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stopbush

(24,630 posts)
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 12:49 PM Jun 2016

Sorry Sen. Sanders, But Most Ds Are Quite Happy With the D Party As Is

And it's not because we necessarily reject all of the things you say about the D Party. It's because a lot of the things you say that the D Party needs to do IT IS ALREADY DOING.

The modern D Party has always stood up for the middle class. Always stood up for the disadvantaged. Always stood up for minorities, women and for economic equality. Do not deceive yourself into believing for a second that these issues were not known of and championed by the Democratic Party long before you decided to register as a D last April.

Frankly, you insult ALL Democrats when you say the the party "has to start" doing this, that or the other thing, when we have been doing this, that or the other thing for decades (that would have been during those decades when you were NOT a Democrat).

Maybe you missed what we've been doing because, well, you weren't a Democrat. Maybe caucusing with the Democrats isn't the same as actually BEING a Democrat. Maybe sitting on the back benches of the Senate as an Indy, never having to take a principled Party stand that might hurt you politically is not the way to stay on top of what the Ds are doing at any given moment.

When you talk about changing the Party, or about the need for a political revolution, you ignore what the Party actually stands for. You ignore the Democratic revolution that has happened over the past eight years in the form of Barack Obama. Rescuing the economy, getting us out of wars, killing OBL, saving the auto industry, getting unemployment to historic lows, passing the ACA and expanding Medicaid, making LGBT rights the law of the land, restoring our standing on the world stage - all while the stock market soared to new heights - is pretty effing revolutionary stuff after decades of RW disaster.

And guess what? It didn't take a "political revolution" for all that revolutionary stuff to happen. All it took was good old establishment Ds elected to office by the good old established rank-n-file Ds so they could do the good work that benefits the majority of the populace.

We've heard for 8 years that the country is "angry," and you have picked up on that mantra. Well, that mantra is code for saying "I'm pissed that a black man got elected president." It started with the Tea Party and the corporatists that funded them, it was spread through the conservative population and repeated by the media to the point where even Democrats began to feel angry. Angry about what? About all the things President Obama has accomplished in 8 years? Angry that gay people can get married? Angry that more Americans have jobs and healthcare, and that gas is cheap? Angry that we're not involved in major wars? Angry that bin Laden was finally taken out? Angry that states are starting to raise the minimum wage? Angry that the stock market has tripled in value? Angry that racism is being exposed in this country and called out for being anti-American? Angry that the Republican Party is imploding before our eyes?

Just what do you think Democrats are angry about, Sen Sanders?

We're not angry. We're elated. Elated that Hillary Clinton has won the nomination. Elated that Hillary Clinton will be our first female president. Elated that the good work done by President Obama will continue. Elated that for the first time in years, a lot of us are feeling that America's best days are still to come.

THAT is the reality of the Democratic Party that you have failed to recognize. And that's why you are not our nominee for the office of President of the United States.

Rant over.

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Sorry Sen. Sanders, But Most Ds Are Quite Happy With the D Party As Is (Original Post) stopbush Jun 2016 OP
Righteous rant, stopbush! I've enjoyed every word because IT'S TRUE! K&R! eom BlueCaliDem Jun 2016 #1
Perfectly said! Her Sister Jun 2016 #2
Damn straight! Bernie has never been one of us, but then he wants us to support him. tonyt53 Jun 2016 #3
Excellent! We're angry, though. We're angry that Republicans keep blocking Dem progress. displacedtexan Jun 2016 #4
Oh, yes, perfectly said! lunamagica Jun 2016 #5
Get on board or lose palo Jun 2016 #6
See, there's your problem (outside of posting in a protected group) stopbush Jun 2016 #10
stand up palo Jun 2016 #11
Bernie or bust? Don't think so ... Texano78704 Jun 2016 #14
"He went to the left of HC" is one of the most laughable claims this entire election cycle. TwilightZone Jun 2016 #15
No, what Trump said is everything Clinton has been saying for years. justiceischeap Jun 2016 #19
Well said! DemonGoddess Jun 2016 #7
I wish I could have said this half as well as you did. teamster633 Jun 2016 #8
+1000 Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jun 2016 #9
Perfectly expressed! Walk away Jun 2016 #12
Bernie loudly rejects unity in speech, crowd boos clinton. that sums it up nt msongs Jun 2016 #13
Good article, I am happy with the Democratic Party, if I wanted to follow another party Thinkingabout Jun 2016 #16
Thanks. Not really an article, just my thoughts. stopbush Jun 2016 #18
K & R BootinUp Jun 2016 #17
This touches on, very eloquently, what I've been saying for years about the Democratic Party justiceischeap Jun 2016 #20
The problem is that a lot of lefties are getting their news from essentially left-wing variants of forjusticethunders Jun 2016 #21
KNR Well done! Lucinda Jun 2016 #22
YES! skylucy Jun 2016 #23
Massive K & R. Thanks for posting. Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #24
BRAVO!!!! asuhornets Jun 2016 #25
I disagree strongly with many of Sanders proposals Gothmog Jun 2016 #26
Now that's what I call a rant. Well done. brush Jun 2016 #27
Perfect rock Jun 2016 #28
 

Her Sister

(6,444 posts)
2. Perfectly said!
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 12:57 PM
Jun 2016

People want us to be angry! Want to stoke the embers of anger, because then angry people get into action without stopping to think and take measure! NO THANK YOU!!

I choose level heads and working within our Party and as PER CONSTITUTION!!! which entails working with congress, which entails communication ~ not bullying and harassment. AGAIN, NO THANK YOU!!

