Hakeem Jeffries complains that the extreme left protest me more than they protest Donald Trump

[AStern]

Hakeem Jeffries complains that "the extreme left protest me more than they protest Donald Trump...I think because I've chosen not to bend the knee to either people on the far left and certainly not to Donald Trump and the far right."

Hakeem Jeffries complains that "the extreme left protest me more than they protest Donald Trump...I think because I've chosen not to bend the knee to either people on the far left and certainly not to Donald Trump and the far right."

— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein.bsky.social) 2025-02-25T19:09:13.247Z

What's the "extreme left" and what has Jeffries done to push back on Trump?

Personally, I have had enough of candidates running as progressive democrats, only to to renege once getting elected. Like John Fetterman.

So, what is the extreme left that's currently in office?

[FirstLight]

1. So is everyone NOT a MAGA now "Far Left"...?

I don't like his insinuation. Furthermore...I don't like him using that as a slur, especially when WE are the ones who have been screwed over the most and are STILL doing the heavy lifting of pushing back!

[leftstreet]

2. There is no "extreme left." What, the Anarcho syndicalists are after him?

The Communist party is sending him nasty notes?

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

119. "Who elected him king?"

[leftstreet]

130. ...

[HereForTheParty]

3. Pushing them makes them better

nm

[Nanjeanne]

4. Asshole. You are pushed because your Democratic voters need you to DO something. There's no point in

protesting Trump who isn't beholding to anyone much less Democrats. YOU are the person Ds elected to represent them so when you are useless YOU are who people will try to persuade. Jeez Louise.

[Nimble_Idea]

52. persuade them to do WHAT exactly?

sounds like projection, and useless noise with no power.

[intheflow]

88. Useless noise with no power is also how Republicans have ruled

and it's worked out really well for them.

[Ars Longa]

89. Well, when you stand in front of the Nation

shrug your shoulders, and say " What can we do,
we are powerless, don't look at us (Dems) ... You
are going to get blasted for being a Weak and
do-nothing Coward, from more than just Progressives.

[JohnSJ]

5. Nina turner, Briana Joy Gray, David Sirota, Cornell West, Susan Sarandon,

and any Self-identified progressive who refused to vote for Hillary in 2016 and 2024 VP Harris in the respective general elections

[displacedvermoter]

12. Are any of the folks you name bugging

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2025, 05:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Mr. Jeffries at this time?

[JohnSJ]

16. All of the named people.

[displacedvermoter]

19. Really?

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2025, 05:28 PM - Edit history (1)

They the ones who have been calling his offices with concerns about job security, Social Security and Musk? Maybe he should mention that is who he talking about and not Democrats and Progressives in general.

[AStern]

25. Jeffries is too busy with a book tour to take on Trump

Priorities.

[betsuni]

149. Who said: "If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire too."?

Wasn't a Democrat!

[Autumn]

156. Bernie said it. He was right too. Bernie didn't take time off in the fight to save our democarcy from

fascisim to do a book tour.

[Nixie]

159. Some are still clueless or in denial as to when "the fight" actually

started. Handing Republicans power 10 years ago over disinformation about Democrats gave away our power. Now they want to flog Jeffries for not saving the world when they don’t like the results of their efforts against the party.

[blue cat]

59. The far left

Nearly drove me away with their protests against democrats instead of republicans and their purity testing. I blame them as well as others for the loss.

[jrthin]

86. There lies the problem and the flashing red light as to who those

people are. They are silent. Not a word from them on the cruel and undemocratic actions of this administartion. Where is Nina Turner? Where is Susan Sarandon? Where is Cornell West? Or do they only rear their heads to berate democrats.

[Cha]

75. Yes.. It's Obvious who are the EXTREME left..

for anyone who's been paying attention to politics the last Decade.

TY, John

[JohnSJ]

103. They have been at it for quite sometime Cha, and through social media and other outlets they still are.

[choie]

112. Oh please.

That's absurd.

[BannonsLiver]

122. Thank you.

People in the thread acting like these types don’t exist. 🙄

[Solomon]

157. Thank you. The attacks on Jeffries lately are disgusting. Scapegoat for our frustrations.

[bottomofthehill]

161. People who voted Gaza over Democracy

Dipshits who can’t vote for the best choice (among the real choices given) and instead take pride in throwing their vote and our country away. People who could not vote for that warmonger Hillary or that Israeli supporter Kamala. People who are willing to let out democracy slide so they can keep their bullshit feeling of intellectual superiority.

[oasis]

181. Exactly!👍

[everyonematters]

6. Don't just complain about the base - lead it.

[Cirsium]

7. Disappointing

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2025, 07:28 PM - Edit history (1)

That is disappointing, to say the least.

"At least we are better than the Republicans" and "you don't have any other choice" and "if you don't accept everything we do you are helping Republicans" is a formula for failure.

"Both sides?" Seriously? (people on the far left ... and the far right)

Where is this "far left" to which he refer? I would like to join.

We don't judge Democrats by the same standards we do Republicans. We expect more from Democrats.

