The Next DNC Chair: TOM PEREZ WINS, makes Ellison deputy chair

[Chief Justice Keef]

I think it's very possible this goes to multiple ballots, which could give Buttigieg a chance.

If it goes to multiple ballots, would either Ellison or Perez have a better chance?

Buttigieg could position himself as a compromise candidate.

That could work, but I think he's lagging pretty far behind Ellison and Perez in support that it'd be hard to mount a successful "compromise campaign" to win over enough DNC members.

If it came down to multiple ballots, I think Ellison gets the position because more support from labor groups, state party chairs and elected officials than Perez would be more convincing for the DNC.

[Chief Justice Keef]

By that logic, why doesn't Ellison run for Minnesota Governor rather than DNC Chair?

Because Perez could actually make a Likely R race with Larry Hogan actually competitive. Not to mention Ellison has maximized turnout in his majority-white district since being elected, which is something that fits the qualities of an effective DNC chair, whereas Perez is a policy-wonk that could do better in a public office.

Plus, there's already several strong options for Democrats in Minnesota, whereas the field's much more open for someone like Perez to jump in and defeat Hogan. Strategically, it makes much more sense for Ellison to lead the DNC (his seat is safe D regardless) and for Perez to run for Maryland Governor than the opposite.

[Chief Justice Keef]

There are much stronger gubernatorial candidates than Perez if Democrats choose not to give Hogan a pass.  And of course, there's the fact that there is still no reason to think Ellison would make a good DNC Chair or even that Perez would be a bad one.  All I see is people trying to get a symbolic "victory" by re-ligating stuff from the 2016 primaries that is really pretty irrelevant at this point (and I say that as someone who both voted for and donated to Sanders during the primaries).

Ellison's district, and Minnesota in general, has some of the highest turnout rates in the country. Ellison's proven to be an effective organizer, and that's something Democrats need on a national level by combining the outrage on the left with a policy message. Perez's electoral success is unproven, and his whole mantra of "talking to people again" doesn't compare to the strong urge of actually turning left that Ellison has been pushing in this race.

And if this primary really is only a "symbolic victory", than that's an even BIGGER reason to give it to Ellison. If only the Bernie folks give a damn about the DNC chairmanship, just satisfy their interests instead of having an unnecessary proxy war.

[Chief Justice Keef]

If Perez is nominated for DNC chair, it's pretty obvious that any real change in the Democratic Party is going to have to come up from the bottom-up, not starting at the national level.

This is honestly sad, though. Instead of realizing where the real energy is and trying to capture that, the DNC would rather sink their heels in further and clutch on to the same ideas that have failed them the last 20 years.

[Chief Justice Keef]

How many claimed votes does Ellison have? I'm sure he's either around the same or not that far behind.

It doesn't matter. The Perez campaign released these numbers so the uncommitted members of the DNC are convinced the party is coalescing around him.

[Chief Justice Keef]

If Perez is nominated for DNC chair, it's pretty obvious that any real change in the Democratic Party is going to have to come up from the bottom-up, not starting at the national level.

This is honestly sad, though. Instead of realizing where the real energy is and trying to capture that, the DNC would rather sink their heels in further and clutch on to the same ideas that have failed them the last 20 years.

that may be a good thing, if it comes down to it. Democrats need to be re-built from the bottom-up, and one way to do that is to stop putting faith in national contenders to do their job.

Yeah, I find what's happening right now in the California Democratic Party pretty encouraging. If that can happen everywhere at the state level, we could see even bigger change. It's just gonna take more effort than trying to change it at the national level, regardless of whether Ellison wins or not.

[Chief Justice Keef]

If Perez is nominated for DNC chair, it's pretty obvious that any real change in the Democratic Party is going to have to come up from the bottom-up, not starting at the national level.

This is honestly sad, though. Instead of realizing where the real energy is and trying to capture that, the DNC would rather sink their heels in further and clutch on to the same ideas that have failed them the last 20 years.

that may be a good thing, if it comes down to it. Democrats need to be re-built from the bottom-up, and one way to do that is to stop putting faith in national contenders to do their job.

I don't know how that's going to happen.  Democrats can't force the party to stop letting 400+ rich fcks decide on their chair.  If the establishment is this committed to maintaining business as usual, then anything short of a serious Demexit in favor of the Greens or whatever is not going to force their hand.

Yeah, it's going to take a lot to really change the way things are in Washington, but if we see action happening in state parties, then the national party will either change organically or have to respond to that action.

Really, the best thing to do right now is convince the DNC not to vote for Perez. Call them, send emails. Without a doubt, Ellison is better both for the organization and strategy of the party, and Buttigieg hits some of those marks as well. Perez is nothing but an establishment "safe" choice that won't do anything to actually change the party.

[Chief Justice Keef]

If Perez is nominated for DNC chair, it's pretty obvious that any real change in the Democratic Party is going to have to come up from the bottom-up, not starting at the national level.
This is honestly sad, though. Instead of realizing where the real energy is and trying to capture that, the DNC would rather sink their heels in further and clutch on to the same ideas that have failed them the last 20 years.

that may be a good thing, if it comes down to it. Democrats need to be re-built from the bottom-up, and one way to do that is to stop putting faith in national contenders to do their job.

I don't know how that's going to happen.  Democrats can't force the party to stop letting 400+ rich fcks decide on their chair.  If the establishment is this committed to maintaining business as usual, then anything short of a serious Demexit in favor of the Greens or whatever is not going to force their hand.

If they choose Perez, I am done defending this class. I hope Sanders rips the party apart because they never learn.

What a baby.

