Purity Tests Threaten to Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
Re: Badass
I’ve had a remarkable exchange with an acquaintance over Valerie Plame’s campaign ad that I posted yesterday. He was MOST offended by the ad, first complaining about her “careless driving” (while demonstrating CIA driver skills training) and then saying he could never vote for her because she was “wasting fossil fuels” and “making climate change worse” by driving a Camaro backwards. No shit, that’s what he actually said. He’s a Warren/Buttigieg aficionado, so that tells you something about the mind set. Then, he actually suggested that she should have been driving a Tesla in the ad. I spit my sweet tea all over my keyboard when I burst out laughing at that, but then came to the conclusion that we’re f*cked if this is the mindset of liberal Dems.
Can you imagine the derision if Plame had been driving a Tesla while showing that she’s a skilled, trained CIA operative? It would be just like the memes of Obama riding a bike:
Or Michael Dukakis in a tank:
There are dozens of examples of GOP derision of Dems as latte sipping pantywaists. No, it’s not fair, and it’s not honest, but politics ain’t beanbag. Liberal Dems need to understand that Democratic candidates in red states don’t need THEIR votes, they need the votes of people who usually vote Republican and who are unaffiliated. You’re not going to get those votes riding a bike in Mom jeans and a bike helmet or driving a Tesla to be “environmentally responsible”. You get those votes by being tough, not dancing around tough issues and parsing your words. Plame understands that. Warren and other Dem candidates don’t.
Normal unaffiliated people are attracted to strength. Plame gets that. Dukakis (or his campaign chair) didn’t. Fortunately, Obama’s speaking skills and intellect overpowered his nerdiness. Warren polls well among like kind because she speaks their language. She doesn’t speak to Joe Six Pack, and doesn’t have a prayer in the swing states. “Having a plan for that” is not enough. Candidates have to inspire. Obama got that. Biden gets that. Plame gets that. Jon Tester of Montana gets that.
Are issues like climate change important? Goddam right they’re important. But we’re going to make zero progress by running a candidate who can’t beat the Russians and Cheeto Jesus in the rust belt.
And the person complaining beleives a thuglican alternative might be more receptive to their position on fossil fuels?
1This complaint sounds more like thuglican ratf—-ng then reality.
If her commercial had shon her “rolling coal” while harassing bicyle riders then this might make more sense.
Her driving backwards was just to emphasize her ad theme of the country going backwards.
Now if she comes out as pro drilling, pro fracking, anti wind and anti solar you will have a point. But as I understand her positions now she sounds like a policy advocate much like Pelosi, not my favorite but then again not lipinski, cuellar or ryan.
Maybe Valerie Plame should be running backwards, in the desert, while she drinks from her brother’s old recycled Vietnam era canteen?
2Democrats can’t even make up their minds if they’re holding an impeachment inquiry or something more preliminary. (video was on prior post)
These are headers of hardball, plotting and rat f**king by the monster’s minions in the new world order.
– As AOC and Ayanna Pressley Demand Answers on Trump Policy That Would Deport Sick Kids, ICE Officials at Hearing Refuse to Talk
“This is a threat to the rule of law.”
– Rick Scott administration rejected federal funds to fight HIV, sending Florida infection rates soaring
– Wilbur Ross’s threat to fire NOAA officials over a tweet turns Sharpiegate into a real scandal
Its Capone and Gang Government looking to wet their beaks in their own staked out territories.
3I wanted to post a remembrance of the day when the sound of aircraft was not heard in the sky.
The sad ending of “The Walk”. A Robert Zemeckis Film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT9Yj2NzXzM
4No, that’s not the mindset of most Democrats. Maybe not even a large portion of party activists.
Did you see how many retweets that ad got?
5Amen, EJ.
6Agree with your judgement of the acquaintance. C’mon, dude. Disagree with your opinion of Elizabeth Warren. From what I’ve seen of her so far, she’s good at reaching out to all sorts of people, and I feel she projects toughness. That said, I was dismayed with her recent proclamation that on Day One of her Presidency, she would ban fracking. Again, c’mon, dude. If she said “work toward phasing out fracking in favor of renewables” I’d be fine with that. Promising an immediate ban, first of all, isn’t possible. Plus will piss off all of Texas.
7If Valerie Plame had been driving the new mid-engine Corvette, she would get my vote, for being a survivor of the Bowling Green massacre.
8@Jill Ann – The only thing that matters is the swing states. Look at Michigan, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Biden leads the Orange One by double digits in all those states. Warren? Not so much. She even LOSES to Trump in NC. Warren is great, just not a winner. The goal here is a decisive win against Trump. Biden assures that win. Warren is another “good effort” and we get the abyss. No thanks.
9While I understand your tactical political argument about the macho Camaro et al., musclecars* [ICE- Internal Combustion Engine] versus the supposedly effete Teslas, the whole thing is just a matter of obsoleted “perceptions. Which are going to be changed in a flash real soon.
You may have seen my “Tesla” comment on JJ’s “Badass” thread, with Valerie Plame doing a Jim Rockford/Jim Garner [a solid Democrat**] “J-Turn”. I’ll stand by it, Teslas rule now.
All your railing against ‘Teslas’ and EVs is just the fading ‘howling at the clouds’ of those who, if they don’t wake up, are going to be left behind.
Like coal miners and many others who have increasingly been obsoleted by the march of progress and technology.
— Even now a Tesla Model S ‘Performance’ P100D [and 4 other versions] comes from the factory with 112 MORE horsepower than the wimpy ‘badass’ Chevy Camaro.
The Tesla, with 762hp, the top Camaro ZL1 Supercharged has a mere 650hp.
The Tesla also has lots more torque, and while the Camaro has a 10-speed/gear transmission, the Tesla doesn’t even NEED a tranny. Its’ precisely controlled electric motors have infinitely variable speeds [and full torque at any RPM!]. And they actually regenerate a significant amount of usable power while braking, which is impossible for a Camaro.
At USA USA stoplights everywhere, dinosaur-like ‘Merican Musclecars are getting their pathetic doors blown off by Teslas, and many other EVs, 24/7. Those ICE musclecars are just rolling corpses now.
The Teslas, and all EVs, are also about 75% less mechanically complex, with far better reliability and performance than ICE vehicles.
* I’ve owned several ‘Merican Musclecars, burned a lot of rubber and gas up with them, enjoyed every minute. Yeah, the ‘roar’ of all those horses was fun, but give me the whisper quiet awesome raw power of an EV any day.
Used to have some favorite stretches of open highway where I would open up and cruise at 140mph+, dual glasspaks roaring.
But I know when something has met it’s end. Like 8-track cassettes, cassettes, even CDs and DVDs, obsoleted, nearly dead tech. I still own some ICE vehicles, not musclecars any more, luxury classics. I’d have a Jaguar XKE in a heartbeat if I could afford it.
But for my future driving needs and desires, I’d take a Tesla or other EV over anything else [again, if a new or decent used vehicle were in my budget].
I’ll take a Tesla over any ‘Vette, Mopar, or Mustang.
EVs are the future, period. For any kind of driving, plain store trips, commuting, or shitkicking dragstering.
They WILL be the/our predominant mode of personal transportation by 2025-2030.
An interesting thread on Daily Kos, by a ‘friend’ of mine, about several other Texas ‘Badass’ women running for office now; well worth reading:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/9/11/1884913/-Somethin-s-happenin-here
Just compare:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_S#Specifications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Camaro#Sixth_generation_(2016–present)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-turn
** James/Jim Garner and his wife were noted Democrats.
10His long-running 1970’s TV show “The Rockford Files” was loaded with subtle political digs. My favorite one is that down at Sgt/Lt Becker’s police station, the ‘Narcotics Division’ was always shown in Room 420!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rockford_Files
@Sandridge – You missed the point COMPLETELY. Teslas are awesome cars. Great technology, great efficiency and style. That’s not the argument. The argument is the idiocy of latte sipping libs arguing that Plame should have driven said Tesla in her tough-CIA-girl ad. That notion is stupid and would only garner derision and laughter. Plame’s ad is genius. Overlaying that image with a Tesla? Formula for political disaster.
11PS: My previous comment should have led with: ‘Ease up El Jefe.’
Jill Ann,
12Exactly, Elizabeth Warren has been my first choice, but coming out with a very dumb ‘First I’m gonna kill fracking’ statement is suicidal. Stuff like that is a laudible goal, but it ain’t gonna fly in the nowtime.
And it’s got me backing away, just like from similarly idiotic statements made by Julian Castro, Beto O’Rourke, and others.
We need a solid winner this time of all times. No, El Jefe, Joe Biden ain’t the one either; and he’d govern like tRump-lite, sucking up to the enemy at every turn.
Y’all are beginning to worry me.
El Jefe, I don’t think so.
13Except for the Chevy ‘bowtie’ and cooling air grille, a hot Tesla looks the part of a musclecar, and is actually a far superior one, to anyone smart enough to know…oh wait…
On the other hand, you’re probably right politically, sadly. I have a lifetime history of underestimating just how fucking stupid far too many people are… :[
It’s why I switched from an incurable optimist years ago to a fatalistic uber-pessimist today. I woke up.
Just outta curiosity, how much do we actually know about Valerie Plame’s policy stances?
14Seems to me her ad was designed to make a definite statement.
Of service, strength, and a direct, in-your-face challenge to Donald f**king Trump.
A statement about fossil fuels? Gimme a break.
To anybody who thinks they’ve got this lady’s agenda figured out on the basis of her badass campaign announcement ad, please refer to the headline of this post.
El Jefe — are you CERTAIN you know your acquaintances politics? Sounds like a case of rat – effing. Just saying.
I was in the Draft Warren movement and had a Warren 2016 sticker on my car way back when — and I’m here to tell you that, when I saw Plame’s ad, the only thought I had was, “Where do I send a donation?” NOT “What? She’s driving a vehicle that uses fossil fuels? Seriously?!?”
Btw — just out of curiosity, does your acquaintance drive an electric car that plugs into a house with solar panels?
15Nah, didn’t think so.
“The only thing that matters is the swing states.”
This, X1000
16Me @10, Oops, I attributed the “Badass” thread to JJ as author, it was actually El Jefe who wrote it [too].
17“Biden leads the Orange One by double digits in all those states. Warren? Not so much.”
again, and soon provable, solely because Biden currently has greater name recognition, not because of his wonderful policy positions/plans to implement them, of which he’s been pretty much a nothingburger, to this point.
El Jefe, you may not care for Warren, but clearly a lot of people do, explaining why she’s shot up to near the top of most polls, compared to the rest of the current D candidates, for the Prez. nomination.
I’ve not even seen you attempt to defend your position, vis-vis Warren & Biden factually, aside from the fact that one of your more noticeable, yet tried to hide reasons, is that she’s a women, and has icky lady parts. Oh, and cooties. and HRC. and……..reasons!
18A new Michigan poll shows Warren beating Trump 49% to 43%, and Biden beating him 51% to 41%. Biden is more popular with older voters and black voters, while Warren is more popular with younger voters. But young people are not our most reliable voters. Trump is very unpopular now in Michigan but it’s all going to come down to who can turn out their voters. I don’t find Biden particularly inspiring but I think a lot of Biden’s support is simply because he is perceived as someone who can beat tRump. It’s an interesting poll if you want to read about it.
19https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/08/28/poll-joe-biden-top-democrats-lead-trump-michigan/2131868001/
@cpinva – I’ve actually talked about Biden a lot. This year, in this case, I don’t care about policy differences between Warren and Biden, because that doesn’t matter. The ONLY thing that matters is beating Trump. There’s a good chance that the Senate could stay in GOP hands, making Dem candidate policy ideas even less important. Dems have a really bad habit of believing that long lists of policies are important for a president. It’s just simply not true, because the next president (as we’ve witnessed every day) can just undo those policies unless you can cement them into legislation. I’m a numbers guy. Biden’s numbers win by the widest margin everywhere. Warren’s do not. That is my ONLY criteria. Notice how I ignored your sideswipe attempt at labeling me a misogynist.
