We need a new Democratic Party, that much is clear

[JohnnyRingo]

196. I'm well aware of the polls...

...that show Americans share individual "liberal values". If you asked the man on the street if he believes in feeding the poor, he'll respond that he indeed does, but if you reword it as distributing tax money in food stamps, the response is entirely different, and you know it.

Ask anyone if we should do something about homeless people, and they're all for it, but once the phrase "rent subsidies" is coined, they suddenly shrink from their compassionate intent. Representing these carefully worded polls on values as universal acceptance of liberalism is misleading at best.

Understand that I'm a liberal myself, but I know it doesn't sell to the voting majority. I know this first hand from friends and relatives. Despite that, I reside in a NE Ohio democratic union stronghold where our (moderate) congressman, Tim Ryan, handily won his 7th term yesterday. Kasich barely held his own here in the 17th. Democrats here normally win by a consistent two to one margin.

Perhaps you come from a more liberal district than myself. Maybe your local voting populace nicely mirrors the demographics of DU, and that's great, but that's not real world politics. As I see it, Manny and other liberal ideologues here are running a Sno Cone stand in the middle of the Mohave Desert, and according to the kicks and recs received, it appears he's managing it quite well. The problem is that he and others think their business model that works so well on the locals will be as much a hit in a national market.

Common sales sense dictates that in order to appeal everywhere we may want to offer some percentage of hot beverages to appeal to the national masses, but that amounts to ethical treason to the Sno Cone liberals here who believe that everyone from Maine to Alaska are hungry for their icy treat of socialism. For the record, I love Sno Cones, especially the blue ones, but I know that if Fox News and hate radio irrationally proclaimed them a Communist threat to our way of life, sales would plummet, and that was my original point. We as democrats have to open a confectionery stand that attracts a wide customer base. Getting hard scrabble liberal voters to the polls is not the challenge we face as a party, it's convincing the moderate middle to show up and elect our candidates

If you or Manny ever decide to try your hand at managing a campaign, please find somewhere besides my home district. We have our share of racists and 'baggers here, but when we vote, it's for a democrat and I'm proud of that. If my congressman had run an unapologetic liberal campaign, we'd have ended up with that crazy republican obstetrician who's only platform was to end Obamacare on her first day in office, then return full time to her private practice. Please stop helping.