General Discussion

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

39. But if we are ahead of our time, why do polls show that so many Americans

Mon Feb 23, 2015, 02:03 AM

Feb 2015

support our core ideas?

Why did Americans vote for higher minimum wage laws this last election yet vote for Republicans for Congress?

Americans are liberal or progressive on the issues. When the Democratic Party runs liberal candidates who are frank about their liberal positions on issues like the minimum wage, then Democrats win. The 2014 election illustrated this point.

The problem is that the corporate bigwigs that fund the Democratic Party top-down promote right-wing candidates and right-wing ideas at the top of the party.

The right-wingers have money to hold conferences and seminars, issue studies (bogus very often) and twist facts to back up their nutty ideas. We liberals and progressives are left without the means to advocate for ideas.

And Bill Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act which helped to make the dearth of liberal media a reality. Shame on him.

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Liberals have been right on so many things. We have not deserved to be marginalized. [View all] madfloridian Feb 2015 OP

more like everything. Doctor_J Feb 2015 #1

It's almost like that was the intention Art_from_Ark Feb 2015 #16

It was the intention. When you look at the history of the DLC/Third Way and read some of their sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #44

..... madfloridian Feb 2015 #45

Exactly, Sabrina. Thank you. Scuba Feb 2015 #48

perfectly said, Sabrina Doctor_J Feb 2015 #50

+++ RedCappedBandit Feb 2015 #51

Almost all of America knows something is wrong, but does not necessarily know what. merrily Feb 2015 #52

Which is how we got to this new "middle". And face it, most Americans, Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 2015 #119

Exactly... sendero Feb 2015 #60

As far as I'm concerned this is issue #1 for a couple of reasons. TheKentuckian Feb 2015 #118

Thanks for saying... sendero Feb 2015 #122

Thanks for giving me something to build off of. TheKentuckian Feb 2015 #126

+ a Freakin' Billion LondonReign2 Feb 2015 #62

+1000 MissDeeds Feb 2015 #67

+100000000000 Nailed it! fredamae Feb 2015 #76

+1.........m Enthusiast Feb 2015 #86

Correct. That says much about corporate Dems, without any more pretense or denial. That we can only appalachiablue Feb 2015 #133

Exactly. cui bono Feb 2015 #125

You said it Sabrina, to the point and powerfully. Truth is best and always triumphs. appalachiablue Feb 2015 #128

It is pretty maddening el_bryanto Feb 2015 #2

Saddam was one of many dictators. And one who was relatively obedient to us, to boot. merrily Feb 2015 #53

Yes - and I admitted I was wrong in my assessment at that time. nt el_bryanto Feb 2015 #68

Yes. I was just commenting, not trying to "rub it in." merrily Feb 2015 #74

At the time I thought, "We have Saddam right where we want him." WTF? Enthusiast Feb 2015 #88

The region was stable with Saddam in power. Not a good situation but stable. rhett o rick Feb 2015 #115

I'm really irked by the "angry left" hokey-pokey daredtowork Feb 2015 #3

That's really a good post. madfloridian Feb 2015 #46

I would laugh but it is sadly too true! emsimon33 Feb 2015 #124

Krugman's latest addressed all this Warpy Feb 2015 #4

Thanks. JDPriestly Feb 2015 #37

The teaparty types took the GOP right. The DLC/Third Way took our party right. Corporatists.. madfloridian Feb 2015 #5

There are several OPs attempting to marginalize the Democratic Wing... bvar22 Feb 2015 #6

Yes, I noticed. madfloridian Feb 2015 #10

I noticed, too, Bvar. Blue_In_AK Feb 2015 #19

..... madfloridian Feb 2015 #21

Well, one of them got a vacation for advocating lynching journalists Fumesucker Feb 2015 #57

I noticed that also. Maybe they should just come right out and say they don't want the Left in the sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #69

The irony is, we probably need conservative Democrats more than ever... beerandjesus Feb 2015 #70

We do not need the Third Way as the Mid Terms proved. They need US but don't WANT us. sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #73

+1 Enthusiast Feb 2015 #89

Completely agree on your central point... beerandjesus Feb 2015 #98

Yes, I too hear the drums, sadoldgirl Feb 2015 #7

It was way too easy to do. Baitball Blogger Feb 2015 #8

Exactly. madfloridian Feb 2015 #36

well put. bbgrunt Feb 2015 #84

Kick FloriTexan Feb 2015 #9

What's really funny is BrotherIvan Feb 2015 #11

Deserve's got nothing to do with it. PeteSelman Feb 2015 #12

Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Feb 2015 #13

Most welcome WillyT madfloridian Feb 2015 #14

Exactly. Pretty much everything. (the other side - wrong on everything, of course). NRaleighLiberal Feb 2015 #15

Excellent MissDeeds Feb 2015 #17

Liberals have ALWAYS been marginalized. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #18

Do you think then that sadoldgirl Feb 2015 #23

He was a generation and a half late. eom MohRokTah Feb 2015 #24

I doubt it, because the civil war sadoldgirl Feb 2015 #28

FDR wasn't late, he was right on time, monumentally and fortunately for us. appalachiablue Feb 2015 #32

Thank you, he was right on time. I can't imagine what this country would look like today if FDR sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #77

I cannot imagine what this country would look like today if Barack Obama hadn't been there VanillaRhapsody Feb 2015 #81

Get used to this: the US was Liberal for 30+ years MannyGoldstein Feb 2015 #31

Forget it, Manny, s/he wants sadoldgirl Feb 2015 #33

But if we are ahead of our time, why do polls show that so many Americans JDPriestly Feb 2015 #39

