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markpkessinger

(8,923 posts)

46. The Democratic Party has an existential choice to make . . .

Thu Nov 6, 2014, 08:18 PM

Nov 2014

Since the mid '90s, the party has courted the big money donors to be found in the financial/corporate sector, while simultaneously purporting to continue to retain its historical identity as a populist party of common people. Those two sets of interests are fundamentally at odds with each other, and ultimately cannot coexist in the same party. Those big, corporate donors will always expect their pound of flesh in return, and as recent elections have been demonstrating, voters are no longer willing to buy into a faux populism that tries to serve two masters. Whatever set of interests the party is going to represent, if it expects to have any success at the polls, it must represent those interests authentically. So long as we continue to try to have it both ways, we will continue to lose.

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Look at all you people looking for a purge. It's ridiculous. [View all] LostInAnomie Nov 2014 OP

I will say that Grimes didn't lose because of her reponse to the "vote for Obama" question. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #1

The last poll to come out before election day says you're correct. Ykcutnek Nov 2014 #2

Denial is a betrayal of principles ollie4 Nov 2014 #57

*bingo* CountAllVotes Nov 2014 #3

Absolutely, there's good reason when the polls are wrong, now multiply that across the board, mother earth Nov 2014 #5

WTF? We let them get away with this time after time. mazzarro Nov 2014 #27

Yes, exactly, our party lets them get away with this and then through MSM the blame is placed on mother earth Nov 2014 #131

Exactly Scarsdale Nov 2014 #32

Of course not. She lost because KY is a red state, and they were worried about their Coal industry still_one Nov 2014 #102

I like going Right. Maybe in 20 years we can nominate Bristol Palin for Prez! The Republican will be blkmusclmachine Nov 2014 #4

Total bullshit, to a point Niko Nov 2014 #6

+1000% - my friend! - n/t mazzarro Nov 2014 #31

So true. Scarsdale Nov 2014 #37

Yes mstinamotorcity2 Nov 2014 #41

Spot on! n/t markpkessinger Nov 2014 #43

exactly right AtomicKitten Nov 2014 #45

100% agree I hate liars Nov 2014 #48

Al Franken was elected in a reliably Democratic state Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #113

Totally agree ybbor Nov 2014 #72

Do red states have lots of liberals staying home? IronLionZion Nov 2014 #103

Yes, they do have Democrats Niko Nov 2014 #134

Then don't vote. They didn't vote for Grimes because they thought republicans would protect their still_one Nov 2014 #105

No. They voted against the President. mariawr Nov 2014 #115

So you don't think all the candidates distancing themselves from Obama didn't make a difference? AngryOldDem Nov 2014 #123

Not in the red states. still_one Nov 2014 #133

+ another Scuba Nov 2014 #116

Spot. On. n/t AngryOldDem Nov 2014 #125

Here's an idea: JaneyVee Nov 2014 #7

I'm open to donating to bloggers. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #12

What do you mean start small? ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #28

You can, just don't expect to win :) nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #30

Okay, then ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #34

Good idea. Scarsdale Nov 2014 #38

The rank and file didn't nominate these people. The insider leadership did on point Nov 2014 #8

And how do these "insider leaderships" ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #29

Well, that's typical of you, 1SBM ... NanceGreggs Nov 2014 #49

Sucking capitalist dick. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #56

Yeah, okay ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #69

You've come round full circle treestar Nov 2014 #118

Can you say Ashley Judd? Glitterati Nov 2014 #108

People like to blame everyone on "the leaders" treestar Nov 2014 #119

BS. I showed up. I hadn't had power for 3 days, hadn't showered for 3 days. Slept on the floor magical thyme Nov 2014 #9

Thanks Progressive dog Nov 2014 #10

I think what many here are saying is that if you want voters to show up at the polls, hedgehog Nov 2014 #21

The OP was dead on Progressive dog Nov 2014 #25

How do you know what people who didn't bother to vote treestar Nov 2014 #126

The voters already handled the purge. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #11

Keep telling yourself it's all the fault of the voters.. SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #13

Democrats DID have something to vote for!!!!! heaven05 Nov 2014 #23

How the hell do you suppose candidates are nominated to begin with? Skidmore Nov 2014 #76

Want a progressive candidate? Get one nominated. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #88

True with turnout less then 50% treestar Nov 2014 #121

It wasn't the voter fault - it was the non-voters bhikkhu Nov 2014 #93

It is the voters treestar Nov 2014 #120

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Nov 2014 #14

It won't work anymore, the Third Way minions can't play enough CYA this time. Rex Nov 2014 #18

Clearly, the only alternative is business as usual. Orsino Nov 2014 #137

Third Way talking points. Trashing thread. woo me with science Nov 2014 #15

+1 nt Zorra Nov 2014 #42

Yup. And the tried-and-true fallacy of false equivalency to boot. n/t RufusTFirefly Nov 2014 #51

i am with ya, woo. hifiguy Nov 2014 #61

They can't help it. L0oniX Nov 2014 #82

So brave. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #92

It's the Third Way that purged the coalition mmonk Nov 2014 #16

Amazing, people are doubling down on denial. Rex Nov 2014 #17

the internet attracts a lot of Drama JI7 Nov 2014 #19

bottom line heaven05 Nov 2014 #20

Romney lost because most of the time he couldn't explain why he should be President - hedgehog Nov 2014 #22

What's more unseemly is the delight of some to pile on Obama. randome Nov 2014 #24

I'm from Florida but now live in California DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2014 #26

excellent point, at least Nelson votes with other Democrats vast majority of the time steve2470 Nov 2014 #107

