A 28-year-old Democratic Socialist just ousted a powerful, 10-term congressman in New York

[spanone]

(CNN)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Latina running her first campaign, ousted 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district on Tuesday, CNN projects, in the most shocking upset of a rollicking political season.

An activist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Ocasio-Cortez won over voters in the minority-majority district with a ruthlessly efficient grassroots bid, even as Crowley -- the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House -- outraised her by a 10-to-1 margin.

This was the first time in 14 years a member of his own party has attempted to unseat Crowley, who chairs the Queens County Democrats. His defeat marks a potential sea change in the broader sphere of liberal politics -- a result with implications for Democrats nationwide that would recall, as optimistic progressives routinely noted during the campaign, former GOP Majority Leader Eric Cantor's loss to the insurgent, tea party-backed Dave Brat in June 2014.

"This is not an end, this is the beginning. This is the beginning because the message that we sent the world tonight is that it's not OK to put donors before your community," Ocasio-Cortez told roaring supporters on Tuesday night.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/26/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-joe-crowley-new-york-14-primary/index.html

[ismnotwasm]

1. She didn't say "identity politics" one time either.

She spoke right to her constituents. You should See her twitter feed.

[rogue emissary]

6. Interesting observation

A lot of people in the below thread celebrating her victory continues to point out that she's a latina and better represent the district because of her ethnicity.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez!!

She also didn't seem to shy away from that "identity politics" as she brought up her ethnicity as well.

Link to tweet

[ismnotwasm]

10. I hate. LOATHE, the dismissal of racism as "identity politics"

At least she didn’t do that. If she’s elected, she’ll perhaps work with Gillibrand, although that tweet is laser focused at Gillbrand and kinda disturbing. It’s the real world now for her. She can target Republicans

[rogue emissary]

20. So why is it a good thing she didn't use the term "identity politics"?

If I've miss read your original post, I apologize. Not sure what you're trying to say about her use of the term "Identity Politics".

She brought up her race and that of the district a lot. Which I don't have a problem with.

[vi5]

103. Gillibrand a "progressive leader"?

HA! I appreciate this amazing woman's sense of humor. And good for her for calling out Blue Dog Gillibrand specifically.

More of this. We may have to accept moderate and centrist in more red states and districts but there's no fucking reason we should be told by the Democratic establishment and incumbent protection racket that we have to accept it in solidly blue states and districts.

That type of cowardice is a big factor why we are in this current state of affairs in the first place.

[underthematrix]

2. This is such great news.

[stevenleser]

4. Sure, if you are Trump. nt

[underthematrix]

5. Why do you say that?

Help me understand.

[stevenleser]

9. Because we just made a member of the House Democratic leadership a lame duck

You know, one of the top four folks in the House who are leading the fight against Trump and GOP legislation? He is now effectively castrated in that role. Trump and GOP have that much of an easier time getting legislation passed for the next six months.

After that, we replace someone with seniority and experience and someone who other members of the House have some level of confidence in their abilities with a 28 year old never-held-office-before neophyte ideologue. And that neophyte ideologue will need at least 3-6 months to come up to speed in her new job. So if Democrats retake both houses, instead of having an experienced person in leadership helping to take the fight to Trump, we will have someone in on the job training for a quarter of the congressional session.

[leftstreet]

12. 'leading the fight against Trump?' I'd never heard of him

I don't see many 'top' Democrats in the House or Senate standing up against Trump

But her campaign wasn't an anti-Trump campaign. She campaigned on issues people support, like Medicare For All, education, housing, justice, etc

[ismnotwasm]

14. He is talking about the structure of practical politics

What actually happens when our Reps and Senators show up to work. Legislation, committees all that. It matters.

[stevenleser]

17. Thanks, I was about to post that very thing. nt

[still_one]

39. LOL. The basic understanding how our government works seems to evade many people. It reminds me

of some going after Joe Manchin saying things to the effect that it wouldn't matter if he lost in November to a republican, because he is "republican lite", ignoring the fact that the PARTY that has the majority in the House and the Senate control the agenda

[Honeycombe8]

47. +1. nt

[dpibel]

63. Repub lite w/D good; left D w/D bad

Do I have that right?

We mustn't chide Manchin because majority.

But Ocasio-Cortez is bad because...?