20The d’s nominees hated Gore over Bradley because of “electability” then they nominated Kerry because of “electability “ they ignored that argument with Obama and then reverted to it for Hillary
21Anyone seeing a pattern of failure here?
With Biden the d’s would be surrendering progressive agenda to nominate a candidate that was known as the senator from MasterCard, does not support green new deal, supports fossil fuel industry, opposes any form of health care for all that doesn’t allow the insurance industry to skim off the top, voted for the Iraq wars and generally has internalized the defeatism of the d’s from addled ronnie’s era.
Oh yeah and believes in some mythical fantasy of honorable and honest thuglican that can be worked with, irrelevant of the recent history (make him name some next time he spews that forth that inanity)
So no history has shown that electability argument as a sign post on the road to defeat.
Oops
22Spell checker failure
Never meant “ hated “ it broke “nominaited” into “ nominee” and “hated”
Never trust silicon
I’M A Warren supporter and I like Valerie Plame’s ad.
23I owned 3 Prius and my next door neighbor has a Tesla.
Her ad was for the area she lived in.
Gasoline is 2.80/gallon here. We go for more efficient cars.
One person’s opinion should not color the rest of us.
You missed the mark on this post.
E.J. It is far too early in the process to rule Warren out and crown Biden the only electable Democrat. Like Diane, I’m on my 3rd Prius, but I also have a gas-guzzling F-150 for the hefty work. I love Plame’s ad, because she calls out the Republicans who committed treason by exposing her. The bad-ass driving is an excellent attention device and makes a serious statement. The whole ad is a winner. You should pay some attention to the enthusiasm gap between Warren and Biden supporters. Voter turnout is going to be the key in this election. So far, Biden’s support seems to be lukewarm, at best.
24Mooser wins.
Sandridge: Politics Rule #1: If you have to explain, you lose.
25Live @ 9:45 EST
https://www.reuters.tv/l/P1D1/2019/09/12/house-judiciary-considers-steps-for-impeachment
26El Jefe 20:
I must disagree with you. Beating Trump is not the ONLY thing that matters.
Certainly, I will vote for whoever snags the Democratic nomination. Not to do so is clearly a suicidal gesture — or worse. But that doesn’t mean I will not vote, during the primary, for the person I believe will take the country in the most positive direction it can go.
There will be a whale of a lot of work to do to fix this mess. So we should shrug and say, “Whoever — so long as HE can beat Trump?” I don’t think so.
I have a cousin who has numerous Republican friends. He has told me that every one of them has vowed to vote Democratic this time. One went so far as to say, “I hope you don’t make me vote for Warren —– but I will if I have to.” THAT is the climate of the country today — so I don’t believe we are in a position where settling for second or third best is necessary.
27I too am on my 3rd Prius.^
If you want to talk about pure torque, electric motors are the way. As evidenced by Porsche’s sedan hybrids that have 677 HP, and a 0-60 of 3.2 seconds. ^^ I watched a TV show about the development of their 1st hybrid coupe that in addition to top performance had to have reasonable gas mileage while doing so (the electric motors provided so much torque that they said 0-30 was in less than 1 rotation of a wheel). Of course that comes at an ungodly dollar cost, but my point is hybrids don’t have to be discarded as a wussy technology.
^ Latest is the 2017, which went from a passenger vehicle to a driver’s car. My 2006 & 2009 were pretty comfortable in the back seat. Now my daughter hates the back seat.
^^ https://www.porsche.com/usa/models/panamera/panamera-e-hybrid-models/panamera-turbo-s-e-hybrid-sport-turismo/
28El Jefe, we feel for you, but whenever you have a conversation with a Democrat is disarray be thankful you’re not a Republicon defending IQ4.5. Spoke with one such ***king moron yesterday. Yes, a real live one. Wasn’t really entirely sure they existed but might be Russian trolls and bots posing as such. But can now confirm there really is at least one such animal. Most of us remember when Donnie said what he said about hiring the “best people” for his maladministration. Yet in response to every st00pid thing Donnie has said or done said moron laid the blame on someone in that maladministration other than Donnie without pausing for breath to appreciate the irony. He gave specific names in every instance, except of course one, Donnie. No joke; he defended everything even while admitting the actions were st00pid with but, but, but Donnie isn’t responsible. Not his fault. Will be in the barn nailing up a bucket of Jello, I know it has to be easier than having a conversation with a Republicon.
29@twocrows – And yeah, for every one of your Repub friend, there are probably 10 who won’t vote for Warren but would vote for Biden. Again this is strategery, not policy. The person you believe would be the “most positive” may also be the most loserly. You can’t fix it with Trump in the WH. That is the ONLY factor in 2020, as much as I hate that.
30@Mary – Enthusiasm gap. Right. That’s why Biden is leading everywhere. Lack of enthusiasm. Remember the key is swing states, not enthusiasm.
31Hefe, no, no no. Just…no.
32El Jefe @30: ” for every one of your Repub friend, there are probably 10 who won’t vote for Warren but would vote for Biden.” That doesn’t fly, El Jefe. The best we can expect from Republicons is that they don’t vote for IQ4.5 or another Pence. For a Con to actually step up and vote in their own best interests or the interests of the country, ergo vote for a Democrat, not likely.
If we want a Democratic President, that will be the man or woman who can appeal to Democrats and Independents. Forget the Cons. Seriously. When they are not busy concern trolling us, they’re busily rat-scratching us.
Let’s not forget “unbeatable” Hilz in 2016 and repeat the mistake of relying on polls. With a year to go, am still open to Harris and Warren tickets. Obviously would vote for Biden over Dufus Donnie or any Republicon. Then again I also voted for Hilz despite my reservations. So yeah, am thinking the DNC’s pet, Biden, is not the best option to win. Respectfully El Jefe, Democrats are hungry for a liberal/progressive. Of the current crop of 17 candidates, that would be a choice between Harris and Warren. Polls be damned, both are way better choices than the other 15 in terms of getting out the vote.
33E.J. The key is the state of the economy. Biden offers nothing that addresses wealth inequality, the underlying grumble of the masses. Trump addressed it with racism and immigration blaming, and snagged those swing state voters. Will they turn out to vote for a choice between the guy who fooled them and a guy who will just return to the status quo?
34Sanders and Warren are offering the radical alternative – actual shake up of the wealth concentration that has gripped this country since Reagan. Buttigieg is offering a moral stability that is refreshing. Harris is a savvy fighter. Yang is interesting and Beto is . . . Beto.
Biden may have a lead in the polls (everywhere?), but it’s decreasing. Most voters don’t pay attention until the primaries get closer. Like others, I will vote for whoever is the eventual nominee, but Biden is not the strongest candidate to beat Trump. I shudder to think of those debates and the many gaffes that Trump will exploit.
We gotta stop with the electibility shit, it got us killed last time and all the talk about electibility is coming from those that are terrified of change, the same people that said we couldn’t have Medicare for all, the ones that forced Obama to stay in Iraq and Afghanistan and who gave us Hillary, somebody that even I, a very involved and long time party activist had to hold my nose and vote for, and only to try and stop Trump. We have to reject Semocrats being the left wing of the Republican party and return to our roots, supporting and promoting unions. labor and the middle class, a soon to be extinct species.
35Democrats may be hungry for a progressive/ liberal, but the rest of the voting public is not. And Democrats don’t vote.
If in tonight’s debate they all say they want to decriminalize immigration, they will lose. Most Americans have no clue what that means. If they say they want free medical care for undocumented, they will elect Trump. Somebody better start defining the healthcare they intend to promote because 75% of Americans think the candidates all want all free all the time. The Democrats better get creative or settle in for another 4 years of Trump. He will define the democratic party.
IMO, we need a reverse Operation Chaos. Let’s all vote for Sanford in the republican primary. Unless Trump cancels the primaries.
