Outlines of a New Democratic Party Emerge

[DonViejo]

April 1, 2018 at 9:22 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

“A new Democratic Party is emerging in congressional primaries across the country, united over the most liberal policies in decades but sharply divided over which candidates to run against President Trump and Republicans in the midterms,” the Washington Post reports.

“The party taking shape will challenge the GOP with a distinct populist tilt, marking a departure from the centrist views that had dominated during the era of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. This year’s candidates have largely endorsed universal health care, a $15 minimum wage, easing the financial burden for college students and tougher gun control.”

“But there is sharp disagreement as more than 1,100 candidates have filed, with disputes over tactics — how to criticize Trump or how best to talk about issues — and sparring over who should be the standard-bearers, either first-time hopefuls or experienced politicians.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2018/04/01/outlines-of-a-new-democratic-party-emerge/

[BigmanPigman]

1. This is a tough call.

The Dems have to agree on a single unified message and also stick with strong local issues. I think universal health care is the way to go. Guns and immigration are tricky depending on where your district is. Same with personally attacking the moron or bringing up Russia and Mueller or sex scandals. The GOP voters don't care about morals as long as it is their party who does it. Half the country doesn't even know or care about Russia due to Fux Ruse. Dems definitely have to stay away from abortion though.

I remember hearing that the GOP voters actually do get irritated about all the golfing vacations and the ridiculous tweeting that the moron does so maybe those should be talking points.

[LenaBaby61]

3. "This is a tough call."

I remember hearing that the GOP voters actually do get irritated about all the golfing vacations and the ridiculous tweeting that the moron does so maybe those should be talking points.

Unfortunately, CNN & some other news outlet (And certainly not fauXXX noose) won't bring those things up, and if by chance they do, a big dose of anti-Hillary will follow it up NO, CNN will be interviewing the tRumputin voters who are bullish on him, and the tax cuts, and the fact that Hillary should just go away. Or, the NY Times will interview for the millionth time a tRumputin voter who is happy with fatso and then ask them how it made them feel that Hillary called him/her a deplorable Dems are up against it no matter what they do/say in these states where Dems are running in a red tide pool. IF Dems DO bring up the ruskies, most in the so-called liberal news media that doesn't exist will bring up Hillary, and the fact that she called fatso's voters deplorables Or, they'll bring in 20 people who voted for Fatso and mention AGAIN for the billionth time that "Hillary insulted you, yes, she called you a deplorable. How does that make you feel," and the deplorables will spew about her instead of fatso Or, the so-called liberal media will once again say that Hillary was a horrible candidate, who doesn't know HOW to stay off the stage, and on top of those things she insulted GOP voters by calling them deplorables thuglicans don't really have to bring up Hillary or a message, because MOST in the so-called liberal media that doesn't exist WILL.

[mcar]

6. You are watching a different CNN than I

They report on Dotard's tweets, scandals and corruption all the time. I rarely see reports on HRC. They also report on Russia's interference all the time.

I agree with you RE NYT and their ridiculous obsession with Dotard voters.

[sharedvalues]

4. Healthcare and running against tax cuts for the rich

We need a stronger social safety net. It’s only fair that the wealthy pay more taxes to benefit the poor and middle class - the wealthy earned their wealth by taking advantage of what our society provides, from police and our legal system to our roads and education system. Higher taxes for the rich to provide a fair shake for all.

Conor Lab ran on those two issues: healthcare and the rich paying a fair share of taxes.

[BigmanPigman]

5. You're right!

I do not follow polls but I do listen to on-going trends and themes that lasts over many months and the tax cuts for the rich was one issue that even the cult/base understood was BS and they would lose out. If you follow the issues in Congress over the past year the two issues that had both parties' voters pissed off the most and caused them to go to their reps via town halls, phone calls, and letters as well as protests were healthcare and tax cuts. The voters from both parties agreed on these issues...they suck for the 80%.

[sharedvalues]

7. Yes Bigman.

I’m with you

[Hortensis]

16. Sure. Those are all in our 2016 Democratic platform.

Of course.

We talk about people like Lamb not because their campaigns best epitomized our Democratic Party values, but because they're Democrats who successfully took seats away from conservatives in mostly conservative districts.

From what I read a number of places, Lamb did this by running on local issues that people in both parties care about, especially workers' rights (he got the unions to endorse him), protecting Medicare, and combating the opioid crisis (which he had a lot of experience with).

