Political Discussion

DownIsTheNewUp said:
“Donald Trump did *slightly* better with non-white than in 2016. [But what made this close] is that Trump juiced his turnout by finding *10 million* non-college educated white voters, registering them to vote and turning them out in mass.”

- Obama’s former speech writer on the always excellent Pod Save America.

The mainstream media is trying to make this about the Latino vote because it deflects away from the real problem. Democrats AGAIN nominated a candidate who had zero grass roots infrastructure, zero activists willing to pour their blood sweat and tears into the hustle and grind that successful campaigns usually require. And they did so against a candidate who has that infrastructure and enthusiasm in spades.

If you are wondering why the polls are off, their are several reasons but the biggest is that most polling only calls registered voters. Not only that, they prioritize calling “likely voters”. Similarly, if you are wondering why Democrats didn’t do better in down ballots races it’s because down ballot races depend on having a presidential candidate with robust grassroots infrastructure.

Also, in case you need evidence of the importance of grassroots organizing... as others have pointed out, Arizona flipped in large part because there is HUGE grassroots infrastructure there- particularly among Latinos- that was built during the battle against bigoted sherif Joe Arpaio years ago. Similarly, the work that Stacy Abraham’s and Beto put into their home states several years ago laid the foundation for those states now being competitive.
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There is a large, dedicated and well-organized mobilization operation on the left. It is the most enduring legacy of the 2016 Sanders primary campaign, and has evolved into organizations like Justice Democrats and the Sunrise Movement. When Bernie won the early Dem primaries, it was largely attributable to their superior ground-level organizing activities, whether it was busing people into Iowa to knock doors or remote phone banking from all over the country. They - I should say, “we” - might vote for centrist Dems like Biden or even contribute money if we can, but are simply not going to put in the time and effort to actually hit the pavement - literal or virtual - for a candidate or party who offers little more than the lesser of two evils.

I had the good fortune this year to put some work in for the Jamaal Bowman campaign. When I showed up to work a shift at a polling place on primary day, my opposite number from the Engel side immediately started pressing me on whether I’d commit to supporting either candidate in the general, and whether I was planning to do anything for Biden in the fall (he was thinking about going down to Florida to get out the vote - RIP dude). There’s a palpable and, I believe, unearned frustration among centrist Dem types that people who put their efforts and enthusiasm behind candidates who inspire them won’t simply donate that effort and enthusiasm to candidates who offer nothing but a (D).

A Democratic Party that is led by politicians and candidates who promise (in a credible way) to fight for the things we all know we need in order to have a better future will have access to a machine that’s been built over the last few years, that gets bigger and bigger and better and better with every cycle. But it’s not going to get it for free.
 
Space Wanderer said:
There is a large, dedicated and well-organized mobilization operation on the left. It is the most enduring legacy of the 2016 Sanders primary campaign, and has evolved into organizations like Justice Democrats and the Sunrise Movement. When Bernie won the early Dem primaries, it was largely attributable to their superior ground-level organizing activities, whether it was busing people into Iowa to knock doors or remote phone banking from all over the country. They - I should say, “we” - might vote for centrist Dems like Biden or even contribute money if we can, but are simply not going to put in the time and effort to actually hit the pavement - literal or virtual - for a candidate or party who offers little more than the lesser of two evils.

I had the good fortune this year to put some work in for the Jamaal Bowman campaign. When I showed up to work a shift at a polling place on primary day, my opposite number from the Engel side immediately started pressing me on whether I’d commit to supporting either candidate in the general, and whether I was planning to do anything for Biden in the fall (he was thinking about going down to Florida to get out the vote - RIP dude). There’s a palpable and, I believe, unearned frustration among centrist Dem types that people who put their efforts and enthusiasm behind candidates who inspire them won’t simply donate that effort and enthusiasm to candidates who offer nothing but a (D).

A Democratic Party that is led by politicians and candidates who promise (in a credible way) to fight for the things we all know we need in order to have a better future will have access to a machine that’s been built over the last few years, that gets bigger and bigger and better and better with every cycle. But it’s not going to get it for free.
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Yea I really think this is the beginning of the left rising. To defeat an incumbent despite all his faults is a big gain. the boomers power will fade into death and the rest wont put up much of a fight. The culture war will fade because even conservatives have evolved. Science will prevail because you can’t fight reality.
 
