The "moderation advantage" may be a delusion. . .

[Stargleamer]

more: https://data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-new-york-times-moderation-advantage?r=7n61q&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

[Irish_Dem]

1. Dems are always asked to go moderate, while GOP gets more radical and MAGA.

[pat_k]

2. A piece of bread is never as attractive as the whole loaf.

As long as too many of our Democratic leaders only talk about and advocate for that which they think they can "win" or is "practical" and not that which they truly believe is the right thing, the Republicans will just keep rolling over us because they inspire no one.

Go for the whole loaf -- persistently. Build the political will. You are far more likely to move things forward than if you surrender most of what you actually want in advance.

I am frustrated that there are so few voices out there saying, "Yes, we must save the subsidies, but what this country must have is Universal Health Care. It is insane that we are the wealthiest nation and have been unable to do what every other major developed nation has done. We can, and we must make universal health care a reality."

[regnaD kciN]

3. McSweeny's had a particularly brutal take on this...

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-partisans-are-wrong-holding-no-sincere-beliefs-is-the-way-to-win

[Skittles]

4. why do only Democrats EVER have to COMPROMISE

REPUKES NEVER COMPROMISE

what happened this time is, the GOP banked on Dems rolling over BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS DO

so far, I am impressed - DO NOT GIVE THOSE FASCIST FUCKS ONE FUCKING INCH

[pat_k]

8. The problem is a consultant class doesn't get what it means to build political will and shape public opinion.

They poll and see what is "acceptable" to most people -- some watered down mealy mouthed messaging that inspires no one -- instead of what the public ACTUALLY wants, which is leaders that demonstrate strength and power of conviction and moral principle that builds an inspiring vision of what this nation can be; leaders that inspire us to do our bit to make it happen, because this is OUR government to shape, not some oppressive force to be destroyed.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Great catch. Thanks. . . . nt

[Jersey Devil]

6. Oh sure, take a "moderate" position against fascism

That'll work.

[stopdiggin]

7. Sorry - extremism turns people off

And that's pretty much universal ...
Now, you can always have a bang up and rollicking good discussion - in your dorm room - or over cocktails ...
But the hard and fast truth plays out - as pretty soon people stop coming to your church ...

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[Stargleamer]

10. We're not talking Trotskyism here. . .

If you read the link it's "moderates" vs. "progressives" that are being compared. The only ones I think that view progressivism as extremism are conservatives, especially MAGA Republicans.

[Wounded Bear]

9. Extremism on the right makes moderation by Dems unworkable...

M$Media have been ignoring right wing extremism so long it has devolved into "populism" which almost always provides a false sense of majority.

American democracy has long been balancing on a knife edge of minority governance because of our three way split of conservative, progressive, and WGAS (who gives a shit? ). That split has existed since the beginning. The Revolutionary Was was won by basically one-third of the population in the colonies. One third was "patriots." One third was loyalist. One third said "Don't bother me." Whenever we've attempted to whittle that down to a two way split a shitstorm erupted. It happened in the 1860's and it's germinating now. Would hate things to go violent, but the administration is continuing to poke the beast with its illegal deployment of troops in the streets.

We really need more people admitting that the right side of our political universe is highly partisan and militant.

[maxrandb]

12. If you spent one minute listening to hate radio over the past 50 years

you understood that it was only a matter of time before masked, armed, unidentified right-wing thugs would be patrolling our cities and violently snatching innocent people off the streets.

This violent authoritarian shitshow has been in the making since Limbaugh sucked his first billionaire dick and got syndicated to 2,000 fucking radio stations.

Hitler could only dream of such a well-funded, expansive reich-wing media conglomeration.

[maxrandb]

11. I want the Dems to go as bold, scorched earth and extreme

in support of justice, equality, law and order and preserving our Constitutional Democracy, as Retrumplicans have gone scorched earth and extreme in support of fascism, racism, misogyny, hatred, white supremacy and pedophilia.