How Hillary Clinton can save America (& the Democratic Party)

[truebluegreen]

157. Actually, most of the more progressive candidates held on to their seats

and most of the so-called moderates lost theirs.

I guess the root of our disagreement lies in definitions. I do not accept the premise that Obama and Clinton--either Clinton--are "good solid liberals."

A stimulus package that includes 40% tax cuts is not a good solid liberal policy. Pushing for austerity (everyone needs to sacrifice; we need to eat our peas, etc) in the middle of a recession is not good solid liberal policy. Using homeowners to "foam the runway" for the big banks is not good solid liberal policy. Adopting Romneycare is not good solid liberal policy. NAFTA was not good solid liberal policy, and neither is TPP. Cutting, even threatening to cut, instead of expanding Social Security is not good solid liberal policy. Privatizing education with charter schools is not good solid liberal policy. De-regulating is not good solid liberal policy, and neither is appointing foxes to guard henhouses. Even a lack of good government oversight is not good solid liberal policy...an executive order (a policy) banning torture after laws were broken? Seriously?

I could go on, but I am sure you will not get the point. The voters certainly did, in 2010 and 2014: if there is no one who is going to do what they want, if the choices are between lame and worse, they won't come out and vote. Political junkies will, but the average voter will not. If we keep trying to capture the ever-smaller mushy middle, if we keep pretending that Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama are "good solid liberals" instead of putting forward clearly different, actual liberal policies, we lose. It was very clear, in this last election, and another Third Wayer will not make it better. You say progressives can't get elected, I say it has rarely been tried...but one thing is sure: we are playing a losing game, and we need to change it.