It is the responsibilty of the Party to motivate the electorate to go to the polls Maedhros Nov 2014 #33

Not really. It's the responsibility of the electorate to express themselves. randome Nov 2014 #39

They expressed themselves by not voting. (nt) jeff47 Nov 2014 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Nov 2014 #75

Amen! Geez, I cannot believe people really think treestar Nov 2014 #127

Fuck that. Voter suppression, media brainwashing, and fuck-all gerrymandering screwed the pooch! nt valerief Nov 2014 #35

Sure hope you're not referring to Allison Tant-Richard ...... think Nov 2014 #36

my my, whatta devastating indictment stupidicus Nov 2014 #40

Very well stated, but to no avail I'm afraid as you are responding to a talking point Dragonfli Nov 2014 #60

I know stupidicus Nov 2014 #77

Voting wins elections! Staying home loses them! Not a lot of cerebral work to see this, understand RKP5637 Nov 2014 #44

The Democratic Party has an existential choice to make . . . markpkessinger Nov 2014 #46

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Nov 2014 #52

This is the root of the problem. Nicely stated. RiverLover Nov 2014 #78

This election makes absolutely no logical sense. defacto7 Nov 2014 #47

much of what is said here KT2000 Nov 2014 #50

I always blame the people who vote for Republicans. yallerdawg Nov 2014 #53

The Pukes are able to craft a narrative that gets their people to the polls. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #54

+++++++++ JEB Nov 2014 #90

Keep running third-way candidates and you will continue to have low turnout. People NorthCarolina Nov 2014 #55

+1 L0oniX Nov 2014 #84

Then, maybe these morons that sat on their hands... LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #95

DU says, "we oughtta stop rewarding failure": you say, "nu-uh" MisterP Nov 2014 #58

What exactly is your argument? LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #110

Authoritarians do purges. baldguy Nov 2014 #59

They're also the main ones that keep doing exactly what's in this OP Number23 Nov 2014 #67

+1 n/t FSogol Nov 2014 #70

+1 n/t tammywammy Nov 2014 #79

Exactly LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #97

Yep. And a purge of a party in a free country is impossible treestar Nov 2014 #124

By buckling down, starting **NOW** to lay the groundwork for 2016, 2018 & 2020 and beyond baldguy Nov 2014 #130

Though I disagree with some of the wording, there is indeed some truth to that. AverageJoe90 Nov 2014 #62

I found this quote over at Hullabaloo vlakitti Nov 2014 #63

Funny how the Republicans get to have the likes of Bachmann but we can't have a Kucinich. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #64

Get back in the attic where you belong! This discussion is for seasoned Bullshit artists, er I mean adirondacker Nov 2014 #98

I'm treated more like a bat in the belfry. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #99

Sounds fairly "middle class". You should be happy you have a roof over your head. adirondacker Nov 2014 #100

True,...but it's the noise around here. It's like clockwork. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #101

Is it a Ding Ding Ding or Loud Dong? adirondacker Nov 2014 #106

I do what I can with the occasional tinkle. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #111

They get out and vote for Bachmann treestar Nov 2014 #122

Bachmann is an example of a generation of Republicans raised to believe their own lies.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #136

THANK YOU!!! Although it didnt take long before the "it was fixed" brigade to show up. 7962 Nov 2014 #65

The timing was right for the "gop wave." RoverSuswade Nov 2014 #66

There is no need to purge the party. DCBob Nov 2014 #68

K&R. Well said. n/t FSogol Nov 2014 #71

hahahah - the 3rd way is circling the wagons. Funniest post mortem ever. whereisjustice Nov 2014 #73

You are so right! workinclasszero Nov 2014 #80

^^^THIS^^^ L0oniX Nov 2014 #81

People need to realize that a left-wing candidate can't win everywhere. NaturalHigh Nov 2014 #83

Purity again. Well, only a purity extremist thinks it's best if NSA spies on their children. whereisjustice Nov 2014 #86

+1 nt steve2470 Nov 2014 #109

No, it's really not the same Scootaloo Nov 2014 #85

Horseshit. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #87

Yup, I plan to. Scootaloo Nov 2014 #89

Right... Voting Dem is helping to get Repubs elected. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #91

If you back a Republican't in the primaries, you know they'll lose to a Republican Scootaloo Nov 2014 #132

Im with you fellas. Eko Nov 2014 #94

We can have a 50 state party or a purged party IronLionZion Nov 2014 #96

If you are speaking about Coakley, isn't that something else really? BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #142

Anthony Brown, Maryland IronLionZion Nov 2014 #146

That was a surprise BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #147

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2014 #104

Where is your, "Stop trying to purge liberals and the left from the party" OP? AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #112

Thats the ol Eko Nov 2014 #144

Everyone loves a scapegoat, nobody likes a mirror. LadyHawkAZ Nov 2014 #114

+1 zillion treestar Nov 2014 #117

Did you notice that the after the Romney purge ... GeorgeGist Nov 2014 #128

It's not about turnout. simak Nov 2014 #129

Why didn't we show up at the polls? RedCappedBandit Nov 2014 #135

Yep....Steal the vote, works all the time if you're a Repukes! Stellar Nov 2014 #138

If you vote for Repukes, it is neither responsible nor civic minded. ncjustice80 Nov 2014 #139

Please tell us more about Tuesdays electoral victories by centrist Turd Way Dem candidates. Grimes, Erose999 Nov 2014 #140

I generally agree with you, but at least the purge is an idea for change... MadDAsHell Nov 2014 #141

Lie. We are looking for Dems who support the policies of the American people. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #143

Well geez! Who could disagree with a well formed platitude like that? LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #145