General Discussion

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

97. I'm sure it is the same. The moderates win because the voters in the precincts vote for them.

Mon Aug 26, 2013, 02:36 PM

Aug 2013

I'm familiar with one exception where a combative progressive became chair of the Pinellas Country Democratic Executive Committee. here are two stories that detail the results.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/15/Southpinellas/Democrats__risky_deci.shtml

http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/3930
---------------------------------------------

There is nothing stopping a number of determined progressives in a county from convincing precinct voters to elect them precinct chair and eventually taking over the county DEC. There is nothing stopping a number of determined progressives repeating this in counties throughout a state. There is nothing stopping a number of determined progressives doing that in enough states to take over the DNC.

Nothing that is, except a willingness to put in the time to do it.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

179 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

How can we get a progressive presidential candidate at the top of Democratic ticket in 2016? [View all] yurbud Aug 2013 OP

Prayer might help. Jackpine Radical Aug 2013 #1

Right about the prayer Tippy Aug 2013 #54

We need to stop compromising our votes in the primaries. dawg Aug 2013 #2

Primaries should be the place where we debate issues! LongTomH Aug 2013 #59

Should be, but it isn't allowed. n/t Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #118

We can't Kelvin Mace Aug 2013 #3

^This, and it appears that a lot dem voters agree with the third way. JRLeft Aug 2013 #49

No, they don't. And this is a lie that needs to be slapped down hard, now. woo me with science Aug 2013 #79

+1 daleanime Aug 2013 #83

+10 RC Aug 2013 #94

Hell Yes! kenfrequed Aug 2013 #127

If the DLC, Third Way, corporate Democrats ran honest campaigns... yurbud Aug 2013 #156

Disagree, kinda. truebluegreen Aug 2013 #65

Based on how much grief Kelvin Mace Aug 2013 #96

One of my favorite sites. truebluegreen Aug 2013 #130

COMRADE! Kelvin Mace Aug 2013 #136

DA! truebluegreen Aug 2013 #137

Only if some very deep pocketed $$$ progressives ante up, I'm afraid. hlthe2b Aug 2013 #4

I don't think we can Shankapotomus Aug 2013 #5

Agreed. This is the scenario most likely to produce a liberal candidate for President. n/t Laelth Aug 2013 #128

Three steps: brooklynite Aug 2013 #6

Are you saying the primaries don't choose candidates? n/t hootinholler Aug 2013 #9

I'm saying that, to be competitive in the Primaries... brooklynite Aug 2013 #10

Do you mean to imply that we shouldn't try? hootinholler Aug 2013 #23

I'm saying that I don't think you -are- trying. brooklynite Aug 2013 #29

The difficulty in electing a progressive isn't the public. Jackpine Radical Aug 2013 #63

I won't wast my time reminding you... brooklynite Aug 2013 #66

And do you remember why? zipplewrath Aug 2013 #100

Golly, he was criticized by another candidate? How unfair! brooklynite Aug 2013 #105

Not exactly zipplewrath Aug 2013 #116

Wait, you mean endless complaining isn't really "trying"?? JoePhilly Aug 2013 #86

they wont even try at lower levels like Chicago mayor's race JI7 Aug 2013 #159

Holy crap...been saying the exact same thing on here for years... msanthrope Aug 2013 #147

"Top down" isn't going to ever work Spike89 Aug 2013 #177

Check this out: truebluegreen Aug 2013 #69

I think you're overlooking a whole lot of potential votes .... Scuba Aug 2013 #14

You forgot a step zipplewrath Aug 2013 #15

Exactly Aerows Aug 2013 #18

doesn't even make it to the primaries ? aren't the primaries open ? JI7 Aug 2013 #160

Yes, but if you get disenfranchised early Aerows Aug 2013 #162

are you talking about candidates or voters ? JI7 Aug 2013 #164

Both can get disenfranchised early Aerows Aug 2013 #166

well that's a case of not being happy with who runs , not disenfranchised JI7 Aug 2013 #167

One is a symptom of apathy of the other Aerows Aug 2013 #168

In other words, its unfair if more people vote for a Candidate you don't like... brooklynite Aug 2013 #175

'Any Democrat will be better than the GOP' markiv Aug 2013 #7

Damned good question hootinholler Aug 2013 #8

Make all primary candidates pledge that they will Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #11

Let see...candidate A loses Iowa, New Hampshire and South Caroline... brooklynite Aug 2013 #22

Perhaps the bad ideas are "Super Tuesday," and Iowa, New Hampshire, and S. Carolina going first... villager Aug 2013 #27

Perhaps so, but politics operates in a realistic world... brooklynite Aug 2013 #32

Hmm... kenfrequed Aug 2013 #133

I'm not shooting down anything... brooklynite Aug 2013 #134

Hmm... kenfrequed Aug 2013 #138

...and what did progressivism AS YOU CAN APPLY IT TODAY get you? brooklynite Aug 2013 #139

Well kenfrequed Aug 2013 #149

Angus King is a moderate, former Republican... brooklynite Aug 2013 #153

Yeah... kenfrequed Sep 2013 #178

This message was self-deleted by its author kenfrequed Sep 2013 #179

And I knew this would be the first response. Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #35

