A Freedom Caucus for the left? House progressives aren't so sure:

[Gothmog]

I do not think that we need a new liberal Freedom Caucus

Link to tweet

From the Slate Article

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the leftist star who is already beginning to grate on some of her entrenched, will-be Democratic colleagues, offered a theory in a recent interview for how the most progressive Democrats in Congress could flex their strength if the party retakes the House in November: Emulate the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

“Even if you can carve out a subportion, a subcaucus, of the Progressive Caucus, even a smaller bloc but one that operates as a bloc, you can generate real power,” she said on Jacobin’s the Dig podcast. Depending on the margin, a bloc of 10 or 30 members, she suggested, could have what the Freedom Caucus has, and is rarely shy to use: effective veto power over leadership on partisan legislation.

The reaction to this idea from Progressive Caucus members I spoke with on Tuesday, though—at least those who were even willing to comment on it—could best be described as hesitant.

“Isn’t that what the Progressive Caucus is?” Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, a vice chair of the 76-member caucus, said. “I think we kind of tend to do that right now with the Progressive Caucus, so I don’t understand what she would be doing that wouldn’t be duplicative.” Gallego said there is already a “hardcore” group of about 40 Progressive Caucus members who tend to stick closer together than the group at large.

[Wwcd]

1. Thanks to GW Bush anything labeled "Freedom" is a dogwhistle to Republican cronyism.

Lord, not Freedom Caucaus

[Docreed2003]

2. This is troubling

What's wrong with the Progressive Caucus? Why not use that to "generate real power"? Why reinvent the wheel here?

[oasis]

3. AOC's barely in congress. Where did she get such an idea?

[Wwcd]

4. Ya. Really! Seriously, "Freedom" anything sounds like a Koch/Rove Tea Party think tank

Gross.

[oasis]

9. I believe AOC's visionary term is,"sub caucus". nt

[Wwcd]

12. 🤤 what the hell is a sub caucaus! Are they just making shit up now?

Good god, I am so damned glad to be a DEMOCRAT.

I really cannot tell wtf they represent other than confusion.

Maybe that's the point..Who knows.

[oasis]

13. "A bloc of 10 or 30 members to have effective veto power over

leadership on partisan legislation" according to the article.

[Wwcd]

15. NO. Sounds like a coup. Maybe it would be better if they form their own Party & let us all know

when the infighting ensues as they apply their new methods & rules to choosing a candidate.

And Cortez has how much experience in electioneering & public policy again?



We know what this is & its time to stop calling themselves Democrats.

Progressives, sociolists..whatever..go make your own Party. This Dem Party has never suited them anyway.


Bye.

[Gothmog]

35. This group wants to have a blocking position on Democratic issues in the House

I do not like the Freedom Caucus having a veto over the GOP now and I would not like to see a similar group have a veto over the Democratic Party if the Democrats take back the House in the midterms

[Wwcd]

38. We are well aware of what their goal is. TAD needs to be indicted along with his

buddy Paul.

Mueller knows what's in the "Dear TAD emails from Paul.
Their timing is quite the coincidence !

Appears TAD LIED when he stated he had no contact with Paul since the old days in the Ukraine.

I don't care WHO they are anymore.
If they played any role in the Russian Mob's overthrow of our American gov't..they should all be indicted, property seized & stuck in a dirty prison cell.

Thank You Robert Mueller.

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. I've had a weird feeling about her since Susan Sarandon's involvement, and I'm not often wrong. nt

[oasis]

19. AOC doesn't strike me as a Machiavellian type.

Hopefully, once seated in congress, she'll be able to make amends. I'm sure members will not pass up the opportunity to take this talented young person under their wings.

[Tarheel_Dem]

21. I'm sorry, but I just don't get that sense. Sure hope I'm wrong. n/t

[haele]

30. I grew up during the 60's. I've seen groups like Our Revolution and people like AOC come and go.

They tend to implode from within.
Too many people of privilege who think their naturally limited vision of equality and social justice from their experience at 50K feet is how the majority of people experience equality and social justice in the real world. Where most people don't get the breaks that can propel someone from wait staff to a small business owner to a politician, no matter how hard they work at it or how good they are or how great their visions are.
On edit - People who play on the national stage like Susan Sarandon and Cenk will take a newcomer like Ortiz and use her enthusiasm and inexperience in politics to prop up their personal views on how "the machine" needs to be taken down from the top, where it impacts them, instead of building politicians up from the ground floor where they learn how governance really works. They're looking at causing a disruption they could put their name to when the Kumbaya moment they think will happen makes everything all peachy-keen - and they can continue live comfortably in their expensive neighborhoods with their nice things, be shown suitable deference from all the now grateful masses, and pat themselves on the back for "finding the new way" to "solving problems" that regular old politicians can't.

Leading a movement and taking part in the governing a large, diverse population are two totally different things. Leading is easy. Governing is hard, nasty, distasteful and disillusioning work if you aren't willing to see all the shades of personality people come in.

Haele

[Gothmog]

29. AOC may be hurting her district

AOC may be burning bridges with other members of the Democratic party

Link to tweet

[oasis]

32. AOC needs to get busy campaigning on her own turf. She should

be aware that aligning herself with those who scoff at the idea of party unity will negatively impact her chances for future promotion.

