Practical politics and Democrats - We've got some strengths and we've got some weaknesses

[GoneOffShore]

I found this column by Chris Satullo, who has some serious progressive credentials, and has been seeking to build consensus between diverse groups.

He said this about where we are today -

Early this week, just before he hopped aboard his Marine One chopper, Joe Biden talked to a press gaggle about the debt ceiling deal he’d struck with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy......

snip:

“Look, one of the things that I hear some of you guys saying is, ‘Why doesn’t Biden say what a good deal it is?’ Why would Biden say what a good deal it is before the vote? You think that’s going to help me get it passed? No. That’s why you guys don’t bargain very well…You guys, you realize you’re not in the real world?”

Biden was gently mocking the media reps, who deserved it. But he could just as easily have said all that about the progressive wing of his party.

Satullo goes on to suggest that we take four things as being self-evident truths - and then breaks down why we should reconsider them and deal with changing our approach.

1. Twitter is an accurate mirror of America.
2. “People of color” will soon become a cohesive and stable political majority.
3. No. 2 is a good thing, because progressives are good while the other side is evil and must be stopped.
4. Thus, compromise is always wrong. It is a sign of weakness and fuzzy old thinking.

[Deminpenn]

1. Chris Satullo used to be the editorial page editor of

the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is a determined centrist and believer in civic involvement. In 1999, he ran a project called "Citizen Voices" that consisted of discussion groups from every corner of Philadelphia County. The idea was develop a comprehensive plan for the upcoming mayoral election (won by John Street).

[GoneOffShore]

2. Exactly.

He is a good guy.
And John Street was unfortunately, a really bad mayor.

[Deminpenn]

3. Thought Street was a good mayor

and the right man for the job at that time. Warm and fuzzy he was not though.

[GoneOffShore]

4. His administration did nothing to clean up Philadelphia politics.

[Tetrachloride]

5. Nice thoughts but then what ? Donate money to people who have more money than me ?

[GoneOffShore]

6. That'a not what the piece was about.

[Tetrachloride]

7. I'm sure. But my questions remain.

[GoneOffShore]

8. Not sure why you're asking this question, especially as it has no bearing on the piece.

[KPN]

9. Meh. Satullo's got it wrong, beginning with his broad generalization that

progressives take those four things as “self-evident truths”. None of those things are self-evident or truths. He’s a centrist trying to save a falling apart middle — a middle in fact that no longer exists.

[GoneOffShore]

10. It looks to me as if he's trying to bring perspective and some sanity to the table.

And did you read the entire piece?

[KPN]

11. I did. That's fine that he may be trying to do that.

To me, his whole argument is based on faulty assumptions. I don’t think progressives as a whole are saying never compromise for example. I also don’t think they are all saying all Rs are evil, yet he generalizes to that effect. He has a simplistic view in my opinion.

[f_townsend]

12. If Twitter is "an accurate mirror of America"

then we are lost.

[yardwork]

14. That's the point. It's a list of false myths we need to reconsider.

[yardwork]

13. Wish I could rec 1000 times.