Future of the Democratic Party

[brenthutch 388]

Massive losses in 2010 and 2012, lost the presidency and four more governors in 2016, lost more than 600 legislators in state government since 2008, their leadership is old and their bench is thin and 2018 does not look good for them either.
They had better get their shit together, because one party rule is a disaster for our country.

[billvon 2,427]

>They had better get their shit together

No need. After four years of Trump, all any democratic candidate will have to say is "I'm not Trump and I never supported him." Boom - a guaranteed win over the GOP candidate who said "well, I support the party but not him . . .well, maybe I support him, but not what he does . . . . I don't agree with everything he says, but . . ."

[rehmwa 2]

billvon

>They had better get their shit together

No need. ...... (because, the other guys) . . ."

well, there's yer problem.... right there


looks like another few more decades yet before anything changes

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[DanG 1]

Quote

well, there's yer problem.... right there


looks like another few more decades yet before anything changes

Nothing ever changes. There is nothing new under the sun and never will be.

- Dan G

[billvon 2,427]

>well, there's yer problem.... right there

Exactly. Until we get politicians who can campaign on "here's what I want to do" rather than just "throw the bums out!" we will see repeats of this cycle over and over.

[rehmwa 2]

billvon

>well, there's yer problem.... right there

Exactly. Until we get politicians who can campaign on "here's what I want to do" rather than just "throw the bums out!" we will see repeats of this cycle over and over.

but, "throw the bums out", "take back our ______", "kill the (other demongraphic)", "address the _____ injustice" etc etc etc - SELLS so well

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[SkyDekker 1,141]

Quote

Until we get politicians who can campaign on "here's what I want to do" rather than just "throw the bums out!" we will see repeats of this cycle over and over

They can. As soon as society is interested in hearing it.

[brenthutch 388]

billvon

>They had better get their shit together

No need. After four years of Trump, all any democratic candidate will have to say is "I'm not Trump and I never supported him." Boom - a guaranteed win over the GOP candidate..."

I thought that was supposed to work this time around.

[rehmwa 2]

SkyDekker

Quote

Until we get politicians who can campaign on "here's what I want to do" rather than just "throw the bums out!" we will see repeats of this cycle over and over

They can. As soon as society is interested in hearing it.

yup......
...
.
well crap

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[StreetScooby 5]

Quote

They can. As soon as society is interested in hearing it.

Some successful education reform will go a long way towards that.

We are all engines of karma

[brenthutch 388]

brenthutch

***>They had better get their shit together

No need. After four years of Trump, all any democratic candidate will have to say is "I'm not Trump and I never supported him." Boom - a guaranteed win over the GOP candidate..."

I thought that was supposed to work this time around.

No really, what makes you think that it will be different going forward?

[yoink 321]

billvon

>They had better get their shit together

No need. After four years of Trump, all any democratic candidate will have to say is "I'm not Trump and I never supported him." Boom - a guaranteed win over the GOP candidate who said "well, I support the party but not him . . .well, maybe I support him, but not what he does . . . . I don't agree with everything he says, but . . ."

If they've learnt ANYTHING from this debacle it's that they can't do that.

I think the lesson for both parties is that they need to pick off the more central voters from their opponents rather than getting more and more polarized and specialist.

I suspect the Dems are more likely to try this than the Republicans, but we'll see.

[mirage62 0]

The thing I find interesting is that many on this forum very recently where gloating that the Republican were basically done for. But the results sure don't seem so.

Now we have the same group basically saying.... "Well AFTER Trump ya'll have had it"

Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little

[yoink 321]

Yup, it's stupid and pointless. As is the gloating that's going on after the Trump victory. But that's understandable.

All any of us can do is play the hand we've been dealt now, whether we like it or not.

The country was pretty much 50/50 divided between Clinton and Trump in who should be president, but I would hope that a significant majority would agree that it's a fucked up situation that those are the best representatives our political system could put forward. If not, if half the population genuinely think that Trump and Clinton are the best we can aspire to, then I'm well out of touch...

That's what I think needs to change. Representatives and policies that don't pander to the extremes or the media but try to start producing a more aligned population.

[airdvr 200]

yoink

Representatives and policies that don't pander to the extremes or the media but try to start producing a more aligned population.

I believe Trump is president because so many people couldn't stand the thought of another Clinton in the White House. That includes blacks and women.

OTOH, your wish for a more aligned population sounds Orwellian to me. I have no doubt that this will be the conservatives' last party for a while. Too many are dead and dying. It won't be this way again until the 20 something's have net worth and don't want to drive Chinese cars.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[TriGirl 277]

yoink

Yup, it's stupid and pointless. As is the gloating that's going on after the Trump victory. But that's understandable.

All any of us can do is play the hand we've been dealt now, whether we like it or not.

The country was pretty much 50/50 divided between Clinton and Trump in who should be president, but I would hope that a significant majority would agree that it's a fucked up situation that those are the best representatives our political system could put forward. If not, if half the population genuinely think that Trump and Clinton are the best we can aspire to, then I'm well out of touch...

That's what I think needs to change. Representatives and policies that don't pander to the extremes or the media but try to start producing a more aligned population.

And we need to keep in mind everything was split pretty evenly. Yes, R's have a majority in both the House and Senate, but only just barely.

I also don't think it's going to be a big Republican Love Fest between the branches. I'm putting some of my confidence that the legislature can still work for the good of the country (many returning R's are still vocally opposed to the president-elect's messages, and they're actual experienced and qualified public servants). Sure, many issues proposed are going to be more in line with Republican principles, but I don't fear the direction of the country just by the virtue of who sits in the oval office (although the tone and "leadership" will be watched closely).

Dems would do well to continue to advance their ideas, work together in the legislatures (plural -- state-level governments are just as important), and worry about 2018 and 2020 later. It was the three-year presidential campaigns that's gotten us so emotionally invested and so focused on "what's wrong" instead of "what can I do to help."

It's the future of the Republican party that I think will be interesting to watch. They really need to establish much more strongly what they really stand for, and communicate that message to the public. Otherwise, those who hijacked the process this year are going to be the new face of the brand. THAT's scary.

See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus

Shut Up & Jump!

[AlanS 1]

yoink

If they've learnt ANYTHING from this debacle it's that they can't do that.

I think the lesson for both parties is that they need to pick off the more central voters from their opponents rather than getting more and more polarized and specialist. ....

^^^ This....

Your primary process needs to be fixed, so the polarizing extreme candidates do always win.

Ranked Voting when there are many candidates early in the primary.
National primaries held in stages to narrow the field down to a choice most could support.

[skyjames 2]

Quote

The country was pretty much 50/50 divided between Clinton and Trump in who should be president

I don't see it that way at all.
My take from it is ... who should not be president.

I've been wrong before

"exit fast, fly smooth, dock soft and smile"
'nother james

[brenthutch 388]

As long as the Democrats cling to a pander-to-the-island-of-misfit-toys strategy, they will be doomed. That only works if all of the toys stay on the island. And clearly, in this election, they did not.