Space Wanderer said:
There is a large, dedicated and well-organized mobilization operation on the left. It is the most enduring legacy of the 2016 Sanders primary campaign, and has evolved into organizations like Justice Democrats and the Sunrise Movement. When Bernie won the early Dem primaries, it was largely attributable to their superior ground-level organizing activities, whether it was busing people into Iowa to knock doors or remote phone banking from all over the country. They - I should say, “we” - might vote for centrist Dems like Biden or even contribute money if we can, but are simply not going to put in the time and effort to actually hit the pavement - literal or virtual - for a candidate or party who offers little more than the lesser of two evils.

I had the good fortune this year to put some work in for the Jamaal Bowman campaign. When I showed up to work a shift at a polling place on primary day, my opposite number from the Engel side immediately started pressing me on whether I’d commit to supporting either candidate in the general, and whether I was planning to do anything for Biden in the fall (he was thinking about going down to Florida to get out the vote - RIP dude). There’s a palpable and, I believe, unearned frustration among centrist Dem types that people who put their efforts and enthusiasm behind candidates who inspire them won’t simply donate that effort and enthusiasm to candidates who offer nothing but a (D).

A Democratic Party that is led by politicians and candidates who promise (in a credible way) to fight for the things we all know we need in order to have a better future will have access to a machine that’s been built over the last few years, that gets bigger and bigger and better and better with every cycle. But it’s not going to get it for free.
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We are on the same page. I've put in time on numerous campaigns including hundreds for Obama in 08, Bernie in 2016 and hundreds on city counsel races within Los Angeles.

My point is that activist base was not "dedicated" to Biden. In fact, many within that sphere that made it clear from day on that he was the one candidate that they would not work for even if they were willing to swallow their vomit and vote for Joe. And that contrast to Trump is the primary reason we are all over here sweating.
 
"Now, there's one thing you might have noticed I don't complain about: politicians. Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these politicians come from? They don't fall out of the sky. They don't pass through a membrane from another reality. They come from American parents and American families, American homes, American schools, American churches, American businesses and American universities, and they are elected by American citizens. This is the best we can do folks.

This is what we have to offer. It's what our system produces: Garbage in, garbage out. If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders. Term limits ain't going to do any good; you're just going to end up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans. So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here... like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: 'The Public Sucks. F*ck Hope."

- George Carlin

www.theatlantic.com

A Large Portion of the Electorate Chose the Sociopath

America will have to contend with that fact.
www.theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com
 
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DownIsTheNewUp said:
"Now, there's one thing you might have noticed I don't complain about: politicians. Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these politicians come from? They don't fall out of the sky. They don't pass through a membrane from another reality. They come from American parents and American families, American homes, American schools, American churches, American businesses and American universities, and they are elected by American citizens. This is the best we can do folks.

This is what we have to offer. It's what our system produces: Garbage in, garbage out. If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders. Term limits ain't going to do any good; you're just going to end up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans. So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here... like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: 'The Public Sucks. F*ck Hope."

- George Carlin
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The best thing I've read since yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow too. I love George Carlin. The kind of comedian I don't go to when I want to laugh; but rather when I want to think.
 
Friend from college likely just died of Covid.

Complained of feeling sick and light of breath. Then later that day, he collapsed in the kitchen in front of my friend who he has been dating since her and I were juniors in 2008 (they weren’t the marriage type).

He was 36...

Please let a reasonable adult be in charge of this pandemic. Please.
 
DownIsTheNewUp said:
Friend from college likely just died of Covid.

Complained of feeling sick and light of breath. Then later that day, he collapsed in the kitchen in front of my friend who he has been dating since her and I were juniors in 2008 (they weren’t the marriage type).

He was 36...

Please let a reasonable adult be in charge of this pandemic. Please.
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Sorry to hear this.
 
DownIsTheNewUp said:
Friend from college likely just died of Covid.

Complained of feeling sick and light of breath. Then later that day, he collapsed in the kitchen in front of my friend who he has been dating since her and I were juniors in 2008 (they weren’t the marriage type).

He was 36...

Please let a reasonable adult be in charge of this pandemic. Please.
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So awful. So sorry to hear this.
 
DownIsTheNewUp said:
Friend from college likely just died of Covid.

Complained of feeling sick and light of breath. Then later that day, he collapsed in the kitchen in front of my friend who he has been dating since her and I were juniors in 2008 (they weren’t the marriage type).

He was 36...

Please let a reasonable adult be in charge of this pandemic. Please.
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I'm so sorry, friend. Stay strong. ❤️
 
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