2016 Postmortem

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

98. The Democratic Party is not a parliamentary type party.

Fri Dec 2, 2016, 05:06 PM

Dec 2016

There is no defined platform that all Democrats must adhere to. So any litmus test as to who is really a Democrat are not relevant.

Joe Manchin calls himself a Democrat, as did Joe Liebermann. Neither one was progressive in any sense. So in the absence of a definition of what positions must be supported, why not welcome everyone?

Bernie Sanders, in my opinion, is more of a typical Democrat than is Joe Manchin.

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Looking back I, personally, see no benefit to Democrats from Sanders or his supporters [View all] Cary Dec 2016 OP

And I'm sorry, this wasn't meant to be an attack on Sanders' supporters per se Cary Dec 2016 #1

It did come off as more "It's all Bernie's fault" Uponthegears Dec 2016 #68

Unfortunately many Sanders supporters have postures it as such Cary Dec 2016 #71

It's hard to reconcile your perspective angrychair Dec 2016 #140

Pretty sure I'm part of the majority Cary Dec 2016 #145

With us or against us? angrychair Dec 2016 #162

I have said over and over that I am for Democrats and against divisiveness Cary Dec 2016 #184

Hey some of us do think Sen. Sanders caused the loss...with the bitter divided primary. Demsrule86 Dec 2016 #202

"Refuses to join Democrats "? angrychair Dec 2016 #212

What do we do when you have a minority of us who demand to have their ideological way, totally? Cary Dec 2016 #227

That is very non-specific angrychair Dec 2016 #234

Everything is "very non-specific." Cary Dec 2016 #236

So what do we do? Cary Dec 2016 #228

This EffieBlack Dec 2016 #154

I think you're wrong! dembychoice Dec 2016 #208

I respect your opinion (but disagree) Uponthegears Dec 2016 #209

The only explanation I have for Trump is that Cary Dec 2016 #230

My point of view is as legitimate as anyone else's Cary Dec 2016 #229

Can't disagree with you Uponthegears Dec 2016 #243

This message was self-deleted by its author Duckhunter935 Dec 2016 #117

And that mindset is why the Indys and cross-over Republicans ran away. Tim Kaine led to Loss TheBlackAdder Dec 2016 #134

it was only worded that way NRQ891 Dec 2016 #139

Yeah that's real believable. "Fuck off + die" el_bryanto Dec 2016 #232

Hard to grow the party with that kind of attitude. Nt ALBliberal Dec 2016 #2

Yes, so terrible to want people to be positive. Cary Dec 2016 #5

yeah, positive like you. pangaia Dec 2016 #81

Why not start a Cary sucks thread? Cary Dec 2016 #85

nobody says Cary sucks. I don't say Cary sucks. Why would I start such a thread? pangaia Dec 2016 #92

I suggest you look up the word facetious Cary Dec 2016 #104

what forum would you like it in? nt NRQ891 Dec 2016 #101

LOL !! pangaia Dec 2016 #105

You already have. /nt tonedevil Dec 2016 #102

Thank you Mr/Ms devil. pangaia Dec 2016 #107

Post removed Post removed Dec 2016 #3

Chuck Schumer seems to think it's a good idea to embrace many of Bernie's issues and ideas: think Dec 2016 #4

Hillary did that. radical noodle Dec 2016 #32

Nobody believed her though. That Guy 888 Dec 2016 #124

You think anyone could have done it without a fight? radical noodle Dec 2016 #176

I am speaking for myself. That Guy 888 Dec 2016 #183

You clearly said NOBODY believed her radical noodle Dec 2016 #185

Did she win the election? That Guy 888 Dec 2016 #186

You're going around in circles. Cary Dec 2016 #244

That's a wise public posture from a canny politician. lapucelle Dec 2016 #88

Chuck Schumer is trying to erase his eff-up about "moderate republicans" replacing blue-collar votes That Guy 888 Dec 2016 #126

The interests Bernie embaraced have been longstanding issues that many Democrats embrace. Demsrule86 Dec 2016 #204

This is odd Uponthegears Dec 2016 #6

That's the point. Cary Dec 2016 #8

We had a closed causus here in Iowa. stone space Dec 2016 #7

Fine. I have nothing against Bernie. Cary Dec 2016 #9

Your OP directly counters that statement. Nt dionysus Dec 2016 #199

This message was self-deleted by its author Duckhunter935 Dec 2016 #201

My error Cary Dec 2016 #214

We had a closed primary election here in NY lapucelle Dec 2016 #94

NY isn't exactly the shining example of how things should be done, though. SpareribSP Dec 2016 #173

Really? Why not? lapucelle Dec 2016 #187

I more meant the inability to switch party long before the election. SpareribSP Dec 2016 #189

It is not difficult at all to change party affiliation in NY. lapucelle Dec 2016 #195

I agree 100%. asuhornets Dec 2016 #10

It's Official re: Millennials otohara Dec 2016 #115

I knew it...They weren't even born doing the Clinton years..nt asuhornets Dec 2016 #119

So they were born in the GWB or Reagan years? NobodyHere Dec 2016 #172

They were babies during the Clinton years. They believed what they heard in the media...nt asuhornets Dec 2016 #178

That's my read exactly. NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #160

I just don't get it. Whatever Bernie promised, they definitely will not be getting it now. asuhornets Dec 2016 #161

It's fascinating to read sites like JPR ... NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #177

Yeah, he "dissed" Democrats for years by being one of the few SOLID liberal votes... Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2016 #219

... NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #220

Not all states require voters to select a Political Party at voter registration time Larkspur Dec 2016 #11

The same is true for Texas but when you vote in the first primary of a cycle, you are locked in Gothmog Dec 2016 #54

Are you committed to that party for life or until the next primary year? Larkspur Dec 2016 #82

Ds could pay for and run their own primaries in such states stopbush Dec 2016 #90

I thought the DNC controlled who gets to vote lapucelle Dec 2016 #111

I wish every state stopped allowing those who are not registered to vote in the primary. Demsrule86 Dec 2016 #206

States do stop unregistered voters from voting. Larkspur Dec 2016 #211

Well sure is great for Bernie to caucus with the Dems. Thankful the Dem leadership has a more ALBliberal Dec 2016 #12

What will closed primaries accomplish? TXCritter Dec 2016 #13

What I'm really disconcerted about is the JPR kind of stuff Cary Dec 2016 #14

Why? TXCritter Dec 2016 #17

Because it's mostly lies Cary Dec 2016 #20

You do realize that Democrats lie too... chwaliszewski Dec 2016 #39

Lying is part of being human ok? katsy Dec 2016 #59

Correct Cary Dec 2016 #72

Bernie lied about releasing his tax records.... and that's actually relevant, since Trump bettyellen Dec 2016 #77

Sounds right to me Cary Dec 2016 #79

"Just saying" what, exactly? Cary Dec 2016 #65

There are plenty of lies right here, too, Cary. Pushed repeatedly. And repeatedly. We need JudyM Dec 2016 #128

We lost WI, MI and PA by what? Cary Dec 2016 #131

You could say any number of things would've made the difference. More than a few things she JudyM Dec 2016 #133

Bull. It is his fault. Trump thanked Bernie for giving him his ammo against Clinton. R B Garr Dec 2016 #222

Democrats need to pick the nominees of the Democratic Party Gothmog Dec 2016 #56

I don't see how that helps TXCritter Dec 2016 #73

I saw the response and disagreed with it strongly Gothmog Dec 2016 #122

I can't say it better than this TXCritter Dec 2016 #194

That post is also weak and does not convince me at all Gothmog Dec 2016 #213

I could say the same. TXCritter Dec 2016 #215

I was a delegate to the national convention and to deal with bernie supporters Gothmog Dec 2016 #223

If you are the manager of a baseball team... NeoConsSuck Dec 2016 #190

And I don't claim to know. It just sounded right to me. Cary Dec 2016 #18

What I hear you saying is that you want to become the Green Party TXCritter Dec 2016 #24

No. I just don't want people who claim to be Democrats feeding me Republican b.s. Cary Dec 2016 #31

So you favor the echo chamber. TXCritter Dec 2016 #51

I guess since you decree it, then it must be so. Cary Dec 2016 #74

Sure. Have your opinion. TXCritter Dec 2016 #75

Let people who hate Democrats go elsewhere Cary Dec 2016 #78

There are 65,000,000 voters in that echo chamber. lapucelle Dec 2016 #97

And apparently that wasn't enough. TXCritter Dec 2016 #116

It was more than enough. lapucelle Dec 2016 #129

Let me make sure I understand this TXCritter Dec 2016 #169

One plus about Bernie is that he is leading the fight against Trump flamingdem Dec 2016 #15

Funny the only two people out there kacekwl Dec 2016 #57

yeah, that struck me also... pangaia Dec 2016 #87

...and we have a winner! Go Bernie Go!! nt Lucky Luciano Dec 2016 #123

+100000 azmom Dec 2016 #166

Yep. Everyone else is keeping their powder dry. You know, for GreenPartyVoter Dec 2016 #180

He should. He helped WhiteTara Dec 2016 #152

Lots of reasons TRUMP may end up in kacekwl Dec 2016 #167

He offered to work with Trump... Demsrule86 Dec 2016 #205

A party in distress is one PatsFan87 Dec 2016 #16

closed primaries would IMO help speed up a more viable 3rd Party n/t RoccoR2 Dec 2016 #19

So what? Cary Dec 2016 #21

I did not say it would be good or bad however RoccoR2 Dec 2016 #23

I'll believe it when I see it Cary Dec 2016 #27

I was replying to Closing the Dem (and Repub) Primaries RoccoR2 Dec 2016 #36

I have to disagree. If Clinton lost to Trump with all of his negatives... That Guy 888 Dec 2016 #136

we dont know but RoccoR2 Dec 2016 #168

There will never be a real viable 3rd party that lasts more than one election cycle BzaDem Dec 2016 #50

people didn't give a shit about what party Sanders was. If he ran as independent he would have split Sunlei Dec 2016 #22

were there a lot of unreal people who voted for her in the primaries? La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #25

I don't know I went primary for Sanders because I wanted his message heard, then I voted Hilary. Sunlei Dec 2016 #34

she and sanders would have made an incoherent team. you cannot pick a vp who for months La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #38

sorry, I do not agree. They're both team players. as others have told me. moot point now. Sunlei Dec 2016 #49

Then why try to hijack the Party? Cary Dec 2016 #30

He didn't hijack Republicans, they let him in and love that he's president today. Sunlei Dec 2016 #35

Calling it hijacking is subjective. Exilednight Dec 2016 #112

There was no hijacking. Senator Sanders saltpoint Dec 2016 #143

I'm not a real people? ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #45

I meant 'real people' like the people of detroit, 90,000 blank ballots. Or Flint, more thousands Sunlei Dec 2016 #67

Idk but for me personally, being anthing but a big tent party means aspiring to be gop katsy Dec 2016 #26

A few of my ex-friends went so far as to swear that Hillary Clinton was a criminal Cary Dec 2016 #29

And all of mine showed ip for HRC! katsy Dec 2016 #41

was terrible the unfair treatment Hillary got from so very many people. worse than even Obama got. Sunlei Dec 2016 #44

So so very true. katsy Dec 2016 #53

I don't want anyone ignored Cary Dec 2016 #33

Agreed. katsy Dec 2016 #43

I agree that open primaries are stupid radical noodle Dec 2016 #28

Looking back, I personally, see no benefit to Democrats from Clinton or her supporters. SoCalMusicLover Dec 2016 #37

