General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaybe we should wait and see what AOC does instead of going berserk now.
I'm seeing a lot of people exercising a lot of energy talking about some things a freshman representative has said. Sure, she has some big ideas and some frustrations with how things are currently. So does every person entering Congress I suspect. That's why they run. We should be happy about that.
I just think since she hasn't even taken the oath or taken the first vote or action in congress we're wasting a hell of a lot of time on nothing. While we do that, FOX Noise, Daily Caller and all the rest are fanning the flames with their reporting and enjoying the hell out of us taking the bait and arguing over nothing.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)What she intends to do. No one is going berserk.
Irritated that they haven't taken an oath and are already on their next election? You betcha.
They need to repeal the SALT cap, stop fracking, expand Medicare, and call Trump to the floor.
And if she can't relate to that then - I'm glad Malinowski can. She better not step in the toes of my Congressman who ran on the promise to DO HIS JOB.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)The number of promises and goals politicians have when they enter office is usually quite large. The number they retain once the get there is never anywhere near what they ran on or planned on.
Since there is no well-funded group behind her rhetoric as there was with the Tea Party I think one of two things will happen. One, she'll learn just how things really operate and begin to work within the party framwork. Two, she'll get frustrated she cannot make the big changes she wants just by willing them done and then leave Congress.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)So did our Mayoral and Council Candidates. Bob Menendez is in complete alignment with Tom's message/commitment.
I am elected Committee person - which means my word is on the line too. She needs to sit down with her county committee and work on Constituent Services.
At a minimum - that's her job. I guess because in her district it was a sure thing she has time for grabs plans.
Those of us who flipped long term red districts blue? Don't have that luxury.
Tom's gonna have to do his job or he's going home. She just has to smile and wave and she will get re-elected.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)district. And the ease with which Ocasio breezed through the GE might make you wistful, but in 2020 both Tom and Ocasio will face primary challenges from other Democrats.
Have a blast!
pwb
(11,287 posts)She took no corporate money and is beholden to none, and that is what she wants for all democrats. The democrats who take money from big oil won't come out hard to save the environment will they? Democrats who take big money from drug corporations won't really want to lower drug prices or stop opioid abuse will they?
bitterross
(4,066 posts)AOC looks like a the great hope we all have that "one of us" can make a difference. Pardon my jadedness. Whether or not she is great remains to be seen by her actions and effects.
The Tea Party is a great example of what not to do. They rendered the GOP incapable of comprise within their own party. Much less with the other side of the aisle. I'm thankful they put a wrench into the GOP. I do not want to see us make the same mistake.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)had effectively no Republican opposition. In fact, we now know she had effectively no active Democratic opposition. That was wonderful for her, but by far most other Democrats don't have those advantages. And many good candidates simply cannot fund campaigns on small local donations, not and compete successfully against super PAC funded Republican opponents.
Please note that deciding who's worthy by whether they take big-donor money would pit them against many representatives of minority-dominated districts and also in opposition to MOST of the members of the house's Progressive Caucus. Out of, I believe, 88 members this term, only 4 took the pledge to only take small donations; many felt they could not. The answer is taxpayer funded campaigns, not allowing foolish ideologues to railroad good people out of office.
I do keep determining to give Ocasio more time to see what she brings to the job. She doesn't make it easy, though. She's keeps giving off troubling signs like this latest thing of trying to primary people she and other outsiders choose. I strongly disapprove of not respecting the beliefs and wishes of local residents to decide who they want to represent them. For instance, it's not for Ocasio to decide that conservatives in WV shouldn't elect conservative representatives.
On the plus side, this group is likely to get their asses handed to them in the end, that's the way democracy usually works, but not before they manage to derail the wishes of local citizens in some few districts. And that's bad. I don't approve.
Eric J in MN
(35,619 posts)AOCs district: $58K
My district (St Paul and nearby): $69K
Nancy Pelosis district: $112K
Autumn
(45,120 posts)ready for the next election. Incumbents and candidate will rise or fall on their own merit in every election. I'm not going to freak out because a young enthusiastic woman wants to recruit progressives.
Demsrule86
(68,667 posts)take them at their word...and I would remind such folks that they may face a primary as well. Democrats should support Democrats and when some of the first words a new person says is about plans to help get rid of colleagues, it is disturbing.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)It wastes resources that can be better spent otherwise. The Tea-Party faction was a stupid idea that ended up biting the GOP in the ass.
I just laugh when people believe a freshman rep has so much power that "they will primary sitting democrats." That takes a lot of money and she can't even afford rent.
Kaleva
(36,340 posts)Thread upon thread attacking her.
jalan48
(13,883 posts)Kaleva
(36,340 posts)Demsrule86
(68,667 posts)Carper of Delaware during the primary. I believe it wastes money and risks the seat to do this.
Demsrule86
(68,667 posts)OnDoutside
(19,969 posts)UTUSN
(70,730 posts)pnwmom
(108,991 posts)to primary many of her new peers?
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)Go straight into ranting and censure against a newly elected representative of color! Why wait and see what happens when you can denounce and condemn in advance??
(insert sarcasm tag)
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)This focus on her is more refighting the 2016 primaries with her as a proxy for Sanders. Its ridiculous.