[still_one]

68. Did you even read my post, and where did I say Cortez was "bad"? Let me restate what I

said about Manchin very clearly. If Manchin is running against a republican, WHICH HE WILL BE, and a self-identified progressive refuses to vote for Manchin against the republican, that is bullshit, because they obviously fail to grasp the significance of having a majority party in the House and Senate. The majority party determines the agenda.

It is equivalent to cutting one's nose off to spite one's face

The situation is entirely different for Cortez:

1. She is in a Democratic district, and that district is going to vote Democratic. Not only will she win in November, we will have a Democrat added to the House seats.


2. Manchin is in a RED STATE. He will be running against a repulican in November. This really isn't rocket science


It is the classic Howard Dean 50-state strategy.

West Virginia is NOT CALIFORNIA

[Hortensis]

106. No, of course you shouldn't assume she's bad. :)

FIVE PERCENT (5%) of NY CD 14's electorate went to the polls, and she won by over half of those. Btw, WHAT the hell's up with the district's now-48% Hispanic voters? Did most like Crowley and assume he'd be reelected? Are too many still unengaged in spite of everything?

Whatever. The people of the 14th have spoken.

Ideology to me wouldn't have been the deciding issue. She and Crowley seem to be far more alike ideologically than those who vote for labels and campaign claims imagine.

For me a couple of issues are that she is a total amateur and a complete unknown.

In 2019 she won't be able to begin to take Crowley's place as a party leader working both within congress and with movers and shakers outside. BUT, other leaders will start shouldering his role, including younger ones perhaps. So, oh well. It's that it happened at a bad time when Democrats need all the strength we can muster.

And it's not at all personal to this one person, but I wish people would be more careful about electing unknowns. We have to live with them and what they do, sometimes for a very long time. Only fools evaluate politicians by their rhetoric -- it's the RECORD, stupid. She has no record at all. She should have been tested in lower positions first, but a lot of people have bought that nonsense about how totally unknown, ignorant and unskilled politicians are exactly what our national congress needs to fix it.

Will what was behind this curtain #3 learn her job and become competent in some aspect of this HUGE job as soon as possible? What subjects will she develop expertise in?

Will this one turn out to be easily corruptible or will she be someday widely admired for her wisdom and integrity? Will she actually be the strong leftist progressive she claimed to get elected, someday start caucusing with the blue dogs, or (most likely) more like Crowley than not for the same reasons and despised by the 2+% who imagined they were electing something else?

All unknown. My guess is she doesn't know the answers to these herself. She's 28. She's a newbie to adulthood itself and, like most of us at that time, unaware that she will change her mind about a lot of things as she continues to learn and develop.

But, oh well. A new person gets a chance to develop into a good choice. If she's not a good choice she could hang on for a very long time if she plays it safe, but these days most of those seem to be gone within a decade. A few terms building up quid for quo and they're ready to up to the big-money lobbying leagues.

[KPN]

49. It does matter. That's partly why she won.

When “practical politics” isn’t working for people, they look to a different approach.

[stevenleser]

52. No. Your post is not on point at all. nt

[KPN]

55. We disagree apparently. Oh well.

[stevenleser]

56. Nope, it's not about disagreement. You responded to an issue other than the one

being discussed.

[KPN]

60. Nope? Nope. We still disagree. I responded to

Oberliner. Heck, in my view, your comment is off point.

[Blues Heron]

84. Your wrong

[stevenleser]

114. Nope, I'm not. nt

[Blues Heron]

83. +1

The people have spoken.

[tomp]

81. She can vote, and she'll vote progressive.

And she has proved she does not have to kow tow to leadership. That's a big plus for me, because the leadership is part of the problem. Anything that moves the party to the left can only be good.

[oberliner]

19. You'd never heard of him?

He was leading a protest at the border just two weeks ago.

[leftstreet]

21. Guess I missed that. But you'd think in 14 years...n/t

[KPN]

51. He was chasing visibility on a train that he was late for.

He wasn't leading a protest anymore than Bernie Sanders was leading the Memphis march.

[Blues Heron]

85. And now he's a lame duck

The people made their decision, they didn't want him anymore.

[underthematrix]

15. OMG!! this is part of her bio. SHE.IS.BRILLIANT and CRITICAL THINKER

Early life
Ocasio-Cortez was born in The Bronx, New York and moved to Yorktown, New York, at a young age. She later attended Boston University, during that time she interned in immigration office of US Senator Ted Kennedy. Her father died in 2008 during financial crisis.