You do not want a third party that attracts liberals away from the Democratic Party, and then JCanete Dec 2016 #40

Democrats voted for Bernie because he fought for progressive policies many "Democrats" wouldn't yurbud Dec 2016 #42

Not sure I entirely agree but nothing bad about what younwru wrote BigBadDem Dec 2016 #46

So, those of us who dared to support him in the primaries are just to leave YOUR Bettie Dec 2016 #47

Bettie, kacekwl Dec 2016 #61

Yes. OnionPatch Dec 2016 #165

I had and still have a problem with Bernie jumping RoccoR2 Dec 2016 #48

I strongly agree that we need closed primaries Gothmog Dec 2016 #52

We can't be a party for left leaning independents and Democrats...join the party Demsrule86 Dec 2016 #55

If this is just an argument about closed primaries, Sanders isn't a compelling case. David Clark is. RAFisher Dec 2016 #58

I was initially for Bernie because his positions on almost every issue were most similar to mine. diane in sf Dec 2016 #60

Party in distress BlindTiresias Dec 2016 #62

This is a prime example. Cary Dec 2016 #64

Whiny? BlindTiresias Dec 2016 #138

You're the one doing the whining. The Democratic saltpoint Dec 2016 #146

You're lucky I have no power to wish people into the corn field.... Cary Dec 2016 #149

I grew up around corn fields, Cary. saltpoint Dec 2016 #150

Obviously you have no idea what I'm talking about. Cary Dec 2016 #156

I think it may be that you are saltpoint Dec 2016 #157

I do not liquid diamond Dec 2016 #63

Had Sanders run as an independent, saltpoint Dec 2016 #151

The benefit I offer is my vote. But if the dems don't want it . . . CrispyQ Dec 2016 #66

I know people who shit talked and posted Brietbart smears about HRC and ultimately voted for her ... bettyellen Dec 2016 #80

I offered my vote. LP2K12 Dec 2016 #69

Not sure what exactly is your point here ProfessorPlum Dec 2016 #70

If I lumped you I'm sorry Cary Dec 2016 #76

You lumped a hella lot of people, dude. Raster Dec 2016 #83

Well, dude, I tried my best Cary Dec 2016 #86

Not worth the effort. Raster Dec 2016 #91

Then why put in the "effort" polluting my attempts at discussion? Cary Dec 2016 #99

Sort of like claiming Sanders supporters hate the party like you've done in this thread? mythology Dec 2016 #174

THIS X 1000 stopbush Dec 2016 #84

I'm an example of a benefit. retrowire Dec 2016 #89

I have no objective evidence Cary Dec 2016 #96

She certainly had a lot against her. I can't disagree. Nt retrowire Dec 2016 #110

Resistance first. Inner party politics later. crosinski Dec 2016 #93

Not necessary .... just another part of the circular firing squad nt Persondem Dec 2016 #95

The Democratic Party is not a parliamentary type party. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #98

It's a private organization Cary Dec 2016 #100

But my point is if you ask 100 people what a Democrat is, you might receive 60 different answers. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #103

And my point is the party can do what it wants Cary Dec 2016 #106

True, as Sanders workers found out. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #108

'Some people feel entitled. They're mistaken.' NRQ891 Dec 2016 #130

I'm so happy for you Cary Dec 2016 #132

as am I nt NRQ891 Dec 2016 #135

Respectfully disagree with every portion of this post hueymahl Dec 2016 #109

We need Same Day registration, open primaries, early voting, and a national holiday to vote. Gore1FL Dec 2016 #113

I supported Hillary but I'm getting into blame game RandySF Dec 2016 #114

lulz Rex Dec 2016 #118

'Looking back I, personally, see no benefit to Democrats from HILLARY or her supporters.' BlueProgressive Dec 2016 #120

Damn straight! hueymahl Dec 2016 #141

Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is a good read for anyone who is concerned with how we got here nt NRQ891 Dec 2016 #121

Post removed Post removed Dec 2016 #125

Why we need a new Democratic Party in this age of Trump -- and what we need it to do.Robert Reich elleng Dec 2016 #127

Plus 1. The OP should give this a saltpoint Dec 2016 #142

Thanks, saltpoint. elleng Dec 2016 #147

You chose a great piece. It would go saltpoint Dec 2016 #148

Thanks. Will repost. elleng Dec 2016 #153

George W and Jeb Bush hurt Hillary as well NRQ891 Dec 2016 #137

Oh good fucking gawd. Iggo Dec 2016 #144

I believe in closed primaries and glad we have them in NY, but... hrmjustin Dec 2016 #155

States decide how their primaries or caucuses proceed. BainsBane Dec 2016 #158

ABSOLUTELY - closed primaries!!! DrDan Dec 2016 #159

Most of Sanders' supporters are Democrats democrattotheend Dec 2016 #163

Would be nice if there were more FDR Democrats running lostnfound Dec 2016 #164

Amen to that! PatsFan87 Dec 2016 #170

I dont fully agree. Internationalist Dec 2016 #171

Trying to make primaries non-competitive is a surefire recipe to lose. SpareribSP Dec 2016 #175

Fine. Close the Primaries, and open the debates. We need more choices in GreenPartyVoter Dec 2016 #179

Nope. Non viable candidates should have no platform. Nt duffyduff Dec 2016 #181

Then don't complain if a Primary echo chamber doesn't put a strong GE candidate on the ticket. GreenPartyVoter Dec 2016 #182

Oh gee, republicans had how many candidates in the primary this time? LisaL Dec 2016 #198

IIRC he also won the general election too. Glassunion Dec 2016 #240

We should have run Joe Biden obliviously Dec 2016 #188

Here is your actual problem quaker bill Dec 2016 #191

Please stop A-Schwarzenegger Dec 2016 #193

Hard to say... since he wasn't on the ticket FBaggins Dec 2016 #192

Yea, he just lost the primary. LisaL Dec 2016 #197

Exactly. Far less embarrassing. n/t FBaggins Dec 2016 #203

You don't know what you're talking about. This sanders supporter dionysus Dec 2016 #196

I agree with you. Demsrule86 Dec 2016 #200

Whether you supported Sen. Sanders or not( I did not and admit I dislike him at this point), Demsrule86 Dec 2016 #207

I do. Orsino Dec 2016 #210

Other than needing them to win an election. Exilednight Dec 2016 #216

Needing people who would cut my throat and stab me in the back? Cary Dec 2016 #217

What exactly is the "radical left"? Exilednight Dec 2016 #218

The word "radical" is well-defined Cary Dec 2016 #225

It's a subjective word. what I view as radical probably will Exilednight Dec 2016 #233

So what if it's subjective? Cary Dec 2016 #235

"I'm not all that interested in debating the matter" Without debate nothing Exilednight Dec 2016 #237

Actually it's been the other way around Cary Dec 2016 #238

I'm not the one calling people radicals who disagree with me. Exilednight Dec 2016 #239

Then good luck EVER winning again. alarimer Dec 2016 #221

lol, at least this is a clear message that you don't care about winning. R B Garr Dec 2016 #224

Nice to know you R B Garr Cary Dec 2016 #226

Nice to know you, too, Cary. R B Garr Dec 2016 #241

I don't think the divisiveness is going away Cary Dec 2016 #242

I also think many are invested in the divisiveness, and it sure looks like R B Garr Dec 2016 #245

Absolutely Cary Dec 2016 #246

You should have just stuck with that last line el_bryanto Dec 2016 #231

Members of the Democratic Party should be picking the Democratic nominee Gothmog Dec 2016 #247