If you really think Perez is somehow gonna be the "unifier" in the race, you're a moron. And the progressives who are mad about his candidacy HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE MAD.

[Chief Justice Keef]

Small note, I decided to add a poll now that the election is less than two weeks away.

[Chief Justice Keef]

Are you f**king kidding me?! Literally all the tops of the party from Chuck, Bernie, Nancy want Keith

I don't trust Pelosi or Schumer, and Obama, Biden, and the Clintons want Perez.

x-posting: Turning a contest between two fairly mainstream liberal progressives into some kind of proxy war still seems like one of the dumbest things I've ever seen.

Its moronic, Perez and Ellison are almost identical on paper.

Just like Bernie and Hillary supposedly were? Yeah, we're sick of being told how progressive terrible 3rd wayers are.

When your candiate wins a majority of the vote in the primaries, it wont be an issue, will it?

Oh, piss off. It's like you're still living in June of 2016 when it was inevitable that Hillary would win against Dangerous Donald.

[Chief Justice Keef]

[Chief Justice Keef]

If nothing else, let's consider the fact that Perez has absolutely no electoral experience and is only where he is now because Biden and the anti-Sanders wing of the party got him there.  Ellison has offered to give up his seat in Congress for this job and Perez has sacrificed nothing.  This shouldn't be a close contest.

Exactly. Ellison actually has experience organizing and winning elections. What's the highest form public office that Perez has won an election for?

[Chief Justice Keef]

There's some irony in that the most action the Democratic Party has taken regarding Muslims is trying to prevent one from becoming DNC chair.

[Chief Justice Keef]

There's some irony in that the most action the Democratic Party has taken regarding Muslims is trying to prevent one from becoming DNC chair.

This is a bad take and you know it.

It's exaggeration for humorous effect.

[Chief Justice Keef]

I think my biggest concern about Perez being DNC chair is that Democrats basically have the perfect opportunity to retake the House, along with several governorships and state legislatures, in 2018 if they provide an alternative left-wing agenda while lambasting the madness going on in Washington right now with the Trump administration and EVERY Republican in power. Regardless of politics, Ellison is objectively (and has PROVEN to be) a much better organizer than Perez, and someone who could easily harness this energy. Yet Perez is obviously being pushed by Obama and Clinton leftovers who don't want to give him the spot because it would somehow be making a concession to the evil BernieBro-in-chief.

[Chief Justice Keef]

Ellison apparently discussing with Ray Buckley about a DNC leadership role in exchange for support in the race.
https://www.twitter.com/aseitzwald/status/831694983849734144

[Chief Justice Keef]

For Democrats who wanna know where the energy is at.

[Chief Justice Keef]

Why the DNC is terrible and needs reform example 1423:

i am very confused by what im reading

A quote from the same guy:

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LOL

[Chief Justice Keef]

As a Republican, I pray that they select Keith Ellison, who has absolutely no chance to bring back the working class white voters that the Democrats need.

False. Left-wing populism is exactly what the Democratic Party needs in order to regain lost ground with WWCs.

"Disagree" is much more accurate than "False" ... I happen to agree that Ellison is not what the Dem party needs- and that Buttigieg is a much smarter choice.  He's outside of Washington, He can united all sides of the Party... and he can connect with rural and midwestern trump voters who would love to have their town experience the turnaround Buttigieg has achieved as Mayor of his hometown.

I like Buttigieg, but Ellison would do a much better job at tapping into left-wing economic populism than him.

[Chief Justice Keef]

Deadspin article: "Just Elect Keith Ellison Already"

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[Chief Justice Keef]

The first 3 are just academic achievements, not political ones, and the 5th one is a talking point and not a real argument

Hence the only one I highlighted was #4:
4)  In addition to serving a stint in Afghanistan, he Was elected Mayor of his home town of South Bend at age 29 (the youngest 100k+ population mayor at the time) ... and has more than succeeded in completely Turning around a failing midwestern City (one of the best turnaround city stories in the country)...and with the highest ethics & transparency (all of the cities finances are completely available to the public online)...  

.... He is one of the very few mayors in the US who has succeeded at such a task in the past 5 years.

His accomplishments as mayor don't matter at all for DNC chair.

[Chief Justice Keef]

I support Ellison, but screw the hacks, I think Perez would do a fine job too, as long as the Bernie bros don't throw a hissy fit and refuse to turn out to vote in the midterms just because they couldn't get their way.

Can we please stop calling them "BernieBros" and call them what they actually are, "supporters"? It's honestly so disrespectful to hear this from fellow Democrats who talk all they want about "party unity" yet jump at the opportunity to ridicule the left.

[Chief Justice Keef]

SEIU has endorsed Ellison

SEIU, UAW, AFL-CIO, Teamsters, NEA and United Steelworkers have all endorsed Ellison. Perez becoming DNC chair would be a massive repudiation of labor by the Democrats.

[Chief Justice Keef]

Keith Ellison will be the next DNC chair. He is a Sunni Muslim, he and the Democrats should expect to face onslaught attacks from now til 2018. I won't be surprised if Republicans use Ellison in their campaigns in 2017 and 2018.

Nobody will care.

[Chief Justice Keef]

So Perez apparently after the NH primary, emailed Podesta telling him that while Bernie has the youth vote, they should change the narrative by claiming that Bernie only appeals to young white voters, which would hurt him in South Carolina.  So he pretty much came up with the idea of the idiotic Bernie bro stereotype.  The email was in the wikileaks emails.
For more information see:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riarqgogc3U

He can go f*** himself.

And this is supposed to be the "unity candidate", lol.