According to The Intercept, following her father's death, her family became "locked in a years-long probate battle with the Westchester County Surrogate’s Court, which processes the estates of people who died without a will."[6]

After she graduated from Boston University in 2011, she moved back to the Bronx and supported her mother by bartending and waitressing. She also got a job as an educator in the nonprofit National Hispanic Institute.[7]

An asteroid, 23238 Ocasio-Cortez, is named after her. Ocasio-Cortez was a finalist in the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Nancy Pelosi is gonna love her and mentor her and help her manage her obvious star power.

Here's rest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria_Ocasio-Cortez

[stevenleser]

16. I missed the part about her elected political experience in that fluff you posted.

You want Pelosi to spend time spoon feeding this person instead of fighting trump?

[underthematrix]

18. She's well educated, thinks outside the box and

she was a barista so she understands both the excellent and the depraved.

Yes of course Nancy Pelosi would like to mentor her. She has the right experience. She has worked on issues to benefit the public interest. She's the future and I wish her the best. I'm sure Crowley will do everything he can to help get her elected. He knows our loves depend on it.

[stevenleser]

23. That is as impressive to me as someone as what you just described trying to perform surgery

Without a medical degree.

Knowledge and experience matters. As surely as it would kill the unfortunate patient of the non-degreed surgeon.

[KPN]

59. Knowledge and experience do matter. She's obviously

bright and a quick learner. She will do well. Everyone starts somewhere, and some excel from the get go. Look at Obama’s for example. Her success already is promising in that regard. Don’t underestimate her based on a paradigm. (BTW, as a federal manager for many years, the best selections I made were all young, bright and relatively inexperienced. My metric: the hire’s career trajectory.)

[Act_of_Reparation]

126. "Knowledge and experience matters".

Said every gerontocrat ever.

[oberliner]

24. She will not need any help getting elected

[Lordquinton]

37. But you support her, right?

I sure do!

[oberliner]

112. Of course - she's great

Just saying, she will win and it won't be close.

[Lordquinton]

141. I dunno, Crowley thought the same thing

and I see far more doubt of her around here than support, lots of attacking of allies when we need to rally.

[still_one]

40. No she won't have any problem

[LanternWaste]

99. Your electoral prophecies have been quite spot on...

Your electoral prophecies have been quite spot on...

[Honeycombe8]

48. Keeping the seat Democratic would be good. But she won't have any clout...

or bring any fighting skills to the table. Hopefully, she'll go along, as she is told to, being a newbie. It's critical to get rid of the Republicans, pass bills, get rid of Trump, etc. Everything else is secondary.

[KPN]

61. Hmmm ... and you know this how?

Who moved my cheese?

[Honeycombe8]

62. The newbies have no clout or power.

They're newbies. They won't be on important committees. Won't be included in some meetings. They're learning how things are done, where to hang your coat, where are all the bathrooms, how to get office supplies, reading the how-to manuals, meeting people and learning names. No one will listen to her, when she speaks. She's new.

Crowley was on a subcommittee on Social Security. She won't be, nor should she be, because she's new and won't have anything to offer on that committee. Oh, well. They'll replace him with someone else who's been in the House for a while, I suppose.

[KPN]

65. What is wrong with any of that? As you said,

a more experienced Dem will fill behind Crowley. That’s kind of how the world works. New blood is rarely the reason for organizational failure. In fact, it’s typically sought and promoted by high achieving organizations.

[Honeycombe8]

66. These aren't normal times.

Losing a powerful, persuasive voice to a totally new, very young, small voice isn't a good idea. But if she votes the right way, and watches the experienced reps..should be fine, I guess. It'll hurt her district more than anything.

If he'd lost to someone with more life experiences, more prepared for the job, it would've been better. But it's NY, and she's probably reflective of their community. So who am I to judge?

Crowley had a 100% rating from NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and introduced bills regarding female mutilation, so he was doing some good things. So makes me wonder why he lost. Just wanted someone new, I guess.

[Blues Heron]

89. Sounds like Crowley wasn't very persuasive

to the voters of his (former) district

[KPN]

125. Maybe she won because these aren't normal times.

From what I understand, the district has a growing Latino population. Maybe it was that. I’m guessing it was both as well as the fact she’s a woman? At any rate, she obviously ran a great campaign. At 28, she has a lot of upside. I think it’s a good thing overall.

[Tom Rinaldo]

127. Our political system has a problem with near permanent incumbency

That is why there is as much support as there is out there for term limits (which I oppose). In safe Republican or Democratic districts (which means the vast majority of CD districts, a person virtually has to only "win" their first election and from then on reelection is almost guaranteed.

