Joy Reid on AOC loss to Connolly

[SocialDemocrat61]

At this point almost nothing the Democratic Party does makes any damned sense. They are hanging onto their gerontocracy and consultant class at the expense of their most loyal voters. And let's just be clear, they'll be fine while our communities pay the price.

At this point almost nothing the Democratic Party does makes any damned sense. They are hanging onto their gerontocracy and consultant class at the expense of their most loyal voters. And let's just be clear, they'll be fine while our communities pay the price.

— Joy-Ann Reid (@joyannreid.bsky.social) 2024-12-17T18:41:47.588Z

[Celerity]

1. snapshot of that Bluesky link's post

[SocialDemocrat61]

2. Thanks

[Celerity]

3. yw!

[Autumn]

4. It almost seems like they aren't interested in getting young voters.

There is no such thing as a young 74 year old.

[SocialDemocrat61]

5. Maybe

I tend to think it’s more about preserving the status quo.

[GoreWon2000]

91. They've been doing this since 2000

So long as they all retain their own personal power, they're not interested in the big picture which is the reality that democracy was killed right under their noses. It's dem voters, particularly women who are paying the price along with our planet.

[Demobrat]

10. There's no such thing as a young 74 year old

with cancer.

You are in the club or you are not

[Autumn]

12. What young 74 year old has cancer?

[Autumn]

87. A young 74 year old who has cancer FFS. And Pelosi does this from a hospital bed

after she broke her hip while her and other members are touring another country. I though that endorsing
and working to elect Henry Cuellar, an anti abortion dem, after he and his wife were indicted in April 2024 was a bit over the top but he won with about 200 votes. Their trial is scheduled for sometime in April 2025.

Washington — Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were indicted on more than a dozen federal charges alleging they took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from an oil company owned by the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank, the Justice Department said Friday.

The 54-page indictment filed in federal district court in Houston was unsealed Friday and charges Cuellar with 14 counts including conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering. He is also accused of acting as a foreign agent to benefit the government of Azerbaijan.

Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Rios Cuellar, made their initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge in Houston, where they both pleaded not guilty and were released on an unsecured bond. The jury trial has been tentatively scheduled to begin July 8.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/henry-cuellar-innocent-justice-department-indictment/

[LittleGirl]

90. WOW. nt

[Cuthbert Allgood]

14. RIght?

They'll do this and then be all "Why aren't the young voters supporting us?" Or, my old favorite, "Who the fuck you going to vote for, Republicans?" and then shock when they just don't vote.

[Cirsium]

16. Quote from the Signorile show today

"They spent 1.6 billion dollars wooing white suburban women swing voters."

I don't know what voters they are interested in any more. Upper middle class white professionals, I guess.

[Magoo48]

82. At 76 I've earned the right to say this.

Step out of the fucking way, and let the young folks have their shot.
Also, don’t try to cast them with the worn out, old molds; let them become something new.

[Autumn]

84. You are absolutely right. It's their time and it's their world. Time for the older folks to stop

fighting them.

[Icanthinkformyself]

85. I feel the

same at 73. I'm still active and not in anything near poor health, like a cancer diagnosis. But, I recognize that my mental capacity is in decline (age related), I don't have the reflexes of youth and its' time that the old leadership steps aside. I was very happy to see NDP give the reins to Hakeem. But, she just can't seem to go into retirement and insists on interfering with the future. It's not hers or ours any more. It belongs to the next generations. I hope they do better than us Baby Boomers, 'cause we screwed the pooch.

[Rebl2]

95. My husband

and I have been saying this for years. I am in my late sixties and husband in his early seventies. It’s past time for more young people to be in congress.

[RVN VET71]

101. They showed that when they boxed out Bernie in favor of Hillary in 2016

I really think Sanders would have beaten Fat Donnie handsomely in 2016. I also think the "brain" trust of the Dems knew this but chose to go with Hillary because they completely missed the degree of her unpopularity among certain cliques of voters.