[Nimble_Idea]

54. sounds like a winning strategy there, not sure why you aren't running the DNC

i mean, landslides incoming

[Cirsium]

111. An insult, I suppose

Not sure what you are trying to say.

[dalton99a]

8. The man has leadership qualities

[BeyondGeography]

13. Straight down the tubes

[Celerity]

31. ...

[claudette]

36. And it

seems God is doing nothing to help America

[dalton99a]

38. +1. Belief in the supernatural is what people look for in a leader

That and stability - feet firmly planted in the ground, maybe concrete

[Celerity]

48. I think you are (hopefully) having a laugh

Belief in the supernatural is what people look for in a leader

I apologise for not being able to tell.

[dalton99a]

53. Forgot the sarcasm thingy

[JanMichael]

99. Thank you I couldn't tell either

There too many people that think that same way and they are serious.

[choie]

117. I couldn't tell either.

Sorry dalton!

[JanMichael]

98. Those are two opposites.

Or is that what you mean?

[True Dough]

153. Sarcasm is my middle name

so I immediately understood your intent.

[hatrack]

113. So how is this any different from Mark "God Has A Plan" Alford?

Do better, Congressman.

[choie]

116. oh scapegoating is a leadership quality?

n/t

[markpkessinger]

163. When you are in a position of leadership . . .

. . . complaining about the criticism you receive doesn't exactly evince "leadership qualities!"

[displacedvermoter]

9. As I said earlier in the week in a discussion of Andrew Cuomo.

Always be alert when a Democratic politician feels the need to label people they disagree with as the "far left", it usually means they are attacking union members, environmentalists, and Progressives in general.

In this case it means people who appear to be more concerned about our current drift towards Fascism than the Minority Leader.

[Passages]

18. Just the idea of the party accepting Cuomo is incredible.

[displacedvermoter]

21. Yes, indeed.

[Celerity]

34. he has a still active fan club here, smdh

[Passages]

64. Incredible.

I had no idea.

[Celerity]

72. his fan club loves him because he detests progressives and acts out on that ill will, including as Governor in the past

Just 2 examples:

Cuomo prevented Dem control of the NY Senate for years with his Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) scheme. The IDC was a group of members of the New York State Senate from the Democratic Party who were elected as Democrats but formed a coalition to give the Republicans the majority in the chamber.

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

In the November 2012 elections, Democrats won a majority of seats in the State Senate. Following the election, the IDC formed a bipartisan coalition with the Senate Republican Conference that enabled the two conferences to control the Senate despite the Democrats' numerical majority. Under their power-sharing arrangement, the IDC and the Senate Republicans agreed to " decide what bills [would] reach the Senate floor each day of the session", would "dole out committee assignments", would "have the power to make appointments to state and local boards", and would "share negotiations over the state budget". Klein and Skelos also agreed that the title of Senate President would shift back and forth between the two of them every two weeks. Additionally, Simcha Felder, a Democratic senator-elect, announced he would caucus with the Republicans.

In December 2012, the IDC recruited Malcolm Smith to join its ranks. This move was part of a failed attempt by Smith to secure the Republican Party nomination in the New York City mayoral election; Smith was indicted on federal corruption charges, which led to his expulsion from the IDC on April 14, 2013, and his eventual conviction. On February 26, 2014, Tony Avella left the Senate Democratic Conference to join the IDC.

Governor Andrew Cuomo was actively involved in the formation of the conference, encouraging it to maintain Republican leadership of the chamber and providing tactical advice in order to keep more liberal New York City Democrats out of power.

and

The former governor stacked New York’s highest court with conservatives who hijacked the state’s redistricting process.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/11/2022-midterms-new-york-republicans-cuomo-maloney.html

A year ago, Democrats were wise to the possibility that the midterms might get ugly, but they had high hopes for New York. Red states across the country were redrawing voting districts to a new extreme, shoring up congressional advantages for their party. New York, it seemed, could do the same for Democrats—make the state even bluer, a competitive rejoinder to a redistricting cycle that seemed certain to play to Republicans’ advantage.

The year 2021 marked the first time in a century that the New York Democrats had total control of state government, giving them unimpeded power in redistricting. Party leaders “optimistically predicted that new district lines could safeguard Democrats and imperil as many as five Republican seats,” noted the New York Times. Rumors circulated that Dems could lock in as much as a 23 to 3 advantage. Today, all of that seems like a far-off fantasy.

A startling nine of New York’s 26 congressional seats are currently in play for the GOP; party leaders are flocking to the state to help campaign for Democrats holding on by a thread. Jill Biden announced Thursday that she would campaign for one such Democrat, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who opted to run in an easier, bluer district and was put in charge of House Democrats’ entire national reelection apparatus, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He’s now on the ropes.