[brer cat]

5. We are fighting republicans for the survival of this nation.

The last thing we need is obstruction from the left. AOC has not even won election to her first seat and she is looking for "veto power over leadership?" Unbelievable chutzpah.

[ProudLib72]

6. Patriot caucus

[Wwcd]

10. Aagggh!! That's like "Freedom Fries!" Patriot Tea PartySara Palin Koch $$$$

Patriot is the other word that GW Ruined!

[ProudLib72]

18. I was thinking "Freedom Fries" when I wrote that

McCain/Palin ruined the word "maverick".

[Wwcd]

22. No shit!! They ruined Mavrick too!

Guess they Can't be called the Maverick Caucaus now either!!

[question everything]

7. Yes, if we want to bury the Democratic party as we know it

and start from scratch.

[Wwcd]

11. Susan Sarandon? You lurking?

Burn it all down.
Then we get free stuff . Yippeeee!!

[Turbineguy]

8. Maybe we can get the rooskies

to back it, like they did with the other one!

[Wounded Bear]

14. Just what we need...

a power hungry minority group throwing their weight around.

[Wwcd]

16. With zero experience in the trenches of politics & elections

They need to make their own Party & figure out how its done without the help of the Dem Party.

Cut the apron strings & set them free.
They'll be fine.

[NY_20th]

20. I'm so sick of the friendly fire

I'm not actually certain that it's friendly fire anymore.

If Democrats are your enemy, you are a trump enabling asshole. That's all there is to it.

[Wwcd]

23. And That Is All One Needs To Know About This Whole "Money & Media"shitshow

"If Democrats are your enemy, you are a trump enabling asshole. That's all there is to it."

Thank You , NY_20th

[Gothmog]

28. I was a Clinton delegate to the National Convention

I saw a great deal of similar conduct by sanders delegates at the national convention. This current plan has me concerned

We defeated two of the Our Revolution types in the primary run offs in Texas.

[Cha]

24. Oh gawd.

[pnwmom]

25. NOOOOOOOOOOO! That would play into the right's hands.

If we want to overcome Trump, we need to be able to COMPROMISE on at least some bills, and pick up SOME support from the CENTER.

[Gothmog]

26. The concept of a new Freedom Caucus explains why AOC is campaigning against real democrats

There are a number of real democrats who do not like the concept of a new Freedom Caucus https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-wants-house-progressives-to-form-a-hard-line-caucus.html

There was some predictable revulsion at the mere mention of a “left Freedom Caucus.” After years of watching the Freedom Caucus put their own aims over those of a properly functioning government, members seemed hesitant at the idea of deploying those same tactics.

“You’re not going to get me to say yes to anything that resembles the Freedom Caucus,” Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke said. Though O’Rourke is not a member of the Progressive Caucus—”I’m not a joiner,” he said—and, by nature of his challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz, wouldn’t be around to participate in a House Democratic majority anyway, he’s run an aggressive progressive campaign. Of the ideas that the right has promoted in its House majority, he said, he’d like to see Democrats offer more ability for junior members to rise, either in leadership or committee seniority. House Republicans have a “very vigorous [intraparty] debate and discussion on issues,” he said, but sometimes “counterproductively and destructively.”

[Firestorm49]

27. Good one, Ruben!

“I think we kind of tend to do that.......”
Meanwhile, the rest of us sit here waiting for the party to emerge from the depths and represent a strong united front. Well, Ruben, you just go on sort of doing something.
Get some BALLS!

[Recursion]

31. The Freedom Caucus has done more to block the conservative agenda than Democrats have

I say no thanks to one of our own

[awesomerwb1]

33. That's what I've been saying before

The Sanders faction wants to take control of the Dem party the same way the Tea Partiers have done with what's left of the republican party.

The difference is that the tea partiers will always vote with the republican party.

I'm not sure these new-comers understand how disrupting the Dems plays into the republican parties hands. As if the green party wasn't enough now we get these guys.

[MuseRider]

34. Aww come on, this is stupid.

Whatever happened to being the "Big Tent Party"? Why are we buying a smaller tent? Being together on the same side even though often fairly far apart as to degrees is what made us stronger. I may absolutely disagree with some people here but unless they are obvious trolls, and there are many right now, I will engage now and then but usually not much anymore. If we on the left cannot agree more often than not or solve things together then we just simply need a new party. Factions with today's temperament, will split the party up and make it very difficult just look at the Right, what a freaking mess.

My god, all I see here is finger pointing at Bernie. I have been a long time fan of his and I have never even seen a hint at trying to split up the party. It should be obvious that his return to being an I was his way of not doing that.

I would caution that not hearing or listening to those who are left at any part of the spectrum and driving them out by being the obnoxious jerks I have seen here then give good people with a different perspective (large OR small) a boot will fracture the party quicker than anything. I think, at least here on this forum and thankfully not so much with those who actually govern, it will kill all our chances. So and so endorsed so and so so they are now DEAD to me *hand to forehead* she said something about Obama that I do not like!!!!!*****Grrrrrrr This forum is becoming very tiny and small because of all of that. We need to make certain our party does not get to this point.

[Gothmog]

39. The new Freedom Caucus is primarying good Democratic women candidates

Link to tweet

[MuseRider]

41. Sorry but I KNOW Thompson

and this is bullshit.

[NCTraveler]

36. Oath Keepers?

They are following the practices that brought about Trump, not positive change. They don't see the difference.

[Me.]

37. KR