36Well, I’ve heard all I want to hear fro folks here in my area about men wearing “mom jeans” as if that meant they had cooties or worse. I’m a mom. I wear jeans. The ones with the label inside. This mom jeans stuff is just crap. Its purely a nasty they throw at women, actually. As for the safety helmet, we elected a grown up not Evel Knevel or Gary Busey. I have to wear a helmet when I bike. Or the cops will make an issue of my bare head. I also have to wear a helmet (hard hat) when I ride horses. Any respectable licensed stable has to obey the law and I comply with that. I have two such hard hats and I also own the type of hard hat construction workers wear. I also have about a dozen church hats. Yeah, with this administration I go to church a lot! In sum, all those RW’s in my area are good only for distributing hot air.
As for the polls and the debates and all the attendant fuss, right now I am too damn tired. That yammering ball of orange in the White House sucks all the oxygen out of the air and just creates exhaustion. Any Dem who can improve the oxygen in the air and will let me get a good night’s sleep gets my vote!
37@ Crone #36
38“Democrats may be hungry for a progressive/ liberal, but the rest of the voting public is not. And Democrats don’t vote.”
D’s may not vote because under rahm’s, and his acolytes, thrall the D’s do not nominate D’s but rather thuglicans.
Look at florida they trashed D candinates to pave the way for thuglicans who after losing in thuglican politics were adopted by the party to lose again. Look at crist ex thug gov. who after losing primary decided to bring his losing ways to the D’s.
Electability arguements always seem to pivot on how to appeal to thuglicans rather then enpower and appeal to voters who never see any one on the ballot who will fight for them.
Look at the last election cycle and Rachel Bitecofer’s analysis which points out that it wasn’t thuglicans changeing sides but rather new voter on the D side who finally saw some candinates who would stand up for themselves.
While the dccc, dnc and dscc are enamoured with thuglican lites and work against progressives what is occuring is that they are being made irrelevent and rather then helping are becoming obstructionists in blocking candinates for fear of losing their power and cushy gigs.
The old adage of you know the game is crooked but it is the only game in town does not drive disaffected progressives, minorities and workers to the polls.
I heard it once said about “middle of the roaders” on climate change that their proposals would mean that we drive ourselves over the cliff at 40 MPH rather then 80 MPH but we still go over the cliff.
I have seen this often, especially lately. Some of us who aren’t progressive enough are called “Neo-Liberals” as a slur. Mostly, these “true progressives” are “Bernie Bros” or they claim to be. They have impossible and constantly moving standards. They threaten to sabotage any other democratic candidate while somehow claiming victim hood (sound like a familiar strategy?). I suspect some are plants just to work up divisions and I am so very tired of it. As people used to say, I’m “sick and tired” of it.
39Perhaps it is where I live. Never in a million years would anticipation of changing a Republican’s mind be a consideration. But spending years registering new voters, and then checking to see if they voted has me jaded. Usually half don’t bother.
40My hope lies with people in their 20’s. Those I know understand why it matters.
Why you crapping on Warren? You people should be so lucky to have someone like her as president. As to the electabilty issue I’d suggest you ignore the Chuck Todd and Joe Scarborough brain trust. Also, too Chris Mathews can kiss my…
41you are seriously still peddling this disproven nonsense?
2016 wasn’t enough for you to learn that the “electable centrist” isn’t? will a biden loss to trump in 2020 finally convince you? no, probably not.
the votes we are missing are not in the center. we don’t – and can’t – compete for the votes of self-described midwestern “moderates.” they have shown they would rather vote for trump than a moderate democrat. they aren’t really moderates, in other words. they are republicans. continuing to talk about trying to win over republican voters just shows a shocking lack of ability to analyze data or for that matter common sense. that isn’t where the votes are, and those aren’t the votes we need to win.
this argument continues to fail to recognize that the democratic turnout problem is on the LEFT. you want to win michigan or wisconsin? turn out the LEFT. you want to win texas? turn out the LEFT.
the position you are arguing for is the mainstream wisdom, not some precious insight. and it is wrong. so wrong it is obvious to anyone who doesn’t have a stake in keeping things they way they are.
42@Joel Not sure what “disproven nonsense” you’re referring to. I vociferously opposed Hillary. She was super qualified, just a terrible candidate. If she hadn’t built up the gigantic wall of money and packed the DNC with her loyalists, Biden might have run then and trounced Trump. That didn’t happen. Hillary had terrible approval numbers, the worst in US history for a presidential candidate except for one, Donald Trump who won on his cheesy reality television show persona. The key to winning 2020 is the swing states. Check out your favorite candidate vs Trump. You’ll find that all, but Biden fall short. It’s just arithmetic.