 

tonyt53

(5,737 posts)
3. Damn straight! Bernie has never been one of us, but then he wants us to support him.
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 12:58 PM
Jun 2016

He doesn't like our rules, but wants us to change them only so he can win. You are also correct in pointing out all of those issues that these so-called progressive have jumped onto are issues that Democrats have been fighting for for years.

I keep asking the question of "what exactly is a progressive". I usually get no answers, but when I do, it is a repeat of issues that Democrats have been fighting for. of course, Bernie would not know that because he has never been a Democrat, but it seems if he had been paying any attention he would have noticed that. I guess that happens when a person thinks that only they know what is best.

Thank you for this post.

displacedtexan

(15,696 posts)
4. Excellent! We're angry, though. We're angry that Republicans keep blocking Dem progress.
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 01:10 PM
Jun 2016

Imagine what we could accomplish if everyone on the left joined us Dems to defeat the Father Knows Best/ Donna Reed In An Apron & Pearls party. I guess most Sanders supporters don't know about Hillarycare or the simple fact that she dared to use her maiden name as her middle name and be the first first lady to have a law degree and a law practice partnership.

palo

(2 posts)
6. Get on board or lose
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 01:24 PM
Jun 2016

Yesterday Trump talked to voters in swing states. He went to the left of H C. Trade jobs infrastructure schools ext. He is lying he and the Republican have no interest in our people. He sees Bernies issues are winning issues. If the Dems want to ignore Bernie and his message and refuse to speak to working class people with a full throated progressive agenda you will lose.

stopbush

(24,630 posts)
10. See, there's your problem (outside of posting in a protected group)
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 01:55 PM
Jun 2016

It's the Democratic Party, NOT the Progressive Party.

Democrats have a diversified constituency. It isn't all progressives, let alone the most left-leaning members of the progressives.

The Ds will NEVER embrace a "full-throated progressive agenda" because that is not who we are.

And I'm sorry, but you don't get to take all of the good things that are being done for people, label them all as being "progressive" and then aver that the full-throated progressive agenda and ONLY the full-throated progressive agenda embodies philosophies that really help people.

Texano78704

(309 posts)
14. Bernie or bust? Don't think so ...
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 02:08 PM
Jun 2016

Judging from your response, you clearly didn't read the post or completely disagree. If you disagree, that's fine. I for one don't see any room for ideologues in politics. If you don't believe me, just take a look at what the republicans are doing and where it's getting them.

This is the second threat I've seen posted on DU today. Must be some left over post-loss feistiness.

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)
15. "He went to the left of HC" is one of the most laughable claims this entire election cycle.
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 02:12 PM
Jun 2016

Trump doesn't go left. He takes multiple positions on every issue, depending on what day of the week it is.

He's also a pathological liar. Believing anything he said was your first mistake.

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)
19. No, what Trump said is everything Clinton has been saying for years.
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 03:08 PM
Jun 2016

Guess what? Trump can promise that we'll only do "good" trade deals but the reality is, you have to work with what you're given. During the first Clinton Presidency, we had historic job rates. HRC has been talking about infrastructure since the beginning of her campaign and she's been fighting for better education all her life--actually in the trenches, fighting for it.

Also, do you really believe that Clinton has no "working class" supporters? I'd daresay the majority of her supporters are indeed working class and she has garnered the most support from the primaries so there goes that theory.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
16. Good article, I am happy with the Democratic Party, if I wanted to follow another party
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 02:15 PM
Jun 2016

I would have joined another party. I like the idea of having the super delegates to prevent hostile takeovers. If I wanted Sanders agenda I would have voted for him, I don't agree with his agenda.

stopbush

(24,630 posts)
18. Thanks. Not really an article, just my thoughts.
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 02:25 PM
Jun 2016

I agree about the supers. I would have wanted them to step in had Sanders been able to hijack the party.

Like most zealots, he can't understand why the world doesn't bow to his feet and accept his "pure" agenda. And like most zealots, he projects his own faults on others to insulate himself from criticism.

Like all megalomaniacs, the world revolves around him.

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)
20. This touches on, very eloquently, what I've been saying for years about the Democratic Party
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 03:15 PM
Jun 2016

there are more moderate people within the Democratic Party than progressives. If the majority of Democratic members wanted Bernie's agenda, Bernie would have won but most people are pragmatic and want their politicians to be pragmatic too.

I've got plenty of Democratic relatives in the mid-west that would never, ever support Bernie Sanders but happily will support Clinton. The nation isn't as progressive as Sanders would like to believe it is.

 

forjusticethunders

(1,151 posts)
21. The problem is that a lot of lefties are getting their news from essentially left-wing variants of
Wed Jun 8, 2016, 03:26 PM
Jun 2016

Breitbart, Drudge, Rush and Hannity. Sure it's on the other political side so it's "better", but it's still about as detached from reality and sensationalistic. That's why a lot of voters on both sides end up hating "the establishment", without an actual understanding of how to change it in a peaceful, consensus-building manner, and also without an actual understanding of why the "establishment" acts in the way it does (hint: white racism leading to the rejection of progressive policymakers created an opening to move the Overton Window far right which has forced Democratic lawmakers to adopt a lot of economic/fiscal positions that would be fairly conservative before this shift but moderate now to keep Republicans from winning).

But the professional "Left" doesn't talk about this, or alludes to it in a dismissive anger because it would alleviate the anger at Dems and focus it on Repubs, and a narrative of betrayal and selling out drives way more clicks than actual policy analysis. I know this because I was one of them, who read all those sites for my daily dose of outrage and screeds about how the Democratic Party was selling out everyone but Wall Street. So you create a lot of angry, frustrated, upset people who feel less and less economically secure and suddenly they believe the Democratic Party is hopelessly corrupt and doesn't care about them because that's what they got told.

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