Liberal Blogger Desires to Purge the Democratic Party

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Not that this blogger has any particular relevance, but I think it's kinda funny how he assumes the Democratic Party is a party of liberalism. After getting their asses handed to them during the 1980s, the Democratic Party has adopted a platform of centrism and has never really claimed to be anything else (and having done reasonably well since then, winning three out of the last four Presidential Elections).

The Democrats in the 2000s have done worse than they've done possibly ever. The only major electoral successes in the 1990s or 2000s have been Bill Clinton and the 2006 election, and a lot of that was just because the Republicans were so incredibly horrid.

If the Democratic Party doesn't want to be a party of liberalism, who will?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Eisenhower won because he managed to get almost everyone to like him.

My grandfather didn't like him.

[12th Doctor]

Eisenhower won because he managed to get almost everyone to like him.

My grandfather didn't like him.

And your greatx9 Grandfather didn't care for Washington either.  You would think eventually someone in your family would get it that being different for its own sake make you look idiotic.  Oh well....

[12th Doctor]

Bandit,

They could do a sit com tracing the history of your family, like Blackadder.  I bet it woudl be the funniest thing on TV.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It should be noted that Kansas has 2 Democrats in hardcore Bush districts, and they aren't Bush dogs.

[opebo]

It is a lot more likely that this poor blogger will be purged than those fairly typical Democrats.  The fact is the Democratic Party is a very right-wing party, and the only reason liberals such as the blogger are attached to it is the unfortunate lack of choice.

[NDN]

It is a lot more likely that this poor blogger will be purged than those fairly typical Democrats.  The fact is the Democratic Party is a very right-wing party, and the only reason liberals such as the blogger are attached to it is the unfortunate lack of choice.

You just failed.

[Boris]

Not that this blogger has any particular relevance, but I think it's kinda funny how he assumes the Democratic Party is a party of liberalism. After getting their asses handed to them during the 1980s, the Democratic Party has adopted a platform of centrism and has never really claimed to be anything else (and having done reasonably well since then, winning three out of the last four Presidential Elections).

The Democrats in the 2000s have done worse than they've done possibly ever. The only major electoral successes in the 1990s or 2000s have been Bill Clinton and the 2006 election, and a lot of that was just because the Republicans were so incredibly horrid.

If the Democratic Party doesn't want to be a party of liberalism, who will?

Oh, I obviously don't really approve of some of the stances Democrats have taken, but Democratic leaders have never claimed to be liberals (at least since 1992). So why do liberals bitch and moan when the candidates that they support don't vote the way they like? Either deal with it or don't support moderate/conservative candidates.

And no, the Democrats did much worse from the period of 1968-1992 than from 1992-present. Since 1992, the Democrats have either a) won presidential elections or b) came within one state of winning a presidential election. Not to mention averting the "six year jinx" in 1998. The only time the Democrats have truly gotten their asses whopped was in 1994, but they were able to successfully rebound in 1996. Let's see how well the Republicans can do that in 2008.

just because the Republicans were so incredibly horrid.

That's how American politics work. When one party fucks up, the other takes over. See 2006, 1994, 1992, 1980, 1976, 1974, and 1968 for examples. When the Democrats fuck up somewhere down the road, they'll lose their congressional majorities. And then gain them back again when the Republicans fuck up. And so on.

[Former Moderate]

I was about to make a list of national bloggers I can stand, but I failed to come up with a single name for the list.

[Colin]

I think Straha would like the German FPD and the Dutch D '66 parties.

Why?

Because they're like what you described here:

a coalitions of libertarians, business interests and social liberals(as in the "latte liberals" NOT the socialists) would be kewl. Leave the socialists and fundies to have their own circlejerks.

Well the FDP really isn't the party of German big business interests, most of them support CDU/CSU, the FDP's voting block is mostly made up of small business owners and the upper-middle class. I don't know what Straha meant by business interests, or if he meant anything considering he is Straha, but the big businesses aren't FDP supporters.

[Sibboleth]

but the big businesses aren't FDP supporters.

Not so: http://www.election.de/cgi-bin/spenden_db_show.pl

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

I think Straha would like the German FPD and the Dutch D '66 parties.

Why?

Because they're like what you described here:

a coalitions of libertarians, business interests and social liberals(as in the "latte liberals" NOT the socialists) would be kewl. Leave the socialists and fundies to have their own circlejerks.

Well the FDP really isn't the party of German big business interests, most of them support CDU/CSU, the FDP's voting block is mostly made up of small business owners and the upper-middle class. I don't know what Straha meant by business interests, or if he meant anything considering he is Straha, but the big businesses aren't FDP supporters.

I meant the capitalist classes.

[Colin]

but the big businesses aren't FDP supporters.

Not so: http://www.election.de/cgi-bin/spenden_db_show.pl

Well I stand corrected but it seems that they didn't recieve much more big business support than either the SPD or the CDU/CSU.

[Sibboleth]

but the big businesses aren't FDP supporters.

Not so: http://www.election.de/cgi-bin/spenden_db_show.pl

Well I stand corrected but it seems that they didn't recieve much more big business support than either the SPD or the CDU/CSU.

Consider the size of the FDP in comparision to the other two (and a half) parties!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Ellen Tauscher  purged herself from the Blue Dog organization.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

The Blue Dog Organization would fit better in the GOP.

[Frodo]

What a difference five years make....

‘Blue Dog’ Democrats fighting to avoid extinction

By Matt Canham | The Salt Lake Tribune |

Washington • Rep. Jim Matheson is in the midst of two tough campaigns and the one outside of Utah may prove to be the most challenging.

He’s trying to grow the once mighty Blue Dog Coalition, a group of centrist Democrats that was cut in half in the 2010 Republican landslide. To do this, Matheson hired the Blue Dogs’ first campaign strategist and overhauled the coalition’s recruitment effort, trying to get stronger candidates to run in districts he thinks Democrats can reclaim.

"In a world that is all the more competitive, I think it’s important for Blue Dogs to take steps to compete," said Matheson, a co-chairman of the Blue Dog political action committee. "Expanding the scope and reach of the PAC is the smart thing to do."

But turning that outreach into election-night victories is far from guaranteed. Matheson has more than a few factors working against him starting with the attention-sucking presidential contest and the once-in-a-decade redistricting where Republicans targeted areas where moderate and conservative Democrats have had success.

So far the Blue Dogs have endorsed 11 candidates and all of them are underdogs, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which handicaps federal elections.

[greenforest32]

They should include Senators as well.

[bgwah]

Most of the Blue Dogs weren't purged by liberals in primaries. Their districts decided to just go ahead and get real Republicans finally.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

How come the Democrats have just started this while my Republicans have been doing this for what seems like ages?

[Sheliak5]

If Barrow, Kissell, McIntyre and Matheson all lose, plus the retirements, the blue dogs will be down to 14. Among those 14 will be David Scott, Loretta Sanchez, Sanford Bishop and Mike Thompson, all of whom I consider liberals. I don't think the caucus will exist if that happens. It would be rather pointless.

[oakvale]

Most of the Blue Dogs weren't purged by liberals in primaries. Their districts decided to just go ahead and get real Republicans finally.

^^^^ This!

How many Blue Dogs lost primaries to left-wing Daily Kos types? Hint: Not many.

[Harry]

I sure wish Gene Taylor and Travis Childers were still in congress, spineless as they are.

[InsaneTrollLogic]

Well, the baggers pretty much did what we couldn't do ourselves. They have been more useful in creating a more polarized polity...not just by forcing the GOP to run as ultranationalists but also by winning seats from Democrats that were mostly held by Dixiecrats...not Progressives.

[The Mikado]

Most of the Blue Dogs weren't purged by liberals in primaries. Their districts decided to just go ahead and get real Republicans finally.

^^^^ This!

How many Blue Dogs lost primaries to left-wing Daily Kos types? Hint: Not many.

Al Wynn and...that's about it.