What the hell happened here? And who’s to blame? Luckily, there’s an easy answer for the last question: Look no further than erstwhile Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo. If Cuomo is known for anything beyond his miscreant behavior in office, it should be for his willingness to abet the state’s conservative forces for his personal gain, often to his own party’s disadvantage. Nowhere was this more obvious than his judicial appointments, where Cuomo routinely elevated conservative appointees—gleefully scoring points against his progressive opponents in Albany and New York City by moving the judicial branch rapidly to the right.

snip

[Passages]

77. I should have clarified. I know about Cuomo, I live in NY.

But I had no idea he had fans here. Even with Adams, they are giving a pass, which makes me ill.

Not hard to see why the Dems rank so low.


MSN
https://www.msn.com › en-us › news › politics › democr...
5 days ago — A new Quinnipiac University poll reveals that American voters' approval of Democrats in Congress has hit an all-time low.

[Celerity]

79. all good!

[Passages]

82. Thanks

[lapucelle]

147. Cool story about the redistricting map and the NYS Court of Appeals, but you forgot a few things

What Went Wrong with New York’s Redistricting

The process of drawing new voting maps was a mess, but don’t blame courts.

After Judge Patrick McAllister struck down New York’s congressional and state senate maps at the end of March, he gave the legislature a window of opportunity to enact replacement maps. That’s not uncommon. The accepted rule in both federal and state courts is that if maps get struck down, the legislature or commission that drew the map should have the first shot at enacting a fix. The reason is straightforward: the body that drew the map will have more familiarity than a court with the complexities of a state and is better positioned to craft a remedy that addresses legal defects while balancing various legitimate considerations.

snip-------------------------------

But for whatever reason, New York Democrats chose not to [redraw the map], instead letting the opportunity to control the redrawing pass without action, perhaps hoping it would be too late to redraw the map for 2022 by the time appeals were decided. They then took an equally aggressive line when it came time to submit proposed maps to the special master, offering a map that made very nominal changes to the one found to be constitutionally infirm (and none at all in key areas like New York City). That was their right. But by refusing to redraw the map themselves or offer reasonable alternatives, Democrats left the door open to a more radical reworking of the map.

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/what-went-wrong-new-yorks-redistricting

----------------------------------------------------------------------

As for any NYS governor "packing the court" ...

Court of Appeals

Vacancies on New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, are filled via merit selection. Candidates submit their “applications” to the Commission on Judicial Nomination, a bipartisan body of 12 members. Four members are appointed by the Governor; four by the Chief Judge; one each by the Senate Majority Leader and the Assembly Speaker; and one each by the Senate and Assembly Minority Leaders. At least two of the Governor’s and two of the Chief Judge’s appointees must be non-lawyers.

The Commission evaluates the candidates, determines which deserve the designation “well-qualified,” and narrows the list of well-qualified candidates to a maximum of seven.

This list is forwarded to the Governor, who may choose only from the candidates on it. The Governor’s nominee is then sent to the New York State Senate for confirmation.

https://moderncourts.org/programs-advocacy/judicial-selection/judicial-selection-in-the-courts-of-new-york/

[lapucelle]

148. Folks need to be careful with talking points that come from the easily-played WFP,

the source of the *information* from the cited Slate opinion piece. In 2024, they accidentally elected a Republican as their candidate for NY-17.

The Working Families Party Disavows Its District 17 Candidate

In the days lead­ing up to the June 25th New York State pri­mary, some 200 vot­ers, many of them for­mer Re­pub­li­cans with no prior af­fil­i­a­tion with the Work­ing Fam­i­lies Party, reg­is­tered just in time to vote in one An­thony Fras­cone as the WF­P’s can­di­date for Con­gress in Dis­trict 17.

Fras­cone him­self had been reg­is­tered for more than 20 years as a Re­pub­li­can, ac­cord­ing to WFP of­fi­cials. Armed with plac­ards and vi­sual ev­i­dence of po­lit­i­cal chi­canery, they held a press con­fer­ence Mon­day morn­ing in Tar­ry­town to spread the word that Fras­cone is “a fake can­di­date…a MAGA plant of Mike Lawler, try­ing to use the WFP to siphon votes away from Mondaire Jones and help Lawler win the elec­tion with dirty tricks.”

snip----------------------------------------

Late last week, a judge ruled that de­spite the ques­tion­able ethics of the strat­egy Fras­cone must stay on the bal­lot. As Dana Lev­en­berg, De­mo­c­ra­tic State As­sem­bly mem­ber from Os­sin­ing and her­self a le­git­i­mate WFP-en­dorsed can­di­date, ac­knowl­edged, what the Lawler cam­paign did “was le­gal.” State law does not al­low par­ties to uni­lat­er­ally re­move can­di­dates. More­over, the Fras­cone gam­bit was not dis­cov­ered in time to mount a counter cam­paign by le­git­i­mate WFP mem­bers, un­ac­cus­tomed as they are with par­tic­i­pat­ing in pri­maries.

https://gothamist.com/news/election-2024-new-york-mondaire-jones-mike-lawler

[Gore1FL]

10. He is really racking up the disappointments in me.

This didn't help.

[Phoenix61]

115. Same here.

I had high hopes for him but I think they were misplaced.