And I do agree that Hillary was extremely qualified in terms of experience, educational background, and intelligence. But many voters couldn't bring themselves to vote for her despite the known fact that the fate of SCOTUS hung in the balance of that election. Many more, particularly young, voters sat out the election because they saw what the damned Dems did to Bernie Sanders and resented the Party and its nominee because of that.

(I cannot disagree with your quip about 74-year-olds being young. Still, not every 74 yr old is suffering bad health or dementia. Although, I gotta admit, it would be nice to see a young, fiery Liberal in the WH again.)

[Autumn]

102. The man has cancer of the esophagus. Cancer can be tough especialy when you are

undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy. I'm gonna say that's not healthy for a 74 year old man.

[Oopsie Daisy]

106. 🙄 ... oh please.

... ...

The "damned Dems" did no such thing. Bernie lost the nomination all on his own, twice. I've heard other speculate that it may have been a lack of sincere and meaningful commitment to the party itself played a big role in that. It seems plausible, doesn't it?

[ProfessorPlum]

109. to be fair, Bernie wasn't going to win the nomination in 2016, he just didn't have the numbers

but he hardly lost it "on his own". He had a lot of help from the Democratic leadership.

[Oopsie Daisy]

114. 🙄

Yes... how awful. Clearly, the Democratic party owed him so much.

[NoSheep]

110. Bernie would have won had he not been silenced.

it's been HELL to state the obvious in this forum.

[malaise]

6. She is correct

That is all

[YorkRd]

7. AIPAC

[littlemissmartypants]

18. This one? ...

American Israel Public Affairs Committee?

[iluvtennis]

8. Dumb, dumb, dumb...it's time for the young bench players to get into the game and the vets to provide

guidance and support.

[Bettie]

103. The vets want to keep all the power

but they let Raskin into a committee chair position...he's 60, so to the "Elders" he's practically a baby.

But, he's also white and male.

[William769]

9. What a crock of shit.

"You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometime you'll find
You get what you need".

[Cobalt Violet]

11. Yeah I've just about had it.

[Iggo]

13. Before my heart attack a couple months ago, people called me a young 63.

But they didn’t ask me. I’d’ve told ‘em different.

I know how it feels to be 43, 53, and 63 instead of 23 and 33.

You move slower. You think slower. And everything hurts. And you get a new definition of “everything” every few months…lol.

There’s no such thing as a young 63, and there’s definitely no such thing as a young 74.

[USS_Dauntless]

19. There is also no such thing as a young 74

with CANCER. Even with the best healthcare money can buy, he's still 74 with CANCER.

[Iggo]

30. For real.

[ChazInAz]

83. I just entered that demographic.

I no longer feel young.

[Galraedia]

17. I think it's time to clean house starting with Nancy Pelosi

Young people feel like democratic leaders aren't listening to them and therefore aren't voting democrat. Choosing a 70 year old man battling cancer over a healthy 35 year old woman is sure as shit not telling young people that we care about their voice being heard. I don't even agree most of the time with AOC but I would still trust her to do the job.

[Lunabell]

49. They aren't listening.

And a lot of DUers aren't either. Too bad because there's a lot right with the Democratic party. But, losing touch with the working class is killing us.

[Farmer-Rick]

98. If we lost the working class

And they mostly voted for a 78 year old felon, white dude with dementia.

Than why won't offering them the influence of another 70+ year old white dude do the trick? The working class seem to like the old demented white guys. And they seem to not really care for women.

I am not saying this theory is accurate. I actually think something else is influencing voters and Trump supporters. But if all we need is younger Dems, then why aren't they voting for them?

[Lunabell]

115. I don't have that answer.

Why don't you listen to them instead of me. I'm 63. I understand, but I'm not going to educate anyone here or share my opinions. You go out and find out for yourself, with an open mind.

[Callie1979]

79. I was thinking that after this hip surgery she may call it a career.

But who knows?

