General Discussion

Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts)

188. the party of FDR, Kennedy and Humphrey was also the party of Lester Maddox and George Wallace

Tue Dec 11, 2012, 09:47 PM

Dec 2012

and the vast majority of southern segregationist. For that matter the Nixon/Reagan party was once the party of Robert La Follette and Henry Wallace.

There was NEVER - NEVER NEVER a time when the Democratic Party was solidly liberal or progressive. It is only a post-Reagan phenomena - that the Republicans became a solidly right-wing party.

Liberal Republicans are now a memory of the past and even traditional conservatives are not wanted there anymore. They don't have the option to fight to take back their party.

We would do a lot more good by working to strengthen the progressive wing of the Democratic Party than trying to purge the right-wing of the party - Both wings have always been part of the Democratic Party. Progressive ideas - like real universal healthcare, a stronger - not weaker safety net and a major reduction in America's imperial ambitions are all very popular issues. Push the issues, articulate the causes - We don't have to work that hard at convincing people because most people already agree with us - regardless how they describe themselves. Instead of waisting time by telling disaffected Republicans that they are not wanted - build an ISSUE ORIENTED PROGRESSIVE WING - If we build it - They will come.

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And this is how the Democratic party gets pulled ever further rightward. [View all] MadHound Dec 2012 OP

I agree completely CanonRay Dec 2012 #1

THANK YOU, and goodluck elehhhhna Dec 2012 #92

Badcop/worsecop Le Taz Hot Dec 2012 #183

do! elehhhhna Dec 2012 #187

If you wanna get sick Union Scribe Dec 2012 #2

The reason people are optimistic on this website, is because they might get their posts Baitball Blogger Dec 2012 #41

Charlie gutted our paper ballot laws in fla when he gave us a paper trail... SugarShack Dec 2012 #53

ain't buying into it, just because a person switches from R to D ... zbdent Dec 2012 #60

sigh....yeah the country is going more conservative.....DOOOOMMMM!!!! alphafemale Dec 2012 #3

Funny how RW libertarians support both gay marriage and pot legalization, MadHound Dec 2012 #6

No kidding. jsr Dec 2012 #11

Errrr, So I'm to believe Washington and Colorado Iggy Dec 2012 #30

yet the feds have been letting hundreds of dispensaries operate in CO. uncle ray Dec 2012 #96

You're Forgetting a Biggie... Iggy Dec 2012 #110

At least the SPD has been instructed to issue only verbal warnings if someone is smoking gateley Dec 2012 #156

I Want to Be Positive About This... Iggy Dec 2012 #157

It has the potential of becoming a nightmare, but we may tweak this and work through gateley Dec 2012 #158

+1 arely staircase Dec 2012 #37

That's NOT what the OP said! truebluegreen Dec 2012 #49

Who knows? Maybe he did have that "epiphany?" MADem Dec 2012 #56

OK, that's fair truebluegreen Dec 2012 #72

I'd rather have a crappy "Dem" governor in FL than any GOP one. MADem Dec 2012 #79

+1 SunSeeker Dec 2012 #114

Maybe he had an "epiphany?" I don't care. At most, let him be an ordinary voter. Instead, AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #76

Well, here's how I see it--he has the same rights as any other citizen in this nation. MADem Dec 2012 #85

Are you kidding? Are you a serious thinker? He has MORE rights than ordinary citizens. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #100

Look, you are interested in hot-breathed hectoring, I'm not. MADem Dec 2012 #111

Wrong. You are claiming that I want to do something that exists only in your imagination. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #119

Don't you know? Oilwellian Dec 2012 #130

Quite frankly, I find it odd. Are all such defenders victims of the Stockholm syndrome? AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #133

There you go again--all snark, zero substance. MADem Dec 2012 #140

you should stop projecting fascisthunter Dec 2012 #175

Oh please. I'm a Ted Kennedy/Elizabeth Warren Democrat. MADem Dec 2012 #139

I'm sure he'll cry into his pillow every night that he didn't get your endorsement. MADem Dec 2012 #137

