In this current crazy world I guess I am a moderate Democrat.

[redstatebluegirl]

In my 20's in the 70's I was considered a progressive democrat and hated by my older relatives who were long time Democrats. I guess what goes around comes around. The weird thing is things feel so different now. Not sure why but it does.

I marched against the war, I marched for women's rights, I marched for civil rights, I marched for LGBTQ rights in my lifetime but I'm a moderate in this party that I have loved forever.

I have never been personally attacked until this morning on social media for being a DINO. Really? This was a Bernie Sanders supporter who threw that at me. I have known her for 15 years. Called my cell and left a nasty message telling me I was a Trump lover and anti union, really? I swear I'm going to crawl under my rock until after November if this keeps up. I know this person, she has never walked a precinct, she has never made a call and I know she has never had a yard sign until 2016 when she jumped on the BS wagon.

We are going to lose this election if this crap continues!

[ZenDem]

1. No crawling under rocks.

Back during the Clinton v Obama days I was called a DINO on DailyKos and a Progressive (as an insult) on TPM...in the same week.

I had a Hillary supporter call me a misogynist for voting for (then) Sen. Obama. Called me a liar when I told them I was a woman.

Just a week or so ago a poorly veiled comment accused me of being a Trumper (right here on DU).

It's all about the end game. Don't worry about what others label you as. I call myself a Democrat...plain and simple.

That woman that threw the tantrum and sent the nasty message? Not worth the stress or the battle.

[mr_lebowski]

2. Here's what's different IMHO ...

Back then we were fighting mostly on behalf of things that were undeniably and unequivocally 'the right side of the issue' ... anti-discrimination, pro-civil-rights, pro-gay rights, pro-woman/choice, pro-environment etc.

Having largely won those battles (although for sure the 'choice' one is highly tenuous, and there's a new one we're DEFINITELY LOSING, and that's GCC), we are now turning to more ... shall we say ... nebulous causes, one's where the 'correct side' is less cut and dry. More of them are economics-based, and with economics, there's always winners and losers. Makes it a little harder to come down on one side with the sort of authority we did with those earlier issues.

As an aside, fighting 'capitalism as a system' is a lost cause, I'll tell you that. Best to focus on reigning in excesses and focus on fairness and stopping abuses thereof.

[redstatebluegirl]

4. mr_lebowski always the voice of reason for me :-).

Thank you! By the way my new kitty Harry Truman gifted me with a dead mouse this morning, his third day at our home.

[PatSeg]

3. I'm afraid the crazy has infiltrated

people on the left as well as the right. This is getting really scary.

I am a liberal and have been my entire life. Now I suppose some Bernie supporters would call me a moderate, but I'm just as liberal as I ever was, in many ways more so. However, I am not pigheaded and stubborn. I know a "my way or the highway" attitude will get us absolutely nothing and could cause us to lose elections.

It is starting to feel like some kind of mass insanity. Can't believe a friend of your's called you a DINO and accused you of being a Trump lover.

[redstatebluegirl]

5. I swear I have known her forever, and she has lost her mind.

She refused to go to our monthly girls night out because two of us were DINOs. Both of the DINOs worked for McGovern.

[PatSeg]

15. Seriously?

DINOs who worked for McGovern? That really is insane.

I wonder how people are ending up that way. I understand how it happened with Trump. Between his raucous rallies, constant tweeting, Fox News, right-wing websites, and right-wing radio, it is easy to see how some people were brainwashed. Who and what is brainwashing the left? Someone in Russia must be thrilled watching our party so divided. I'm sure Russia has contributed in some way.

[handmade34]

7. "mass insanity"

now I know how to voice what I've been feeling



this is for us...

[redstatebluegirl]

8. Thank you! Love this song and it is how I feel!

[PatSeg]

16. That sums it up rather well!

I feel like I've moved into some alternate universe!

[LonePirate]

6. People need to understand there are three main issues motivating Sanders' rank and file supporters.

I am not talking about his supporters here on DU but those in the general public. Those issues are:

Health care
Income inequality
Climate change (albeit to a lesser degree)

Bernie is driving the left flank on all of those issues. The moderates (Biden, Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Klobuchar and somewhat Steyer) are not as strongly left on those issues as Bernie. As such, the energized rank and file may not see other ordinary citizen Dems as being committed to their issues.

I am not saying one side is correct and the other is not. I am simply offering my explanation for what I see happening.

As an example, I followed a Twitch streamer for the past couple of years. He’s a good, liberal guy in his 20s. He is definitely not a MAGAt. A few months ago, he expressed (on Twitter) his strong support for Sanders and his platform. He is all in for Bernie for his health care and income inequality stances. He refers to other Dems as corporatists but seldom goes too negative on them. Still, it is health care and income inequality which he mentions frequently. What issues do the other Dems (besides Sanders and Warren) seldom touch upon? Health care and income inequality. Expanding the ACA is not a viable solution for a lot of people given the gig economy we have now which makes employer based health care a dicey one for people.

So it is possible that your friend may not think you are committed as much as she is. I am not saying your friend is correct here. I’m simply saying that is probably how she feels.

[Squinch]

9. And Bernie has never done anything practical on any of those issues.

That is the part I will never get about the support he garners.

[LonePirate]

12. Well, you can't do much to change the system if you do not run or head up the system.

Now, if Bernie is elected President and if nothing changes much, those voters might become very disillusioned.

Politics is seldom about what has been done. It is about what is promised will be done.

[Turin_C3PO]

10. If you support

Democratic Party goals, you’re not a moderate. The party’s platform is definitely left of center as are all the candidates. Bernie Sanders’ supporters don’t have the monopoly on liberalism.

[redstatebluegirl]

11. They sure act like they do. I was at the convention in 2016 it was horrible.

[Turin_C3PO]

13. Yes some are that way.

I do admit though that the Sanders’ supporters here seem fairly respectful and kind. Certainly different than his supporters on Facebook and Twitter.

[flamingdem]

14. I was a NY leftie, met Bernie in Nicaragua with the Sandinistas

and now I'm against Bernie and for Biden with Bloomberg as an alternative.

My reasoning is as follows. Bernie will likely not win once the stories about his overt support for socialist leaders is hammered in millions of tv commercials. Fear will set in with moderates who have a steak in the markets, their current health plan, their retirement depends on the markets, etc. AOC, Moore and Nina Turner will be a turn off to the independents. If it happened, he won, I'd be mostly delighted because the leftie, idealistic dreams of my youth would be revitalized. But the stakes are too high, the youth vote to unpredictable, and Bernie is too far to the left for most, imo.

Biden is the best candidate to unite the country, imo, but he seems to be fading. I'm hoping he revives his campaign but many moderates perceive him as weak apparently. He was weakened by the smears and some of his odd statements. Ageism was used against him and Amy and Pete benefited.

Bloomberg is an ass but he's incredibly effective. I will trade Joe's capacity to unite for Bloomberg's capacity to wage war with money and effective organization. Plus, he puts climate first. He has the means to do something about it. Long run that's what matters for humanity and other sentient beings at this point.

Such is the path of an ex-leftie activist. I disliked Bloomie when he came to NYC but there you have it. Who knew??