Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumDear Democrats: Here's How Not to Blow It - RAHM EMANUEL
This weeks elections confirmed two things.
One: Democrats are on a winning streak. We flipped Kentuckys gubernatorial seat and won control of the Virginia state Legislaturethis on top of the gains from 2018, when Democrats retook the U.S. House of Representatives, flipped six state houses and picked up seven gubernatorial seats. Two: The playbook Democrats have used to such success in swing states over the past year is being utterly ignored by our partys presidential candidates.
(snip)
During both cycles, we won swing districts and battleground states by using the same playbook: sticking to an agenda that meets voters where and how they live their lives. In tone, tenor and talent, those winning candidates spoke to issues that middle-class voters face every day. Which raises the question: Why arent our leading presidential candidates looking to replicate that success? Theres a gaping disconnect between that successful playbook and the strategic choices on display during the ongoing presidential primary debates. Inexplicably, the men and women who want to be our partys standard-bearer seem to be ignoring the unambiguous message voters are sendingand that should concern anyone who wants to defeat Trump in 2020.
(snip)
As the 2018 and 2019 elections proved beyond any doubt, if were going to prevail in battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, we both need to get our base to the polls and we need to persuade voters that they can safely vote for our candidates, knowing that they are the right choice for the country. Candidates like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky Governor-elect Andy Beshear and a host of first-term members of the House of Representatives and a bevy of state legislators around the country have made absolutely plain how to win in battleground states and districts. They established a durable playbook for building coalitions between urban and suburban votersan alliance that I term the Metropolitan Majority.
(snip)
The dissonance is remarkable. Compare what the candidates who won last year and this years elections have done to what the presidential candidates are offering ahead of 2020. On health care, successful Democrats didnt mention "Medicare for All;" they explained how they would control prescription drug costs and preserve protections for preexisting conditions. They didnt offer free college; they spoke about equity and fairness across the educational spectrum, from early childhood to higher ed. They didnt talk about the Green New Deal so much as they proposed to expand renewable energy and invest in the jobs and growth that come with it. They didnt offer to guarantee anyones income so much as explained how they would attract good jobs that would provide for a middle-class life. They didnt talk about confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens; they promised to support the background checks that prevent criminals from getting access to weapons.
These distinctions matter. The substance of our ideas provides a window into what we care about, whose interests well pursue and how we intend to govern. Thats why, as a political matter, the Democratic Partys agenda needs to be practical, prudent and progressive. In his column yesterday, John Harris argued that its not always the safe Democrats who make history. Maybe so, but thats putting the cart before the horse: You cant make history if you dont hold the White House, and that has to be the overwhelming priority this year.
More..
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/11/08/democrats-2020-advice-rahm-emanuel-229909
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tiredtoo
(2,949 posts)Is when he said "Fuck the Unions."
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Ninga
(8,275 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Me.
(35,454 posts)and they were so rude and dismissive of him because of that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
evertonfc
(1,713 posts)My God I remember the absolute excitement of Bill Clinton and Obama. We don't have that this time but we should still be able to be an impeached President. Surely
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ritapria
(1,812 posts)Let's Become the Party of " No We Can't " or Perhaps " (Little) Hope and ( Pocket) Change" .. That will rally the Base .. Full throated Economic Populism will carry the day in the crucial Rust Belt States we need to defeat Trump .Trump won those states on a message of Faux Populism .. .He won't be able to defeat the real deal
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(297,123 posts)it is dead on.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ritapria
(1,812 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(297,123 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Eliot Rosewater
(31,109 posts)so they can get M4All.
I dont know if it is a losing issue nationally, for the election, if it is then we cant go there, yet.
if it isnt all the better as I am a big supporter.
What I see are fans of a certain nominee who will ONLY support candidates who support M4All, that is so sad.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)trump, right up to 2016 election. They were all wrong on NAFTA, TPP, European trade deal. America First is junk and will cost us long-term.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ritapria
(1,812 posts)That is why Hillary Clinton abandoned TPP during the campaign ...Our manufacturing base has nearly vanished Automation will finish off that remnant ...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)and importance of the agreements to the world economy.
They supported the America First junk that considers foreign workers as scabs and fails to understand much of what is good for America is good for our foreign friends.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,123 posts)no thanks for that, btw.
Mahalo for the reminder, Hoyt!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Your sentiment is irrelevant to both the OP and the topic and hand.