[Passages]

11. No. You can deflect all you want, and voters will complain when you keep losing.

It is your job to be convincing and people will hold you to account

House gone. Senate gone, White House gone.

[Mysterian]

14. Boohoohoo!!!! The meanies are complaining about me!!!

How about showing some leadership and fighting the fascist takeover rather than pissing and moaning about the "extreme left."

What a huge disappointment. I'm losing hope that the Democratic party will ever evolve to save us from this disaster.

[HereForTheParty]

15. And lumping in the "extreme left" with Trump and the far right?

I'll just hold my tongue.

[MustLoveBeagles]

17. His complaining isn't helpful

[angrychair]

20. Needs to worry less

About the "extreme left" and worry more about how Republicans are treating Maxwell Frost and others in his caucus

[bigtree]

22. the daily bait and divide

...drafting what is nothing but OPPOSITION TO OUR DEMOCRATIC LEADER off of the defeat that republicans handed the party when not enough Democrats showed up to vote in the last election.

This isn't just a politically dense attack on the Democratic leader, compelling us to view the House manager who produced a UNANIMOUS Democratic party vote against the budget resolution last night, but not only got one Dem out of a hospital bed and another with newborn in tow to make up the 214D to 218r solid Dem opposition.

That's the real picture here, not these sniping posts which NEVER bother to show the REAL actions and CONSEQUENTIAL actions and words from our Democrats and our Democratic leaders.

Question here is, why is Klipperstein trolling the Democratic leader? And why aren't there posts from these concerned folks highlighting things that make an actual difference in our lives, instead of this effort to trash a highly productive and legislatively correct champion in the House.

Why is this post here wasting everyone's fucking time grousing about an essentially true statement, instead of an attack on the republicans and Trump?

Who ratfucked Democrats over Gaza in the election? Who thought that was so much more important than elecxting Democrats, or supporting the incumbent president for that matter?

Dean Phillips, is that you?

[betsuni]

106. Daily knee-jerk Democrat-bashing has become normalized, Republicans almost forgotten.

Right now everyone's married to Jeffries, trashing him for hours and hours to anyone who'll listen. Grow up.

[B.See]

125. @bigtree: THIS!!!

Though Jeffries should've chosen his words better, maybe putting off the wrong people, he IS telling an essential truth. And house Democrats did turn in a solid vote against MAGA budget ratfuckery.

Bottom line is, want more Democrats in the House, Senate, SCOTUS, and WH? then start showing up to VOTE. Stop with the bs "protest" votes.

Stop flipping on your party and on your PEOPLE because you think "you got paid" ...

stop empowering people like Trump, Musk, et al - who want to symbolically (if not literally) ERASE US.

[JBTaurus83]

23. People are complaining

because they do not think he is effective. That is not an "extreme left" criticism, that is a criticism based on people's perception of his leadership or lack thereof.

[hannah]

29. People are saying

Right?

[Nimble_Idea]

58. oh look, its the concerned gaza crowd

again

[mcar]

24. He is correct

I don't see the left/Progressives protesting Republicans at all. Just like all the pro-"Palestine" protestors who only trashed Democrats and now are??

[Celerity]

43. Maybe you need to subscribe to AOC's, Maxwell Frost's, Liz Warren's, Bernie's, Jasmine Crockett's, etc etc social media

I don't see the left/Progressives protesting Republicans at all.

[mcar]

50. Maybe I do

[Celerity]

97. then you would know this statement you made is not true

I don't see the left/Progressives protesting Republicans at all.

Unless you are now going to say that AOC, Maxwell Frost, Liz Warren, Bernie, Jasmine Crockett's, etc etc are now somehow not progressives and part of the left.

just a few examples:

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[markodochartaigh]

101. Also,

Meidas Touch podcast, Thom Hartmann, Rick Smith, David Pakman, Brad Friedman, Ian Masters.

[choie]

120. Who do you think protested on MLK day?

Who do you think is participating in numerous advocacy groups to stop trump and his egregious corruption and budget cuts?
Who do you think is filing lawsuits against the administration?

It's certainly not middle of the roaders. It's progressives.

[ananda]

26. Uh oh. Jeffries is way off base here.

The "extreme left" are citizens who want him
and Congress to do their fucking jobs and stop
Trump.

[Nimble_Idea]

62. citizens need to do their fucking job

there, fixed it for you

[ananda]

102. Well, if they are igored or dissed by Democrats...

for doing their citizen job, well...

nothing whatsoever can be fixed.

Period

[Cirsium]

107. We are

All progress starts with pressure on the politicians, not with fealty to the politicians. (Fealty: the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord.)

Abolition, Women's Suffrage, organized Labor, Civil Rights, the Stonewall Uprising, environmentalism, and on and on, all driven by militant organizations bringing pressure on the elected officials from outside of the partisan political arena.

[regnaD kciN]

27. THIS is why we keep losing...

Contrary to conventional wisdom, we don't have a two-party system. We have a three-party system: Republicans, establishment Democrats, and progressive Democrats. And we might have a chance if the second group didn't spend as much energy attacking the third group as they do the first group.

