AOC: Abolish the death penalty.

[melman]

Link to tweet

[brooklynite]

1. A Tweet should do the trick...

Seriously; if this is important to her, she's had two years to try to get it implemented. Policy by tweet is something I'm looking forward to disappearing...

[FreeState]

2. There is nothing she can do but awareness with the make up of the Government

There is nothing she can do but awareness with the make up of the Government. Too many people, in both parties, support it. I am not one of them. I welcome anyone starting a conversation on the topic - she’s helping inform and present a different position, which is how you change peoples opinions and beliefs.

[George II]

58. Not entirely true. She's a Member of Congress. She can write a bill abolishing the death penalty....

...introduce it, get it to the floor, and get it passed.

Inasmuch as "too many people, in both parties, support it", there should be no problem getting it passed.

As for your last point, four words don't go far in changing people's opinions and beliefs.

[melman]

4. No one said it would do the trick

And it's not just "important to her"

It's important. Period.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

10. She's using that new fangled social media to advance the idea, it's much better

than giving a speech in Congress that no one ever listens to or on a talking head show that no one is interested in watching. It will never disappear, that's the platform younger politicians will stick with to use. It's the way to reach millions and influence the discussion. Evening news is dying out and no one bothers to watch those idiotic pundit shows on TV.

[demmiblue]

43. The person you are responding to...

has virtually no one responding to his Twitter account. For someone who is so "connected", well...

I would say something about the psychology behind their disdain, but...

[Autumn]

73. That might be why some people think Twitter doesn't influence people.

[sheshe2]

92. So...

Autumn

10. She's using that new fangled social media to advance the idea, it's much better

than giving a speech in Congress that no one ever listens to or on a talking head show that no one is interested in watching.

I don't get your post. Why is she in congress if no one ever listens to her? She is only heard on Social media...ie her twitter comments? Isn't she in congress to put forth legislation to make all her twits into law, or at least try to advance them there? Tweeting ain't doing shit to get laws passed.

It will never disappear, that's the platform younger politicians will stick with to use. It's the way to reach millions and influence the discussion. Evening news is dying out and no one bothers to watch those idiotic pundit shows on TV.

You said above that she is not listened to in congress. Only on tweets. She will introduce bills and pass all legislation with tweets? Seriously. Oh boy.

[Autumn]

95. Wow. Who's post did you read? Not Mine. Politicians do go on talk shows, they do speak in Congress.

The media rarely covers those speeches and if they do it's a picture of the politician talking and some "reporter" talking about what they said in a ten minute speech in 60 seconds. Most Americans make decisions from 15 second sound bites and it shows.

Highlighted from my post by you.

Autumn

10. She's using that new fangled social media to advance the idea, it's much better

than giving a speech in Congress that no one ever listens to or on a talking head show that no one is interested in watching.

It will never disappear, that's the platform younger politicians will stick with to use. It's the way to reach millions and influence the discussion. Evening news is dying out and no one bothers to watch those idiotic pundit shows on TV.

As for passing all legislation by tweets where the hell did you get that from my post? That talking point fall flat. Ideas are not legislation

[Baclava]

3. Can we wait till after the Nuremberg trial?

[George II]

5. In case anyone was interested, the death penalty was abolished in New York in 2007.

[Dem4Life1102]

6. So?

It hasn’t been by the federal government.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55236260

[George II]

7. True. But there's a law on the books in her own state that she could use as a model for a bill....

....to introduce in the House.

Just saying "abolish the death penalty" isn't going to get it done.

[Dem4Life1102]

9. So she's not allowed to express an opinion

about the federal government?

[George II]

11. No one said she isn't, but that wasn't an "opinion", it was a declaration.

[Dem4Life1102]

12. So she's not allowed to make a declaration?

[George II]

13. Nobody said that, either. I expressed my opinion on how a Member of Congress..

....could work to get the death penalty abolished.

Am I not allowed to express MY opinion?

[Dem4Life1102]

14. Sure you are

So do you agree with AOC that the death penalty should be abolished?

[George II]

15. I've felt that the death penalty should be abolished for more than 50 years, as did my parents...

...who were instrumental, especially my father, in getting it drastically limited in the 1960s (maybe early 1970s, I'm fuzzy on the timing) and then totally abolished in 2007.

But they DID something, they didn't just talk about it. My father attended dozens of hearings in Albany and gave a number of speeches against it in various parts of the state over the years.

In fact the last time I saw him, in 2005, my visit was interrupted by a phone call from his State Assemblyman, who called to ask for advice on how to proceed on upcoming legislation regarding the death penalty.

My only regret is that he couldn't see it finally and definitively abolished in 2007.

[Dem4Life1102]

16. Great

So you’re saying that AOC is right and you support her on this.