In which case, you have no excuse... brooklynite Aug 2013 #37

Excuse for what? Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #45

No excuse for not actively getting an acceptable candidate to run... brooklynite Aug 2013 #55

You have no idea what I or anyone else Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #57

I have an idea based on what people say they're doing...which so far is nothing brooklynite Aug 2013 #89

+1 villager Aug 2013 #40

gotta FIND one first RussBLib Aug 2013 #12

Create a coalition campaign madville Aug 2013 #13

Damn, that is a good idea. nt riqster Aug 2013 #17

Because it worked so well for Gingrich and Santorum? brooklynite Aug 2013 #20

Well hopefully we could get some people madville Aug 2013 #25

Well, it would help to start with candidates who aren't inherenly unlikeable. winter is coming Aug 2013 #92

Like this .... Scuba Aug 2013 #16

Donate n2doc Aug 2013 #19

Beyond money, which of course is huge, we would have to dig out the entrenched Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #21

I'm sure it is the same. The moderates win because the voters in the precincts vote for them. stevenleser Aug 2013 #97

I am no longer willing to compromise on my avebury Aug 2013 #24

History's shown that the crash and burn could set the stage for a fascist dictatorship. pnwmom Aug 2013 #31

we may never undo the damages to America, pls don't roll over and give up all you have left, 1 vote. Sunlei Aug 2013 #46

Why should we be forced to accept the avebury Aug 2013 #87

This message was self-deleted by its author Recursion Aug 2013 #142

George McGovern was a great progressive. pnwmom Aug 2013 #26

And think of how many of Nixon's policies turned out to be to the left of Obama's! villager Aug 2013 #28

Nixon expanded the war in Vietnam and McGovern campaigned on ending it. pnwmom Aug 2013 #33

Which sort of underscores the irony of thinking of Obama as a "progressive" villager Aug 2013 #39

Obama is a progressive in the only meaningful sense. pnwmom Aug 2013 #44

Except, not in the sense of economic or environmental policies, to take but two.... villager Aug 2013 #61

Oh really? There isn't a stark difference between Obama's views on global warming pnwmom Aug 2013 #68

He had lots of good "views" on the campaign trail. I'm speaking about actual policies. villager Aug 2013 #76

I'm talking about his actual achievements. pnwmom Aug 2013 #78

"Keystone Decision Seen as Climate Change Test for Obama Abroad" villager Aug 2013 #84

So you're just going to ignore everything he has already done? pnwmom Aug 2013 #85

On environmental issues? Like de-listing the wolf, helping cover up the BP oil spill damage? villager Aug 2013 #93

We keep pushing on progressive issues. The harder, the better. pnwmom Aug 2013 #95

What is true is that everything is skewed to the right. Everything. Even/especially "Democrats." villager Aug 2013 #98

Unfortunately, when the "grand experiment" of the Soviet Union pnwmom Aug 2013 #101

the fall of the Soviet Union let the wealthy draw out the long knives on the rest of us yurbud Aug 2013 #126

No... that argument isn't useful. kenfrequed Aug 2013 #150

Obama is center right TheTruthBeKnown Aug 2013 #73

In today's political world he's progressive. pnwmom Aug 2013 #81

I we continue to let the 1% corporatist elites move us towards fascism, you may be right... cascadiance Aug 2013 #88

George McGovern Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #36

No one that progressive has been able to win since then. pnwmom Aug 2013 #38

So your solution is to keep Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #48

No, my solution at this point is Hilary Clinton. No Rethug has a chance against her. n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #51

Hillary Clinton has one support group: Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #56

Lou Dobbs will have another field day with her support of H-1B "indentured servant" program... cascadiance Aug 2013 #71

Chris Christie, the bully, would self-destruct against Hillary. Women would loathe him, pnwmom Aug 2013 #72

Yeah, that is a really bad look for Christie. His M.O. is to be super aggressive and nasty stevenleser Aug 2013 #103

I've seen him treat women like that at town meetings. I don't think he can stop himself. pnwmom Aug 2013 #109

We need to vet more heavily those "electable" candidates that become "progressive" (J. Edwards) cascadiance Aug 2013 #30

Do you seriously believe that if Edwards wasn't on the ballot, Kucinich would have been competitive? brooklynite Aug 2013 #34

He instead of Edwards would have had my primary vote! cascadiance Aug 2013 #47

Again - explain to me how Edwards "took away" support from Kucinich... brooklynite Aug 2013 #64

I know many that were voting for Edwards specifically because he was talking about issues... cascadiance Aug 2013 #77

And when Edwards dropped out, they went to.....? brooklynite Aug 2013 #80

He dropped out right before Super Tuesday and then we DID NOT KNOW WHY! cascadiance Aug 2013 #82

He dropped out before Super Tuesday because he was polling a distant last in all Super Tuesday stevenleser Aug 2013 #102