[JanMichael]

100. I think you mean Fascists, conservatives and liberals.

Everything in the United States is skewed right. Conservatives in places like Norway and Finland are more to the left than our Democrats.

[aeromanKC]

28. Jeffries has a point.

He's at pay grade. (above mine)

[WhiteTara]

30. womp womp you little

titty baby.

[displacedvermoter]

32. And he is complaining to Stephen A. Smith!

Jeezus.....!!!

[ZRB]

33. He is 100% right

Has the far left been helpful at all in electing Democrats to give them actual power? Were the Genocide Joe chants helpful? Did the far left protest in front of any Republican offices? No, no and no. Far left posters on this very board have bragged about taking family and friends to anti-Biden/anti-Harris protest events before the election, further denigrating the party. Did that help generate votes?

[SunImp]

45. People have been protesting Republicans it's just not being reported

Did the far left protest in front of any Republican offices? No, no and no

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/protesters-gather-outside-republican-national-convention-for-abortion-and-immigrant-rights-end-to-war-in-gaza

?si=-lWosvQmA7wDac9x

?si=o3h7qiKTT9Eynft4

[Celerity]

46. I am fairly active and I did not see this:

Far left posters on this very board have bragged about taking family and friends to anti-Biden/anti-Harris protest events before the election, further denigrating the party.

Unless they were burner account trolls who were summarily MIRT'd.

There are very, very, very few 'far left' (in reality 'far left', not some falsely framed people who simply do not toe the anti-progressive line demanded by a small but relentless crowd here) posters on DU.

[ZRB]

60. I saw it

Of course I won't call anyone out.

[Celerity]

66. Were the posts hidden? Were they noob or low post/long dormant accounts?

[ZRB]

68. The one most prominent in my memory is a long-time, active poster.

They are still posting away and trashing the party daily.

[Celerity]

78. I do not believe that, sorry. A burner account, perhaps, but if there's actual trashing our Party (not just things a few

here do not personally agree with and are want to try and frame, over and over as bashing and trashing our Party) on a daily (your words), repetitive basis from an active long time account, they would no longer be here.

[ZRB]

85. What I would consider bashing

is often allowed to fly here because it's "holding their feet to the fire." I'm not accusing the poster of daily rule breaking, since some level of Dem-trashing is apparently ok, including apparently calling them "assholes." This poster has often referenced attending protests aimed at Democrats, and that's an example of a larger problem on the far left.

[Nixie]

154. So true. Along with the very obvious disinformation mongers

who are very dedicated to their denials of the harm being done to Democrats.

[Scrivener7]

70. It would have been hidden immediately. It never happened.

[ZRB]

84. Someone called a prominent Democrat an asshole in this very thread

And that was not hidden. Why would someone bragging about taking the gang to a pro-pal/genocide Joe protest necessarily get a hide? It happened.

[Scrivener7]

87. I don't believe you.

[ZRB]

105. I'll cry myself to sleep over that.

[lapucelle]

152. ...

[Scrivener7]

164. Except that's not what we're talking about. This is what the poster

said, and this is what never happened:

Far left posters on this very board have bragged about taking family and friends to anti-Biden/anti-Harris protest events before the election, further denigrating the party.

Never happened.

[lapucelle]

166. ...

[Scrivener7]

168. I suggest you actually read the posts. I'm sure you'll see what you missed.

We were talking about the poster's assertion that DUers were bragging in posts about bringing friends and family to anti Biden/Harris activities.

Do YOU believe that ever happened?

[lapucelle]

169. I did read the post you replied to and your reply to it.

Did you read the headline of the post you were replying to?

[Scrivener7]

170. You clearly didn't read the posts. Because the headline is not the post, and the

headline does not contain the meaning of the post, nor the meaning of what was being said in the conversation.

Again, do YOU believe DUers were bragging in posts about bringing friends and family to anti-Biden/Harris events?

[lapucelle]

171. Please don't presume to tell me what I did or did not do.

What do YOU think of someone on this thread calling Leader Jeffries an asshole?

I wonder how many people would reflexively say "I don't believe you" if someone posted four months from now that someone here once called Leader Jeffries an asshole.

====================

As for your question...

Do I believe it's possible that someone here bragged about attending anti-Biden/Harris events? Yes, I do believe that's entirely possible if the events were Vote Uncommitted events.

Why do I think it's possible? Our Revolution endorsed the Vote Uncommitted movement and actively organized for it, and there was someone here flogging their talking points with Democracy Now! links.

https://ourrevolution.com/uncommitted-update/

[Scrivener7]

172. If you did read the posts, then it must simply be that you are inexplicably dedicated to your faulty reading of

the conversation.

The poster made a wild accusation against DU.

I don't believe anyone here bragged about bringing family and friends to anti-Biden/Harris events and wasn't summarily hidden.

That seems to make you highly indignant. So be it.

I'm done. Have a lovely day.