[LittleGirl]

92. It's past due to move on

Her husband was nearly murdered and I thought she would hit the road then. Nope, she was in Europe last week and broke her hip! My gawd woman, it's time. You're mid-80s. Let us move on and elect some leaders that have proven to be on our side. Sheesh. This is crazy. I just got a cortisone shot in my shoulder yesterday and I couldn't work again if I tried. I'm only 65. I dearly care about the woman and her family but come on! Step aside and let the youth take over. I was so excited that AOC put herself out there and everyone looks the other way. I haven't seen Secretary Pete in a few weeks. He's my favorite right now. He should be in leadership. What are we doing?

[MadameButterfly]

100. I have long worshipped Nancy Pelosi and never would have told her to step down

because of age as long as she had her marbles. But she has lost me now.

Is Nancy really worried about moderate vs progressive, a nuance we will hardly notice when we are facing autocracy vs democracy?

We need heros now more than ever, especially someone with the star-power of AOC to get press coverage.
I used to think Nancy was the smartest person in Congress. Now I think it's AOC. Nancy needs to pass the torch.

[PedroXimenez]

20. Fairfax county vs the Bronx n/t

[Linda ladeewolf]

22. I just turned 70

I have neither the energy nor the will to do a lot of the things I need to do. 30 years ago, it would have been different. I don’t have cancer-that I know of, I still don’t want to do stuff I used to do. The young are our future and they need to have some control over their own futures. Let the young do what they have the energy to do.

[bottomofthehill]

23. This thread hits the nail on the head.

Let’s get rid of old, white, male, experienced cancer survivors who have worked their way up in the party in purple states and replace them with young people from safe seats in safe states. That is surly one way to grow the party. Gerry Connolly is a damn good person, right on all the issues and many here are taking a big shit on him. What a fucking clown show.

[SunImp]

47. It's nothing compared to what some bitter Duers constantly parrot about AOC and other Progressives

Be honest the party has always favored " old, white, male, experienced politicians who have worked their way up in the party" over newer voices who have great promise. AOC is also a good person just because some losers who can't stand her politics have gaslit people into hating her doesn't mean she doesn't have experience or can't do the job just as good Connelly or anyone else. She'll be in a top spot Congress someday and her haters can't do anything about it.

[Celerity]

66. +1, but I sadly do not share your optimism on one thing:

She'll be in a top spot Congress someday and her haters can't do anything about it.

If you look at the new incoming Dem House class, we are seeing a large amount of new moderates/centrists coming in (outpacing incoming progressives), and the Progressive Caucus losing some of its sitting members.

If we look at the centrist New Democrat Coalition in the House (who came out against AOC for Ranking member on Oversight), they did lose some sitting members, but they have a large amount of new, expected members.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrat_Coalition

They lost 15 sitting members

Adam Schiff (CA-30) (Retired to Run for U.S. Senate)
Yadira Caraveo (CO-8) (Defeated)
Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) (Retired to run for U.S. Senate)
David Trone (MD-6) (Retired)
Elissa Slotkin (MI-7) (Retired to run for U.S. Senate)
Dean Phillips (MN-3) (Retired)
Ann McLane Kuster (NH-2) – Chair (Retired)
Kathy Manning (NC-6) – Freshman Leadership Representative (Retired)
Wiley Nickel (NC-13) (Retired)
Jeff Jackson (NC-14) (Retired to run for NC AG)
Susan Wild (PA-7) (Defeated)
Colin Allred (TX-32) (Retired to run for U.S. Senate)
Abigail Spanberger (VA-7) (Retired)
Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) (Retired)
Derek Kilmer (WA-6) – Vice Chair for Policy (Retired)

but they have 25 likely new members coming in

Shomari Figures (AL-02)
Adam Gray (CA-13)
Sam Liccardo (CA-16)
George Whitesides (CA-27)
Gil Cisneros (CA-31)
Derek Tran (CA-45)
Sarah McBride (DE-AL)
Johnny Olszewski (MD-02)
Sarah Elfreth (MD-03)
April McClain-Delaney (MD-06)
Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08)
Kelly Morrison (MN-03)
Wesley Bell (MO-01)
Maggie Goodlander (NH-02)
Herb Conaway (NJ-03)
Nellie Pou (NJ-09)
Laura Gillen (NY-04)
George Latimer (NY-16)
Josh Riley (NY-19)
John Mannion (NY-22)
Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Julie Johnson (TX-32)
Eugene Vindman (VA-07)
Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10)
Emily Randall (WA-06)