And in the latest press release from the party.... madfloridian Feb 2015 #61

+1 Enthusiast Feb 2015 #90

+10. The left lacks money and a media, but we'll make it. We beat the British Empire, twice, hah! appalachiablue Feb 2015 #134

"Don't you know there's no choice?" daleanime Feb 2015 #20

The drums are beating the prelude to 2016 HereSince1628 Feb 2015 #22

The corporations can vote for them all they want Mnpaul Feb 2015 #129

but...But...BUT!!! Corporations DO NOT HAVE A FRANCHISE TO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HereSince1628 Feb 2015 #130

and that will be their downfall Mnpaul Feb 2015 #131

It's hard not to be cynical. Corruption on a massive scale is hard to think about. mmonk Feb 2015 #25

Not only that, left-wing groups everywhere JonLP24 Feb 2015 #26

I think that is actually what pisses off some people, lol dissentient Feb 2015 #27

You might just be right. madfloridian Feb 2015 #38

Bear in mind that it's much easier to forgive someone for being wrong than for being right Fumesucker Feb 2015 #55

+1 merrily Feb 2015 #56

That's how you know you're right on target. That's all they got are personnel attacks. InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2015 #82

k&r... spanone Feb 2015 #29

I was having dinner with some folks the other night, ... MannyGoldstein Feb 2015 #30

Good for you. You probably did. madfloridian Feb 2015 #34

I hope so, but don't bet on it. The right is fact-resistant, if not fact-impervious. merrily Feb 2015 #58

Of course the war drums are beating again! It is to give Hillary and the third way an IN when silvershadow Feb 2015 #35

It is a harsh lesson when you learn Might Makes Right is all that counts. Rex Feb 2015 #40

Repost on how they took the party over. Money and power. And naive party members. madfloridian Feb 2015 #41

Cognitive dissonance is a powerful force. ARMYofONE Feb 2015 #42

Indeed it is. madfloridian Feb 2015 #43

Agreed - they certainly should not be marginalized by the democratic party. lovemydog Feb 2015 #47

Yes, and we've been right all along ... Scuba Feb 2015 #49

the liberal voice must be heard to open the window of conversation. NuttyFluffers Feb 2015 #54

Third Way did not win the soul of the Dem Party. It all but killed it. merrily Feb 2015 #59

It started in the late 60's and early 70's.... Adrahil Feb 2015 #63

Yessir, K&R 99Forever Feb 2015 #64

Our Ideas Are So Powerful, That's Why McKim Feb 2015 #65

You are looking for a party that is gone - TBF Feb 2015 #66

Meanwhile, the right is wrong on ... just about everything! Initech Feb 2015 #71

And "speaking" is all we did. JayhawkSD Feb 2015 #72

How dare you?! lol, don't i know. Keep up the good fight tho; never give in! InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2015 #79

How dare you?! lol, don't i know. Keep up the good fight tho; never give in! InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2015 #80

+1 Enthusiast Feb 2015 #92

Are you confusing the "we" I refer to with the elected Democrats? madfloridian Feb 2015 #96

What we did was to tell them it is in the end fine. We will take whatever we are served TheKentuckian Feb 2015 #120

+10 JayhawkSD Feb 2015 #135

I am referring to the Democrats WE elected... JayhawkSD Feb 2015 #136

+1000 blackspade Feb 2015 #75

Excellent post. Guess we just hafta get used to it-I get marginalized, maligned, insulted a lot from Hillary fans who hate progressives. InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2015 #78

Madfloridian, we live in a democracy Cary Feb 2015 #83

I voted in the mid-terms. I always vote. madfloridian Feb 2015 #85

Silly and dysfunctional Cary Feb 2015 #99

Define "jelly-roll" in political terms, please. madfloridian Feb 2015 #100

What difference does it make? Cary Feb 2015 #101

What can I say? madfloridian Feb 2015 #103

I have no idea what you're talking about. Cary Feb 2015 #108

But many realize that voting does little or nothing to improve things. If it's "us vs. the Kochs", Doctor_J Feb 2015 #91

Nonsense. Cary Feb 2015 #102

But you are saying we as liberals should not speak up? madfloridian Feb 2015 #104

No, that isn't what I'm saying at all Cary Feb 2015 #107

So what I am doing that you disapprove of? madfloridian Feb 2015 #109

Never mind. Have to re do this. n/t Cary Feb 2015 #110

OK. Cary Feb 2015 #112

"If your disaffection causes anyone else's disaffection, that's another vote lost." madfloridian Feb 2015 #114

You asked. I told you my opinion. Cary Feb 2015 #116

With all due respect, madfloridian... Cary Feb 2015 #117

Well said. LeftOfWest Feb 2015 #121

Another war and another bailout. CrispyQ Feb 2015 #87

K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast Feb 2015 #93

Do you think we have some moles in the democratic party erronis Feb 2015 #94

TOTALLY. calimary Feb 2015 #95

.... madfloridian Feb 2015 #111

I will never understand Democrats who embrace right wing failure AgingAmerican Feb 2015 #97

Really? It's not complicated. Cosmic Kitten Feb 2015 #106

Liberals are right for the masses, but, alas, the masses don't matter. valerief Feb 2015 #105

Wrong Wing's are left with NO other choices; but to attack/ marginalize laserhaas Feb 2015 #113

The Beltway Democrats are scared to death of the grassroots emsimon33 Feb 2015 #123

Fuck the neoliberal obxhead Feb 2015 #127

The centrist movement is every bit as manufactured as the tea party... whereisjustice Feb 2015 #132

I missed this yesterday but K & R! neverforget Feb 2015 #137