Never mind the big banks, how about breaking up the party?

[Ned_Devine]

I mean, of course we need to break up the big banks, but there should be some serious discussion about breaking up the party. It's starting to feel more and more like this party is irreparably fractured and the pro corporate centrist democrats have completely taken over and want nothing to do with the left wing of the party. Obviously this has been going on since the '80's but I think it's officially reached critical mass and it's time for a new party to emerge. It will have to be people powered and it won't have a real strong presence for quite some time, but it will be a great chance to inject some youth and diversity and great progressive ideas into the body politic. Just an idea.

[Half-Century Man]

1. Who want to break up our party?

We just want it back.

[Ned_Devine]

2. I don't think they're giving it back

[2pooped2pop]

3. No but they really belong with the republican party now

They aren't dems. They just stole the party. I think it is possible that the dem and repub parties are about to see a split.

[onecaliberal]

4. i was about to write the same thing. They should go because they're republicans

Their funded by the same folks, they use the same tactics and the biggest reason I think they should go is they agree with almost everything the republicans want.

[Waltons_Mtn]

16. They didn't steal the party.

They bought it fair and square.

[2pooped2pop]

17. Lol

True

[Half-Century Man]

5. Reacquisition of the Party has very little to do with their generosity.

And more with determination and membership drives.

Look at it this way; we have been verbally beat down for decades, treated as draft animals every forth year, bled for funds every year, and paid the price for failed politics since Reagan. We have built up a tolerance for pain. We can take a lot more then the Party elite.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Green Progressive Party.

The Green Party, Progressives and Independents joined together would be pretty powerful I'd say.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[glinda]

7. I have thought similar things.

[TIME TO PANIC]

8. It would be easier and faster to subvert the party.

I don't want to be old before I see the left take power.

[glinda]

9. Agree with everything except the time frame.

We have it now. Regardless of what happens we have that Party now. It can move fast.

[Rebkeh]

10. I've thought about this

We may not need to do anything, both parties are destroying themselves anyway. I think it's better to figure out what we will do when that happens. What will be the replacement/s? In the meantime, we do our best to stay out of the way, I'm not interested in going with them.

If it happens, that is. May not be during my life time either.

Just staying flexible.

[dreamnightwind]

11. We are the Democrats

Make the corporatists find their own way, by joining Republicans, by starting a 3rd Way party, or by demostrating to us why their views, policies, and beliefs have any place in the Democratic Party.

We need to completely divest ourselves of corporate campaign money, and not support any politicians who accept it.

Start a caucus within the party (I've suggested this be done with the Progressive Caucus, which Bernie helped found) that requires members to gain election without corporatate money, or doesn't acccept them in the caucus.

Develop an infrastructure, using Bernie's campaign as the model, of people-funded campaigns, so truly progressive politicians can give up corporate money without unilaterally disarming in the ccampaign finance race.

Develop a pipeline of new candidates who are already on our side of the issues, and primary corporate Democrats with them.

I agree with you that the split in the party is real and irrevocable. I disagree that we should be the ones who leave.

Take it back, and never give up!

[tech3149]

12. The most important issue you present

"Develop a pipeline for new candidates" I was pretty much apolitical until I moved back home in 2002. The Democratic party whas little more than a ghost until the month before an eletcion. Our next election will have 60% of the races uncontested.
How many of those OFA people got absorbed by the party to the point they influence policy? Remember "Chill the fuck out,I got this"?
If the party is going to be changed it will only be through the force of our actions.

[dreamnightwind]

13. OK, but if they are funded by corporations, there is little point IMHO

They will serve who put them there, and who will fund their future campaigns.

[deepestblue]

14. New Party

It would be cool when Bern becomes president if he were to announce he is creating a new party, The Labor Party in a "who's with me" moment. With his millions of supporters, many people-first politicians, feeling free of possible retribution and free to say what they really think thanks to Bernie's grassroots funding mechanisms, would probably follow into this party, leaving the corporatists and outdated/outmoded war machiners to the once-beloved (i.e. FDR/JFK/LBJ) Democratic Party.

[Autumn Colors]

15. Expand the Working Families Party

Last edited Thu Mar 3, 2016, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

to all 50 states.

http://www.workingfamilies.org

[delrem]

18. Let's see. Confronted with an actually progressive candidate,

the movers and shakers who call the shots in the Democratic party decided to swiftboat their own progressive/left-liberal base, and in fact everyone who would even consider progressive ideas as a sustainable way to ensure humanities happiness.

Think about it! Think about it as political strategy for any so-called "leftist" political party, and consider what it says about the establishment that actually decided to go ahead and swiftboat their own base and keep it rolling for 8 long months.

While Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, and Comcast's Hillary crew carefully look away. Nothing to see here!

My fucking god, even the Republicans aren't stupid enough to swiftboat their own base!!!
I find that I can't stop laughing! It's like something from an episode of the twilight zone.

One thing about this 2016 primary, every illusion has been stripped away.