If he had the same rights as ordinary citizens we would have found a true Progressive Democrat sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #118

That makes NO SENSE. None. MADem Dec 2012 #124

This message was self-deleted by its author AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #135

go powder your prissy nose upper crust fascisthunter Dec 2012 #174

Not the country, the politicians quakerboy Dec 2012 #186

Here's another problem: Harry Truman Cold Warriors and the Dixiecrat wings leveymg Dec 2012 #4

Excellent post! You "get it"!! bravo! n/t SylviaD Dec 2012 #52

"All is Well at the Political Menagerie" NobodyInParticular Dec 2012 #65

+10000 heaven05 Dec 2012 #5

Red State, Blue City queentonic Dec 2012 #7

Interesting and thoughtful piece, however, MadHound Dec 2012 #9

4 paragraphs. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2012 #15

I posted it for you. See the link RKP5637 Dec 2012 #33

Thanks queentonic Dec 2012 #168

Yep, DU has some wonderful people!!! I spend a fair amount of time here, probably RKP5637 Dec 2012 #172

The other aspect of this is Blue President / Red House... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #71

Isn't This Just More Inconvenient Proof That Iggy Dec 2012 #8

Both parties are capitalist and pro-war davidn3600 Dec 2012 #17

far right and center right... tomp Dec 2012 #20

Agreed. There IS no "center-left" party, even though........ socialist_n_TN Dec 2012 #51

'....there is little to no "left" left.' CrispyQ Dec 2012 #68

+1 leftstreet Dec 2012 #78

BEENGO!! Iggy Dec 2012 #23

"We don't have a true left-wing party in America." +10000% SomeGuyInEagan Dec 2012 #27

And the only reason they allowed an FDR in the first place was truebluegreen Dec 2012 #54

"But I don't think they will make that mistake again." CrispyQ Dec 2012 #73

Thank you! truebluegreen Dec 2012 #165

Beautiful Boulder County! CrispyQ Dec 2012 #184

!!! My home town!!! truebluegreen Dec 2012 #185

Very Well Put Iggy Dec 2012 #115

Thank you, truebluegreen Dec 2012 #166

"Imagine what this world and country would be like if..." Iggy Dec 2012 #180

By now, LBJ would be considered "leftist." Eleanors38 Dec 2012 #101

When it comes to issues of $$$$$ I think A = B for the most part. n/t RKP5637 Dec 2012 #34

and being center left myself arely staircase Dec 2012 #39

i know, right arely staircase Dec 2012 #47

We lack Democrats like this: Selatius Dec 2012 #10

That speech is like poetry, I get goosebumps every time I hear it. JaneyVee Dec 2012 #19

I wish I had a picture of the people who poured out of the Triangle Shirtwaist jtuck004 Dec 2012 #21

Yep... After Seeing the Incredible Film Lincoln Iggy Dec 2012 #26

I think the difference between today and 100 years ago rhett o rick Dec 2012 #75

Slight Quibble... Iggy Dec 2012 #113

I wont quibble about that. nm rhett o rick Dec 2012 #152

Juice. As up-to-date as the latest hand-held. Eleanors38 Dec 2012 #102

Oh we have them still kenny blankenship Dec 2012 #116

Correct - Once in a While a Great Leader Stands Up Against Iggy Dec 2012 #181

That was my first thought as well! fredamae Dec 2012 #12

Ignored? Lucky you. When I've complained, it seems to have generated more money requests. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #121

I think you might be incorrect when you suggest jtuck004 Dec 2012 #13

It only works if the voters buy into it with their votes. NorthCarolina Dec 2012 #14

That's exactly why the voters are not given an option. America, like other nations all over the Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #104

K&R (n/t) a2liberal Dec 2012 #16

You WILL shut up, and you WILL like the candidate we run! A Simple Game Dec 2012 #18

Yeah, Eat Your Peas jsr Dec 2012 #22

simple game agree with you 100 pecent dembotoz Dec 2012 #25

Good post. n/t rudycantfail Dec 2012 #69

Outstanding reply. CrispyQ Dec 2012 #77

I live in New York so it doesn't really matter who I vote for in the Presidential column. A Simple Game Dec 2012 #128

Harr! CrispyQ Dec 2012 #144

I can testify that it worked at least once. n/t A Simple Game Dec 2012 #147

Eat your brussels sprouts, you unreconstituted gulag! derby378 Dec 2012 #149

+1 Well put. Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #169

I don't think Pete Shumlin, head of the DGA, will allow him to run on those positions. JaneyVee Dec 2012 #24

That hasn't happened before, MadHound Dec 2012 #29

x2 AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #123

This message was self-deleted by its author AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #122

du rec. nt xchrom Dec 2012 #28

these folks don't just pull parties just by declaring their allegiance bigtree Dec 2012 #31

In Britain, they have the Tories, Labour, and the "Lib Dems" OmahaBlueDog Dec 2012 #32

I don't think John2 Dec 2012 #48

You seem to think just fine OmahaBlueDog Dec 2012 #64

Well, John2 Dec 2012 #93

Bravo! Well said and so true. n/t Hotler Dec 2012 #35

Rick Scott has to go! He is an abomination. Crist can beat him, maybe? But FL is strange! CarmanK Dec 2012 #36

So you think we should kick out eveyone not as ideologically pure as you? brooklynite Dec 2012 #38

We can actually keep Crist honest. Baitball Blogger Dec 2012 #43

No, that is NOT what the poster is saying fascisthunter Dec 2012 #59

It has worked well for the Republicans. MrSlayer Dec 2012 #125

Very happy to see this hasn't been hidden yet. Baitball Blogger Dec 2012 #40

The alternative is a the formation of a new and large centrist political party Tom Rinaldo Dec 2012 #42

I totally agree. Without Moderates, the democratic party doesn't have power. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #134

The Democratic party needs to stop accepting converts from the Rethug party. Crowman1979 Dec 2012 #44

Amen jsr Dec 2012 #58

Ah, the awfull truth comes out at time. Nice post. Safetykitten Dec 2012 #45

Crist must be really powerful for you to go to that space. Skidmore Dec 2012 #46

My opinion: It's all about the money. "money makes the world go around, mountain grammy Dec 2012 #50

K&R Crist's "conversion" is simply an FU to Repubs who don't want him MotherPetrie Dec 2012 #55

I think you need to consider geography thesquanderer Dec 2012 #57

It's not advocating for a third party IF...... socialist_n_TN Dec 2012 #61

Excellent post, I agree, thank you. Zorra Dec 2012 #62

In the current political environment.. yes, winning is everything. DCBob Dec 2012 #63

The Democratic party moved rightward all by itself in spite of many of us pleading and begging. madfloridian Dec 2012 #66

+1 leftstreet Dec 2012 #88

Hell, he's left of Cory Booker on education. Yep, I said it. Starry Messenger Dec 2012 #146

Oh yeh, way left of Cory Booker. madfloridian Dec 2012 #153

Not all by itself. Not by a long shot. n/t Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #171

+1. nt historylovr Dec 2012 #67

It's post makes me wonder... savebigbird Dec 2012 #70

IMO the GOP is about to die and the Democratic Party will split. Odin2005 Dec 2012 #74

I agree. The democratic party will continue to grow then split into two parties that will contest bluestate10 Dec 2012 #136

Didn't the leaders in both parties agree to give hundreds of billions to the banksters instead of AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #80

Excellent thread. Some heads will explode here in Rivercity tho. rhett o rick Dec 2012 #81

