuEsTaTe Aug 2017 #34
He's too dismissive of the role racism plays in Republican success. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #45
No, actually, Bernie is enamored with social change and winning with a progressive platform. InAbLuEsTaTe Aug 2017 #69
Then why do we see so many of his supporters BainsBane Aug 2017 #146
Only on DU is bernie a favorite, and I question that too. n/t Lil Missy Aug 2017 #75
Very observant. (You're not the only one with those questions.) NurseJackie Aug 2017 #153
I don't think the loser of an election or a primary has a mandate. His chosen candidates stevenleser Aug 2017 #97
Blindly following is bad period BainsBane Aug 2017 #148
You make it sound like a religion BainsBane Aug 2017 #147
I caught that too mcar Aug 2017 #161
"has shown us the way"... on what not to do 2018 and 2020. nt DoodAbides Aug 2017 #149
"Most popular" in what way? George II Aug 2017 #158
Correction - he has shown YOU the way JustAnotherGen Aug 2017 #160
Good list! Our simple slogan "fairness for all." stuffmatters Aug 2017 #61
That's a good one. Really good. Squinch Aug 2017 #79
Fairness, it's what everybody wants -fair trade,employment, justice,taxation, conservation, rights, stuffmatters Aug 2017 #106
Do you think these things should be in the platform? ismnotwasm Aug 2017 #93
The Hill - Sanders: Dems must move beyond 'identity politics' TomCADem Aug 2017 #122
See posts #45, #48 and others I've written. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #123
I support all of that. BainsBane Aug 2017 #144
Yes! And also a complete stop toward the trend of becoming smirkymonkey Aug 2017 #157
Like, "it's the money, stupid." Orsino Aug 2017 #165
I would hope we could agree that we ought to have a vigorous debate about issues, direction, etc Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #3
"We" or "they" should have a debate? BigmanPigman Aug 2017 #5
Please elaborate on what you mean, in asking me that question. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #27
Should the Dems already in office be the ones debating to become more unified as a BigmanPigman Aug 2017 #29
I would say all of the above. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #43
Can't say this about you personally GulfCoast66 Aug 2017 #66
There are two kinds of people in this world. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #67
Good point GulfCoast66 Aug 2017 #86
What about those who aren't sure whether or not there are only two kinds of people? lol InAbLuEsTaTe Aug 2017 #152
+1 nt Fresh_Start Aug 2017 #73
There are a lot of factors involved in the 2016 election, from top to bottom. DoodAbides Aug 2017 #4
Consensus on major changes isn't a bone of contention. rogue emissary Aug 2017 #6
I get the impression that major change is, in fact, a bone of contention. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #11
I can't speak to or try to change your impression. rogue emissary Aug 2017 #18
I made suggestions in post #16. But the whole point of this thread is... Garrett78 Aug 2017 #21
My impression is that resistance is too specific changes other have suggested. rogue emissary Aug 2017 #25
And my impression is different. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #32
Reread the thread and even the poster that replied nope is still advocating for major change. rogue emissary Aug 2017 #36
The message in that post is clear: external forces - and not the party itself - require major change Garrett78 Aug 2017 #42
They won't tolerate anyone pointing out that the party isn't infallible. Ken Burch Aug 2017 #7
Look I just got in a FB tiff with someone who is obsessed with the Democratic party LeftInTX Aug 2017 #35
LOL! Squinch Aug 2017 #80
LOL betsuni Aug 2017 #84
"They" meaning some Democrats Ken Burch Aug 2017 #103
Or tolerate complete assholes who consummately bash or leave out Russia, voter suppression uponit7771 Aug 2017 #88
+1 betsuni Aug 2017 #90
Or to tolerate it when some call Democrats "feeble" and "idealogically bankrupt". NurseJackie Aug 2017 #98
We all agree that those things matter. Ken Burch Aug 2017 #101
No we do not "all" agree, seeing the premise of arguments begin as if they're not MAJORITY factors uponit7771 Aug 2017 #120
Ok...there is a clear general consensus among us as Dems and progressives, Ken Burch Aug 2017 #125
And again you choose a less than honest comment. stevenleser Aug 2017 #127
Focus on rebuilding Unions Matthew28 Aug 2017 #10
That is the key. Willie Pep Aug 2017 #14
Bernie's been out front on this issue for years... just one of the reasons why he's so popular. InAbLuEsTaTe Aug 2017 #70
What has he done about it? mcar Aug 2017 #162
We're a ven diagram of overlapping cults of personality Sen. Walter Sobchak Aug 2017 #17
There's a difference between changing the dem Phoenix61 Aug 2017 #26
The modus operandi of the last 25+ years is a big reason for that. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #30
I agree. nt DoodAbides Aug 2017 #33
Major changes? NanceGreggs Aug 2017 #28
Exactly! "Fifty Four Forty Or Fight", dammit! Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #49
And exactly what major changes ... NanceGreggs Aug 2017 #51
I think Cory Booker just came out in favor of a huge one. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #53
"I'm not saying we don't already support these things ..." NanceGreggs Aug 2017 #55
You seem to have taken only one sentence from my post, rather than reading the whole thing. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #57
Just because I chose to repeat ... NanceGreggs Aug 2017 #150
"professional crepe-hangers"? Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #163
