United States | News & Politics

2798 readers

983 users here now

Welcome to [email protected], where you can share and converse about the different things happening all over/about the United States.

If you’re interested in participating, please subscribe.

Rules

Be respectful and civil. No racism/bigotry/hateful speech.

Post anything related to the United States.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

936

As AOC and Sanders Draw Crowds, 72% of Democrats Want Party to Abandon Centrist Approach to Trump (www.commondreams.org)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

137 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The two progressive lawmakers have addressed massive crowds in solidly red states including Idaho and Utah in recent days, as party of the national Fighting Oligarchy Tour.

A survey taken by Harvard's Center for American Political Studies and Harris between April 9-10 found that 72% of Democratic voters supported politicians like Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), "who are calling on Democrats to adopt a more aggressive stance towards Trump and his administration and 'fight harder'," rather than leaders who are willing to "compromise" with President Donald Trump.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yeah but Trump did it within the party, right? The Tea Party laid the groundwork and then MAGA took over when Trump won the primary seemingly out of nowhere. Now the old GOP is dead and buried, it's just the name that remains, but it's Trump's party now. (I know the policies are just an acceleration of Bush era politics, but that's because the old conservatism and current fascism want mainly the same things, it's just more openly sadistic now... and cultish: swear allegiance to Trump and talk about any policy with "President Trump wants..." like he's a goddamn emperor). There's no room for a John McCain or Mitt Romney in the MAGA GOP — hell, even Liz Cheney is siding with Dems now. The problem is the Dems need to change into a party that would give her the finger on principle, which they haven't. Hell, they're not only campaigning with Cheney but begging for appeasement with MAGA... That's a bridge too far for most of their supporters, and that's why the Dem party is now at its most hated and vulnerable to be taken over by true progressives. Parties can change over time so we shouldn't dismiss the option, because really they're only institutions which are as good or bad as the people comprising them.

That said, by all means, I'm not opposed to AOC and Bernie doing this via a third party, just that the infrastructure isn't really there for them to win. People are uncertain about third parties (even Trump changed his mind because he initially wanted a Patriot Party but gave up on the idea) and it might lead to a three-way race in future elections where Dems eat up votes from the hypothetical Progs. I don't know if it's more likely to succeed, it might be in some places — I remember a guy running as an independent and nearly winning in a down-ballot race. Also, thinking back, the third parties just tended to put pressure on the Democrats to implement policies (like with FDR), but they didn't actually govern. I'm rambling at this point, but I guess the main idea is that I'm just worried that the system needs to change in some fundamental ways for third parties to have any chances. Maybe I'm wrong.

I agree with being lively though. That has to happen with either approach.