Doug Jones is from Alabama. His constituents are Alabamans. He won narrowly because his opponent was a pedaphile, not because he was particularly enlightened. Alabama is a pitiful state full of regressives who are hooked on magical thinking. I wish it weren’t true, but they need a lot of help from the more civilized parts of the country. If Alabama were a country, it would be considered third-world.
And pundits wonder why Democrats aren’t enthused by the usual candidates. Jones will lose handily in his next election; when faced with a dyed-in-the-wool fascist versus a pale reflection of same, Republicans will choose the forthright one every time (with rare exceptions like Moore), while some Democrats will say to hell with both of them.
I’ve been saying for years that a REAL liberal, instead of an apologetic, pro-corporate centrist like the Clintons or Obama, would go over big in many so-called “red” regions (not to mention the blue ones), and now we have evidence of this in Bernie Sanders, who is really just an old-fashioned FDR New Dealer. Imagine if someone ran who was genuinely left-of-center!
Jones was a long shot – a Democrat in a state where Trump was elected by an overwhelming margin. What changed was the idea that people wouldn’t vote for a Democrat in a red state. The DNC has not been mobilizing in places they figured they could not win. What Jones shows us is the Dems can win in the deep red south.
The reauthorizing of the NSA surveillance bill ensured no amendments would be attached, making the data available to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the FBI for warrentless searches. This passed 65 – 34 there were more Democrats than just Jones – and even Flake voted for this.
The Republicans pitted the kids depending on CHIP against the DREAMers. Using a crucial health insurance program for children to lure Democrats into backing a short-term spending bill that doesn’t include a DACA fix. Pelosi urged Democrats to vote against short-term government funding which does not protect immigrants.
The Senate has rejected the measure to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy – it was a symbolic vote aimed at forcing vulnerable Democrats to take a stand that could hurt their prospects for re-election in states won by resident Trump.
After all the back and forth, may I present this commentary by Ezra Klein. The bottom line is that our democracy may be in danger (not for the first time), and what we do to preserve it will take more than bickering, either interpartisan bickering or intrapartisan bickering.
The parties have become more distant ideologically, racially, religiously. They look over the divide and see a coalition that doesn’t look like them or think like them, that doesn’t like them, that actively fears them — indeed, a recent Pew survey found that 49 percent of Republicans, and 55 percent of Democrats, say they are “afraid” of the other party. Keep that in mind as you read this paragraph:“If the definition of “real Americans” is restricted to those who are native-born, English-speaking, white, and Christian, then it is easy to see how “real Americans” may view themselves as declining. As Ann Coulter chillingly put it, “The American electorate isn’t moving to the left — it’s shrinking.” The perception among many Tea Party Republicans that their America is disappearing helps us understand the appeal of such slogans as “Take Our Country Back” or “Make America Great Again.” The danger of such appeals is that casting Democrats as not real Americans is a frontal assault on mutual toleration.”
…I’ll end this with a paragraph from Levitsky and Ziblatt that I’ve not been able to get out of my head, a paragraph that I almost wish I hadn’t read:“The simple fact of the matter is that the world has never built a multiethnic democracy in which no particular ethnic group is in the majority and where political equality, social equality and economies that empower all have been achieved.”
Perhaps we will be the first. But if we have learned nothing else from this era, it should be to take seriously the possibility that we could fail. That is the challenge of our immediate future. Nothing less is at stake than American democracy itself.
Awesome!, I love watchin’ the Left getting skewered from within. It’s not done enough. It’s why they lose so many fights they should not, and it’s the only way they can win.
twclix about 6 years ago
Doug Jones is from Alabama. His constituents are Alabamans. He won narrowly because his opponent was a pedaphile, not because he was particularly enlightened. Alabama is a pitiful state full of regressives who are hooked on magical thinking. I wish it weren’t true, but they need a lot of help from the more civilized parts of the country. If Alabama were a country, it would be considered third-world.
Cerabooge about 6 years ago
And pundits wonder why Democrats aren’t enthused by the usual candidates. Jones will lose handily in his next election; when faced with a dyed-in-the-wool fascist versus a pale reflection of same, Republicans will choose the forthright one every time (with rare exceptions like Moore), while some Democrats will say to hell with both of them.
Motivemagus about 6 years ago
I’ve been saying for years that a REAL liberal, instead of an apologetic, pro-corporate centrist like the Clintons or Obama, would go over big in many so-called “red” regions (not to mention the blue ones), and now we have evidence of this in Bernie Sanders, who is really just an old-fashioned FDR New Dealer. Imagine if someone ran who was genuinely left-of-center!
errolm1937 Premium Member about 6 years ago
The Civil War was a mistake-the wrong side seceded.
Mr. Blawt about 6 years ago
Jones was a long shot – a Democrat in a state where Trump was elected by an overwhelming margin. What changed was the idea that people wouldn’t vote for a Democrat in a red state. The DNC has not been mobilizing in places they figured they could not win. What Jones shows us is the Dems can win in the deep red south.
The reauthorizing of the NSA surveillance bill ensured no amendments would be attached, making the data available to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the FBI for warrentless searches. This passed 65 – 34 there were more Democrats than just Jones – and even Flake voted for this.
The Republicans pitted the kids depending on CHIP against the DREAMers. Using a crucial health insurance program for children to lure Democrats into backing a short-term spending bill that doesn’t include a DACA fix. Pelosi urged Democrats to vote against short-term government funding which does not protect immigrants.
The Senate has rejected the measure to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy – it was a symbolic vote aimed at forcing vulnerable Democrats to take a stand that could hurt their prospects for re-election in states won by resident Trump.
Radish the wordsmith about 6 years ago
At least Hillary didn’t win, we might have had a competent president, what fun would that be?
Andylit Premium Member about 6 years ago
Why is anyone surprised? Jones didn’t win. Moore lost. If Jones wants to win the next election he has 2 choices. Go total Blue Dog or switch parties.
Radish the wordsmith about 6 years ago
The idiot Trumpublican economy is finally kicking in and the markets are falling like a rock.
martens about 6 years ago
A repost:
After all the back and forth, may I present this commentary by Ezra Klein. The bottom line is that our democracy may be in danger (not for the first time), and what we do to preserve it will take more than bickering, either interpartisan bickering or intrapartisan bickering.
The parties have become more distant ideologically, racially, religiously. They look over the divide and see a coalition that doesn’t look like them or think like them, that doesn’t like them, that actively fears them — indeed, a recent Pew survey found that 49 percent of Republicans, and 55 percent of Democrats, say they are “afraid” of the other party. Keep that in mind as you read this paragraph:“If the definition of “real Americans” is restricted to those who are native-born, English-speaking, white, and Christian, then it is easy to see how “real Americans” may view themselves as declining. As Ann Coulter chillingly put it, “The American electorate isn’t moving to the left — it’s shrinking.” The perception among many Tea Party Republicans that their America is disappearing helps us understand the appeal of such slogans as “Take Our Country Back” or “Make America Great Again.” The danger of such appeals is that casting Democrats as not real Americans is a frontal assault on mutual toleration.”
…I’ll end this with a paragraph from Levitsky and Ziblatt that I’ve not been able to get out of my head, a paragraph that I almost wish I hadn’t read:“The simple fact of the matter is that the world has never built a multiethnic democracy in which no particular ethnic group is in the majority and where political equality, social equality and economies that empower all have been achieved.”
Perhaps we will be the first. But if we have learned nothing else from this era, it should be to take seriously the possibility that we could fail. That is the challenge of our immediate future. Nothing less is at stake than American democracy itself.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/20
Radish the wordsmith about 6 years ago
Dems should either lead or get out of the way.
rossevrymn about 6 years ago
Awesome!, I love watchin’ the Left getting skewered from within. It’s not done enough. It’s why they lose so many fights they should not, and it’s the only way they can win.