Democratic Fight in California Is a Warning for the National Party.

[elleng]

'For Democrats across the nation, California has offered a bright if lonely light this year. The party controls every statewide office and commands supermajorities in the Legislature. Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders have become national voices, steering the party as it pushes back against President Trump on issues as varied as the environment and immigration.

But in recent weeks, California Democrats have emerged as something else: a cautionary tale for a national party debating how to rebuild and seize back power. Even at a time of overall success, state Democrats are torn by a bitter fight for the party leadership, revealing the kind of divisions — between insiders and outsiders, liberals and moderates — that unsettled the national party last year and could threaten its success in coming years.

“What we are seeing in California is similar to what we are seeing on the national level,” said Betty T. Yee, the Democratic state controller. “If we don’t do our work to really heal our divide, we are going to miss our chance to motivate Democrats.”

The fight pits Eric C. Bauman, a longtime party leader, against Kimberly Ellis, a Bay Area activist. Mr. Bauman won the election by just over 60 votes out of 3,000 cast at the party convention in May, but Ms. Ellis has refused to concede, claiming voting improprieties, like permitting ineligible people to vote for Mr. Bauman.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/us/democrats-california-eric-bauman.html?

[CincyDem]

1. Our job is hard.

Quote Nicolò Machiavelli -

“It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who gain by the new ones.

Usually we only see the first part but the second part it germane to this topic.

Republicans can easily coalesce around what has been and the "good old days". Democrats have the unenviable task of agreeing on the future. That's why those who can do it - Kennedy, Clinton, Obama - leave such a powerful impression. Unfortunately, that also invites a lot of dissension throughout the ranks in a way that can make progress difficult.

[Binkie The Clown]

2. "But MY way is the only one true rightous and proper way for the party to proceed."

"And if you disagree with me, you are a (commie bastard zombie mutant from outer space | Nazi right-wing corporate sellout collaborator | self-absorbed DINO millennial with shit for brains) and deserve to lose elections."

And with all 14 factions of the Democratic party saying assorted variations of that same thing to each other, we don't stand a chance.

Not that it really matters since global warming will kill us all pretty soon anyway.

[Bladewire]

3. I live in California

I don't experience, nor have I witnessed, any "divide" with fellow Democrats here .