The most conservative Democrat is still better than

[Trumpocalypse]

the most liberal Republican. And definitely light years better than Trump.

Biden voted for the crime bill. Who cares?

Warren use to be a Republican. No big deal.

Harris was a hard line prosecutor. Not a problem.

Sanders and Gillibrand. Voted with the NRA. So what?

Dems need to adopt Reagan's 11th commandment. We need to united in 20 or we will lose.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. "We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Ben Franklin's words still ring true.

[TDale313]

2. Of course.

However, that doesn’t mean, particularly in the primary season, that would shouldn’t strive to see the party reflect where we want it to go/be. I will vote for & support whoever the Dem nominee is. Honestly, I genuinely do like and would be perfectly happy with all the candidates. But I do have to point out that “Better than Trump” or “Better than any Republican” is a depressingly low bar.

[irisblue]

3. 👆👆👆👆👆 this. So much this

[Hortensis]

4. I see what you're doing here. Nevertheless, when it comes to

the electorate and what most people will vote for there's real truth in it. The electorate has always been heavily mainstream in this nation, and everyone born here grew up with the heritage of 250 years of the political compromise intrinsic to democracy. It's in our blood, so to speak.

Btw, that crime bill was very popular in its time. In fact, I got my head handed to me by a pair of black female coworkers for saying I opposed it. It was very much a social justice/black lives matter issue for them, and they supported the Republicans in this.

[Trumpocalypse]

5. The only thing that I'm doing is stating my opinion

Don't you agree that any Dem is better than any Republican?

[Hortensis]

7. :) Virtually 100% these days.

But there are better ways to express that than by selecting a list of seeming conservative crimes we should presumably overlook because "they're worse." That reality I spoke of is that,

There is no way to be concerned and respectful about the needs and desires of others, no way to be tolerant of different ways, no way to accept broad diversity along many axes without the moderating effect cooperation and compromise must have on our political choices.

And to protect those critical virtues of democracy these days requires not just voting Democrat but for Democrats committed to serving all Americans. That's the only way it'll work, even if it often means giving the conservative half of our nation some of what they wish.

Overall, liberal Democrats are very good good at making democracy work -- no surprise since we created it -- and strong conservatives are very bad at it, as they want to be.

[Trumpocalypse]

15. A simple yes or no

would have sufficed.

[cwydro]

17. This.

Thank you.

[Zambero]

9. Absolutely yes

Zel Miller, a rare Dixiecrat who did not switch to the GOP, is no longer around. Would I choose a Joe Manchin over a Susan Collins? In a heartbeat.

[Trumpocalypse]

13. Thanks for getting it

I think some people missed the point.

[Demsrule86]

20. Zel while not pervect gave Grorgia pre-k and the hope scholarship.

What have Reblicans ever done for the people...nothing.

[emmaverybo]

12. At that time, the crack epidemic spurred violent crime in Black neighborhoods where law abiding

citizens became prey to the dealers, gangs, people in crack houses owned by remote landlords. The ninety five percent were suffering from the five percent and they felt law enforcement and the justice system dismissed them because they were Black victims. It was these residents who demanded dramatic and firm action.
We all know the law of unintended consequences.
But not all of the crime bill had negative impact. Billions went to crime prevention, community policing, drug deterrence courts. I don’t think many here would argue against the strong gun
control provisions or the VAWA.
So yes, it was popular in its time.

[Hortensis]

22. Yes. Both toleration of high crime rates in some neighborhoods

and not others and arrests for being black and tragically disproportionate sentences were and are huge social justice issues.

I used to appraise in under-policed residential neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and they were full of people trying to raise their families and live the American dream same as all the others, but with increased dangers that shouldn't have been allowed to exist and wasn't in a significant voting majority of others.

[Drunken Irishman]

18. Three Democrats in the race voted for it: Biden, Inslee and Sanders.

Biden drafted an outline that was used in '94 but the others supported it. It's not just Biden's bill.

[Hortensis]

21. Hm. Sanders we knew, but I didn't realize Inslee.

Most candidates were of course not in congress 25 years ago or the list would be longer.

[DrToast]

6. There will be fighting, it's fine.

I haven’t seen anything to suggest that Democrats won’t unite after the primary season. Although, to be honest, I’m a little concerned about Bernie’s camp.

[Demit]

8. The time to call for party loyalty & unity is after we have our nominee.

Until then, people are evaluating the things you personally say "So what?" about.

[greenman3610]

10. first win

then we'll fight it out on the details

and


JUDGES, JUDGES, JUDGES

[uawchild]

11. All Democrats WILL be getting behind our nominee in 2020

I believe a consensus candidate WILL ABSOLUTELY get the nomination in 2020 and WILL bring the party together in support of them.

There won't be any dead-enders.

All Democrats will put minor differences and any disappointment that their favorite candidate didn't win behind them and support our nominee.

Trump is going down.

[gopiscrap]

14. agreed

[Turin_C3PO]

16. Yes, of course.

The good thing is that most Dems are pretty progressive nowadays anyway. I remember when I was growing up in the 90s there were still a fair amount of actual conservative Democrats.

And of course, the liberal Republican is more rare these days than the spotted owl.

[Demsrule86]

19. Agree. Great post. K&R.