Thank god for the occasional "newbie" or we would end up being ruled virtually exclusively by upper middle age and older Representatives hanging in their until whenever they feel is the right time to retire.

I have nothing personally against Crowley personally and assume he is a good Democrat. But he lost a primary election to another Democrat. In that district it is the only way new blood can enter unless constituents are willing to potentially wait decades for a retirement.

[Honeycombe8]

132. I'm in favor of term limits.

I was just pointing out that at this point in time, things are dangerous at an historical level. But it will probably affect that district more than overall.

But not a good time to lose a powerful voice, which in this case is the case. He was on the Social Security subcommittee, he was listened to by others, etc.

The voters spoke, though. I assume if he had been going home and interacting enough with his voter, it may have made a difference. Or maybe not. Not my state, so..... (I'm stuck with Trumpers)

[spooky3]

29. I usually agree with your posts, but I don't understand

Why it makes sense to attack a candidate who has just won her primary. Shouldn’t we get behind her at this point?

[stevenleser]

30. See Oberliners 24 above.

I think it’s fair to say when the grassroots have made a mistake.

[Lordquinton]

42. But as the Dem Candidate, you support her 100%, right?

I do, proudly!

[stevenleser]

54. Define support. I think your definition differs from the site's. nt

[Lordquinton]

75. You don't support the Democratic candidate?

I think the site is very clear on this issue.

[stevenleser]

115. Define support. I think your definition differs from the site's. nt

[Lordquinton]

142. You don't support her?

She is the Dem candidate and the site is very clear about supporting Democratic candidates. You can find it easy, here's a shortcut to the rule, click on "alert post" and scroll down to where it says "Support Democrats" and click the drop down button, the way the site defines it is right there.

Thn obviously back out of it because everyone in this conversation supports her 100%, right? I do!

[stevenleser]

145. Define support. I think your definition differs from the site's. nt

[Lordquinton]

148. You've said the same thing several times in a row now, I think you might actually not support her

Sad, and shameful.

[stevenleser]

150. Define support. I think your definition differs from the site's. nt

[Lordquinton]

152. I did for you

Why do you refuse to answer?

[melman]

147. Seems like an easy question

Strange that someone would be so reluctant to answer.

[Lordquinton]

149. It's a very easy question

and the dodge in answering something so straightforward is telling.

[KPN]

64. I don't understand why you say this? If you said you feel like

the grassroots made a mistake, that would make more sense to me. That’s an opinion. Comparing her win to Brat’s win over Cantor, I don’t understand how your statement that it was a mistake is justified. The Rs have done quite well since Cantor’s loss as far as numbers go. They also now control all 3 branches.

[Lordquinton]

36. Absolutely, in fact it's a part of the site rules

so yeah, they do.

[underthematrix]

137. Yes it is puzzling. We're in a fight for the survival of our democracy and

folks are nitpicking a Democratic candidate. But I'm not mad. I'm going to use my social media platforms to AMPLIFY all Democratic candidates because I understand we are dealing with an existential threat.

Join me.

[Blues Heron]

88. She just got some

How to oust an incumbent 101

[R B Garr]

31. +1. nt

[Sophia4]

43. She will bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to her job.

And they guy she beat would leave Congress one way or the other sooner or later.

Instead of having a tired, old person in leadership helping to take the fight to Trump, Democrats in congress will have an attractive, energetic woman who has the backing of her constituents. That's a good deal.

I'm 75 so my post is not anti-older people. It's pro-voter. The voters chose her, not him. She has to start sometime.

A lot of people are really tired of the Democrats that have been running the party and not winning elections for a number of years now. Give this young woman a chance. Her views will move to the middle as she serves. Let her bring her idealism, and then let her learn to compromise.

[Honeycombe8]

53. "Attractive" is a qualification?

Tired of not winning elections? The one she ousted was one of the winners. And powerful. And experienced at fighting.

But the voters chose her. I hope there aren't many more of these. I don't think Americans are going to vote for those on the edge, which I would say a socialist is, to the average American. The Dems do need Independent voters. But that's NY. Things are different there. Neither bad nor good. Just different.

[Sophia4]

57. Each district is a little different. Voters get to vote for their favorite.

I say: Let it be.

I'm in California. It's very, very progressive here. My congressman might have a tough time getting elected in some other state, but then, he represents us, the people in my district, so let it be.

