General Discussion

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

24. I just wanted to point out that this has never worked

Reply to coalition_unwilling (Reply #17)

Mon Dec 12, 2011, 01:10 PM

Dec 2011

Nobody has ever moved anybody to the left in this way.

Think about it: Eugene McCarthy's challenge led eventually to Hubert Humphrey's nomination, and to Nixon's election. Nobody moved to the left. Especially the country. Jesse Jackson's candidacy did not move the eventual nominee, Walter Mondale, to the left, and we got a second term for Ronald Reagan. Neither Bill Bradley's primary challenge nor Ralph Nader's general election candidacy moved Al Gore to the left. And these guys were all national figures with long experience.

You could search for more examples in the modern era. Like the Republicans' economic theories that have proved not to work time and again, so too does this tactic from the left never work.

I'm not trying to scorn or ridicule, so I'm sorry if it came off that way. I'm trying to disabuse you of the notion that this is in any way a practical or noble tactic. And it most often leads to the very opposite of what you wish for. Not that I'm worried about Darcy Richardson mounting any kind of serious challenge. I just hate to see people waste their energy chasing rainbows.

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Perhaps apostasy in this new DU3 regime, but Obama now does have a progressive [View all] coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 OP

Shoot for 2%! alcibiades_mystery Dec 2011 #1

Your derisive mocking aside, few people remember that Eugene McCarthy did not actually win coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #2

Then a Republican was elected. LoZoccolo Dec 2011 #4

You're falling for the 'post hoc, ergo propter hoc' fallacy, I think. Be that coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #9

Wrong. JackRiddler Dec 2011 #26

Nixon with his 'secret plan' to end the war 'with honor.' Hah! Nixon's secret plan coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #28

your right Jack oldhippydude Dec 2011 #60

Hey! Clean for Gene! JackRiddler Dec 2011 #74

God, yes! Clean for Gene. Jackpine Radical Dec 2011 #81

Then there was George Wallace siphoning off Democratic votes in the South Art_from_Ark Dec 2011 #68

Do your read history much? Occulus Dec 2011 #33

Nothing better would have come of leaving LBJ unchallenged Ken Burch Dec 2011 #70

Good points, Ken Burch: a correction. JackRiddler Dec 2011 #73

You are right. Thanks for catching that. Ken Burch Dec 2011 #82

Thank you for supplying all the meticulous detail. I had forgotten coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #75

That is the correct view of the history as I hifiguy Dec 2011 #79

oh bigtree Dec 2011 #5

LBJ quit because he believed he was going to die in office, not because of how he was polling. MilesColtrane Dec 2011 #12

So it was pure coincidence that LBJ ran in the New Hampshire primary, allowed coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #14

get back to us when darcy cracks 2% in any poll. thanks. dionysus Dec 2011 #16

I too have seen a recent (within the last 4-6 months) story by a long time LBJ aide/friend that... MilesColtrane Dec 2011 #32

It was a very cool story and plausible as an alternative explanation. I'm going to coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #40

Delegates at 15% kwikset Dec 2011 #54

challenging? bigtree Dec 2011 #3

Sorry, I should have clarified in the OP, I guess. Richardson is coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #6

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #7

Wow, I'm not sure whether to flag your post as racist (for the 'Brothers' slur) coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #10

It's dentist. kenny blankenship Dec 2011 #69

. . . Whisp Dec 2011 #13

That's a pretty crude thing to say about someone who doesn't have straight, perfect teeth. in_cog_ni_to Dec 2011 #38

! Tarheel_Dem Dec 2011 #46

He's a "liberal reformist" ProSense Dec 2011 #8

. bigtree Dec 2011 #11

we have one... one_voice Dec 2011 #30

Funny, I don't see it on the list. immoderate Dec 2011 #42

you're right! one_voice Dec 2011 #45

Wikipedia is your source? kwikset Dec 2011 #50

So ProSense Dec 2011 #59

This guy isn't responsible for McCarthy's Reagan endorsement. Ken Burch Dec 2011 #71

And you know that he is a "progressive" ... exactly how? frazzled Dec 2011 #15

Well, I thought I was performing something of a public service in posting this OP, never coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #17

this 'driving' thing sounds fine and good bigtree Dec 2011 #20

Heya... SidDithers Dec 2011 #21

The back-story here. I had put myself on Richardson's mailing list back when he first coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #23

I just wanted to point out that this has never worked frazzled Dec 2011 #24

Before Eugene McCarthy's challenge 'led eventually to HH's nomination,' that same challenge coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #27

Between Eugene McCarthy's challenge and Hubert Humphrey's nomination, you left out an assassination. Capitalocracy Dec 2011 #83

Yes, history is always unique frazzled Dec 2011 #84

But you're saying it's never worked... Capitalocracy Dec 2011 #85

what, you never expected to be subjected to scorn and mockery on DU? MH1 Dec 2011 #35

Nah, I'm good. I take Harry S. Truman's words as my motto: "If you can't coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #37

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #41

Wait. Dont go. We're here to back you up!!!! I'm with you. WE aboslutley need primary challenger to robinlynne Dec 2011 #61

You should read what you're writing... kwikset Dec 2011 #52

Oh, so he wasn't an aide in 68 frazzled Dec 2011 #56

BINGO. FedUp_Queer Dec 2011 #65

It can't be a good thing to renominate Obama without any challenge at all. Ken Burch Dec 2011 #72

I will be interested to see how he does dmallind Dec 2011 #18

Exactly. I would think that everyone here would have that same level of interest, but coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #25

It may be that the 'choice' you're suggesting MH1 Dec 2011 #36

To be honest, I agree with most who think this will be insignificant, but I want to KNOW, not think. dmallind Dec 2011 #39

Excellent observations. I find it hard to believe that Obama is less popular on the right of the coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #48

they don't get that this is supposed to be DU, not DLC. robinlynne Dec 2011 #62

The former Merrill Lynch employee?... SidDithers Dec 2011 #19

Look, I used to work for a subsidiary of the Los Angeles Times (before it went coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #31

And how do we know he'll do what he claims? CakeGrrl Dec 2011 #22

That's an excellent point. I think that's part of what a primary campaign coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #29

We know that Obama will not do what he says. That is the only thing we know. robinlynne Dec 2011 #63

Yep. Very sad but all too true. kath Dec 2011 #87

Apostacy? Making broad statements without facts is a cornerstone of DU not Apostacy. grantcart Dec 2011 #34

FWIW, 'apostasy' (not 'apostacy'). I am in no position to coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #44

Darcy? Isn't that a girls name? Sheepshank Dec 2011 #43

and odds are he will win those 4 states, but lose the other 46 + 4 territories Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #47

Well, Richardson seems to be giving it the old college try, as his latest email coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #49

Maybe he'll win some delegates kwikset Dec 2011 #53

I have one question Hutzpa Dec 2011 #51

I wonder which Republican is financing him apples and oranges Dec 2011 #55

None - since this is in the primary only and only in a few states, that would not make sense slay Dec 2011 #58

Choices are good slay Dec 2011 #57

I agree... primary challenges are always a good thing Blasphemer Dec 2011 #66

As Mr Bill would say .... "Oh Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!" JoePhilly Dec 2011 #64

Obama's toughest opponent since Lee Mercer Jr! tritsofme Dec 2011 #67

Interesting. A progressive Democrat running for office. Thanks. mmonk Dec 2011 #76

I don't know much about him either and there seems to be quite a bit of contention (as coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #77

New Democrat is usually associated with the right, not progressivism. mmonk Dec 2011 #78

There are "New Democrats" and then there are "New Democrats". This is coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #80

Very much inside baseball nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #86