I am honestly less scared of the lack of indecency than the intellectual bankruptcy needed to claim that the shooter was a radical leftist. In the past few days, videos have come out of boelter practically possessed at evangelical churches, and many people in MAGA still refuses to recant their claims that he was a left-wing terrorist. A large part of the MAGA base hates the libs so much that they are losing congitive ability by the day.
The right has, ironically, become the very model of postmodernism they spent decades accusing the left of. It goes to show that sacrificing principles for short term victories leads to rot.
Good article. Pragmatism is the key to governing. It is necessary for a political party to have ideals, but it is not sufficient. In order to win middle of the road voters, a party must have a demonstrably good character coupled with the ability to compete aggressively and win elections. Democrats have coasted for the last twenty or so years on the residual good will of the electorate toward Democrats based on the party's past. However, during the last few decades, Democrats have not articulated a good defense to the Republican onslaught tearing us down in the voters' minds. At some point, the party decided it did not have to be aggressive about competing for votes.
Someone, somewhere within the Democratic coalition, must become realistic about the challenge Democrats face in Red states. Voters are seeing the results of Republicans' deceptive political practices. In self defense, voters will seek an alternative to Republicans. But, in Red states, there will be no Democrats on their local ballots. This sends a message to voters. And this message is that Democrats are okay with letting Republicans ruin their lives.
Voters in Red states do not currently see Democrats as having their back. Democrats have not been pragmatic enough to compete for voters in Red states. The reason we have such a gigantic pool of Independent or non-affiliated is voters never hear competing political positions in Red states. Democrats have got to devote themselves to the fact that even when a party loses elections, that party still affects governing by pushing the winning party to moderate.
If we want to improve the Democratic Party, we must do so locally. Whatever it takes to find and develop political candidates willing to put a (D) beside their name and stand for office is what we must do. Messaging from DC is not going to win the election for us unless there is a candidate to benefit from that message. Republicans recognize their base is becoming alienated from it. They are doing everything they can at the practical level to prevent Democrats from getting votes. They know those potential Democratic votes are there within their own ranks.
Republicans aren't moderating or fine-tuning their message. They are doing everything they can on the ground to prevent voters from voting for a Democrat locally. This is how they keep the Democratic Party weak. Failing to fight in every district and in every race is how Democrats let them.
Republicans aren't terribly worried because they know that as a practical matter, voters don't have a Democratic choice on the down ballots. Until voters can throw Republicans out at the local level, the Democratic Party will remain vulnerable to the same kind of Republican undermining that brought it to its current state of ineffectiveness.
The idea behind your moniker was wonderful, actually necessary. And there was a time when it was practical. But that time began to end when AM radio (carried on PUBLIC airwave frequencies) was no longer required by the FCC to maintain the fairness doctrine previously applied to television and radio broadcasts, in 1987. So Limbaugh and countless imitators took over the late hours talk radio format, and then the morning commute talk radio, and finally the even-while-at work talk radio, wherever right-leaning, left-hating blue collar supervisors and workers preferred hearing somebody yakking all day instead of actual music that radio was once known for. And ever since, especially when it was never even considered to legislate a fairness doctrine for cable television, we could watch the erosion of the actual 'conservative' political movement into rabid propaganda and hate live on Fox Noise on cable, for decades. Glad to see you finally acknowledge the impossibility of ever having a purple republic ever since the toxic rightwing lies and propaganda manifested itself by voting for trump, the epitome of toxicity, way back in 2016. Interesting also that of the 3 commenters so far, one was already exhibiting the Republican go-to response of what-aboutism right on cue. Their missionary zeal shows no signs of ever relenting and agreeing with you. But glad to see you address this.
You actually cannot be paying attention. The same kind of disgusting behavior is seen from the left when the roles are reversed. It’s a sad commentary on the state of political discourse in the US.
I have paid attention. If you read much of what I write, I'm extremely critical of the toxic activists on the left. But there's a difference between activiss and elected officials. The GOP electeds are what I'm talking about here. And I didn't see any praise the shooting of anyone as Senator Lee did.
I recall Chuck Schumer threatening Supreme Court Justices. I recall Maxine Waters calling for violence against Trump supporters. They are elected officials. I could go on.
I am honestly less scared of the lack of indecency than the intellectual bankruptcy needed to claim that the shooter was a radical leftist. In the past few days, videos have come out of boelter practically possessed at evangelical churches, and many people in MAGA still refuses to recant their claims that he was a left-wing terrorist. A large part of the MAGA base hates the libs so much that they are losing congitive ability by the day.
Agreed.
The right has, ironically, become the very model of postmodernism they spent decades accusing the left of. It goes to show that sacrificing principles for short term victories leads to rot.
One of your best pieces, great job!
Good article. Pragmatism is the key to governing. It is necessary for a political party to have ideals, but it is not sufficient. In order to win middle of the road voters, a party must have a demonstrably good character coupled with the ability to compete aggressively and win elections. Democrats have coasted for the last twenty or so years on the residual good will of the electorate toward Democrats based on the party's past. However, during the last few decades, Democrats have not articulated a good defense to the Republican onslaught tearing us down in the voters' minds. At some point, the party decided it did not have to be aggressive about competing for votes.
Someone, somewhere within the Democratic coalition, must become realistic about the challenge Democrats face in Red states. Voters are seeing the results of Republicans' deceptive political practices. In self defense, voters will seek an alternative to Republicans. But, in Red states, there will be no Democrats on their local ballots. This sends a message to voters. And this message is that Democrats are okay with letting Republicans ruin their lives.
Voters in Red states do not currently see Democrats as having their back. Democrats have not been pragmatic enough to compete for voters in Red states. The reason we have such a gigantic pool of Independent or non-affiliated is voters never hear competing political positions in Red states. Democrats have got to devote themselves to the fact that even when a party loses elections, that party still affects governing by pushing the winning party to moderate.
If we want to improve the Democratic Party, we must do so locally. Whatever it takes to find and develop political candidates willing to put a (D) beside their name and stand for office is what we must do. Messaging from DC is not going to win the election for us unless there is a candidate to benefit from that message. Republicans recognize their base is becoming alienated from it. They are doing everything they can at the practical level to prevent Democrats from getting votes. They know those potential Democratic votes are there within their own ranks.
Republicans aren't moderating or fine-tuning their message. They are doing everything they can on the ground to prevent voters from voting for a Democrat locally. This is how they keep the Democratic Party weak. Failing to fight in every district and in every race is how Democrats let them.
Republicans aren't terribly worried because they know that as a practical matter, voters don't have a Democratic choice on the down ballots. Until voters can throw Republicans out at the local level, the Democratic Party will remain vulnerable to the same kind of Republican undermining that brought it to its current state of ineffectiveness.
The idea behind your moniker was wonderful, actually necessary. And there was a time when it was practical. But that time began to end when AM radio (carried on PUBLIC airwave frequencies) was no longer required by the FCC to maintain the fairness doctrine previously applied to television and radio broadcasts, in 1987. So Limbaugh and countless imitators took over the late hours talk radio format, and then the morning commute talk radio, and finally the even-while-at work talk radio, wherever right-leaning, left-hating blue collar supervisors and workers preferred hearing somebody yakking all day instead of actual music that radio was once known for. And ever since, especially when it was never even considered to legislate a fairness doctrine for cable television, we could watch the erosion of the actual 'conservative' political movement into rabid propaganda and hate live on Fox Noise on cable, for decades. Glad to see you finally acknowledge the impossibility of ever having a purple republic ever since the toxic rightwing lies and propaganda manifested itself by voting for trump, the epitome of toxicity, way back in 2016. Interesting also that of the 3 commenters so far, one was already exhibiting the Republican go-to response of what-aboutism right on cue. Their missionary zeal shows no signs of ever relenting and agreeing with you. But glad to see you address this.
You actually cannot be paying attention. The same kind of disgusting behavior is seen from the left when the roles are reversed. It’s a sad commentary on the state of political discourse in the US.
I have paid attention. If you read much of what I write, I'm extremely critical of the toxic activists on the left. But there's a difference between activiss and elected officials. The GOP electeds are what I'm talking about here. And I didn't see any praise the shooting of anyone as Senator Lee did.
I recall Chuck Schumer threatening Supreme Court Justices. I recall Maxine Waters calling for violence against Trump supporters. They are elected officials. I could go on.
Cite please. Because I think you are pulling that shit out of your ass.
I looked up the events he looked up, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1150446, and https://www.factcheck.org/2021/04/in-her-own-words-maxine-waters/ of David Taylor, and much of it comes down to perception and interpretation.