43It is sad to see so many people who have internalized thuglican framing and rahm’s love of “hippie punching”.
Ever since WW II the establishment d’s and their “useful idiots” have done everything they can to just tell progressives on every issue how they have to just wait and maybe in the by and by the needed movement might come.
Starting with the establishments opposition to Harry Trumans campaign as being divisive and hostile to their corporate paymasters and extending through active opposition McGovern in ’72 on through to subverting ( and on climate policy ridiculing) the Carter administration policies coupled with their joyful glee in jumping into bed with addled ronnie ( looking at o’neil and biden) to bankrupt the country in a policy to kneecap the funding of any progressive ideas.
Trashing Bradley to anoint gore while repeatedly reining in any of his liberal statements, while going out of their way to alienate jerry Brown’s supporters. Supporting lierman over lamont, deserting mondale while endorsing addled ronnies agenda,
The list goes on up and down the ballot.
Now in an attempt to blame the mythical “bernie bro’s”, who are as real as the “black panther” voter intimidation hyped by faux news, they are trying to excuse hillary’s terrible campaign. That is a technical criticism not a personal or political one.
Whenever a progressive is running the so called moderates try to discourage them by telling them that the “time isn’t right yet” or wait until next cycle and we “might” consider doing something or that the progressives are “scaring” the thuglican lites.
If a progressive does win the nomination the so called moderates run around rending their garments on how they just can’t support a progressive because the “time” isn’t right.
This playbook has been run time and time again. On Civil rights where the “moderates” didn’t want to scare the dixiecrats and the abuse of African americans, and others, was just the price that was needed to pay for the mugwump moderates to keep their power political power.
On Women’s health and Choice can’t help because we might scare the delusional believers in their fictional “man in the sky” fantasies.
On Labor oh must protect the viability of industry even at the cost of workers lives and well being. On climate change must approach in a slow and methodical way ( which is now tantamount to global suicide) because must protect stock holders profits.
The amazing thing is that these strategy’s enforced by the establishment are proven losers. They lead to a series of mentally unstable, morally bankrupt and intellectually dishonest administrations, supported by d legislatures. Look at tricky dicks regime that was enabled by the d’s signing onto the thuglican southern strategy’s. Or addle ronnie who o’neil, and others, were so anxious to bend the knee to, or the twits coup which the d’s were so anxious to legitimize even at the cost of a disastrous failure to prevent 9/11 but then to compound it with his call for a “Crusade” against the rising of biblical evil doers “gog and Magog” ( read of conversation with french leader).
Even after all this the moderates still welcomed the embrace of thuglican “daddies” in the name of “moderation” civility and comity even after repeatedly proverbially getting kicked in the teeth by those they revered.
Now with calls to restrain from critiquing ice, the police, the military and other authoritarian institutions actively involved in abuse, torture, murder and profligate waste of the planets resources the “moderates” still wish to accept the framing of a “few” bad apple instead of the reality of systemic evil.
While telling those suffering for their embrace of these institutions and their inhumane behavior are told that some day, sometime, they might get around to doing something about it if they can get the thuglicans to agree.
In the mean time, we are told, don’t rock the boat of the establishment by ridiculous demands that they fight for their constituents, and the planet, since that will just “upset” their corporate puppet-masters. Or just do their jobs and fulfill their oaths -Impeach.
So again we are headed into another election cycle where the dnc (dccc, dscc) are seemingly spending more time and money in lecturing progressives on how powerless the party is against the thuglicans (but not against progressives) and how they might threaten their ability to even get a few crumbs from the thuglicans if the progressives don’t just shut up.
Refusal to learn is a symptom of insanity.
44Trusting to moderates in the d party to do anything to restrain authoritarian thuglicans is a proven path to defeat.
I loved the ad until she went with “settling scores”.
That was unnecessary fodder for Wingnuttistan.
How about “making things right”?
Imply revenge, don’t promise it.
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