[Honeycombe8]

46. And Crowley was in line as Speaker. And he was powerful, is what I read.

This doesn't look good for the Democrats, that I see.

[stevenleser]

50. Again, the group that is celebrating this can't see that for some reason. nt

[xmas74]

67. This is what worries me.

Crowley had power and clout. We've just lost what he brought to the table. As of now he is a lame duck.

[Mariana]

96. How powerful was he, really, if he didn't have strong support in his district?

Better that he lost now. He's obviously only been getting re-elected so many times because the voters had no other Democrats to vote for. As soon as one came along, they booted his ass right out.

[stevenleser]

119. Apples and Oranges. nt

[Honeycombe8]

133. Powerful in the House among Democratic reps, apparently.

That doesn't translate to the district. Yes, the voters spoke.

I have nothing against her, but it's not like an experienced person or someone who has prepared for this won. She's 28. Not many life experiences, which leaves her vulnerable in a pool of sharks.

But I like the idea of fresh blood in Congress, generally. It's necessary and good to shake things up.

[Midwestern Democrat]

143. Crowley was just the last heir apparent of his generation left standing - the others (Rahm Emanuel,

Chris Van Hollen, Xavier Beccera) knew they were in for a long wait and moved on (Emanuel - Obama's first Chief of Staff, then Mayor of Chicago; Van Hollen - US Senate; Beccera - CA Attorney General).

[JCanete]

74. Such is politics. You are basically saying that any time somebody has been a long sitting

congressperson, that we should stick with them for life. Fuck that. That isn't democracy. It isn't representative. I have a feeling she can figure it out. And why would he have an easier time. Lame duck has what actual effect on how Crowley votes? Are you saying other democrats will cave because he's a lame duck? I don't get this at all. How is he effectively castrated?

[Mariana]

109. There's a reason these seats are up for reelection every two years.

We don't need Democrats in high-profile positions whose support in their own districts is as pitifully weak as Crowley's.

[stevenleser]

120. Nate is right and you are wrong.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/june-26-election-results/#1012

And the race was maybe in an in-between zone whereas it was just competitive enough that her voters were exited and turned out, but also enough to the periphery of the radar that Crowley’s voters didn’t.

-----------------------------------------------------
That's really all this was.

[Mariana]

122. Nate uses the word "maybe".

"Maybe" indicates not that he's making an assertion, but that he is guessing. He goes on to say, "Which of those elements were most essential to her success? Which of those factors might be replicated elsewhere? It’s hard to say." He's not claiming to know why it happened.

[stevenleser]

123. He was being kind. It's a district of 700,000 people and how many participated in the primary?

The statistics completely dovetail with his interpretation and do not support yours.

[Tom Rinaldo]

93. I think people getting to choose who they want to represent them in Congress is always foremost

It is also why the constitution calls for only two year terms for members of "the people's house". There are plenty of seasoned Democrats in the House with skills who are ready to move into leadership. There always are. And it's not like all of Crowley's insights and strategic advice are suddenly unavailable to other Democrats who he serves with.

[stevenleser]

118. I think you know what I mean, and what you wrote doesn't address that. nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

124. I think I did. In my subject line for starters

People get to choose who will represent them in Congress. That is how it should be. The House Democratic Caucus then gets to choose who will fill leadership roles in that caucus based on who got elected to the House. Crowley was number 4 in House leadership. He can and will be replaced by someone competent and experienced. Our top House leadership team remains intact; Pelosi and Hoyer, and then Clyburn.

[rusty fender]

139. So you don't think

that there are at least 20 Dems in the House who can step into Crowley’s leadership position? Are there really only four Congress people who can be leaders?

[TeamPooka]

153. If he was really leading the fight then people would know his name. Ted Lieu is leading the fight

Eric Swalwell, Adam Schiff, are leading the fight.

I think Crowley spent too much time rehearsing guitar.
He got comfortable and got beat.
He had his eye on the big prize of Speaker and took it off the ball being pitched.

There is plenty of seniority in our House leadership to lead the newbies when we win.
If the Democratic Party depended that much on any one person we would be screwed.

I thought someone with your experience would know that if we are going to take the House in Nov. there are going to be a lot of newbies by the very definition of re-taking the House.
I hope there are a lot of "never-held-office-before" people next year.
That will mean we won.
I hope you want that at least, since you seem to be against the Democratic Party candidate who defeated Crowley in the primary.