That would net them a total of 109 members in the new House.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_Congressional_Progressive_Caucus

currently has 95 members in the House, but they lost 9 who will not be in the next House

Barbara Lee (CA-12, Oakland) (retiring at the end of the 118th Congress)
Grace Napolitano (CA-31, Norwalk) (retiring at the end of the 118th Congress)
Katie Porter (CA-47, Irvine) (retiring at the end of the 118th Congress)
Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE at-large) (won 2024 Delaware Senate election)
Cori Bush (MO-1, St. Louis) (Lost Renomination)
Andy Kim (NJ-3, Bordentown) (Won 2024 New Jersey Senate Election)
Jamaal Bowman (NY-16, Bronx) (Lost Renomination)
Earl Blumenauer (OR-3, Portland) (retiring at the end of the 118th Congress)
Matt Cartwright (PA-8, Scranton) (Lost Re election)

and they only have 9 likely inbound new members

Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03, Phoenix)
Lateefah Simon, (CA-12, Emeryville)
Luz Rivas, (CA-29, Los Angeles)
Laura Friedman, (CA-30, Glendale)
Dave Min, (CA-47, Irvine)
Sarah McBride (DE-AL, Wilmington)
Nellie Pou (NJ-09, North Haledon)
LaMonica McIver (NJ-10, Newark)
Maxine Dexter (OR-03, Portland)

all that yields a roughly 14 seat lead (as some are or will be members in both caucuses) for the centrists/moderates over the progressives

and that 14 seat gap is even greater when you add in the 11 or so (almost all of whom are amongst the most conservative Dems) who are in either the Blue Dog and/or Problem Solvers caucuses and who are not in the New Democrat Coalition nor (of course) in the Progressive Caucus.

I would take a guess and say that there is probably a 20 or so seat advantage in terms of House members (when the new Congress starts) who would vote against AOC for any actual leadership position. That is a tough number to overcome for AOC, and it could PERHAPS grow to even more of a gap over the next few elections, given current trends inside our electoral results.

We have some real anti-progressive House members, who are openly hostile towards some of the progressive leaders, AOC included. Some of those have left for other adventures (outside of the House) but others are still there, or have recently come back (Tom Suozzi), or have since switched sides, from prog to anti-prog (Ritchie Torres for example, who left the Progressive Caucus in February 2024 and has become very anti Squad), or who are perhaps coming into the new House this upcoming term.

So at least for a few election cycles (unless Jeffries and others, including of course Pelosi, etc change their tune on her) I think AOC is facing a chilly environment in terms of regaining her upward leadership trajectory.

I am dismayed by that, but I am nothing if not a number-counting realist and overall trend-watcher.

The MASSIVE wild card (of course) is Trump, as he VERY likely will fuck shit up so badly that we may well see a huge swing towards Dems, with that Blue tidal wave hopefully dragging in a lot more progressives. At least I hope that occurs.

[qazplm135]

52. Yes

I'm sorry but yes, let's start replacing some old white men.

[bottomofthehill]

78. The House Democratic Caucus has about 215 members.

Of those about 75 are white men, many are not old, think Swalwell, Goldman, Auchincloss, Crow, so about 1/3 of the caucus is white non Hispanic men. How many more do you think we should get rid of?

[qazplm135]

81. I see you took out

The word "old" from my post...wonder why that is.

[Nixie]

107. I think Bernie is 83, and he's white. The age thing seems to be

very selective and probably isn’t really about age after all.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

53. It's so tough to be an old white male.

Maybe we have more people in positions of power that look like our diverse party and not just old whites.

[Hope22]

76. Well, it's near impossible to be female at any age here.

Gonna take a lot of change before the white old guys get any sympathy. Term limits solve most of this problem. Let’s get to work!!

[questionseverything]

54. No one said to get rid of him but he is not the correct choice to lead in this case

It’s a slap to in the face to both young and liberal voters

[diverdownjt]

72. I don't think they were shitting on them..but are frustrated that it's business as usual while

we coast off to hell in a hand basket.. Change nothing and see if we can ever get back into it.
We need to change how we do this or perish.

[bottomofthehill]

75. Gerry Connolly took tough political positions when it mattered

And now many are main stream so we should cast him aside, I don’t think so. I think his loyalty to progressive issues should be recognized and were by a majority of the steering committee and the democratic caucus.

[Autumn]

99. Nobody is casting him aside. He should pass the baton of leadership to the young people.

He's 74 years old and has cancer. Enough is enough.

[Galraedia]

86. No one wants to get rid of Gerry Connolly

This is not at all about him being white, male, or even much to do with his age. He's 74 and is battling esophageal cancer, which has a survival rate around 20%. I'm sorry but he doesn't need the added responsibility of leading democrats on the oversight committee.

[LittleGirl]

94. I completely disagree

He may very well be a good man. But what good man doesn't get real with his own diagnosis and just continues to serve in absence? That's not the way the gov't works. He need to be present. it's time to remove the old guard and elect some new blood in the party.

[Arazi]

105. We can respect his career and still want the torch passed

Do you mean to imply that anyone who prefers a younger Dem cohort taking the reins somehow indicates we’re taking a shit on him? Or advocating to “get rid of him”?

That’s not what anyone’s doing fyi. We can respect his career and still prefer the torch is passed

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

24. I was not impressed with AOC's long video about the Biden stepdown possibility. I'm happy with this choice. nt

[SocialDemocrat61]

26. What video?

Please post a link?

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

28. It was in one of our threads. But I believe this is it.

[SocialDemocrat61]

29. What's wrong with it?

She’s defending Biden, unlike a lot of democrats.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

33. I just don't feel that 'something special' when I hear her points, not feeling the right message and not hearing any

spark of awe that I hope to feel when the top leaders speak.

And trying to get Biden to stay was completely wrong. It was obvious that the move to Harris was best.

PS, If you listen to it now, you will see that some of her points were not borne out.

[SocialDemocrat61]

35. So her being loyal to

Biden was a bad thing? And switching to Harris didn't work out, so it's hard to claim it was best.

[Polybius]

39. "It was obvious that the move to Harris was best"

What was so obvious about it?

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

42. The debate

[Polybius]

43. Fair enough for reason to drop out

But why "obvious that the move to Harris was best?"

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

46. Fair enough. Perhaps becuase of the campaign money? Perhaps cause it was so late. Perhaps

because it would have offended so many to pass Harris up ?

[thesquanderer]

48. another perhaps... no other option was really viable once Biden so quickly endorsed her,

before serious consideration of any possible alternatives, I think. That made it a done deal. Bad enough to tell Biden not to run, pretty much impossible to say we were also going to ignore his pick.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

51. Yes, didn't mention because I was approaching this at the point of AOC's video, not after Biden endorsed.

[Midwestern Democrat]

74. Because it was far too late to do anything else - having a "mini-primary" at that very late date was pure fantasy. NT

[Polybius]

96. That's why the time for dropping out was in 2023, or never

Of course, a convention fight could have been another option.

[Arazi]

104. Pelosi and Schumer shut out any contenders by Dec 2022

Nobody dared cross the top brass and seek to unseat Biden.