They are John2 Dec 2012 #98

What? - more anti-Democratic Party horseshit? jpak Dec 2012 #82

Snark w/o substance. nm rhett o rick Dec 2012 #90

''Moderation in temper is always a virtue. Moderation in principle is always a vice." Tom Paine Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2012 #83

Some here dont care about a politician's principles. If they are Democratic they are golden. rhett o rick Dec 2012 #94

How much of this is the culmination of another thucythucy Dec 2012 #84

More "not a dime's worth of difference" "lesser of two evils" nonsense... SidDithers Dec 2012 #86

More "Let's have one big happy Democratic Party", nonsense... rhett o rick Dec 2012 #89

I'm not sure that the Canadian is saying that. I think that he is saying "Those of you in the States AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #131

I stand corrected. I think he is just trying to be helpful. nm rhett o rick Dec 2012 #154

Even the addition of Warren & Grayson doesn't matter to some. great white snark Dec 2012 #112

Warren, Grayson, the AFL-CIO and Sanders who votes with the Democrats are all fools! freshwest Dec 2012 #170

As a Canadian, are you eligible to be a Democrat? AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #127

It's happening now. LWolf Dec 2012 #87

I'm not sure... sendero Dec 2012 #91

Outside of possibly defeating Mark Rubio in 2016, I don't know what impact this will have LynneSin Dec 2012 #95

I get the argument but . . . TomClash Dec 2012 #97

I agree with every word! Crist knew what the Republican Party was when he forestpath Dec 2012 #99

Florida does have primaries last time I checked dsc Dec 2012 #103

This message was self-deleted by its author AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #132

As a straight white male with a decent job, I also have that luxury Recursion Dec 2012 #105

The Democratic coalition is growing inspite of, and not because of, conservative intervention in our Zorra Dec 2012 #109

The public sentiment has changed on many of those issues Zambero Dec 2012 #106

Littler Evilism has it's merits Prophet 451 Dec 2012 #107

Here across the pond, we got rid of "the scumbag Tories" a long time ago. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #120

Turned from a civic duty to determine how our nation conducts itself and for whom, into a team sport Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #108

A major Republican who bucked the GOP has joined our party. madfloridian Dec 2012 #117

I supported Crist against Rubio, because of his Moderate record. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #138

We did also.. madfloridian Dec 2012 #151

I completely disagree with you Hound. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #126

Because Crist is now the leader of the party, and every Democrat must follow him jeff47 Dec 2012 #129

CORRECT Skittles Dec 2012 #141

Except that I have met and talked with Charlie Crist numerous times and have friends who have known stevenleser Dec 2012 #142

Sorry, but you're wrong, actually Spider Jerusalem Dec 2012 #143

Patrick Murphy was a Republican in 2011. hay rick Dec 2012 #145

Look at the bright side Capt. Obvious Dec 2012 #148

You're assuming he brings those views with him Hippo_Tron Dec 2012 #150

When Democrats become Republicans, ProSense Dec 2012 #155

At first I thought . . . Utopian Leftist Dec 2012 #159

They are creating a political vacuum but there is no telling what is going to fill it. limpyhobbler Dec 2012 #160

Real Democrats Don't Vote Crist. nt TeamPooka Dec 2012 #161

I'm torn here...... Swede Atlanta Dec 2012 #162

Kinda ironic PatrynXX Dec 2012 #163

Please respond to this poll: ProSense Dec 2012 #164

DURec! bvar22 Dec 2012 #167

such a large degree of support... centrists are a minority here fascisthunter Dec 2012 #173

Anyone can be a democrat.... WCGreen Dec 2012 #176

Time to eliminate the party primary. fleabiscuit Dec 2012 #177

"it's happened time and time again". it has? cali Dec 2012 #178

The force is not with Charlie Crist quaker bill Dec 2012 #179

MH, Le Taz Hot Dec 2012 #182

the party of FDR, Kennedy and Humphrey was also the party of Lester Maddox and George Wallace Douglas Carpenter Dec 2012 #188