[lapucelle]

173. I believe that's called a tactical retreat.

Smart move.

[lapucelle]

150. "Were they noob ... accounts?"

Would that include a member who joined a month ago and is already writing OPs denigrating Democratic leadership?

Doing the homework helps to prevent having to back pedal from embarrassing claims.

That's why I read profiles.

[Scrivener7]

69. This never happened. Why are you saying it did?

[

blockquote]Far left posters on this very board have bragged about taking family and friends to anti-Biden/anti-Harris protest events before the election, further denigrating the party.

[ZRB]

71. I read it with my own eyes.

Anything seems to go in those Israel/Palestine threads. I remember the poster and the rough timeframe and could dig it up, but of course that's against the rules.

[Scrivener7]

73. NEVER happened. It would have been hidden immediately.

[Nixie]

160. I also remember the organized events protesting Biden/Harris

by the disinformation mongers. One state in particular was their concentration — to deny a win there. Even when Trump was openly saying he would let Bibi “finish the job”, they protested Biden instead.

[Scrivener7]

165. But no one was bragging on DU about taking friends and family

to anti- Biden/Harris protests.

[Renew Deal]

136. Who is the "far left" or the "extreme left" in these scenarios?

Because to me it sounds like he thinks that anyone critical of him is "extreme left," when in reality it's ordinary democrats that are disappointed in his resistance to Trump and the republican agenda.

[claudette]

35. Maybe they

are tryouts to tell you something. DO something

[ZRB]

42. What specifically should he do?

I seriously doubt you have an answer other than "yell and scream on TV."

[Deuxcents]

47. He could be out like AOC talking with constituents. Giving support to the people writing letters, making calls

He could show up with some fire in his belly besides presidents come n the go 💩. People are hurting, scared and angry and his complaining makes things worse. Get out of the studios and hallways and get in the streets.

[ZRB]

63. How will that help in his actual job of leading the Democratic House Caucus?

His job is corralling votes, not performative nonsense that does nothing but make people feel better.

[intheflow]

94. Talking to constituents isn't corralling votes?

Showing leadership isn't corralling votes? FFS, if nothing else it would help stop the attacks on him so he'd have more time to corral votes rather than complaining about the base that wants our leaders to show that they understand the danger of the moment and are NOT going to take the dismissal of the Constitution sitting down.

Instead of hearing anything from Jeffries about how awful Trump is, he complains about Democratic voters constantly and tells us all to let God sort it all out.

Fuck. No.

Dude deserves every bit of criticism he's getting. Another time he would have been great but he is not the person for what this moment demands.

[ZRB]

95. Corralling votes in the House

That is his job.

[Ilikepurple]

179. Why do people call it performative nonsense?

It was four years of performative nonsense that helped reelect Trump. Isn’t haranguing the ”far left” getting in his way of corralling votes? I do feel that other reps should pick up the slack for Jeffries as he still needs to be able to try to negotiate with possible fence sitting republicans, but I’d love to see some more party members actively creating news. I still feel the only way to slow down or minimize the damage is to influence popular opinion enough that some purple district republicans vote with the democrats. There seems to be this common high school civics refrain about what politicians jobs are. Like it or not, influencing educating the public and influencing their opinion is how progression happens. Also, remember centrists need people to the left of them lest they become the “far left”.

[claudette]

128. No, he does that

But, I'm sure there are ways for Congressional Members and Senators to DO something. Our government can't be THAT fragile that some foreigner can overtake it so easily. Can't he hold hearings to find out what they can do? Can't he not just sit there and "rationalize" this horror (as he seemed to do when he was a guest on Rachel's show). WHERE IS HE? He leads the Dems in the House - he should shout louder. in my view

[ZRB]

131. The minority party can't hold hearings

Instead of protesting, some on the far left should have been out canvassing and registering voters. Maybe then we could have held the House and had hearings galore.

[claudette]

140. I think Sen. Elizabeth Warren

did. I saw it on Lawrence O'Donnell's show. It doesn't have to be an "official" hearing, but it could be a group of Dems TRYING to find a way to stop this horror. I cannot believe that NOTHING can be done. They should at least try and be PUBLIC about it. Instead, Jeffries wrings his hands and dances around an answer to Rachel's questions about how to stop it.

[Happy Hoosier]

37. Ya wanna be leader? Well..... LEAD!

I wanna give him a chance. I like him. But too manby of these folks in Congress are acting lime this is all normal. Schumer too. IT IS NOT. The MAGAts are attemtping to seize control of every element of the government. While our tools are limited, we need our leadership to be publically and loudly on the attack. All day, every day. THAT is their job now. Anyone unable or unwilluing tom do that needs to GTF out of the way.

[FirstLight]

74. Exactly.

Anyone who is not calling out their unconstitutional behavior is a willing accomplice. I'm not asking for performative theater, but I definitely think if there's a leader with Democrats then they need to be forming a unified front and actually looking at articles of impeachment or what else they can do legally to reign this bullshit in.
Period.