Or are you going to continue to argue the last election (of this primary) and not coalesce around the Party candidate?

[stevenleser]

154. Nope, that is not correct. nt

[TeamPooka]

155. Yes it is.

[fallout87]

8. Many are calculating that we aren't going to win back

the house by running as far left as possible... there's still a middle country. I know this seat is in a safe district.. but it will have repercussions statewide/nationwide.

[still_one]

41. Those who are exposing that point of view fail to recognize that House elections are more than about

left or right. They are about the constituents in a particular district

It is the whole idea behind Howard Dean's 50-state strategy

West Virgina isn't like California

[zipplewrath]

92. You're right

Where do us mere voters get off disagreeing with leadership. I mean, look at how effective they've been in the last decade. When have we ever been in better shape?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. Excellent news!!

[leftstreet]

3. Here's a flyer on her platform...

Link to tweet

[oberliner]

25. Sounds like Bernie

[leftstreet]

27. I think I read she was an organizer on his campaign

sorry, no link - saw something about it on Twitter

[oberliner]

113. Makes sense

I've read that as well.

She also worked for Ted Kennedy.

[R B Garr]

34. Exactly, but she wants to abolish ICE and that is at

cross purposes with his focus on jobs for working class labor. Edit: he is against abolishing ICE

[Orsino]

91. Shhhh. Don't scare people. n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

151. Yes, a WINNING message!

[Marbgd1]

11. While I agree that new blood is needed

I think that Crowley conceded gracefully. He promised to back his replacement, and I hope that he does so.

From article " our message... that it's not OK to put donors before your community," Changing the guard is good. Giving the back of your hand to a potential ally that you replaced might be counter-productive unless there are powerful reasons to do so. But then, I don't live in that district.

Getting energy, idealism, and intelligence into this snake-bit political party might be a good thing. Beating the new Nazis is important to my kid's future.

[Wellstone ruled]

13. She is the new Democratic Party.

[oberliner]

26. In what respect?

[Wellstone ruled]

28. The Country has changed my friend.

Lilly white people are in decline,and the new color is Tan . Proud to be living in Major Metro Area that is Tan.

Remember this my friend,Old Sick White Guy's create the worst Laws.

[stevenleser]

32. Folks see what they want to see. The country you say has moved left and is embracing

people of color had a lot of people vote for Trump and Republicans the last go around.

[progree]

44. Trump is not lily white. He is a person of color

orange

[stevenleser]

45. LMAO, well played...

[ChubbyStar]

72. BOOM!

[oberliner]

111. The Democratic Party has many faces

I think she is an exceptional candidate for her district.

Have you been following Mark and David Wellstone and their dispute with Wellstone Action?

[Tom Rinaldo]

128. I spent years 0 through five in that district. Same home town as where Crowley owns his house

I am Italian-Irish. That is how it used to largely be in that district. That is how it was when my family moved out of it, in 1954. The district has changed drastically. The country as a whole has also, but not to the same extent as that Congressional District has. Ocasio-Cortez is dynamic candidate who ran an impressive race. She may well be more in tune with her district now than Crowley was. Some people here seem to want to argue that point, but that is foolish. We have one and only one metric by which we decide that point, and that is free elections. Ocasio-Cortez won. Voters in that district could reach a different decision in the next election, but for now the presumption has to be that she is a new generation of leadership for a district unlike the one Crowley first was elected to.

I think some old (sick or not) white guys still do a pretty good job, but it is up to the voters of each district to make that call. I have high hopes for Ocasio-Cortez.

[Tatiana]

22. It's a safe district. She's young and has energy and isn't afraid to stand up.

It sucks that we lose the experience Crowley brought to the table, but we needed to do better and I think she is the type of Democrat we need to do battle against the Party of Trump.

[JoeOtterbein]

33. Another progressive win tonight!

Go Pro Dems!

[womanofthehills]

35. She is very smart and assertive - she is going to be a force in congress

[H2O Man]

38. Great news!

Recommended.

Ocasio-Cortez is an outstanding representative of grass roots power. Although her election in November seems a pretty safe bet, I'll definitely be donating to her campaign.

[The_Casual_Observer]

58. The DNC must be wondering what's going on.

I think she will be great.

[Wwcd]

70. Is she a Democrat, a Democratic Socialist, Progressive Democrat or Progressive Democratic Socialist

I really can't tell the difference anymore
So I'm asking, & does it matter?
She ran on the Democratic ticket. So she's a Democrat.
We come in a vast variety, all under the same umbrella & all unified for the same common good.
That's how I see the Dem Party.
We are the Party of human rights & all that covers.