Character was a huge issue in that race, as it is turning out to be most places now, and he showed well against his opponent's nasty archconservatism. He projected what people wanted to vote for, and his opponent didn't.

Very significantly, he stayed away amap from talking about Trump and from the kind of social issues that get people spitting across the divide.

This is a formula we're seeing variations of in conservative-district races. Decency and service, local issues, avoid hot-button divisive issues and don't talk about Trump.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM
https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

[Wellstone ruled]

2. The main thing I am noticing locally is this.

Our Candidates are tailoring their Campaigns to their Districts Demographics,which the Democratic Party got away form in the early 90's.

Looking more and more like the Cortes-Masteo Campaign . And if you do not have SEIU or Culinary Workers behind you,forget about it. Major thing here in Nevada is the Sucky 7.25 minimum Wage which has stayed the same since 2008. Another major thing is the ACA and the tens of thousands of people who rely on it.

[northremembers]

8. Local Platforms Are Good

I think running on local issues for the midterm is the best way forward right now. For decades Dems have been campaigning against conservatives. We lack a coherent ideology to build a national platform on. We know what we are against, but aren't very clear what we are for. What does it mean to be a liberal? How do our liberal values define the policies we want to lead with? Obama has said many times most of his policies were Republican policies. That isn't liberal.

We need lots of innovation from young voices who care about their communities and want to solve problems. National forums should be helping these new voices form a liberal identity that's more about liberal leadership than about beating Republicans. Community based campaigns are going to be way more effective at reconnecting with a population that sees liberalism as out of touch with local needs.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. It still boils down to everything is local when it comes to

Congressional Districts as well as State Offices. Staying on local issues message wins the game. It does take a ton of work,Door knocking,lit drops,and if your a Dem,showing up at every Union Hall and just being honest and standing up for your principals.

[northremembers]

10. At least we still have unions

After all the anti-union victories since W it's great we still have unions. That's one of the messages we've been missing: why unions are essential and why we all have to support unions. Most of the standard benefits white collar workers take for granted wouldn't be there without unions. Too many people see unions or someone else's union as someone else's issue. The whole point of union is we are all working together for a better community.

[Wellstone ruled]

12. Just old fashioned,

still a proud retired Union Guy. When ever there is a organizing or member carding happening,hey,count me in. Yes,people forget the fact that Unions gave us the forty hour week,Pensions,paid overtime,and paid vacations as well as first dollar coverage for health care.

[workinclasszero]

11. Health care for all...I'm talking single payer

15 dollar minimum wage nationwide and legal cannabis nationwide and a ban on all military assault weapons.

For starters. The majority of Americans want these things! Its a no brainer!

Time to leave the past behind and boldly stride into the future!

[Hortensis]

13. Oh, brother. Those positions are all in our 2016 platform.

And the Democratic Party hasn't been so united in my lifetime. We've been winning election after election around the nation, so that those directing the right's mindless populism under Trump are busily trying to consolidate their booty before they lose power.

Could what's happening nationally be that people are seeing what's happening, you know, like watching the news, and getting ready to say no, we're making America America again?

[herding cats]

15. That and local candidates are focusing on local issues.

We just need to run candidates who understand the location and get them out there talking to people about what matters to them. Lamb and to a lesser extent Jones were two examples of this, as have been several other smaller local races.

That's the 50 state strategy concept, and it's working again.

Edit to add: Donald Trump being who he is isn't hurting us either.

[Cha]

18. Exactly herding.. That's how Conor Lamb won..

he had the lay of the land.. and he won with focusing on health issues and Obamacare.

[herding cats]

21. Yes, he did.

I'm extremely happy he won! Even if down the road there's a good chance he and I won't agree, that's irrelevant. He's NOT my representative.

[Hortensis]

20. Exactly. Lamb's district has a lot of union jobs,

and he got the unions to endorse him. He talked worker concerns and other things locals of both parties care about.

As for the huge orange elephant in every living room now, neither Jones nor Lamb mentioned him.

[herding cats]

22. Yes, and that's how you win local races.

I realize he wasn't everyone's dream candidate. I completely understand that, but he was the right candidate for his race in his local election.

[Cha]

17. Thank you, Hortensis!.. I differed

with the OP, too.

I'm so sick of these half assed stories about what's really going on.

[Hortensis]

23. We're so good, so much what America needs, that

when I see these undermining articles I know the authors are either nonthinkers regurgitating the negative themes the right's pushed for years (lots of them around) or that they know exactly what they're doing. Either way, they're hauling water for the dark side.