[SunImp]

39. People have been protesting Trump, but unfortunately it's going to be more difficult & dangerous

Disengeous people will say the left is not out protesting

https://apnews.com/article/50501-protests-project-2025-trump-state-capitols-ddd341171a54ba9b498cbfe7530e18ab

50501's President's Day protests

?si=bfHqheqg-rTHa-mL

[maxrandb]

40. He's not wrong.

It's like protesting McDonald's in the hope they change Burger Kings menu.

[GPV]

41. Get over it.

[Nulock]

44. I watched the whole discussion.

It's not exactly clear at all what Steven Smith and Hakeem Jefferies even mean by "extreme left." There's no context or explanation to what that means to either one in the discussion. "Extreme left" on what ? Economic issues ? Social issues ? Gaza ? Immigration ? Neither one even explains what that means to them other than claiming that's why the Democratic Party lost.

[Kingofalldems]

51. Someone else needs to step up.

[JCMach1]

55. Proving he is too small for the job...

Next person up,.please. we don't have time for this ...

[SocialDemocrat61]

56. It's true

GreenMagats do spend more time attacking Democrats than Republicans. And anytime Republicans do something bad, they blame democrats for it.

[jalan48]

57. This guy is, Out. Of. Touch. We need a new Speaker, aka, Leader in the House.

[ellise]

61. What are you talking about..

Find enough guts to at the very least slow this clown down…

[ZRB]

67. Will a new minority leader give Democrats 218 votes?

Some should learn how the government actually works. The minority party in the House is powerless.

[tirebiter]

177. People who failed to give him the manpower are complaining he isn't using it

I feel his pain. He essentially ordered the recs to use and go before the constuent meetings back in their districts. He does not have the same leadership over the Republican side of the aisle, you know the ones who got yelled at by the far right and are now calling them off.

[Raven123]

65. Sometimes things are better left unsaid

I hope Jeffries recognizes that this is one of them. Just put your head down and work harder. Avoid platitudes in social media. Be specific and fact based in responding to Trump. Dems should have strong opposition research and coordinate their response.

Get out of DC when you can and hold Town Halls!

[BlueTsunami2018]

76. Yes because centrism is so awesome.

Extreme left my ass.

I only wish there was an extreme left.

[synni]

80. That's a whole lot of words to say:

"I'm too lazy to do my job."

[LudwigPastorius]

135. So, the first African-American to ever lead a party caucus in Congress is "lazy"?

Sounds like you're dog whistling Dixie there.

[betsuni]

81. Ha! Boo hoo, these comments, all of a sudden so sensitive and defensive. Dish it out but can't take it, eh?

[Ursus Rex]

83. He should either get out of the way, or lead.

He seems more and more like a typical establishment milquetoast Dem, not any kind of leader who's going to do much y'know, actual fighting, and would rather wait for the "inevitable demographic shift" they've been counting on for 20+ years.

The current book tour is a nice touch, to be sure.

[lame54]

90. Start listening

[senseandsensibility]

91. Read the room Jeffries

Jeez. And I've been trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Mz Pip]

92. They aren't in office

A lot of them stayed home November 5. I would count the anti Harris, pro-Hamas crowd in that group, as well. Whatever the Democrats do, it isn’t enough, so they stay home, vote 3rd party and consider themselves the holders of some great moral truth.

[Blue Owl]

93. Donald tRump is on his throne

[Linda ladeewolf]

96. We need the democrats

To start holding town halls in red and blue states. We need some of them to organize more protests and news conferences. Like the one they did yesterday. Everyday, not when they feel compelled to do it! They need to push themselves. Jasmine Crocket and AOC speak out with much more force than Jeffries. They both appear to be leadership quality. Sometime I think we have to many democrats beholden to the corporations, even if only in small ways.

[mn9driver]

104. Most of the "extreme left" that I have encountered look an awful lot like the "extreme right".

Modern politics seems to me to be more of a circle than a line. Especially at the extremes.

[Cirsium]

109. Where is this?

What a ridiculous broad brush attack on millions of allies.

Where is this "extreme left?" How does it "look an awful lot like the extreme right?"

[Blasphemer]

146. Yes. A certain contingent are anti-vaxx and support RFK.

I stopped trusting them a long time ago and have seen former friends officially go MAGA.

[choie]

108. As a NYer, Rep. Jeffries,

I ask you to look in the mirror and stop blaming "the far-left" bogeyman.

[JustAnotherGen]

110. He's right

[Hekate]

114. He's right. People should be directing their anger at MAGAGOP, & not infighting w Dems.

[Cirsium]

121. You are

You are fighting against your fellow Democrats. those with who you disagree. The people critical of Jeffries are probably happy with what others are doing - Murphy, AOC, Crockett, etc.

It is disingenuous to accuse one side of infighting and demand that the other side get a pass. What Jeffries said is provocative and divisive.

[Hekate]

123. Both sides, eh? Thanks for that clarification.

[Cirsium]

141. Not sure what you mean

Not following you.