[George II]

17. I'm saying that the Federal death penalty should be abolished, as it should be everywhere....

There's nothing to "support" since there has been no proposed action. Inasmuch as I've been against the death penalty for decades (even before she was born) I guess that SHE "supports" or agrees with me.

That's how it works!

[Dem4Life1102]

19. So you agree with AOC

and support her position.

[George II]

20. She agrees with me, and there's no "position" to support.

[Dem4Life1102]

21. Great so you and AOC agree.

[George II]

24. I'm vehemently opposed to the death penalty, in any jurisdiction. You can draw your own conclusions.

[Dem4Life1102]

25. Sounds like you and AOC are in 100% agreement.

[George II]

26. Maybe to you.

[Dem4Life1102]

27. You and AOC have the same position

on the death penalty. Sounds like 100% agreement.

[George II]

30. I believe the death penalty should be abolished, have felt that way for 50+ years. I'm not upset...

....that she agrees with me.

[Dem4Life1102]

37. Great you and AOC agree.

[George II]

42. Since you frame it that way, then I guess you and donald trump agree that oxygen....

....is good for one's health.

Great that you and trump agree.

[Dem4Life1102]

44. So I guess you agree with Trump too

on oxygen. And you and AOC agree that the death penalty should be abolished.

[William769]

53. Just so you know, your sub-thread here has been an epic failure

Since you also injected trumps name into your sub-thread, let me do the same.

Your sub-thread has been like trumps election court cases. And with that I bid you a good night.

[Dem4Life1102]

61. I didn't inject Trump

George did.

[Mariana]

62. Who was it that injected Trump's name into the sub-thread?

The first poster to invoke Trump's name in this sub-thread George II, in post #42, at 8:26pm

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214691125#post42

You've responded to the second poster who mentioned Trump's name, and it was in response to the first one.

[William769]

63. my apologies for missing that.

I still stand by my original post though.

[Mariana]

64. You stand by a falsehood?

OK.

[William769]

67. With the exception of what I apologized for. Is this going to turn into another sub-thread?

[Dem4Life1102]

72. So you stand by falsely accusing me

of something I didn’t do?

[sheshe2]

91. On boy.

[Dem4Life1102]

94. Scott sai it best

[George II]

69. With gratitude, sir!

[LanternWaste]

18. What lead you to inaccurately infer someone is denying her expression of opinion?

Do you believe criticism of an opinion is a de-facto denial of that opinion?

If not, what specifically lead you to inaccurately infer someone is denying her an expression of opinion?

[Dem4Life1102]

22. Just asking a question.

[melman]

28. Why would someone criticize this opinion?

[George II]

31. Who has criticized that opinion? Please name names.

[sheshe2]

66. Opinions...

are ................

[melman]

68. Ayanna Pressley: Abolish the death penalty

Link to tweet

[George II]

77. Yes, Ayanna Pressley agrees that we should abolish the death penalty....

....but she doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk.

She's a very impressive legislator.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. Agreed. Abolish it.

[Dr. Strange]

23. She should contact her Congressional representative.

Maybe she can convince him to do something.

[George II]

33. Bazinga!

[AmericanCanuck]

29. I had no idea AOC was the one who came up with this idea

How come none of the Democrats think of this before?

[melman]

32. Feel free to point out where anyone made such a claim

[AmericanCanuck]

34. There is an OP on her tweet

It was reasonable to assume she thought of something groundbreaking or one wouldn't have created an OP.

Does it mean ordinary tweets from a few people deserve such exposure?

I am hurt ... I tweeted "burritos are delicious" but no one started an OP

[Cuthbert Allgood]

38. You clearly aren't as popular nor as influential as AOC.

Keep working on your social media presence and maybe you'll get there. Watching what AOC has done to get that much reach on social media might be a good place to start.

[AmericanCanuck]

39. But burritos are definitely delicious

[Cuthbert Allgood]

40. I agree with you absolutely on your burrito stance.

I'm a vegetarian, so the fillings might look different, but delicious.

[George II]

50. Social media doesn't legislate.

[George II]

70. Please define "popular" and "influential". Thanks in advance!

[Cuthbert Allgood]

82. Pretty simple words.

In case you need help.

Are you seriously wanting a discussion about whether random anonymous poster on DU is as popular and influential nationally as any member of congress? Weird flex, but, OK.

[George II]

84. Perhaps a "random anonymous poster on DU" is as popular as a "random tweeter on Twitter".

Who knows?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

86. That could be. Absolutely.

Are you arguing that AOC is a "random tweeter on Twitter"?

[George II]

88. As much as you are arguing that I'm an "anonymous poster on DU".

[Cuthbert Allgood]

89. You are.

I don't even know (or care) if your real first name is George. I know who actual members of congress are on Twitter. If I asked random people who George II on DU was and who AOC was, who do you think more people would know?