Itm, Wisconsinites just elected a LIBERAL to their supreme court! Apparently it's been a lot of years since that's happened and she won by a really BIG margin.

Congrats, WI.

Lol. I read earlier that the parents of one of WI Senator Tammy Baldwin's Republican opponents donated big money to her. Not so amusing, this is a tough race. Vox says taking control of the senate would be extremely difficult if we lost her seat. So Judge Dallet's big win is especially happy news.

[Cha]

25. That's what I think.. you've described it

perfectly.. ".. regurgitating memes they've heard..".. ".. or they know exactly what they're doing.." yeah, lot of that around.

Thank you!

[herding cats]

28. The author is trying to stir up controversy.

It generates clicks and there is an election coming... not to mention a national election after that one. The media's favorite type.

These authors have to wrangle for a share of the market now if they're going to be relevant down the road. That's all this is. I'm bored with it, but apparently I have to keep paying attention so as to not let them go all ratings/clicks insane again in 2020.

Which means I should email them and the WaPo with my thoughts I'm just now realizing. At least I'm a subscriber, maybe that'll give my words some more weight.

[Hortensis]

29. Yes, and maybe we should talk to DonViejo also.

We are all very appreciative of Don's services to DU, but as a result of the media grabbing he does for a living, a lot of this kind of stuff is in the bundles brought to DU lately. And although a range of ideas is needed, this is at best a mediocre article, even for its genre, plus no one, right or left, needs more of this insidious messaging that's poisoning our nation.

[herding cats]

30. Yes, I suppose we're all responsible for our share in this endeavor.

He, and we, should incorporate filters to not spread intentionally inflammatory or divisive pieces. It does go beyond our responsibilities to call the authors out for their actions, you're right. I just haven't thought of it on that level before yet. I'm going to ruminate on this for a bit, but I do believe I see your point here.

Anyone who perpetuates the media's folly is technically culpable in their for profit sensationalism. Which is what helped give us Trump. Huh, I'm agreeing more and more as I think about this.

Thank you for making me think.

[Cha]

14. Conor Lamb won on Obamacare.. President Obama

is for tougher gun laws. And, the gop wouldn't raise the minimum wage for 7 years when President Obama asked for it.

President Obama was for getting done what he could in a Congress of assholes whose only action was their obsession to Repeal Obamacare.

He could have gotten a lot more done if those who sat home in 2010 to teach him a lesson.. cared more about our country and Planet than their own little warped sense of needing to stomp their feet.

"Centrist" my Democratic

Link to tweet

[herding cats]

19. Funny thing is Lamb is a basically a centerist by many Democrats metric.

I'm not complaining, we desperately need him where he is and he was the man who could win the seat! Still, our big wins don't really reflect this snippet from the WaPo article.

What the article says is were still bickering amongst ourselves within these local races. Apparently, even publicly.

If we try to hold these local races to a national standard, we will lose. So far our local Democratic leaders have been smarter than that, but as the WaPo points out there's still a lot of angst

[Cha]

24. Conor Lamb decisively won the health care vote in the Pennsylvania special election

"The Affordable Care Act has flaws, but it has provided affordable coverage to more than a million Pennsylvanians who were previously uninsured"

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/14/17120692/conor-lamb-pennsylvania-special-election-health-care-voxcare

Like you said, herding.. they have to know the territory.

I think the OP is a fluff piece.. excellent point about the local races not being able to go the national "populism route".. Rep Conor Lamb and Senator Doug Jones are prime example of that.

Here's to Beto O'Rourke knowing what appeals to Democratic Texans for the Win!

snip//

O'Rourke's plan borrows from the playbook of Barack Obama's first presidential bid: campaign in deeply conservative districts to mitigate the size of the loss there while driving up turnout in urban areas. His relentless touring schedule, however, comes from his days as a post-hardcore guitarist in the 1990s, when his band Foss released a 7-inch record called The El Paso Pussycats. (The drummer of his group, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, went on to find widespread success in bands like At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta.)

http://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-texas-826727

[herding cats]

26. From your snip to the voters in their booths, Cha!

Beto is my man in 2018!



Beto is on the right hand side of the photo.

[Cha]

27. I've seen that.. little

Roberto>Beto!

I forgot you're in Texas! He knows fluent Espanol, tambien.. I know poquito.