A "distant last" behind Kucinich?... cascadiance Aug 2013 #106

Iowa was several weeks before super Tuesday. Kucinich withdrew a week before Edwards stevenleser Aug 2013 #123

Progressive what? Le Taz Hot Aug 2013 #52

Edwards WAS campaigning to the left of both Clinton and Obama in the primaries... cascadiance Aug 2013 #58

many liberals knew Edwards was a Phony so didn't support him , i am a liberal and i would not JI7 Aug 2013 #161

Problem is Dennis for all his bluster never produced... Historic NY Aug 2013 #112

Not worried about 2016 no info to the Rs. 2014 needs 100% focus. Sunlei Aug 2013 #41

We need to find those issues we have common ground with most Americans on... cascadiance Aug 2013 #42

Smartest reply I've read all day! LongTomH Aug 2013 #70

We can start by not behaving like Hillary is inevitable. NuclearDem Aug 2013 #43

Especially in those districts that Republicans have redistricted to be MORE progressive! cascadiance Aug 2013 #53

What's wrong with Hillary, she is a rock solid moderate Republican pediatricmedic Aug 2013 #99

You have to start xxqqqzme Aug 2013 #50

Absolutely. That is how the Rightwing nuts took over. RC Aug 2013 #125

We had one in 2000 TheTruthBeKnown Aug 2013 #60

Well said. Many will continue to act like sheep... polichick Aug 2013 #117

If Nader had run in the Democratic primaries, I would have voted for him. Jim Lane Aug 2013 #148

Have primary elections all take place on the same day. n/t PowerToThePeople Aug 2013 #62

^^^This^^^ truebluegreen Aug 2013 #74

...in which case you have to do all your campaigning at once... brooklynite Aug 2013 #120

PBS. NPR. Possibly public financing. PowerToThePeople Aug 2013 #121

Wouldn't you rather have someone who can win the general election? cbdo2007 Aug 2013 #67

That's the kind of silliness that keeps getting us Republican lite. polichick Aug 2013 #111

Do you have a good example of when a "true progressive" has won the general election? cbdo2007 Aug 2013 #119

There haven't been any elected president in the last 50 years... polichick Aug 2013 #122

So you didn't vote for a Dem President for the past 50 years?? cbdo2007 Aug 2013 #172

Sure, voted for them, worked for them... polichick Aug 2013 #174

False dichotomy. n/t winter is coming Aug 2013 #115

and then ignore the people who put him there? yurbud Aug 2013 #154

Just because they don't do everything on YOUR list doesn't mean they've ignored you. lol cbdo2007 Aug 2013 #173

Organize? Get him/her the most votes during the primaries? Proud Liberal Dem Aug 2013 #75

Find a trillion dollars. Rex Aug 2013 #90

Hopeless cause fadedrose Aug 2013 #91

According to the latest Gallup Poll, 83% of liberal Democrats approve of President Obama. totodeinhere Aug 2013 #104

Half of us move to Iowa, the other half to New Hamphire. Auggie Aug 2013 #107

Isn't it absurd how it works? 'Course somebody gains from this sick system. polichick Aug 2013 #110

It's a bullshit system. I hate it. Auggie Aug 2013 #129

Me too - it's past time that Americans demand a truly democratic system... polichick Aug 2013 #132

Actually that's exactly what we need to do. An upset of Clinton in either of totodeinhere Aug 2013 #113

That's the question, and if it's impossible the party isn't worth working for. polichick Aug 2013 #108

Progressives need to promote progressive candidates for one thing betterdemsonly Aug 2013 #114

Follow the money zipplewrath Aug 2013 #124

and even if we could match the donations, we could never match the back end deal when they leave yurbud Aug 2013 #140

How can we get a candidate that believes what they say to get elected? and will keep their word? Coyotl Aug 2013 #131

We can't Spirochete Aug 2013 #135

Get primary voters in a sufficient number of precincts to vote for one (nt) Recursion Aug 2013 #141

Howard Dean MrMickeysMom Aug 2013 #143

Perhaps we can't mick063 Aug 2013 #144

The only way I can think of PD Turk Aug 2013 #145

We can't. The Party apparatchiks will not allow it. TransitJohn Aug 2013 #146

I wonder how an election would go if the rich just did away with their proxies and ran themselves yurbud Aug 2013 #152

I'd say go for it but marsis Aug 2013 #151

Not sure if we can in 2016, but we sure as hell can make a very interesting Primary cycle in which Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #155

So, you're going to Primary the "Establishment" candidates with.....who? brooklynite Aug 2013 #171

Completely change elections and the system of representation... Blue_Tires Aug 2013 #157

on 4, I'd say covert one chamber of Congress to proportional yurbud Aug 2013 #158

so if we had done this, who would have won in 2008 ? JI7 Aug 2013 #165

Clearly, Dennis Kucinich....(if you're going to engage in fantasy, take it all the way) brooklynite Aug 2013 #170

And you'll have those changes made by 2016, will you? brooklynite Aug 2013 #169

so far i have mostly seen them getting behind Hillary Clinton JI7 Aug 2013 #163

I do not believe it is possible.... mike_c Aug 2013 #176