Eight years ago when Hillary lost, the divisions on the left were already there. However, we were so angered by Trump that we all got onboard with the #ReGRIFTance and #VoteBlueNoMatterWho. It was especially the case during 2020, when the world was in a crisis.
This time around, I feel a much much different energy. It feels as though the DNC has lost any and all legitimacy, even among people who would usually defend them. Even among friends of mine who were once so terrified of any division in the ranks. The only solution forward, is to let the party die. Build a new class-based movement from the ground up. The Democratic Party is beyond saving.
That's a very pessimistic take. One could have said the same about the Republican party 12 years ago. A true grass roots insurgency, MAGA, emerged a few years later that tapped into the discontent among working class Republicans. A battle between the old guard, the GOP, and the revolutionaries, MAGA, ensued. Eventually, after several years of infighting MAGA prevailed. The Democratic party has been in need of similar grassroots insurrection. In 2015 it looked like the Bernie campaign was a harbinger of a realignment within the party towards bread and butter issues. But it turned out to be a political mirage. Bernie was and still is a fraud and many of supporters left the party or went back to being uninvolved with politics.
The problem with being beholding to billionaires, even the "good" ones, is that in order to solve the kitchen table issues, billionaires have to sacrifice. Billionaires donate to Democrat lawmakers (like they donate to Republican lawmakers) so they don't have to sacrifice. It's a sticky wicket for the Democrats. So they tenaciously hold on to identity politics because its the only tool they're left with. God forbid they go back to their populist roots and lose out on all that sweet, sweet donor honey.
I have lived for 3 years and an expat community in Mexico which is overlaiden with all things democrat. I started out as a Democrat years and years and years ago but over the years things changed as did I. It got so bad down here that those of us who might have liked Trump never came out of the closet because we were the object of derision and sometimes simply hate. Trump won. So evidently the two or three Republicans that were out of the closet down here bought a full page ad in our local newspaper which congratulated Trump on winning and it was sponsored by the GOP of Lakeside. I never knew there was a GOP down here so I got in touch and it turns out there are many more of us than anyone could have imagined. We are having a standing room only crowd coming to have lunch on February 13th. There is already a waiting list. I think some of these vocal Democrats have gone into the closet that the Republicans have emptied. It was such a pleasure to see the tables turn.
If you want to see the real Dem party, the Senate confirmation hearings is all you need to know, plus their adoptee Bernie who is so concerned about Onesies that he forgot about his pharma contributions. Who they choose to run it - does it really matter given the "leadership."
He topped the list of recipients - he and Warren - at the RFK, Jr so-called hearing. More like the Lottery than an actual advise and consent. RFK pointed this unfortunate to Sanders.
Whoever they are (he said "the workers", trying the man of the people bullshit one more time) their contributions amount to well over a million dollars.
At the risk of over simplifying, our major problem in the U.S. is wealth inequality. Everything else stems from this...The Spirit Level, a study by anthropologists, outlined the evidence (the more equal the citizens, the more harmonious the society).
their billionaire masters demand neoliberalism at home and neoconservatism abroad. that’s why we have this shit leadership—we’re not playing the same game AT ALL.
The party was destroyed by Bill Clinton and the third way back in the early 90s. Bernie, was a breath of fresh air, but they pulled out all stops to keep him from gaining power. I don’t see how they can come back, especially if identity politics is what leads them. I hate to admit this but I voted for Trump this time. I never thought that would be possible, but the modern day Democrats don’t leave much choice. Btw, I think it was Dick Cheney‘s endorsement that did me in and Harris campaigning with his daughter instead of a progressive face. I thought you guys left me, I didn’t leave you.
Carter was my first vote too when I was about 21. He was a Democrat but imo helped bring in the new ideology that Reagan expressed and governed with, trickle down and neoliberalism. Reagan changed our ideology from egalitarian, great society, new deal to neoliberalism. Clinton came in next and cemented this ideology in place with new laws and regulations like repeal of Glass Stegall, NAFTA, Crime Bill, Welfare Reform and more. He wasn’t progressive but rather regressive. I assign Reagan and Clinton as the architects that put us where we are today. I too was for Kennedy but voted for Trump reluctantly hoping he does good things. If Kennedy and Gabbard get in I think they will try to do good things but the blob doesn’t want them. Not holding my breath for good things but hoping, lol. Just my opinion!
Anyone funded by Reid Hoffman is the wrong answer for the Dems. He is partially responsible for the overreach that made them unelectable in the first place.
Schallenberger had a different take today (can’t find it bc Substack app is giving me fits). He said Dems aren’t opposing Trump’s DEI squashing bc they know that’s not important to Americans right now.
I am sick of the posturing on all sides. Reminds me of the new boss or coworker, the one everybody swoons over and thinks s/he is gonna be great. Only to learn later that it was all talk and no actual work gets done.
The Democrats continue to be blissfully removed from any semblance of reality. 10 years from now, 2025 will be referred to as the "good-ole-days". "It's the voter's fault" will be proudly displayed on their letterhead (and on custom post-it notes).
Eight years ago when Hillary lost, the divisions on the left were already there. However, we were so angered by Trump that we all got onboard with the #ReGRIFTance and #VoteBlueNoMatterWho. It was especially the case during 2020, when the world was in a crisis.
This time around, I feel a much much different energy. It feels as though the DNC has lost any and all legitimacy, even among people who would usually defend them. Even among friends of mine who were once so terrified of any division in the ranks. The only solution forward, is to let the party die. Build a new class-based movement from the ground up. The Democratic Party is beyond saving.
That's a very pessimistic take. One could have said the same about the Republican party 12 years ago. A true grass roots insurgency, MAGA, emerged a few years later that tapped into the discontent among working class Republicans. A battle between the old guard, the GOP, and the revolutionaries, MAGA, ensued. Eventually, after several years of infighting MAGA prevailed. The Democratic party has been in need of similar grassroots insurrection. In 2015 it looked like the Bernie campaign was a harbinger of a realignment within the party towards bread and butter issues. But it turned out to be a political mirage. Bernie was and still is a fraud and many of supporters left the party or went back to being uninvolved with politics.
The problem with being beholding to billionaires, even the "good" ones, is that in order to solve the kitchen table issues, billionaires have to sacrifice. Billionaires donate to Democrat lawmakers (like they donate to Republican lawmakers) so they don't have to sacrifice. It's a sticky wicket for the Democrats. So they tenaciously hold on to identity politics because its the only tool they're left with. God forbid they go back to their populist roots and lose out on all that sweet, sweet donor honey.
They're digging their own grave, and after their performance the last 10 or 15 years, I'm perfectly happy to let them.
I have lived for 3 years and an expat community in Mexico which is overlaiden with all things democrat. I started out as a Democrat years and years and years ago but over the years things changed as did I. It got so bad down here that those of us who might have liked Trump never came out of the closet because we were the object of derision and sometimes simply hate. Trump won. So evidently the two or three Republicans that were out of the closet down here bought a full page ad in our local newspaper which congratulated Trump on winning and it was sponsored by the GOP of Lakeside. I never knew there was a GOP down here so I got in touch and it turns out there are many more of us than anyone could have imagined. We are having a standing room only crowd coming to have lunch on February 13th. There is already a waiting list. I think some of these vocal Democrats have gone into the closet that the Republicans have emptied. It was such a pleasure to see the tables turn.
Golden Shovel Award 2024
Keep digging 😎
If you want to see the real Dem party, the Senate confirmation hearings is all you need to know, plus their adoptee Bernie who is so concerned about Onesies that he forgot about his pharma contributions. Who they choose to run it - does it really matter given the "leadership."
Who are his Pharma contributors?
He topped the list of recipients - he and Warren - at the RFK, Jr so-called hearing. More like the Lottery than an actual advise and consent. RFK pointed this unfortunate to Sanders.
Whoever they are (he said "the workers", trying the man of the people bullshit one more time) their contributions amount to well over a million dollars.
Shakir has common sense and good ideas so he will have no future in the Democratic Party.
At the risk of over simplifying, our major problem in the U.S. is wealth inequality. Everything else stems from this...The Spirit Level, a study by anthropologists, outlined the evidence (the more equal the citizens, the more harmonious the society).
Anthropologically, increasing disparity between elites and regular citizens is a classic sign of a culture about to fail.
their billionaire masters demand neoliberalism at home and neoconservatism abroad. that’s why we have this shit leadership—we’re not playing the same game AT ALL.
They really need to change their name. Or apply apostrophes plus a laughter track.
This line blew me away: “a pledge to ensure the ethnic diversity of the new trans members.”
so...the new "Village People"?
Only the "good" billionaires--ha ha. With "good" being defined as giving lots and lots of money to the DNC.
The party was destroyed by Bill Clinton and the third way back in the early 90s. Bernie, was a breath of fresh air, but they pulled out all stops to keep him from gaining power. I don’t see how they can come back, especially if identity politics is what leads them. I hate to admit this but I voted for Trump this time. I never thought that would be possible, but the modern day Democrats don’t leave much choice. Btw, I think it was Dick Cheney‘s endorsement that did me in and Harris campaigning with his daughter instead of a progressive face. I thought you guys left me, I didn’t leave you.
I voted for RFK, but willingly admit I had to vote for Trump to do so.
First time since Jimmy Carter that I voted for a Republican—and with Carter, I was young and dumb (it was my first vote, at 18).
Carter was my first vote too when I was about 21. He was a Democrat but imo helped bring in the new ideology that Reagan expressed and governed with, trickle down and neoliberalism. Reagan changed our ideology from egalitarian, great society, new deal to neoliberalism. Clinton came in next and cemented this ideology in place with new laws and regulations like repeal of Glass Stegall, NAFTA, Crime Bill, Welfare Reform and more. He wasn’t progressive but rather regressive. I assign Reagan and Clinton as the architects that put us where we are today. I too was for Kennedy but voted for Trump reluctantly hoping he does good things. If Kennedy and Gabbard get in I think they will try to do good things but the blob doesn’t want them. Not holding my breath for good things but hoping, lol. Just my opinion!
Anyone funded by Reid Hoffman is the wrong answer for the Dems. He is partially responsible for the overreach that made them unelectable in the first place.
If we ever get fascism in this country, God forbid, the Democrats will be as responsible as the Republicans for it.
The Dems way more IMHO.
Has anyone else reported on this? It seems that Lee and a few other others are doing all the essential journalism.
“What we have here is a failure to communicate”.
Schallenberger had a different take today (can’t find it bc Substack app is giving me fits). He said Dems aren’t opposing Trump’s DEI squashing bc they know that’s not important to Americans right now.
I am sick of the posturing on all sides. Reminds me of the new boss or coworker, the one everybody swoons over and thinks s/he is gonna be great. Only to learn later that it was all talk and no actual work gets done.
Shellenberger doesn't have a post yet today. Do you mean this one from last week? (I can't read past the paywall.) https://www.public.news/p/democrats-arent-protesting-trumps
Thank you, yes. Since I wasn’t able to go back and look at it, I couldn’t verify when he posted it.
The Democrats continue to be blissfully removed from any semblance of reality. 10 years from now, 2025 will be referred to as the "good-ole-days". "It's the voter's fault" will be proudly displayed on their letterhead (and on custom post-it notes).