[Ilikepurple]

180. I think accusing you of bothsidesism

I sometimes think there must be Democratic Party political trading cards and some members here have all the currently valuable rookie cards of power players. People seem to be afraid their favorites will lose value if criticized. Criticism of the left leaners unites our party, but criticism of the centrists divides our party. It feels like this failure of reasoning must happen when our tribal bonds exceed our power of reason. As someone who tries hard, but is certainly a work in process, I’ve found my most profound changes have come from others challenging my way of thought. It seems most are comfortable with finding a groove and sticking to it.

[bdamomma]

118. Extreme Left???

That's a weird thing to say. I have the felon and Muskrat on the top of my list of hateful evil jerks.

[BannonsLiver]

124. That's always been the case so I'm not sure why he's upset about it now.

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2025, 11:55 PM - Edit history (1)

There have always been anti establishment Dems. He is the establishment.

[SYFROYH]

126. This is what democracy looks like, Hakeem.

Deal with it.

[Jspur]

127. He needs to stop complaining and do what he's suppose

to do which is fight for the people against MAGA and Trump. He's not fighting at all. All I see is a guy who has a shrug and says well I guess we can't do much about this.

A leader also does not attack his base the way he is calling out the "extreme left". A real leader would ignore the alleged extremist in the group and work to organize and galvanize the base. He's failing miserably right now at doing this.

[Xoan]

129. HE'S NO PELOSI.

[Hotler]

132. Mr. Jeffries, have you stood at the podium and used your oath of office as leverage to

declared the orange convict a domestic enemy per your oath? I don't think anyone has.
IMO. Everyone in office and or military that hasn't raised the issue of domestic enemy is in violation of their oaths.
At least try it. throw it and see if it sticks. Make the fascist defend themselves in court.

[LudwigPastorius]

133. "What's the "extreme left"

People who don't vote for Democrats?

New Poll Shows Gaza Was A Top Issue For Biden 2020 Voters Who Cast A Ballot For Someone Besides Harris

[Nulock]

138. Is that a sample ?

Is there a total number of how many voted for Joe Biden in 2020 that didn't vote D in 2024 overall ?

[LudwigPastorius]

139. About 6 million who voted Biden in the previous election didn't vote for Harris, or didn't vote at all.

[Nulock]

142. Thank you

Lot of votes. Couple things stick out. Pretty screwed up that 5% gave "don't know" as a reason. And then 22% total for reasons of Social Security, Medicare, and Healthcare. None of the three got worse under Biden's four years. Pretty ridiculous there.

[Duncan Grant]

134. I didn't realize his ego is in his way.

Last edited Tue Mar 4, 2025, 12:48 PM - Edit history (1)

I was looking forward to having an energized fighter in his role. Did you happen to catch that soggy shredded wheat performance on Rachel Maddow’s show? I’m very disappointed he doesn’t know how to mobilize/utilize the left.

[W_HAMILTON]

137. He's not wrong.

[PufPuf23]

144. Jefferies should worry more about the rightwing influence within the Democratic Party.

Tiresome to see Democratic leadership scapegoat the "left" election cycle after election cycle and often compromise long held Democratic principles early in the political tussle.

[betsuni]

145. What right-wing influence, what are their names?

[GreenWave]

151. Just say this Jeffries, "I said, 'God damn Elon Musk and the puppet presidency. I said. "God Damn!"

[Autumn]

155. There is no fucking extreme left. His plan is

Last edited Thu Feb 27, 2025, 10:15 AM - Edit history (1)

for presidents to come and go but his god is stilll on his throne. That's his fight.

[Nanjeanne]

158. Far left really is a right wing talking point and absolutely ridiculous. People protesting asking him to fight

are Democrats and his fellow party members.

[doc03]

162. We need someone like Rep. Maxwell Frost that has the courage to speak the truth nt

[travelingthrulife]

167. Well do something besides hawk your book. Weak and whiney.

[Emile]

174. I have had enough of populist centrists blaming

the left.

[RockRaven]

176. This is loser talk. This is the whining of a sub-par athlete about their coach's barking.

Your coach isn't trying to make the other guy lose, your coach is trying to get you to win by performing better.

You know what? Maybe they could ply you with honeyed words instead... But would you do what is necessary to win if they did? Why should we expect that?

Because so far, where's the fucking winning? Where is the superlative performance? Where are the results? All we have been seeing is losing and losing and losing.

You want sunshine blown up your ass!? Then earn it!

[Bread and Circuses]

178. I've posted a previous comment about Jeffries ....swing and miss

Hakeem Jeffries is a decent man, but he’s not cut out for this moment.

We are hammering on the democrats because we all know that the rat republicans don’t care about their own voters, let alone democrats in blue states.

He needs to step aside.

[betsuni]

182. Hope everyone has enough tissues before the reincarnation of Buy Nothing Day tomorrow

because Jeffries/a Democrat might say something or someone angrily post about the meanie Democrats doing nothing and the weeping and wailing begins for the day.

[markpkessinger]

184. There is just barely even A left in this country, let alone any "extreme left!;" n/t