The claim that the left controls the party's messaging is straight out of the GOP playbook. It is what the GOP has been saying for decades. It is, of course, an outrageous lie. But lies are political currency these days. We leftists know it's a lie and Klein et al. know it's a lie, but to many Democratic voters looking for answers to the disaster of 2024 it sounds like something that might be true. We will hear this lie repeatedly from now through the 2028 Democratic primary, so get ready for a brawl.
This warning should be everywhere, “…centrist liberalism has nowhere else to go: it has nothing else to offer America, not even its once-intriguing promise of blocking Republican fascism from taking power.”
Also, EK’s suggestion to run pro-forced birthers was enraging.
If he gives that up, what even makes him a Democrat? Moderating for the sake of voters is democracy, moderating for political elites and your opposition is just obeying in advance
A coherent strategy by Democrats is lacking to say the least. Independents, republicans (not MAGA are entrenched with their beliefs) but those that are concerned about healthcare costs, like being able to pay for needed medications. When folks have to choose food vs medications or a visit to their doctor we are doing something wrong in this country. It may be Medicare for all or a comprehensive review of programs in place for their efficiency and practices. There is considerable fraud and abuse in the Medicare/Medicaid programs. If this abuse can be eradicated there would be a huge amount of $$ to fund the programs. All you have to do is search the FBI arrests and fraudulent abuse of the system. Also a border strategy that works to maintain a safe environment and allows for rightful immigration. Minimum wage and paid sick leave is important too. Sincerely hope someone’s are able to articulate the way to affordability of goods and services that folks so desperately want.
I think there's a really coherent message in there, too. It's very easy to connect rural hospital closures (which are legal) to Trump's corruption (illegal) and weave a narrative of how they hate working Americans.
thanks Joe. I don't know what the answer is but I am concerned that the extreme left wing platform is what drove main stream democrats away in 2024 and I fear that could happen again..
Interesting question. My biggest concern is that Democrats are so fearful of doing the wrong thing that they end up being too passive. The best example for me is with the southern border. During the Biden administration the news was pretty relentless about the number of people crossing the border every day. Everyone knew this was a serious problem but no one wanted to deal with it. Democrats were not taking a position because they were fearful they would be seen as heartless. But that failure to do anything allowed the problem to get increasingly worse and allowed MAGA brilliantly to take the issue and convince a substantial percentage of middle of the road Democrats that allowing all of those people to cross over ultimately resulted in taxpayer money being used to support those people and also resulted in lower wages for everyone because those people were taking jobs.
Whether that is true is irrelevant, because if middle of the road Democrats think it is true than it does not matter.
Finally there was a bill produced by the Democrats to address the issue but Trump prevented it from being passed. If it had passed I believe the election could have turned out differently. we will never know. Too little too late.
The plain fact is that centrism has led to stagnation for the Democratic party; the centrists, the moderates, are losing it big-time. The attempt to appeal to Republican voters, to conservatives, will never work, as they will stick with the Republican party every time. It is long past time for the Democrats to appeal to the new Progressives that are coming along.
no one "kicked out" the centrists. the centrists... left (ouch, sorry). and that resulted in so they got what we have now. the big tent is not just for Democrats, it's for all of us. let's meet in The Big Middle, where most Americans are.
Polls consistently show that there are many major issues on which around 80% of Americans of all political persuasions (including Democrats, Republicans, independents, disaffecteds) agree: immigration, term limits, gun safety, drug prices, Medicare and Social Security, tax equity, and more. The Big Middle is there, it just needs to become self-aware, organized, and exert its power.
There is a difference between opposing Israel’s policies and actions on the ground vs. opposing Israel’s right to exist. When you talk approvingly about anti-Zionism, it sounds like you’re in the latter camp. That’s a bridge too far for a lot of Jewish Democrats, including me.
Some recent history: when Michigan Democrats made big gains in 2018 and 2020, some of the most dedicated and effective campaign workers were Jewish activists in suburban Detroit. I know these people, and a lot would find your “Zionist Imperialist” rhetoric repellent. We can’t stand Netanyahu and his people, but we reject the idea that Israel an inherently illegitimate entity. That kind of ideology is not going to gain major traction among voters outside of a few urban areas.
Who are the most active and creative elected Democrats confronting Trump right now? That would be Newsome, Pritzker and Shapiro, among others. And no, they are not going to support the agenda you want.
You literally just need to look at the under/over performers in house races to see that you are 100% wrong. It literally is that easy. All the left wingers underperformed Biden.
If you think yapping about "neoliberalism" (hint: real people don't care or know what that means, and proves you are in a left-wing bubble) you will continue to lose. This literally reads like a parody from Bluesky. lmao.
Centrism has led to fascism.
Gender policy? Left-wing.
Student loan nonsense? Left-wing.
Family policy? Left-wing.
Taxes? Left-wing.
What, exactly, is centrist about those?
The claim that the left controls the party's messaging is straight out of the GOP playbook. It is what the GOP has been saying for decades. It is, of course, an outrageous lie. But lies are political currency these days. We leftists know it's a lie and Klein et al. know it's a lie, but to many Democratic voters looking for answers to the disaster of 2024 it sounds like something that might be true. We will hear this lie repeatedly from now through the 2028 Democratic primary, so get ready for a brawl.
Great point. The 'radical left Democrats' is literally a Republican talking point.
Gender policy? Left-wing.
Student loan nonsense? Left-wing.
Family policy? Left-wing.
Taxes? Left-wing.
What, exactly, is moderate about those?
