As one who ekes out a modest living running my mouth on radio and Substack, I hesitate to critique others who do the same – even though I might disagree entirely and emphatically with them.
The Democratic Party has been shifting to the right for 40 years. Repositioning. Triangulating, Bill Clinton called it. When the party gets back to its New Deal roots, that’s when I will switch from Independent to Democrat. And another thing — learn how to fight.
Been shifting since JFK - Do not mess with Ireal. IF Isreal wants an atomic bomb Isreal gets one and no one will stand in its way! If Isreal wants to take out middle eastern countries Ireal gets America to declare a war 9/11. If Isreal wants to get rid of those darn Palestinians because they are so afraid of them - America will pay for it. I find our government disgusting and proudly have a Stop the Genocide In Palestine in my yard. I think Clinton is disgusting and they are a murderous couple. I say follow the money! Thanks for your comment
I agree, Jim. One thing that frustrates me about the establishment Democrats is their constant focus on raising money and appealing to those who have money. We need to stop wringing our hands and gnashing our teeth about Citizens United and shatter the myth that the biggest bankroll always wins. There are many examples in recent years of old fashioned, face to face, word of mouth grass roots campaigns defeating the billboards and TV glitz of deep pocket manipulators. If we emphasize the importance of these victories we can restore some real hope that will energize us going forward.
Mamdani is a winner! Catapulted into power as NYC Mayor, he offers REAL HOPE FOR REAL PROGRESS against the Wall Street bastards. GO, MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI!
Please don't waste another moment of your life reading Douthat--he is so completely out of touch with everything except his Catholic coharts on SCOTUS that it is a complete waste of time. Shift Right??? If the latest elections have shown us anything it is that we should have embraces Bernie Sanders long ago. The centering Clinton did in the 90s was effective in that he satisfied the middle while balancing the budget. Since then, the Right has done nothing but get us more debt and less honor.
A shift to the "right" does nobody any good. We need more folks to stand up and articulate a new path. I know...sounds vague...but, you know what I mean. Get people like AOC, Mamdani, Newsome, Grijalva, and others who can articulate this to Americans and we can end this MAGA-tocracy. It will take numbers. It can be done.
AOC, Newsome - not my picks. Newsome is just a pretty face and a seasoned politician who can not run a state. I love their COVID SHUTDOWN - booth Newsome and Nancy not following the rules that they mandated. We have constantly had to fight for medical freedom - I do not know Grijalva.
Baloney. People like you complain...he gets re-elected. Hard to govern a State with 40 million people. He does it...you don't. Newsome is the only one throwing punches at Chump. He gets an Attaboy from me for that. We need 10 people constantly on TV telling the Country what a douchebag Chump is. He is a fat target.
Totally agree. We cannot trust the pushers of political punditry, because they are not interested in the American people. And those shifts? We do not believe for one minute that our own MAGA mama, Marjorie T.G., has had a change of heart. Like her idol, DJT, she will shift again when it seems to benefit her. She is whining about her daughters' health insurance premiums doubling - this from a known insider who always buys just ahead of stock market changes. How sincere can she be?
They all go in poor and come out rich - look at Nancy! She is the only one who speaks out for the people - health insurance, housing, food, jobs! She is for keeping tax payers money in America for Americans and does not support Isreal and calls a genocide a genocide. the second Jewish Holocaust only this time it is the Jews against the Palestinians.
YEP:: it's THE PEOPLE vs. the billionaires (& one Trillionaire-- Musk!). Thomas Jefferson, over 150 yrs ago) saw the danger to DEMOCRACY when Government is ruled by the PLUTOCRATS .. WHY can't the Democrats find an effective way to get this across????????
The first thing Democratic candidates for Congress to do is listen to their constituents. The second thing is to figure out a way to give the constituents what they want - which right now is affordability. (Even Trump recognized that.) What they want specifically will differ from district to district - in NYC it's lower rent, in Iowa it's right to repair. To many people everywhere it's lower cost of health care.
And for most people the way to pay for it is - TAX THE RICH! Not just raise the percentages, but examine every loophole that saves the rich taxes, and get rid of as many as possible. Don't listen to the rich Democrat who has a yacht and wants to keep the yacht loophole. I bet there is someone in Elizabeth Warren's office who knows every last loophole.
I agree with Jim's argument. I am finding that too many people think democrats should act more like repubnicans and less like progressives and that that will be the way to win elections. It hasn't been the way to win for most of the 20th century and isn't now, except for the huge sums of big money corrupting those of us who don't know better. The democrat centrists are already too corrupted by big money, too neglectful of regular people. They seem unaware that progressive is a term that confuses people as to what it actually means, which is "for the People, by the People and of the People" and most emphatically not for the tiny minority of the rich. The wealthiest own and take annually around 40% of everything, and contribute to the general welfare, way less than their fair share. They cheat us all by this. This leaves everyone else less of everything to conduct a life on. Workers get paid too little and have very little support, while the rich get way more than they need and don't seem to have pangs of conscience over leaving the majority to starve or die without medical care, to suffer without opportunities for improvement, to have as little safety net as possible. This is an outrage and needs to stop.
Like Obama bailing out the banks and the bankers getting million dollar bonuses. Nothing is too big to fail - if you fail - you fail and Americans do not bail you out! I am tired of people getting up tight about the word socialism - when our capitolism is really just socialism for the rich.
Jim,as a NYer who voted for Mamdani,I am in agreement with you.We want someone to truly represent us and our needs...political affiliation matters less than a willingness to serve working class people who are struggling.
In 2016 typical D centrist Chuck Schumer said: "For every blue collar Democrat we lose in western PA we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs of Philadelphia and you can repeat that in OH, IL, and WI." What do they stand for other than retaining their own power? Behavior seen clearly in NYC when not only did they conspire with the Rs, they got Trump to endorse Cuomo.
These same Ds made the world safe for multinational corporations by treaties like the WTO. Enabling a econ system that considers devastation of human communities and ecosystems mere externalities. Those states Schumer referred to? Rust Belt! D policies like repealing financial regs led to the '08 Great Recession after which the Ds bailed out Wall St. Yet the millions of us workers who lost jobs, pensions, houses got nothing and the Rust Belt became deaths of despair central. Who cares? The irrational angry masses are nothing but "a basket of deplorables."
D party internal rules are structured to prevent changes. I'd be overjoyed if the D elite finally remembers their New Deal roots!!! But I'd bet no way they will. So the only alternative is to elect dissidents and to revive the old Farmer-Labor Populist coalition outside of D party control.
I lost my place on the mountain to developers. It was a pristine old growth species diverse in tact deciduous forest with new variations on evolving wildflowers. Nature is the art of God. Life is THE Miracle on Earth. Then came the road, the utilities, the four wheelers and the Mountain Valley Pipeline was rammed through thanks to then US Senator Manchin (D-WV) political pressure and Eminent Domain taking big chunks of privately owned pristine old growth forest. Now the National Parks and Federal Lands are being sold to evermore corporate economic schemes.
I know it was logged to fuel the steam locomotive and mine props, let's say 200 year growth with the top soil ( that holds the seeds and mycelium of regeneration) and horse manure. When MVP held a community meeting at the beginning, l was assured that the top soil would be replaced just like it was. Yeah, sure. The corporate faces don't know shit from shinola.
NAFTA decimated the manufacturing jobs as the companies moved to Mexico . Clinton was resposible for pushing it through to acceptance by our government. Democrat move to tthe right.
The Democratic Party has been shifting to the right for 40 years. Repositioning. Triangulating, Bill Clinton called it. When the party gets back to its New Deal roots, that’s when I will switch from Independent to Democrat. And another thing — learn how to fight.
Been shifting since JFK - Do not mess with Ireal. IF Isreal wants an atomic bomb Isreal gets one and no one will stand in its way! If Isreal wants to take out middle eastern countries Ireal gets America to declare a war 9/11. If Isreal wants to get rid of those darn Palestinians because they are so afraid of them - America will pay for it. I find our government disgusting and proudly have a Stop the Genocide In Palestine in my yard. I think Clinton is disgusting and they are a murderous couple. I say follow the money! Thanks for your comment
I agree, Jim. One thing that frustrates me about the establishment Democrats is their constant focus on raising money and appealing to those who have money. We need to stop wringing our hands and gnashing our teeth about Citizens United and shatter the myth that the biggest bankroll always wins. There are many examples in recent years of old fashioned, face to face, word of mouth grass roots campaigns defeating the billboards and TV glitz of deep pocket manipulators. If we emphasize the importance of these victories we can restore some real hope that will energize us going forward.
I agree but i am always happy to see the rich spending their money in the US. But yes the message is important - people want people who represent them
let's hope the Democratic gerontocracy either gets the message or steps aside.
Or both.Yeah!
Mamdani is a winner! Catapulted into power as NYC Mayor, he offers REAL HOPE FOR REAL PROGRESS against the Wall Street bastards. GO, MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI!
DEEP state corruption - who really controls our government
There is no such thing as a "deep state". There never was.
Right again Jim. I want Mamdani to succeed so spectacularly that everyone sees the real light.
Please don't waste another moment of your life reading Douthat--he is so completely out of touch with everything except his Catholic coharts on SCOTUS that it is a complete waste of time. Shift Right??? If the latest elections have shown us anything it is that we should have embraces Bernie Sanders long ago. The centering Clinton did in the 90s was effective in that he satisfied the middle while balancing the budget. Since then, the Right has done nothing but get us more debt and less honor.
A shift to the "right" does nobody any good. We need more folks to stand up and articulate a new path. I know...sounds vague...but, you know what I mean. Get people like AOC, Mamdani, Newsome, Grijalva, and others who can articulate this to Americans and we can end this MAGA-tocracy. It will take numbers. It can be done.
AOC, Newsome - not my picks. Newsome is just a pretty face and a seasoned politician who can not run a state. I love their COVID SHUTDOWN - booth Newsome and Nancy not following the rules that they mandated. We have constantly had to fight for medical freedom - I do not know Grijalva.
Baloney. People like you complain...he gets re-elected. Hard to govern a State with 40 million people. He does it...you don't. Newsome is the only one throwing punches at Chump. He gets an Attaboy from me for that. We need 10 people constantly on TV telling the Country what a douchebag Chump is. He is a fat target.
Totally agree. We cannot trust the pushers of political punditry, because they are not interested in the American people. And those shifts? We do not believe for one minute that our own MAGA mama, Marjorie T.G., has had a change of heart. Like her idol, DJT, she will shift again when it seems to benefit her. She is whining about her daughters' health insurance premiums doubling - this from a known insider who always buys just ahead of stock market changes. How sincere can she be?
P.S. Ross who??
I think we need an interim political party to bring about policies that unify US and strive for a plan 2B OK.
They all go in poor and come out rich - look at Nancy! She is the only one who speaks out for the people - health insurance, housing, food, jobs! She is for keeping tax payers money in America for Americans and does not support Isreal and calls a genocide a genocide. the second Jewish Holocaust only this time it is the Jews against the Palestinians.
YEP:: it's THE PEOPLE vs. the billionaires (& one Trillionaire-- Musk!). Thomas Jefferson, over 150 yrs ago) saw the danger to DEMOCRACY when Government is ruled by the PLUTOCRATS .. WHY can't the Democrats find an effective way to get this across????????
The first thing Democratic candidates for Congress to do is listen to their constituents. The second thing is to figure out a way to give the constituents what they want - which right now is affordability. (Even Trump recognized that.) What they want specifically will differ from district to district - in NYC it's lower rent, in Iowa it's right to repair. To many people everywhere it's lower cost of health care.
And for most people the way to pay for it is - TAX THE RICH! Not just raise the percentages, but examine every loophole that saves the rich taxes, and get rid of as many as possible. Don't listen to the rich Democrat who has a yacht and wants to keep the yacht loophole. I bet there is someone in Elizabeth Warren's office who knows every last loophole.
I agree with Jim's argument. I am finding that too many people think democrats should act more like repubnicans and less like progressives and that that will be the way to win elections. It hasn't been the way to win for most of the 20th century and isn't now, except for the huge sums of big money corrupting those of us who don't know better. The democrat centrists are already too corrupted by big money, too neglectful of regular people. They seem unaware that progressive is a term that confuses people as to what it actually means, which is "for the People, by the People and of the People" and most emphatically not for the tiny minority of the rich. The wealthiest own and take annually around 40% of everything, and contribute to the general welfare, way less than their fair share. They cheat us all by this. This leaves everyone else less of everything to conduct a life on. Workers get paid too little and have very little support, while the rich get way more than they need and don't seem to have pangs of conscience over leaving the majority to starve or die without medical care, to suffer without opportunities for improvement, to have as little safety net as possible. This is an outrage and needs to stop.
Like Obama bailing out the banks and the bankers getting million dollar bonuses. Nothing is too big to fail - if you fail - you fail and Americans do not bail you out! I am tired of people getting up tight about the word socialism - when our capitolism is really just socialism for the rich.
Jim,as a NYer who voted for Mamdani,I am in agreement with you.We want someone to truly represent us and our needs...political affiliation matters less than a willingness to serve working class people who are struggling.
THank you - right on!
In 2016 typical D centrist Chuck Schumer said: "For every blue collar Democrat we lose in western PA we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs of Philadelphia and you can repeat that in OH, IL, and WI." What do they stand for other than retaining their own power? Behavior seen clearly in NYC when not only did they conspire with the Rs, they got Trump to endorse Cuomo.
These same Ds made the world safe for multinational corporations by treaties like the WTO. Enabling a econ system that considers devastation of human communities and ecosystems mere externalities. Those states Schumer referred to? Rust Belt! D policies like repealing financial regs led to the '08 Great Recession after which the Ds bailed out Wall St. Yet the millions of us workers who lost jobs, pensions, houses got nothing and the Rust Belt became deaths of despair central. Who cares? The irrational angry masses are nothing but "a basket of deplorables."
D party internal rules are structured to prevent changes. I'd be overjoyed if the D elite finally remembers their New Deal roots!!! But I'd bet no way they will. So the only alternative is to elect dissidents and to revive the old Farmer-Labor Populist coalition outside of D party control.
I lost my place on the mountain to developers. It was a pristine old growth species diverse in tact deciduous forest with new variations on evolving wildflowers. Nature is the art of God. Life is THE Miracle on Earth. Then came the road, the utilities, the four wheelers and the Mountain Valley Pipeline was rammed through thanks to then US Senator Manchin (D-WV) political pressure and Eminent Domain taking big chunks of privately owned pristine old growth forest. Now the National Parks and Federal Lands are being sold to evermore corporate economic schemes.
I know it was logged to fuel the steam locomotive and mine props, let's say 200 year growth with the top soil ( that holds the seeds and mycelium of regeneration) and horse manure. When MVP held a community meeting at the beginning, l was assured that the top soil would be replaced just like it was. Yeah, sure. The corporate faces don't know shit from shinola.
NAFTA decimated the manufacturing jobs as the companies moved to Mexico . Clinton was resposible for pushing it through to acceptance by our government. Democrat move to tthe right.
Amen, Jim.