Dean Phillips was excoriated for running. So much so he’s bitterly leaving Congress after daring to challenge the POTB.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/12/15/pelosi-schumer-intv-2024-trump-biden-jan-6-gangel-lead-vpx.cnn

[questionseverything]

55. Gerry gives you that " something special " feeling, huh?

Why don’t
you name a specific speech that gave you that awe 🫢

[SocialDemocrat61]

77. Of course

He’s a white man. That’s all the “something special” that some need. 😉

[Emile]

31. She is defending President Biden.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

34. Not in a very elegant way. And I believe any defense of Biden at that time was just hurting Harris' future campaign.

[Emile]

36. Not in a very elegant way, would you say that's judgmental?

[SocialDemocrat61]

38. Yes

And judgemental. Some have to find reasons to dislike a woman of color.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

41. That's not me. You judge me as being that kind of person? I'd think you could see a person can have respctful

reasons to see things differently than you see them.

The personal attack is not nice.

[SocialDemocrat61]

44. Sorry

but you haven't made a factual argument. It's all very subjective.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

45. Thank You. Yes, subjective for sure.

[SocialDemocrat61]

69. You're welcome

But I prefer to discuss facts.

[Iggo]

40. Inelegant? Oh, stop.

[Celerity]

58. I've seen AOC (even recently) framed as some sort of Dem leadership (sometimes in re Biden, which is ludicrous) enemy,

some sort of 'threat' to our Party, yet then, with nary a blush, some in that 'always against AOC and many of the other Dem progressives no matter what' camp turn around and try to ding her for sticking up for Biden in the 'should he step down' arena of debate.

I have even seen that done by people who went after other DUers HARD for even trying to discuss Biden stepping down (back in the post-debate, pre drop-out-of-the-race era).

It is pure situational, selective outrage, always spun in a way that slates AOC, no matter what angle is needed to be taken up to do so.

She is damned if she does, damned if she does not.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

62. "even trying to discuss Biden stepping down (back in the post-debate, pre drop-out-of-the-race era). "

Those discussions never happened due to the requirement that all posts must support the nominee.
I'd love to have that discussion soon; trying to wait until February.

[Celerity]

64. There were some posters who discussed it before the ownership ban on it kicked in, and also, of course, post Biden

actually dropping out.

Even AFTER the ban on discussion, but before Biden dropped out, there were still many OPs that were put up as more and more elected Democrats came out and announced their stances that Biden needed to drop out (and those Dems were cursed to no end by many here, with many posters saying they would never ever support them again, at least in a Dem primary).

[vapor2]

27. AOC would have been the better choice by a million miles

[Skittles]

32. PASS THE BATON ALREADY

sorry these old folk are becoming very tiresome indeed

TIME FOR CHANGE

[Callie1979]

80. Another reason we need term limits. But few here support them. So this is what you get

Its ONE Amendment that would surely pass almost every state.
And if everyone wants to constantly complain about "old white men" then term limit them. And the "old white women" and BTW, everyone of any OTHER color who is too OLD.

[LisaL]

37. He has esophageal cancer.

Depending on what stage it's at, survival rates might not be so good.
Young 74 with esophageal cancer, indeed.

[Takket]

50. AOC is the first person to a million followers on BlueSky......

She is EXACTLY the type of person we should be putting in positions of power to influence voters.

This was a grave error.

[Karasu]

60. AOC was the very first to reach a million? Wow. If so, that's definitely a reason for hope.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

56. I figured she was going to be "a bridge too far." Too much

controversy - the oldsters do not want her representing the party. They need to find someone a little less controversial. Sorry- but I’m just being realistic about these politicians.

[SocialDemocrat61]

59. Why is she controversial?

Because Republicans hate her?
Good!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

61. No - she is seen as being "too liberal" I don't mind but there's a lot of people who would.

I could be wrong but it’s possible I could be further to the left of her. Every vote I make is a “compromise.” To be honest, I would vote for a good candidate from the Socialist Party for president if it wasn’t wasting my vote. I might do it for the representative who will be running, unless it is close.