This warning should be everywhere, “…centrist liberalism has nowhere else to go: it has nothing else to offer America, not even its once-intriguing promise of blocking Republican fascism from taking power.”
Also, EK’s suggestion to run pro-forced birthers was enraging.
I'm somewhat glad he said it. Even his typical listeners were shocked. Not just because it's immoral, but because it's terrible political advice.
If he gives that up, what even makes him a Democrat? Moderating for the sake of voters is democracy, moderating for political elites and your opposition is just obeying in advance
A coherent strategy by Democrats is lacking to say the least. Independents, republicans (not MAGA are entrenched with their beliefs) but those that are concerned about healthcare costs, like being able to pay for needed medications. When folks have to choose food vs medications or a visit to their doctor we are doing something wrong in this country. It may be Medicare for all or a comprehensive review of programs in place for their efficiency and practices. There is considerable fraud and abuse in the Medicare/Medicaid programs. If this abuse can be eradicated there would be a huge amount of $$ to fund the programs. All you have to do is search the FBI arrests and fraudulent abuse of the system. Also a border strategy that works to maintain a safe environment and allows for rightful immigration. Minimum wage and paid sick leave is important too. Sincerely hope someone’s are able to articulate the way to affordability of goods and services that folks so desperately want.
I think there's a really coherent message in there, too. It's very easy to connect rural hospital closures (which are legal) to Trump's corruption (illegal) and weave a narrative of how they hate working Americans.
A gerontocracy is genereally an indication of a decrepit regime
thanks Joe. I don't know what the answer is but I am concerned that the extreme left wing platform is what drove main stream democrats away in 2024 and I fear that could happen again..
Thanks! I'd love to hear more about your opinion. What parts of the platform do you think lost votes?
Interesting question. My biggest concern is that Democrats are so fearful of doing the wrong thing that they end up being too passive. The best example for me is with the southern border. During the Biden administration the news was pretty relentless about the number of people crossing the border every day. Everyone knew this was a serious problem but no one wanted to deal with it. Democrats were not taking a position because they were fearful they would be seen as heartless. But that failure to do anything allowed the problem to get increasingly worse and allowed MAGA brilliantly to take the issue and convince a substantial percentage of middle of the road Democrats that allowing all of those people to cross over ultimately resulted in taxpayer money being used to support those people and also resulted in lower wages for everyone because those people were taking jobs.
Whether that is true is irrelevant, because if middle of the road Democrats think it is true than it does not matter.
Finally there was a bill produced by the Democrats to address the issue but Trump prevented it from being passed. If it had passed I believe the election could have turned out differently. we will never know. Too little too late.
How about the idea that we should raise taxes on plumbers to pay for college degrees in "gender studies"? Or men in women's sports? Shall I continue?
Have you ever, ever talked to someone in rural America? Someone who isn't terminally online?
Thank you, Joe. This was amazing and sorely needed.
❤️
Something I wrote last spring, the last time Democrats spoke seriously -- sorry, performatively -- about ousting Schumer from leadership.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ralphbon/p/a-schumer-moment-you-may-have-forgotten?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3kh3qn
I remember during the first shutdown fight, when a reporter asked Jeffries if Schumer should resign. He said, "Next question."
Talk about rebounding from COVID! Thanks, Joe.
As I've long said, "Chuck Schumer" is not a name, it's an imperative.
I'm glad you liked it!
Okay, so how does one oust these clowns from their entrenched control of the democratic party?
The plain fact is that centrism has led to stagnation for the Democratic party; the centrists, the moderates, are losing it big-time. The attempt to appeal to Republican voters, to conservatives, will never work, as they will stick with the Republican party every time. It is long past time for the Democrats to appeal to the new Progressives that are coming along.
no one "kicked out" the centrists. the centrists... left (ouch, sorry). and that resulted in so they got what we have now. the big tent is not just for Democrats, it's for all of us. let's meet in The Big Middle, where most Americans are.
I'm biased, but I believe I did a good job showing most Americans aren't in the middle.
Polls consistently show that there are many major issues on which around 80% of Americans of all political persuasions (including Democrats, Republicans, independents, disaffecteds) agree: immigration, term limits, gun safety, drug prices, Medicare and Social Security, tax equity, and more. The Big Middle is there, it just needs to become self-aware, organized, and exert its power.
There is a difference between opposing Israel’s policies and actions on the ground vs. opposing Israel’s right to exist. When you talk approvingly about anti-Zionism, it sounds like you’re in the latter camp. That’s a bridge too far for a lot of Jewish Democrats, including me.
Some recent history: when Michigan Democrats made big gains in 2018 and 2020, some of the most dedicated and effective campaign workers were Jewish activists in suburban Detroit. I know these people, and a lot would find your “Zionist Imperialist” rhetoric repellent. We can’t stand Netanyahu and his people, but we reject the idea that Israel an inherently illegitimate entity. That kind of ideology is not going to gain major traction among voters outside of a few urban areas.
Who are the most active and creative elected Democrats confronting Trump right now? That would be Newsome, Pritzker and Shapiro, among others. And no, they are not going to support the agenda you want.
Is that true, though? Zohran Mamdani is anti-Zionist, and he's doing well with Jewish NYC voters.
You literally just need to look at the under/over performers in house races to see that you are 100% wrong. It literally is that easy. All the left wingers underperformed Biden.
What left-wing governors are there? I'll wait....
If you think yapping about "neoliberalism" (hint: real people don't care or know what that means, and proves you are in a left-wing bubble) you will continue to lose. This literally reads like a parody from Bluesky. lmao.
EXCELLENT! Bookmarked.