[R B Garr]

74. Ooh, I clearly remember the Post-it Note tweet.

It’s worthy of general discussion that AOC wrote on Post-it Notes and then moved them around as she was working on her drafts.

[AmericanCanuck]

75. hahahaha

[George II]

47. Not interested.

[melman]

49. Not interested in what?

[George II]

51. Simple answer: read the post to which I responded.

[melman]

55. But that post wasn't directed at you

Why respond as if it had been?

[George II]

56. Irrelevant - this is an open discussion forum. Thanks!

[melman]

57. Okay but let me ask you this

What's the key word?

[George II]

60. You tell me.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

35. Swing and a miss.

It's amazing how much people's hatred of AOC lead them to make straw man arguments and not agree with her on something I would assume all Democrats agree with her about.

But, hey, it's Friday. You do you.

[AmericanCanuck]

41. My point was absoluteky clear to those who can appreciate sarcasm

Thousands of Democrats have worked on abolishing the death penalty -- and this tweet is not something extraordinary yet it is presented to the fan club as something revolutionary, prescient and original.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

45. It's nothing new, but it is ridiculously timely.

And she is also clearly trying to get Abolish the death penalty to trend on twitter and it's getting traction (and I freely admit not because of her, but she is helping). If people retweet her, it moves the trend up.

She knows what she is doing on social media. She's helping push the narrative.

[George II]

48. Trending on Twitter doesn't get legislation written, introduced, voted upon, or passed.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

59. Yes, I'm quite aware of how legislation works.

But it does get more visibility for something which will cause pressure to be put on lawmakers which should lead to legislation changes.

[George II]

65. There is quite a bit of visibility on the death penalty already. The IMPORTANT step..

...is getting it abolished.

Anyone doing anything concrete about accomplishing that? Since it's the go to source of information dissemination, I haven't seen anything on Twitter attempting to do that.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

76. The Abolish the Death Penalty hashtag is rising in the trends

It's getting information out. Search the hashtag (which, even though AOC didn't do a hashtag, is being added to by AOC). There are some strong voices getting information out on Twitter. AOC is helping that.

[George II]

79. Trending hashtags and tweets don't get laws changed or implemented. Anyone following this issue....

....knows that the information has been out there for decades. In fact until trump became president no federal executions were carried out for more than seventeen years. The information has been out there for a long time.

Talk is cheap, action is a lot more expensive and more work. It's time to stop talking/tweeting and time to start working on legislation to abolish the death penalty. Period!

[Cuthbert Allgood]

81. The key here is "anyone following the issue."

You don't think there are a lot of people on Twitter that follow AOC and other political figures that have no idea about the federal death penalty?

[George II]

83. I'm sure there are "a lot", but Twitter is a global platform not just the US. Ask Bob Mueller.

[George II]

85. To be honest, no I don't.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

87. As someone who is around high school students all day

that doesn't mean they don't exist. A lot of them, actually.

[sheshe2]

93. I am a twitter newbie.

It is lots of fun.

Cuthbert Allgood

76. The Abolish the Death Penalty hashtag is rising in the trends

It's getting information out. Search the hashtag (which, even though AOC didn't do a hashtag, is being added to by AOC). There are some strong voices getting information out on Twitter. AOC is helping that.

Strong voices getting information out does not policy or laws make. Time to get off twitter and become a congresswoman .

[Cuthbert Allgood]

96. Getting information out does help pressure legislation.

I'm quite sure AOC can both post tweets and be a congresswoman. Do you have proof otherwise? Certainly her constituents are happy with her.

[sheshe2]

97. What legislation has she pressured with her tweets and changed?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

98. I don't know. I don't have the tracking stats for her social media.

I guarantee some does that though. You might want to contact her office.

I do know that she raised over a quarter million dollars for Georgia in one night on Twitter.

[sheshe2]

99. So. Nothing?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

100. Not what I said at all.

In case you missed it last time:

1. I don't track her social media. I'm sure someone does.
2. She raised a lot of money for the races in Georgia.

[USALiberal]

54. No, not really! Nt

[USALiberal]

52. Link to who said this???? Nt

[GumboYaYa]

36. It is really disgusting how Trump is trying to execute as many people as possible on the way out.

I agree with AOC whole heartedly.

[mvd]

46. So simple and so true.

K&R

[spanone]

71. I'm with you ma'am.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

78. Every AOC tweet is a Rorschach test.

[George II]

80. Very profound. Thanks!

[BainsBane]

90. The anti-Hillary crowd already voted for the death penalty

when they chose this supreme court back in 2016 by refusing to vote for Clinton. Any of us can shout on twitter about the death penalty all we want, but the die has been cast for an entire generation. Fucking around in elections has consequences.