"Not even a Democrat" matters completely for running in the party. That was the context.
His support for raising money has been completely on a half for Bernie, half for the candidate. I did not make that up.
I was referring to going out and campaigning, not raising money. Which, I could have sworn I said 'campaigning, but if I didn't, that's what I meant.
Democrats problems began half a century ago, when conservative messaging made average people believe they were paying taxes to support lazy people who wouldn't work. It escalated into not being tough on crime. Same central messages. And the people falling for it weren't even the ones paying the highest taxes, if any at all. That was half of Reagan's campaign messaging. By the time he was in office, it wasn't possible to get elected in most areas with liberal politics.
I'm well aware. But that was then, this is now. Both parties skew right, one far off into lala land. And instead of working on reaching out to the 40% that isn't in either, they ignore us, then blame us when we decide not to fall into line [and I'm saying that as someone who voted for HRC in the General in 16 - I was actually told it was -my- fault she lost, because I wasn't fangirling enough].
You can throw blame to Democrats there all you like, but the electorate itself are the ones responsible for putting the Republicans in power, killing the unions, dismantling aid programs, and cutting taxes for the rich which got us where we are. Reaching out to the middle in the 80s and 90s especially, was required.
I'm not throwing blame, I'm pointing out something where they still could FIX the problems, before they become as batshit as the GOP. A sane party will weed out the problems, not appoint them to the highest court in the land. The Democratic party isn't there yet, I'd like to see them stay away from that.
I know it isn't required now. Most candidates are only doing that minimally as far as I can see.
And the progressive label has been a part of liberal politics for a long time. It does describe most running under Democratic tickets nowadays.
Sure, you know why? Because of the progressives, trying to regain a voice in the party. With no help from the main party [DNC, DCCC], running Republican levels of nasty ads against the more progressive candidates during the primaries. The DNC and DCCC especially seem more worried about pleasing our corporate overlords, rather than worrying about what the average middle or working class person needs.
And party DOES matter, now more than ever. Every single Republican, no matter what you think of them as person, is almost surely going to vote along party lines in Congress just as we've witnessed. It isn't a fucking sports team.
Actually, it is. When people don't care what the politics are, but just vote based on 'I've always voted for this party', when people fight for their side, as if its an US vs Them, then that is a problem, and that you need someone to say this, means I probably should even be wasting my time typing this out, but it might help someone.
And considering that the GOP right now is voting to put rapists on the SCOTUS, and put the tax burden on those least able to take care of themselves, take away SS, medicare, and medicaid from those same people and those who've all paid into it, then by all means, I'd hope that someone has the heart to vote against all that. But not because of party lines, but because its the RIGHT THING TO DO.
