2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forummoriah
(8,311 posts)... that this is Democratic Underground, not third party Underground, and while I admit our election system is broken until we get ranked choice voting, this isn't the forum for people who believe both parties are the same?
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Winning elections is important therefore, advocating in favor of Republican nominees or in favor of third-party spoiler candidates that could split the vote and throw an election to our conservative opponents is never permitted on Democratic Underground. But that does not mean that DU members are required to always be completely supportive of Democrats. During the ups-and-downs of politics and policy-making, it is perfectly normal to have mixed feelings about the Democratic officials we worked hard to help elect. When we are not in the heat of election season, members are permitted to post strong criticism or disappointment with our Democratic elected officials, or to express ambivalence about voting for them. In Democratic primaries, members may support whomever they choose. But when general election season begins, DU members must support Democratic nominees (EXCEPT in rare cases where a non-Democrat is most likely to defeat the conservative alternative, or where there is no possibility of splitting the liberal vote and inadvertently throwing the election to the conservative alternative). For presidential contests, election season begins when both major-party nominees become clear. For non-presidential contests, election season begins on Labor Day. Everyone here on DU needs to work together to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government. If you are bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for our candidates during election season, we'll assume you are rooting for the other side.
TheBlackAdder
(28,252 posts)moriah
(8,311 posts)But memes like that are shared all over to suggest that there are no differences between the two parties. It's a huge theme.
I might also be hypersensitive on that, because I have a roommate who firmly believes both parties are the same. I come to DU to talk with people who agree that even if Democrats aren't perfect, they're still.better than the alternative.
If I crossed a civility line, I do apologize, as that's a hot button for me.
Playinghardball
(11,665 posts)I just wanted to be clear on that....
Baobab
(4,667 posts)I think that they are neck and neck right now. Democrats are pulling ahead in their visible corporate friendliness.
And that going to hurt the party a great deal. Democrats should stop harping on that because if we do it will provide fuel to call attention to how we were wrong.
In terms of destructive things to the US middle class in the near future, there is no question, if HRC is the nominee, Dems will very soon be way ahead. GOP is perhaps more damaging to the poor. I think that the neoliberal dems should be in their own group.
moriah
(8,311 posts)Better accepting of science instead of science-denial.
Better advocacy for human rights.
Better decisions regarding the use of our troops, attempting to go through the UN process instead of unilateral wars like Iraq, and a better focus on care for our troops after they come home.
Better economic policies.
Better ideas on healthcare.
Not perfect, but better. I could go on, but the fact I needed to explain this on DU is sad.
Baobab
(4,667 posts)If I was a grammar school teacher grading us I would give us a D
D is not a passing grade but its better than an F
moriah
(8,311 posts)... I would still be happier with my child getting a D, even if I would strongly try to help him or her improve.
TheBlackAdder
(28,252 posts).
So many want to have that power of censorship and being the neighborhood watchdog. It's sad.
As an EFF member, when I even hear people think about alerting it really casts a negativism.
Hot button or not, what's one person's line of civility is another's banter or literary folly.
As a continuing ed Poli-Sci student, there are more similarities between the parties than differences.
.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)but the Party Elites are controlled by the same Big Money people and corporations. Both Goldman-Sachs and the Koch Bros said they would be happy with Clinton. Also Richard Perile and the Neocons love Clinton and can't wait to invade Iran.
moriah
(8,311 posts)... remind you of two ugly ads in Iowa.
And
Neither were paid for by Democrats.
I spent a great deal of time looking at OpenSecrets this campaign. There was this gorgeous interactive graphic, and if I can find the link before I try to stop my time at the Insomnia Machine(tm), I'll edit this post with it. It showed the SuperPac money flowing in to each Presidential campaign, and the origins.
What amazed me about it is that there was no doubt that while Clinton had the most PAC money of any Democratic candidate, that when you expanded the graphic to see the Republicans... oh FSM, seriously, the visual difference was enough to convince me that even if Hillary, as the hopeful and the most "establishment" (faugh, I hate that word) candidate was getting most of the cash from Democrats, that the real people being bought are the GOP.
But it's merely my opinion, and I know whst they are like -- if you're the person on the Internet who believes it stinks, I respect your right... and you may be correct, as I'm certainly not correct in every opinion I have.
R. Daneel Olivaw
(12,606 posts)silvershadow
(10,336 posts)TDale313
(7,820 posts)qdouble
(891 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Well Bob-Bye
aspirant
(3,533 posts)Then the politicians themselves may help fund a few schools in their state
Scuba
(53,475 posts)bigwillq
(72,790 posts)K and R
pampango
(24,692 posts)He takes no corporate donations, opposes corporate trade deals, etc. The GOP donor class has been funding super-pacs and other opposition to the Donald. He has few endorsements from the GOP establishment or its politicians.
It's true that Trump supporters have to put up with some racism, xenophobia, anti-Union sentiment and "climate change is a hoax" rhetoric but no one is perfect. Like the racism and xenophobia of his right wing populist predecessors, George Wallace and Pat Buchanan, Trump also wants to strengthen Social Security (for real Americans?) so he, like Wallace and Buchanan, has a few 'liberal' policies to go with the others.
No I do not support Trump and would never vote for him. He will, however, be a dangerous demagogue on the campaign trail and should not be underestimated.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)Buy gold!! Buy gold!! Buy gold!! Buy gold!! Buy gold!! Buy gold!!
There's also a fucked up article about how the MSM was ignoring the story about how Planned Parenthood sells baby parts.
And another with this opening line "The huge concocted lie that is Obama Care was upheld by the Supreme Court."
Check your sources, that shitshow had no place here other than to mock as total shit.
"...you should ask who you're believing, especially when it comes to Clinton. You might be laying down in a bed of slime." ~The Rude Pundit