[SocialDemocrat61]

63. Too liberal for whom? Republicans?

Good

[kerry-is-my-prez]

67. Indies. Conservative Dems.

[SocialDemocrat61]

68. Why?

Their not going to vote for a democrat running for city council or state assembly because the ranking member of the oversight committee is too liberal for them? Really?

[Karasu]

57. Gerontocracy indeed. This is NOT what we should be about. Leave resisting the future to the Republicans.

[donheld]

65. She's 100% correct.

It's high time people pay attention.

[Crunchy Frog]

70. Hanging on to what will keep them comfortable and well situated makes a lot of sense.

For them. I'm not convinced that the party establishment cares about much else.

[LilElf70]

71. I've said it hundreds of times

If something does not change, change will not happen, and we will never win again. The "same old, same old" is obviously no longer sufficient.

AOC is a fighter for progressive democratic policies. Fortunately, she will not go away. One day, people will wake up and realize that ideas like healthcare for all, removal of Citizens United, etc, are smart ideas. Instead we send billions to other countries, and borrow to save our own asses. That's not a good financial picture. Nor is it smart.

After all, the first 3 words in the constitution are "We the people". Being the richest country on the planet, just when in the hell are we going to take care of our own people? I fear it will not be in my lifetime, but it has to start sometime. I say, the sooner, the better for everyone.

[Emile]

73. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

[Littlered]

88. Meh, catering to 14% of the electorate

When they split 50/50 last election (so 7%) doesn’t make much sense to me. It seems some people just can’t grasp how wildly unpopular aoc et al, policies are with the majority of Americans. Doubling down is not the answer. Fwiw The youth vote was actually down this cycle.

https://circle.tufts.edu/2024-election#overall-youth-turnout-down-from-2020-but-strong-in-battleground-states

[thebigidea]

89. she should have considered building a coalition and winning

Leadership isn't a present, you go out and earn it by doing politics. Learn to count votes, learn to horse trade, learn to win.

[GoreWon2000]

93. Well said my Florida sister!

[mainer]

97. And it's esophageal cancer!

This is a bad one. He should have refused to be in the running. He's going to spend the next few months (if he lives that long) undergoing chemo.

[Ligyron]

108. She lost?

Just when I summoned enough stomach to tolerate paying attention I see I almost shouldn’t have bothered.

Same old same old with the Democratic Party shooting itself in the foot yet again.

At least he’s a Democrat so it could be worse.

[Cobalt Violet]

111. We have to wait until AOC turns 89.

[icnorth]

112. Donald Trump, Luigi Mangione and the Political Power... of Raging Against the Machine

The best analysis of the Presidential Election I have yet read. Forget the amazing job Joe Biden did as President, but underlying it all the Democrats defended a status quo platform, and never addressed the underlying reasons the electorate voted to rip the system to shreds. That lack of insight is the result when you are perceived to defend the indefensible. When Trump sold his campaign agenda of lies, corruption and deception he had already proven his skill as a junk products salesman, and he knew his target audience.

"...His appeal wasn’t rooted in ideology, but in rage—rage at institutions that, in the eyes of a significant portion of the electorate, promised hope and prosperity but seemed to deliver only corruption and dysfunction. His campaign wasn’t about conservatism. It was about contempt for everything Washington represents. And this anti-establishment stance, more than any policy position, is what resonated with millions of Americans across traditional party lines.

This scorched-earth approach to politics forced Democrats into an uneasy defensive crouch—and a rhetorical trap. By shielding the system from Trump’s onslaught, they unwittingly cast themselves as its champions, tethering their credibility to institutions many Americans had long since deemed hopelessly broken and corrupt..."

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-luigi-mangione-and-the-political-power-of-raging-against-the-machine/?via=newsletter&source=DDAfternoon&user_emailA=6940104906dc4cffb3c841f00a5341bf&user_emailB=536b7f637a69978466c7acc43c98d93da7191164c9658d44f6a1e2f6ff5842c5

[BannonsLiver]

113. I'm at least slightly to the right of most posters here and I supported her for this gig.

She has grown on me in recent years.