2016 Postmortem

BillZBubb

(10,650 posts)

108. This nomination battle is truly for the soul of the Democratic party.

Thu Mar 17, 2016, 10:18 AM

Mar 2016

Are we to remain a center-right, Third Way, party that can win presidential elections, but continues to lose congressional, state and local elections are an astounding rate? Or, can we return to the progressivism of the New Deal era and once again become the predominant party in offices at all levels?

The Third Way path is the easiest because it rakes in the corporate money. That also makes it extremely popular with party insiders and elites. Meanwhile the party is getting crushed in every midterm election.

So far things have, as expected, not gone our way. The primary deck was stacked to buttress the Third Way candidate. But as Thomas Paine said: These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country.

We can't be summer soldiers. We've got to fight on.

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American Revolution (Phase Two) [View all] H2O Man Mar 2016 OP

seriously? bigtree Mar 2016 #1

Seriously. H2O Man Mar 2016 #5

the 'low information' criticism? bigtree Mar 2016 #14

In the "title" H2O Man Mar 2016 #17

how do you define 'confused?' bigtree Mar 2016 #18

Well, luckily for you H2O Man Mar 2016 #32

just stop bigtree Mar 2016 #54

No, thank you. H2O Man Mar 2016 #57

Thank you H2O Man. kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #97

Thanks! H2O Man Mar 2016 #103

Not only you are rational but you have a generous heart of understanding. kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #106

LOL. Go! Go make yourselves a party, H20 Man, Hortensis Mar 2016 #8

Attention Bernie Supporters! H2O Man Mar 2016 #21

You're afraid to move out on your own. Hortensis Mar 2016 #25

Too funny! H2O Man Mar 2016 #37

So, you decline leadership. Okay, who else?! Hortensis Mar 2016 #41

A large segment H2O Man Mar 2016 #42

NO, I'm a progressive liberal and always have been. Hortensis Mar 2016 #43

Actually, you are not. H2O Man Mar 2016 #44

MAKE A PARTY. America needs an alternative. Hortensis Mar 2016 #47

"When passions drive, H2O Man Mar 2016 #48

You seem to be standing alone, H20. Hortensis Mar 2016 #49

Gosh. H2O Man Mar 2016 #52

look at all these Bernie supporters standing alone tk2kewl Mar 2016 #95

So many people united, standing together....!!!! kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #101

standing alone? tk2kewl Mar 2016 #94

emotional outbursts? Because anyone who encourages you to go out KittyWampus Mar 2016 #116

Are you really H2O Man Mar 2016 #119

Oh, are YOU guys there in that picture? Hortensis Mar 2016 #137

kick kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #140

From your lips to God(dess)'s ears. Please, a real Progressive party . nt mariawr Mar 2016 #139

Boy, are you wrong. malthaussen Mar 2016 #151

They have forgotten about many of Bernie's support and contribution to Dem party. kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #102

Right. H2O Man Mar 2016 #105

Obedience is their code and value. nt kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #107

Right. H2O Man Mar 2016 #109

kick kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #113

He's spent decades trashing the ENTIRE Democratic Party KittyWampus Mar 2016 #118

That's simply not true. H2O Man Mar 2016 #121

Sanders has been voting 80% with Dem policies. He has resisted the elite class. kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #141

Sanders' supporters are true progressives who want to protect the FDR legacy Samantha Mar 2016 #45

Thank you, Samantha! H2O Man Mar 2016 #50

I thought it was an atrocious attack on you and way over the line Samantha Mar 2016 #56

I think she's hilarious. H2O Man Mar 2016 #58

By the same token... malthaussen Mar 2016 #152

LOL! Sanders supporters would have trashed FDR cause Social Security KittyWampus Mar 2016 #120

Simply not true. H2O Man Mar 2016 #123

Another great post Blus4u Mar 2016 #2

Thank you. H2O Man Mar 2016 #6

wonderful analysis Merryland Mar 2016 #3

Exactly. H2O Man Mar 2016 #7

Straightforward Locke. malthaussen Mar 2016 #153

K & Highly R SheenaR Mar 2016 #4

Thank you. H2O Man Mar 2016 #11

I have been posting this pic every chance I get... tk2kewl Mar 2016 #9

Very good! H2O Man Mar 2016 #12

love that picture marions ghost Mar 2016 #99

Indeed H2O Man! haikugal Mar 2016 #10

Outstanding! H2O Man Mar 2016 #15

I don't think forgiveness helps anyone if there are no corrections made. haikugal Mar 2016 #24

Right. H2O Man Mar 2016 #125

I hope so. haikugal Mar 2016 #130

I'm not convinced of that. malthaussen Mar 2016 #154

Well Stated....We Forge On...! KoKo Mar 2016 #13

Thanks, KoKo! H2O Man Mar 2016 #22

"The Sanders revolution is in the tradition of the patriots in the Revolutionary War." Jenny_92808 Mar 2016 #16

Yes. H2O Man Mar 2016 #23

For 99%. Government of the people, by the people, for the people... kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #144

I needed this. Gregorian Mar 2016 #19

You nailed it. H2O Man Mar 2016 #26

I love that. Gregorian Mar 2016 #31

Wow! H2O Man Mar 2016 #33

Many Americans do not realize the Boston Tea Party mmonk Mar 2016 #20

Thanks, mmonk! H2O Man Mar 2016 #28

Nice point mmonk! BillZBubb Mar 2016 #104

Yep. mmonk Mar 2016 #145

Right there with you H2O Man! Fight on, fellow Berners, fight on! peacebird Mar 2016 #27

Thanks, peacebird! H2O Man Mar 2016 #29

Despite being ignored, marginalized and otherwise mocked farleftlib Mar 2016 #30

Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2016 #34

I like this post Tuesday map: marions ghost Mar 2016 #100

Very good! H2O Man Mar 2016 #122

K.R fot later reading. 99Forever Mar 2016 #35

Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2016 #38

Happy to be rec #25! nt nc4bo Mar 2016 #36

Thanks! H2O Man Mar 2016 #39

That's an excellent OP, H2O Man! Uncle Joe Mar 2016 #40

Thanks, Uncle Joe! H2O Man Mar 2016 #59

I'm glad you wrote this up, and hope it will stand as a reminder that this political movement Jefferson23 Mar 2016 #46

Thanks, Jefferson23! H2O Man Mar 2016 #61

I haven't given up on that front either.....this election cycle has shown us thus far, anything Jefferson23 Mar 2016 #65

I thought most Sanders supporters beleieved that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. CajunBlazer Mar 2016 #51

Respectfully disagree. H2O Man Mar 2016 #55

Judging by voter turnout it never really started. nt hack89 Mar 2016 #85

We have come to a point where words like Liberty WDIM Mar 2016 #53

Very, very well said! H2O Man Mar 2016 #69

Yes indeed. Ghost Dog Mar 2016 #127

Ohio and South Florida aren't part of the Bible Belt. nt geek tragedy Mar 2016 #60

Why, of course not. H2O Man Mar 2016 #66

I think the commentary about the south/bible belt/regional candidate geek tragedy Mar 2016 #67

Respectfully disagree. H2O Man Mar 2016 #68

I will respectfully, but strongly, disagree that Trump geek tragedy Mar 2016 #72

Right. H2O Man Mar 2016 #78

"Hillary cannot unite our party" geek tragedy Mar 2016 #81

Respectfully disagree. H2O Man Mar 2016 #82

I'm back. H2O Man Mar 2016 #90

The second American Revolution was the Civil War. Buzz cook Mar 2016 #62

For historical accuracy, H2O Man Mar 2016 #70

The anti rent war Buzz cook Mar 2016 #146

If you belive Thomas Jefferson... malthaussen Mar 2016 #155

well said! dana_b Mar 2016 #63

Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2016 #71

Your posts are always so wise and thoughtful, H20 Man. polly7 Mar 2016 #64

Thanks! H2O Man Mar 2016 #74

You shouldn't even bother with anyone like that. It's obvious what you stand for, polly7 Mar 2016 #76

Right. H2O Man Mar 2016 #80

I think they're afraid of you, lol. Sometimes even the kindest stated truths threaten polly7 Mar 2016 #83

Interesting. Very interesting. H2O Man Mar 2016 #128

You need to write a book. polly7 Mar 2016 #138

He's written several books... malthaussen Mar 2016 #156

Oooh, I didn't realize that. I'm so sorry H2O Man. polly7 Mar 2016 #159

Peace!!! Keep donating and spreading the word on Bernie!!! PonyUp Mar 2016 #73

Exactly! H2O Man Mar 2016 #75

Kicking for more eyes! And rec'd! And bookmarked! ebayfool Mar 2016 #77

Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2016 #79

I love your optimism. surrealAmerican Mar 2016 #84

Right! H2O Man Mar 2016 #87

Your posts are some of my favorites here. surrealAmerican Mar 2016 #89

It goes in cycles, H2O Man Mar 2016 #91

Well, your name is Pat... malthaussen Mar 2016 #157

I'm not about to give up. I'm not giving in. This is a fight to the finish. Autumn Mar 2016 #86

There you go! H2O Man Mar 2016 #88

Nervous? Sensitive soul Mar 2016 #92

Really, only one. H2O Man Mar 2016 #98

Big heart. nt kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #136

H2O Man, I have to disagree with one of your statements: Martin Eden Mar 2016 #93

Right. H2O Man Mar 2016 #110

Thank you again, H2O Man. This is a historic moment. kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #96

Great example. H2O Man Mar 2016 #112

Status quo is not working any more.... kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #115

Exactly. H2O Man Mar 2016 #129

That is what causes me so much pain. I do not understand their cold bloodiness. kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #131

This nomination battle is truly for the soul of the Democratic party. BillZBubb Mar 2016 #108

Beautiful! H2O Man Mar 2016 #114

Your mind goes back to Margaret Thatcher? LOL! KittyWampus Mar 2016 #111

Agree & Respectfully disagree. H2O Man Mar 2016 #117

Stage 2. grossproffit Mar 2016 #124

"...in which H2O Man Mar 2016 #126

another thoughtful piece, H2O...i just posted last night about a conversation about our situation islandmkl Mar 2016 #132

Years ago, H2O Man Mar 2016 #134

Lovely post! Zorra Mar 2016 #133

Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2016 #142

Bernie Sanders versus the philistines jeepers Mar 2016 #135

Great points. H2O Man Mar 2016 #143

"The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot... malthaussen Mar 2016 #147

In my opinion, H2O Man Mar 2016 #148

That's essentially my reading as well malthaussen Mar 2016 #149

From what I hear from young ppl, without Bernie, they will leave the political space entirely nt kgnu_fan Mar 2016 #150

I agree, it's in the tradition of the patriots. Waiting For Everyman Mar 2016 #158

At the very heart this is about the future nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #160