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apnu

(8,722 posts)
100. We have two choices, fix Democrats or go 3rd party
Fri Apr 22, 2016, 01:12 PM
Apr 2016

Here's the danger of both.

First the hardest, going 3rd party. Doing so will split the liberal vote in America for at least a generation, while a third party gets sorted out. Look at what happened to the Wigs. During that time, the conservatives will own everything and destroy everything while they're in power. Third party considerations must weigh that risk, they must be prepared to weather that storm and it will be a storm. GWB was the tip of that iceberg, the GOP is 100% worse today than it was 7 years go.

The other option is to fix the Democratic part. Most liberals are here and they're mostly sympathetic to left causes. The brand is here and the infrastructure already exists too. All the tools are in the toolbox right now, we need only use them.

While we spend our time arguing over Bernie or Hillary at the top of the ticket we are ignoring all the down ticket races. If we're to fix the party, that's where the fixing must start.

Elect progressives to Democratic offices, run the DLC and Third Way types out of the party. Be a pain in the ass to the corrupt, moneyed, establishment members hanging around. Put the fear of god and primary challenges in them. The one thing the Tea Party did well was that.

It would take longer and it would be a grind, but I think fixing the Democratic Party is the better path than flipping the table and storming out of the room.

K&R Well said! eom fleur-de-lisa Apr 2016 #1
thank you for your thoughts grasswire Apr 2016 #2
Didn't have time to read all of your comments (I will), but read the para about a third party.... seekthetruth Apr 2016 #3
"Independent Social Democrats"? DLnyc Apr 2016 #48
Great idea Time for change Apr 2016 #69
Thoughtful and clear oldandhappy Apr 2016 #4
Good to see you again. I always enjoy reading your posts. nm rhett o rick Apr 2016 #5
This could not have been presented any better or more thoughtful. floriduck Apr 2016 #6
Thank you for your thoughts! Melurkyoulongtime Apr 2016 #7
Doing my part to kick your ass into the stratophere mindwalker_i Apr 2016 #8
kick to finish later, recommended, thx nt slipslidingaway Apr 2016 #9
Not sure you are aware of this... Kip Humphrey Apr 2016 #10
I was not aware of this specifically, but Time for change Apr 2016 #22
I guess it boils down to this... Binkie The Clown Apr 2016 #11
Excellent point. I have been an FDR Democrat all my life and jwirr Apr 2016 #25
The ideals of the Democratic Party were squashed by politicians like the Clintons who... Human101948 Apr 2016 #98
A shared history here at DU pat_k Apr 2016 #12
Very interesting. I'm so glad to hear all of that Time for change Apr 2016 #23
+10000 Great idea! felix_numinous Apr 2016 #13
I've been receiving emails and phone calls from the DNC and actBlue Trajan Apr 2016 #32
Get that offshore money felix_numinous Apr 2016 #33
I am switching to giving directly to progressive candidates k8conant Apr 2016 #76
That is exactly what I am doing..... Silver_Witch Apr 2016 #88
Excellent post! ncliberal Apr 2016 #14
KnR HughLefty1 Apr 2016 #15
I thank you for that, and feel much the same way until the last where you mentioned your solution. Xyzse Apr 2016 #16
I don't think that we feel differently about this -- even my last paragraph Time for change Apr 2016 #24
Yes, well said again. DLnyc Apr 2016 #54
Please don't malign Nader for Gore's loss. haikugal Apr 2016 #94
I feel Nader should not have campaigned in Florida. DLnyc Apr 2016 #103
It's not about feelings. What a skeezy thing to say. You can disagree but the meme is incorrect. nt haikugal Apr 2016 #105
Polling now would not show anything, because Sanders is mostly unvetted and has had no real Lucinda Apr 2016 #56
That sounds quite a bit more reasonable, and I can probably get behind on. Xyzse Apr 2016 #81
thanks for sharing and for so eloquently stating what so many, many Dems are thinking, feeling, and amborin Apr 2016 #17
Very well stated. Bravo! [n/t] Maedhros Apr 2016 #18
I am very disappointed in the Dem party too, Waiting For Everyman Apr 2016 #19
I've always loved your posts, Time for Change, Blue_In_AK Apr 2016 #20
Yep! Agony Apr 2016 #21
Kindred spirits are we WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2016 #26
Wow ... Very well said Trajan Apr 2016 #27
"Time for change" indeed! Well said. k&r polichick Apr 2016 #28
I posted this yesterday and it's apropos here. WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2016 #29
Holy crap criers! This is EXACTLY what Bubba did to Obama. Sat him down and this happened. WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2016 #31
Good idea, very dramatic, but it wouldn't work for practical reasons yodermon Apr 2016 #74
I Share Your Concerns noretreatnosurrender Apr 2016 #30
Thank you Time for change Apr 2016 #39
I agree noretreatnosurrender Apr 2016 #41
Bernie will run if we make him. this is our movement and he will do what the people want. litlbilly Apr 2016 #34
You gotta wonder Mike__M Apr 2016 #35
Your posts here at DU were/are/continue to be must-read for me TFC riderinthestorm Apr 2016 #36
You speak for me as well, with every well-placed, thoughtful word. 100%. RiverLover Apr 2016 #37
What an eloquent statement farleftlib Apr 2016 #38
Thanks for this post, "Time for Change".... KoKo Apr 2016 #40
Thank you, Koko Time for change Apr 2016 #43
Agreed on all points. vintx Apr 2016 #42
just a guess, but "Berniecraticunderground.com" is probably available... brooklynite Apr 2016 #44
Brooklynite: Bonobo Apr 2016 #51
+1,000 haikugal Apr 2016 #95
+1 Lucinda Apr 2016 #55
From the TOS: brooklynite Apr 2016 #45
So alert already. Or is it all talk with you? bvf Apr 2016 #46
Already did brooklynite Apr 2016 #49
Let us know how it goes, won't you? bvf Apr 2016 #53
So much for free speech. reformist2 Apr 2016 #47
This is Skinner's house; we play by his rules brooklynite Apr 2016 #50
Right and you are a guest too. So don't presume to speak for Skinner. nt Bonobo Apr 2016 #52
I quoted the TOS; you're welcome to interpret it. brooklynite Apr 2016 #59
I did not recommend that Bernie run as a spoiler candidate Time for change Apr 2016 #57
Excellent Post! wundermaus Apr 2016 #58
Extreme hyperbole redstateblues Apr 2016 #80
Who the fuck is Ted Cruz? wundermaus Apr 2016 #108
People that are older and who have voted for the "lesser of two evils" have come to realize ... slipslidingaway Apr 2016 #60
Thank you for your thoughts Time for change Apr 2016 #61
Thank you! It is strange how Sanders has united the young and the old ... slipslidingaway Apr 2016 #66
Bernie Sanders is a rare politician Time for change Apr 2016 #73
I'm not trying to be disruptive but seems you are preaching to the choir snowy owl Apr 2016 #62
Yes, but if Bernie wins, it will send a huge message to Congress Time for change Apr 2016 #65
reading some comments - HRC supporters back to business as usual - no issues, just rudeness snowy owl Apr 2016 #63
Excellent post. You put all my jumbled thoughts & feelings williesgirl Apr 2016 #64
Excellent Post TFC!!! How very much diiferent Melissa G Apr 2016 #67
Thank you, Melissa Time for change Apr 2016 #70
That Fact amost brings me to tears about what used to be our community here. Melissa G Apr 2016 #87
Excellent comment Melissa G! It is the middle finger salute waved in our faces by grinning haikugal Apr 2016 #96
+10000 felix_numinous Apr 2016 #107
You were very vocal about the fraud in 2004, for those that might not know or remember ... slipslidingaway Apr 2016 #71
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Apr 2016 #68
Always loyal to the values and tenets Fairgo Apr 2016 #72
We should always remember what Andy Stephenson did to try to stop election fraud!!! RememberAndy Apr 2016 #75
Absolutely Time for change Apr 2016 #78
k&r silvershadow Apr 2016 #77
K&R. nt DLevine Apr 2016 #79
The polls for the NY primary were very good. The exit polls were misleading. Fresh_Start Apr 2016 #82
The only point your article makes is that exit polls are not perfect Time for change Apr 2016 #85
you didn't read it Fresh_Start Apr 2016 #92
Exit polls ARE scientifically selected random samples Time for change Apr 2016 #109
read about how exit polls are performed Fresh_Start Apr 2016 #110
K & R Joob Apr 2016 #83
I agree with you wholeheartedly jane123 Apr 2016 #84
I agree with you on almost everything you said Time for change Apr 2016 #89
If your party abandons you (you don't abandon it). You are not disloyal, IMO Triana Apr 2016 #86
I was accused of being hyperbole by a Clinton supporter concerning the outcome of Arizona mrdmk Apr 2016 #90
There was obvious and severe voter suppresion in AZ, as there was in NY Time for change Apr 2016 #93
Thank YOU!!! Wonderful piece of writing with substance! Excellent!!! K&R&Bookmarked!! haikugal Apr 2016 #91
This message was self-deleted by its author Corruption Inc Apr 2016 #97
"principle is more important than party," Ferd Berfel Apr 2016 #99
We have two choices, fix Democrats or go 3rd party apnu Apr 2016 #100
Well said Time for change Apr 2016 #104
Thank you for the most important OP I've read in DU for a long time Martin Eden Apr 2016 #101
Thank you for the excellent discourse on the dilemma many of us are now facing. BillZBubb Apr 2016 #102
You can impact the Democratic Party LiberalFighter Apr 2016 #106
I keep returning to this thread.... atty May 2016 #111
Thank you so much Time for change May 2016 #112
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