[Autumn]

107. She's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America

http://www.newsweek.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-joe-crowley-2018-midterms-996728

[Wwcd]

110. Is that like a Progressive Democrat?

Just asking.

[Autumn]

117. Something like that.

[The_Casual_Observer]

129. BTW, that's not a political party.

[Autumn]

135. No it's not, we all know she's a Democrat. I just answered a question.

Is she a Democrat, a Democratic Socialist, Progressive Democrat or Progressive Democratic Socialist

[GaryCnf]

71. Let's make one thing really clear

Before tonight, it was fine to argue about whether Crowley was the better choice but Ocasio-Cortez is now the DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE for United States Representative from the 14th Congressional District of New York and every self-righteous attack on her, every arrogant assertion that she will not effectively represent the people of her district is a flat out violation of the TOS.

[Wwcd]

79. Her platform is Hillary Clinton's 2016 platform.

Hope she gives HRC credit for this. It a very broad thinking platform for a 28 yr old..

Nice to see so many supporting it.

Womens Rights are Human Rights
~hrc 1995 Bejing

[Orsino]

95. No, it isn't.

I think it's better--better or at least more of the times than either Clinton's or Sanders'.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/06/27/ocasio-cortez-beat-joe-crowley-campaigning-on-medicare-for-all-guaranteed-jobs-and-abolishing-ice/
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-new-york-w522094

I think she's aweome.

[Wwcd]

102. Have you ever read HRC's platform? It is too similar to ignore.

Anyone who actually heard her speeches & knew her platform would recognize the glaring siimilarities.
It isn't even a point of argument.

[Orsino]

130. Well, it was a Democratic platform, to be sure.

But different. Comprehensive (and this is where Clinton's ability shone most of all), but not as focused on radical change.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/jul/22/hillary-clintons-top-10-campaign-promises/
https://www.politiplatform.com/clinton

[vi5]

105. But....but....that's different!

The same way that it's different for bakers to deny service to a gay couple but not okay to deny service to Sarah H. Sanders.

Why? Reasons! Just because!

Just in case it wasn't obvious......

The bullshit is going to be thick on here today from the Centrist Establishment Uber Alles crowed.

[tulipsandroses]

73. From what I saw on MSNBC tonight. She was no different from Conor Lamb

She spoke the language of her Constituents - It was good for Conor Lamb but not good for her? I applaud Crowley for all the work he was doing in Washington but it appears Crowley was attending to what was going on in Washington but missed the mark in his own backyard. He didn't even bother to show up to debate Cortez. He sent a stand in. Shows how seriously he took her. Now, we blame the people of NY for making the mistake?

[womanofthehills]

76. and in the short debate they did have, she came off better prepared and more honest

He would not answer the questions he was asked - a little slipping and sliding. She was very direct - no skirting the issues for her. Loved her.

[Throck]

77. Cynthia Nixon just might have a chance against Cuomo.

[Wwcd]

78. K & R

No.

[JI7]

86. No

[Throck]

94. He's accumulating baggage and the press may favor Cynthia

NYC is looking for a fresh political start. Stranger things have happened. Cynthia is everything NYC loves.

Unfortunately not my state

[DinahMoeHum]

97. Are you joking? NY state is NOT like NY CD-14. . .

Last edited Wed Jun 27, 2018, 09:42 AM - Edit history (1)

. . .in terms of demographics. . .a solid blue-collar district with an increasing Latino population.
While you have cosmopolitan NYC and suburbs, upstate is mostly red, with a few blue and purple spots.

When the hell has Cynthia Nixon campaigned in upstate New York?? (and I don't mean Ithaca or New Paltz, either)

The fact that she passed on the annual Puerto Rican Day parade in NYC (but she went to the LBGTQ Pride Parade, big fucking deal) speaks volumes about her and her ability to relate to people other than those in her Manhattan-Hamptons orbit.

Yes, she did endorse Ocasio-Cortez for her run. BUT, that area is a solid blue district with no real GOP opposition. Let's see her endorse the Democratic primary winners upstate before we crown her a kingmaker.

Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez won because she and her campaign people did the nitty-gritty work called the ground game That is to say, they burned up the shoe leather going door-to-door and actually talked to everyday people. All through the district.

Do you honestly see Cynthia Nixon going door-to-door in red neighborhoods and actually talking to the everyday people there? Things about her tell me she's incapable of doing that.
And until she shows that her message has appeal in places such as Utica, Rochester, Buffalo,
Plattsburgh, Elmira, and the rural regions therein, I'm sorry, but I'm NOT with her.

[Throck]

140. The population favors NYC as exclusive

NY is a paradise for Democrats with progressive views. Cynthia rocks.

[DinahMoeHum]

144. Then why the hell doesn't Cynthia show up in upstate/rural NY?????

Last edited Thu Jun 28, 2018, 11:33 AM - Edit history (1)

. . .except to speak with LGBTQ organizations and in 1 case a disability rights group???

She's gotta get herself up to blue-collar neighborhoods in upstate towns as aforementioned and have her campaign volunteers go door-to-door canvassing and selling her as a viable candidate.
She also has to speak with local Democratic clubs/committees out there and get their endorsements - it doesn't have to be with money, but it does have to be with local district leaders/precinct captains willing to burn up the shoe leather for her.

And BTW, yes, they do support "Democrats with progressive views", at the local level, running for local offices as well as state assembly, state senate and Congress. Point is, their support so far has not yet extended to Cynthia Nixon; she's not really a priority with them. They're too busy right now supporting their own locally-grown candidates who are actually going out there, talking with their constituents, discussing the things that really matter to them out there.

[democrank]

80. K & R

[RandiFan1290]

82. Woo Hoo!!

The right wingers are bitter and whiny!

[NCTraveler]

87. Congratulations. Let's now hold the seat. Nt

[KG]

90. I lulz'd

at the butt-hurt...

[Autumn]

100. She's a young fresh face and will be great! I'm loving this.

Hearing she won made my morning.

[Lee-Lee]

98. I've got mixed feelings about tbis

On one hand I’m happy to see new blood take on an establishment candidate when people feel the person in office doesn’t reflect the district.

I’m thrilled a woman of color displaced a white male, especially since the district is 80% people or color.

However, I do worry some about how the fact she openly identifies as socialist will affect races outside her district. That plays well in some areas. But in others it doesn’t, and in those areas you better believe they will paint any Democrat candidates as “in bed with socialists” or “the party of socialists”.

I know many will say good, we need to embrace the term. Maybe. But I guess that also depends on what definition of the term you are using.

Part of my job is monitoring the right wing social media sphere. They have already started with the “see, Democrats are socialists andnthe rela definition of socialism if the government controls all business and determines who gets what and how much, do you want that?”.

I hope she gets out in front of a lot of that, as well as the DNC, and defines just what they mean by socialism instead of letting the right define it.

[vi5]

104. I have no doubt that she will get out in front of it...

...theDNC......not so much. I'm sure they'll be happy to take credit if she wins but their brand is defined by it's aversion to risk and confrontation so they'll stay far away I'm sure.

[oberliner]

108. This was a very specific win in very specific place

I think it's important to recognize that our party is deep and wide, and the different strategies must be employed in different places. That we will have a great deal of common ground on key issues, but also that it's OK to have some differences of opinion here and there.

[Orsino]

134. We were due for a wave of such candidates.

We're not seeing as many as I'd hoped for in the party, but Ocasio-Cortez sure seems to epitomize Democratic Socialism.

[ck4829]

101. K&R

[Squinch]

116. And five miles away a moderate Democrat (Engel) won his primary in a landslide. So go figure.

[H2O Man]

131. That's great, too!

We need a variety of good Democrats to win.

[Snellius]

121. O has amazing media charisma

Last edited Wed Jun 27, 2018, 11:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Even Drudge who, even though a hate-filled stooge, knows a good story when he sees one, has a headline: "MILLENNIAL ROCKS DEM PARTY", with a flattering photo of O. He doesn't even use the label "socialist" which is how FOX is describing her.

UPDATE: Drudge just added the dreaded "socialist" adjective to O's headline. Like FOX. Should have guessed.

[nolabels]

136. The establishment is noticing

It's also easy to go up this thread and notice those supporting it

[matt819]

138. Will someone explain why "the media" and the RW have teamed up to call this some sort of disaster

for the Dems?

I don't know the ins and outs of this district or this race, but I'm excited by new people and doubly excited by a reduction of old white guys in office. How is this a disaster?

[Devil Child]

146. Great news and a hearty congrats to Ocasio-Cortez!

We need more democratic socialism representation in our big tent!