Progressives storm Democratic primaries

[Sophia4]

47. Incumbents won their own seats, but they did not create an environment in which

others could win seats.

The incumbents are the core of the Party. And our Party has been losing elections, in great part because voters see the incumbents, hear what they have to say, see the candidates in their own areas, in their own elections and decide they don't want to vote for the party of the incumbents, don't want to vote for the Democrats running in their own areas.

The incumbents ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTCOMES OF RACES FOR DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE NATION.

Republicans are aware of the link between the news reports of Republicans in general and the election outcomes.

Democratic incumbents are responsible for the outcomes of races other than their own. And maybe one of the reasons we Democrats are losing is that our incumbents don't always own up to their responsibility for the losses in neighboring districts, in neighboring states. That attitude of "we're the incumbents and that means we won and are right and good about everything" may be the problem, the reason we lose in other districts. It's exclusive. We need to be inclusive. Our incumbents need to take care of the voters in their districts, those who elected them, but they also need to take care of the nation and voters across the nation need to like our incumbents.

It's good to have a vibrant and exciting primary in an election. That's the opportunity for incumbents to show their energy, their excitement about what they stand for and why they should be elected. That's their opportunity to make a noise and get attention in the press. Primaries are opportunities and should be seen as opportunities. What's wrong with liking your opponent in a primary? What is wrong with making the primary an exciting way to get your name in the news and meet a challenge with love and understanding, with inclusion rather than anger?

When we try to shut down the discussion because, after all, we won last time, or we made some political deal within the Party, voters feel that smugness and just are not at all excited about voting.

Primaries are good things. They are an opportunity to revitalize the Party.

Putin gets re-elected over and over and over. We have terms. We have elections every two to four years. And our president is limited to two terms. Our system is organized to as to encourage change, new ideas, new people, new voices, new movements. We are not a monarchy. Just getting elected does not mean a lifelong gig. Challenge is the name of the game.

If we change our attitude as a Party toward challenges and genuinely being open to new candidates and new ideas, we will do much better.

We cannot afford to get stale.

Losing in a primary is not such a bad thing if you get your good ideas and spirit out there.