But I get it... if it's not a puff piece for BS, you're forced to dismiss is and change the subject.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,754 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)midterms and the recent elections show a progressive candidate can win...no they didn't. Moderates won back the house running on the ACA mostly in 18; and moderates took GOP seats in red and purple states most recently...progressives played musical chairs with safe Democratic seats in 18. The country is center left, we go too far left and we lose to Trump...and God help us if they get another job...we can't risk four more years of Trump. And a candidate perceived to be too far to the left could cost us the house as well...think about four more years of Trump with Congress...gives me nightmares.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TeamPooka
(24,218 posts)But as soon as the Democrats step one foot past the center to the left everyone starts to get the vapors.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)over to our side...but you can't just say...time for a candidate who is really left...it is our turn when the country is center left...you will go down in flames. We won the House in 20 and elections this year with moderate candidates...I have heard on this board how 18 shows how a progressive can win, but it doesn't. It shows that when we have a big tent with progressives and moderates we win...without this,we lose.
Given Warren's policy proposals, she will lose a general IMHO...sure I will vote for her and you will vote for her, but We need more than Democrats...and this mean appealing to the center. And Republicans are faithful party people-us not so much...we act so superior about this but who has the judges, who has gotten their policy through>
The Greens should change their name ...they have damaged climate change policy and the environment so much. We need to vote for whoever wins the Democratic nomination and along the way consider electability as the single most important 'issue' there is...because you don't get to do anything unless you win in 20 and beyond...and by win, I mean an Electoral College win.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(47,465 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)the last couple of elections show that may be cracking. We can hope.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
myohmy2
(3,155 posts)" Let's Become the Party of " No We Can't " or Perhaps " (Little) Hope and ( Pocket) Change" "
...'more of the same' will only yield us 'more of the same'...not good
...'more of the same' won't work...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,292 posts)worked to win us elections, majorities, and places at the table in both 18 and 19. But, hey .. if that's not working for you, then by all means ...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Amishman
(5,554 posts)This is why Biden and Mayor Pete poll better head to head with Trump than Warren and Sanders.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)dreams a reality right away but we can begin the process...if we take an all our nothing approach, we lose and then we get nothing. Americans need us to save the ACA and stop the Trump fascist coup that is in the works....the all or nothing approach won't work. Vote blue not matter who and we might be amazed at what is possible...also people could we please have the president's back in the God Damn midterms? All of them please.
And blue state progressives and everyone else to for that matter could we go down to red and purple states, districts etc...and being at the grass roots level to win hearts and minds...taking already held Democratic seat is a wast of money and time in terms of taking back this country. We need a Senate and while folks are all in for the presidential elections...without Congress nothing gets done. The Senate makes you weep if you look at our chances to win a majority; how about we consider which candidate will help in taking the Senate back too. We get no judges unless we have the Senate...Let's turn this thing around and win.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(47,465 posts)Yes about abortion; no about private health insurance.
As he concludes: we have to get the power to make changes.
We flipped the House with moderates not with revolutionary reps.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)We have to stop arguing among ourselves about details and understand what real voters are looking for.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,123 posts)he's dead on here.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)People need to pull their heads out of their butts and realize that the big gains in 2018 Special Elections, the 2018 General, the 2019 General were all contested seats where moderate-left candidates took out republicans. People like The Squad won in safe blue districts that would have sent almost ANY democrat to Washington.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)trump was revolution enough. People want to dial back the crazy.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PhoenixDem
(581 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oldsoftie
(12,527 posts)DEFEAT TRUMP
everything else is meaningless if you cant do that FIRST
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DCofVA
(714 posts)Its like taking a saw to one leg supporting the Democratic Party. Its gonna be really hard to win the big race on just one leg.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ritapria
(1,812 posts)by running on a bold, unapologetic progressive agenda ..The so called moderate Republicans voted for Trump .. Trump owns the Republican Party .The Country Club set will vote for him again so long as their stock portfolios continue to rise ...We need working class voters to rally to our standard
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stopdiggin
(11,292 posts)I'm not sure where you get the idea that they are going to rally to an agenda that is skewed progressive. Good luck. But that's one hell of a sales job you got in front of you!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DCofVA
(714 posts)and the Green New Deal.
I'm only saying, it would be very helpful if they would stop eating their own. Stop the attacks on MFA and the Green New Deal.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Emanuel described MFA this way (emphasis below is mine) on This Week with Stephanopoulos:
CHRISTIE: Oh, they are. I mean, there's no -- listen, there's no question about that. They are taking the Democrats out of the center. And that's going to be the bigger problem. That is going to be why it's ultimately, in my view, going to come down to Biden and Warren. And it's going to be electability vs. purity. And that happens on the Republican side all the time too, George, when we're in the situation...
....
EMANUEL: The risk you said, and which is appropriate, and it measures up as, health care is the single issue that Democrats have a 35-point advantage on. President Trump's trying to do everything he can to narrow that down. We have taken a position so far, and the candidates have, through the process -- a few have not -- about -- on basically Medicare for all, which is , we're going to eliminate 150 million people's health care, and we're going to provide health care for people that have just come over the border.
So step one, spread around ideas like MFA would "eliminate 150 million people's health care"
Step two, convince democrats that some people just aren't sure about MFA, so we should forget about it.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-19-secretary-state-mike-pompeo-dnc/story?id=65464007
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueMTexpat
(15,366 posts)Unfortunately, there are still too many Dems like Rahm.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)with us yet...hard work ahead to move the country left.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PatrickforO
(14,570 posts)I don't mind Klobuchar either. I could surely support her, though I like Warren better.
As to Rahm Emanuel, well...not my favorite. Glad he's not running.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueMTexpat
(15,366 posts)of Emanuel, even if he may occasionally be correct in the "stopped-clock" sense.
He dissed Howard Dean and prevented him from being Prez O's HHS Secretary, which is likely a major reason why the ACA was never as strong as it could have been.
Yes, I know, "Republicans" and all that. But Dean was actually quite persuasive with Republicans, which too many Dems of the Rahm ilk were very quick to forget or deliberately ignored. Some still are and do.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
democrank
(11,092 posts)I honestly believe Emanuel is one reason there are now more Independents than Democrats in this country. He did a lot of damage.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
elleng
(130,861 posts)when I asked him whether the Dems should use the '50 state solution' those many years ago (when he was in DC promoting a book at Politics and Prose,) he refused to answer my question.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BeyondGeography
(39,367 posts)A lot seem to have a problem with truth and sass.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
demmiblue
(36,838 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BlueMTexpat
(15,366 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(47,465 posts)Why not look at the contents of the comment and debate it?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pecosbob
(7,534 posts)A synopsis of the slime's comments...vote for moderate candidates or scary Trump will destroy us all.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)mostly suburban women.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)moderates mostly. This is a center left country...we have to change that before we run on progressive policy such as M4A.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
murielm99
(30,730 posts)and Madigan, too. They are ruthless Illinois Democrats. We need one hundred more just like them, here in Illinois and nationally.
They get things done.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)childhood...(back and forth) as parents were in the Navy. They tell it like they see it and understand that winning isn't just 'good'...it is all that matters in the end.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SomewhereInTheMiddle
(283 posts)My question is were the strategies to OP touted used in primaries or the general election. I believe they were used I the generals against republican opponents. Why is he comparing that to the strategies in use in primaries by candidates vying against other democrats for the nomination?
I have always heard run left in the primaries and center in the general as a truism for democratic presidential candidates. While glib, I think there is some truth to this. Right now I see a strong push among many of the primary candidates to highlight their progressive virtues. I do not know that the winning candidate, whoever it turns out to be, will do the same in the general election against trump. That seems to be where the strategies Emanuel is suggesting would be more effective.
Comparing primaries to generals seems flawed.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)He doesn't and neither do I believe a candidate can win running on what moderates will see as far left...like MFA, and free college etc. Yesterday, I saw a post where Warren had said she wants to stop deportations, decriminalize border crossings and give undocumented folks MFA...it was at a church thing and posted on DU...there is probably a video too..I couldn't believe it. If we run like this, we will lose and it doesn't have to happen. Howard Dean ran candidate tailored to districts and states...and we had a 60 vote majority in the Senate at the end and a Democratic president.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)do it credibly. And I don't think Sen. Warren will move to the center anyway.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)There's also a huge difference between state and local elections vs presidential. Electoral politics being what they are, I know individual states matter, but if we had decided we should go as far right as the most conservative state, George Wallace might have been acceptable to some strategists. The Democrats made the smart and ethical decision to let the Dixiecrats go and do their thing rather than enable them.
We are at a similar point with climate change. The situation is urgent and I don't think we have time to waste on ineffective, incremental policies.
Rahm had his time. I have no further interest in his brand of right wing enabling.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)He can go piss up a rope for all I care...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(47,465 posts)But attacking the messenger shows that you are unable to debate and respond. OK in your private life but not for those of us who think that the elections are too important for such an attitude.
But then, when Warren claims that the ones with opposing views should not be on the debate stage, and are running in the "wrong primaries" I can see why many here agree.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)I don't know why the advice of some dude who was universally unloved on DU and had to flee an office ridden in scandal is taken for the gospel all of a sudden...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Me.
(35,454 posts)Jesus wept with all these armchair quarterbacks. They all need to shut up, especially McCaskill on MSNBC this morning. As far as I'm concerned, listening to the hgearing this morning...THEY've Got This.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)to cover up?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided