General Discussion

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

35. They will do what they need to in order to win elections. So make them change to win.

Tue Jul 1, 2014, 04:37 PM

Jul 2014

Politicians are primarily concerned with winning elections. So make them win the primary.

Teabaggers have turned the Republican party far to the right by challenging them in primaries. The teabaggers almost always lose, but the "mainstream" Republicans have to turn to the right in order to win.

We can do the same thing with the Democratic party. Make the "mainstream" Democrats defend themselves in primary elections. They will have to tack left to keep winning.

Why doesn't third party do the same thing? Because when you go third party you can't vote in the Democratic election (in most states). And you aren't relevant in the general election - it's easier for the Democrat to attract some more of the middle than to attract you. So you're written off by the Democratic party and they turn further right.

So vote. In every damn primary. Only the mainstream candidate on the ballot? Then run, or help find someone to run.

The party will not fix itself, we have to do it.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

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

94 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

To critics of Nader. Do you seriously think thirdway dems will challenge corporate personhood? [View all] betterdemsonly Jul 2014 OP

Do not mess with the forces of natu...nader leftstreet Jul 2014 #1

I don't expect that Nader or his supporters will get a chance to do anything el_bryanto Jul 2014 #2

That seems to a be a response to a question not asked. betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #8

That's fine; if the Democrats don't want to address my issues, then I won't vote for them. Maedhros Jul 2014 #23

but yet you hang around in a democratic forum leftyohiolib Jul 2014 #31

I voted primarily Democratic in 2010. Maedhros Jul 2014 #42

I didn't say fuck off el_bryanto Jul 2014 #79

I say 'tomato'...... daleanime Jul 2014 #83

What makes anyone unelectable is the self-fulfilling prophecy that they are unelectable. Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #71

The distinction though is that I would rather see us get better candidates within the el_bryanto Jul 2014 #78

They probably won't take Rethiglican money like Ralph did. HERVEPA Jul 2014 #3

The Koch brothers sat on the board of the dlc betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #5

FALSEHOOD ALERT!!! MohRokTah Jul 2014 #24

So I guess then that Obama simply appointed GS guy truedelphi Jul 2014 #59

Lots of factors went into the decision, I'm certain. MohRokTah Jul 2014 #61

Republican Contributions: $10.7 Million for Kerry vs. $111,700 for Nader Luminous Animal Jul 2014 #89

Sorry but Nader is not blameless here. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #4

Is Ross Perot to blame for Clinton's win? leftstreet Jul 2014 #7

That is debatable but many rwers do blame him. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #9

That's a really tough call as many Republicans AND Democrats voted for Perot. MohRokTah Jul 2014 #27

He was a significant factor. jeff47 Jul 2014 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jul 2014 #6

Seems really destructive since if the party loses those voters they lose betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #10

Don't worry. It's Nader who lost those voters. Jim Lane Jul 2014 #91

Kerry wants more war, with Syria and Iran, betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #92

Busted! Kerry, if elected, would have made some decisions that ticked off some people on DU. Jim Lane Jul 2014 #94

Very good point leftstreet Jul 2014 #11

Nader Voters are mostly ignorant and seek attention JI7 Jul 2014 #12

They do use fear of loss of abortion to make you vote for betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #13

you are the one who started a Thread about Nader, and i'm pointing out his dismissing women's rights JI7 Jul 2014 #14

No, the OP started a thread about Third Way Dems leftstreet Jul 2014 #15

the OP mentions Nader, i guess Paul Wellstone was a third way Dem, which is why Nader JI7 Jul 2014 #17

No, Nader critics leftstreet Jul 2014 #19

exactly, the OP mentions Nader JI7 Jul 2014 #29

He is not a dem betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #20

one doesn't need to be from Minnesota or a Dem to realize Paul WEllstone was for the people and JI7 Jul 2014 #25

He was the best betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #34

i think it matters whether one who claims to give a shit about fighting corporations supported JI7 Jul 2014 #36

but you admitted in another thread that betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #16

i am a woman so things concerning women's rights, control over my own body will matter to me JI7 Jul 2014 #21

I am a women too betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #28

you have a problem with me saying you can vote for whoever you want ? i told you not to vote for JI7 Jul 2014 #32

1% of Nader voters in Florida AgingAmerican Jul 2014 #90

Do you think whatever repub wins will challenge upaloopa Jul 2014 #18

If democrats had challenged the concept like Nader did betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #22

Nader lied and said Republicans overturning Roe is a Scare Tactic JI7 Jul 2014 #33

It's "moot" and a false choice. Who said we have to go with a Third Way Dem? n/t winter is coming Jul 2014 #26

I don't see anyone that appears to be running but Hillary betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #37

id on't see anyone passing a law to prevent NAder or anyone else from Running in the Primary JI7 Jul 2014 #40

I don't give a crap about Nader betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #44

because Abortion rights are important so when someone lies and claims what Republicans JI7 Jul 2014 #47

because it is used to scare us into supporting centrists betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #55

it's NOT a Scare TActic, it's A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES/PARTIES , and i said you don't JI7 Jul 2014 #56

I don't want to vote for third parties betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #62

Nader Cause involves not caring about abortion so that isn't going to happen JI7 Jul 2014 #63

Well lose then betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #65

Obama did not Lose, Sotomayor and KAgan voted the right way , Clinton's appointees did also JI7 Jul 2014 #67

They also voted to allow abortion protesters to interfere with your abortion betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #68

that was based on first amendment issue JI7 Jul 2014 #70

Why would the question be moot? The TeaPubliKlan having a lousy position doesn't free the TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #30

They will do what they need to in order to win elections. So make them change to win. jeff47 Jul 2014 #35

Even when third party lefties try to go legimate in a Dem primary betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #39

you have a problem with Wendy DAvis ? well you can vote third party if you feel the Dem JI7 Jul 2014 #43

I have a problem with the Democratic candidate for ag commissioner betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #48

so don't vote for him, who said third party was worse ? you can vote third party if you want JI7 Jul 2014 #49

You've advised this poster about 5 times to vote 3rd party DisgustipatedinCA Jul 2014 #80

telling someone they don't have to vote for someone they don't want to is not JI7 Jul 2014 #81

Then make them lose. jeff47 Jul 2014 #46

he is going to lose anyway betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #51

It's BECAUSE of Nader sunnystarr Jul 2014 #41

Not true betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #54

I defend people's rights in court everyday. And as an Democratic campaign msanthrope Jul 2014 #45

a pair of silly questions hfojvt Jul 2014 #50

Fuck Nadar. Fuck his followers. we can do it Jul 2014 #52

Jury results for the alert on this post: 1monster Jul 2014 #69

Ha! Cha Jul 2014 #75

You betray your lack of knowledge by referring to those who support Nader's policies Maedhros Jul 2014 #85

Nader cozies up to hedge funds and the Koch brothers frazzled Jul 2014 #53

My Democratic Senator is up for reelection; sadoldgirl Jul 2014 #57

The third way support corporate personhood. betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #60

Look, our constitution is more or less set up for two parties sadoldgirl Jul 2014 #66

Actually, the Constitution was set up with the idea that there would be NO parties. Maedhros Jul 2014 #86

Only in public, and only if they can make absolutely certain beforehand woo me with science Jul 2014 #58

Critical of Ralph Nader != Third-Wayism. Arkana Jul 2014 #64

Funny that.... Bobbie Jo Jul 2014 #74

It's a way for the No True Scotsman portion of the left Arkana Jul 2014 #93

No, just the more one drones on about him the more likely they tend to be such TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #76

Gore did a lot to cause his own demise vssmith Jul 2014 #72

OP is falling into the same trap many do, I think. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #77

Reasoned criticism is always welcome in a political discussion forum. Maedhros Jul 2014 #87

to answer you question, since nobody seems to want to, is: no. KG Jul 2014 #73

That type of talk about moderate Democrats, Jamaal510 Jul 2014 #82

Nuck Fader - and his supporters. jazzimov Jul 2014 #84

Mushy middle types AgingAmerican Jul 2014 #88