As Long As The MSM Is Owned By Corporations Millions Will Be Tricked Into Voting Against Their Kids All-In Aug 2017 #37
50 Trillion In Wealth Is Supporting The GOP Pushing Hard On Dems All-In Aug 2017 #38
I would refer to Democratic parties loyalsister Aug 2017 #39
We need to help more people get registered and continue to fight the gerrymandering. n/t pnwmom Aug 2017 #40
The United States needs to make major changes. betsuni Aug 2017 #41
"Big government takes your hard-earned money and throws it away on lazy welfare queens..." Garrett78 Aug 2017 #44
No, Bill Clinton did not help "promote that very perspective." betsuni Aug 2017 #46
"The era of big government is over." "Welfare reform." Yes, he did. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #50
He signed the bill because of political reasons right before an election. betsuni Aug 2017 #52
The pledge was to "end welfare as we know it" Ken Burch Aug 2017 #105
And yet, the GOP always finds plenty of tax dollars to build prisons to fill with pot smokers. Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #47
What change is needed? xajj4791 Aug 2017 #54
LOL! criticize to your heart's content but I'm gonna vote a straight DEM again and again underthematrix Aug 2017 #56
Single issues tend to divide. kentuck Aug 2017 #58
'member 10 or so yrs ago, marriage equality advocates were yelled at to shut up & not want "ponies"? Warren DeMontague Aug 2017 #59
DON'T BE WIMPY. fire breathing liberals. pansypoo53219 Aug 2017 #60
No....we're right and we should shove it down their throats every chance we get. ileus Aug 2017 #62
THEY ALREADY DID. Scoopster Aug 2017 #63
Seriously. We just negotiated one of the most progressive platforms ever. Why not go with it, Squinch Aug 2017 #81
its not thedemocratic party but the democratic voter that too often sits on their asses beachbum bob Aug 2017 #64
Here we go again! liberal N proud Aug 2017 #65
lulz no obamanut2012 Aug 2017 #68
Change matters not when gerrymandering goes on all over the US n/t Bengus81 Aug 2017 #71
Why do we all have to agree. Weekend Warrior Aug 2017 #72
Repukes are the ones who need to make major changes. Dems and liberals just need to vote for Dems Lil Missy Aug 2017 #74
Can't we agree that for now we should concentrate on spreading the news far and wide about Squinch Aug 2017 #76
No, not at all oberliner Aug 2017 #77
Because Republicans have huge majorities at virtually every level of government. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #107
There are more Democrats than Republicans oberliner Aug 2017 #109
Against the worst candidate ever put forth by a major party. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #111
Since that is the only factor you consider, again, your analysis is flawed. nt stevenleser Aug 2017 #128
The "factor" I'm considering is the overall state of things. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #132
we won by 3 mil votes! samnsara Aug 2017 #78
Yep, Clinton beat Trump by 3 million votes. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #108
Don't forget corporations, the media (and, in turn, the national narrative) and religion. HughBeaumont Aug 2017 #166
We definitely need to figure out some way to address Proud Liberal Dem Aug 2017 #82
No. Bleacher Creature Aug 2017 #83
No cyclonefence Aug 2017 #85
Republicans have been dominating at the state level for a long time. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #117
ANOTHER THREAD on "Democrats must change! Drop this principle; compromise on that principle!" WTH?! WinkyDink Aug 2017 #87
I said nothing about dropping principles or compromising. See post #16. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #110
We need to dispense with the circular firing squad. dawg Aug 2017 #89
Bashing individual candidates is not what I'm advocating. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #113
Not to themselves rock Aug 2017 #91
They're able to gerrymander and suppress because they have majorities. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #115
The only "change" we need is a level playing field. hamsterjill Aug 2017 #94
She beat the worst candidate *ever* by 3 millions votes. I guess that's impressive. But... Garrett78 Aug 2017 #114
Fix gerrymandering and that will affect local elections. hamsterjill Aug 2017 #134
Gerrymandering and voter suppression efforts are enabled by Republican majorities. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #136
Well, good luck with your desire to revamp everything to your liking hamsterjill Aug 2017 #156
No. I don't want major changes from how well we do on national elections for the past 25 years. stevenleser Aug 2017 #95
Congrats. You're better than the last guy who made this run. Stinky The Clown Aug 2017 #116
I'm not sure what that means. What I do know is that... Garrett78 Aug 2017 #119
No. displacedtexan Aug 2017 #118
No. Just being THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. UTUSN Aug 2017 #121
Absolutely Lunabell Aug 2017 #129
Moving even further right is not going to help dflprincess Aug 2017 #135
Agreed. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #137
Yes, and I say start by refusing to capitulate BainsBane Aug 2017 #139
There seem to be 2 dominant camps. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #140
That doesn't respond to my post BainsBane Aug 2017 #141
I think it does. Garrett78 Aug 2017 #142
This has gone far beyond Bernie BainsBane Aug 2017 #143
No denbot Aug 2017 #145
The Democratic Party needs to get a coherent message kacekwl Aug 2017 #154
Not...on... reproductive.... rights dembotoz Aug 2017 #155
Dem changes Billb93 Aug 2017 #159
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Can't most all of us agre...»Reply #82