I don't hear anyone saying what I think is the perception problem the Democrats have: people see them as the party of gays, lesbians and trans people. Not the party that champions education and food for children. We're the ones who try to find a way to provide healthcare for people. Protect the environment and make sure the extraordinarily wealthy pay a legitimate share of taxes. Prevent monopoly power. Get fair treatment under the law.
Most people want Bette r healthcare at a reasonable cost, and education that doesn't cripple them economically. Safe food and not be ripped of by conglomerates.
If we get rid of the cultural crap of a very small minority of the population while stressing fairness and opportunity for everyone, were true to our values and still support these minority communities.
Our system allows only TWO parties. One is totally evil. No one reading this will vote for it. Finding the numerous wrongs with the other party is ok. But cultural crap is a made up story designed to distract. The so called nice people that would choose against evil are being gamed. And we’re too nice, with our corporate media to fight such.
May I add a number eight? 8. The NYT has been on tRump's side since they refused to endorse Kamala. Be very wary of any advice they give us... they aren't trying to help.
Also, with respect to “Moderate” actions and policies did not win in 2024. Bigotry and cruelty won" I would like to add that laziness also won. Many who would not have voted for tRump stayed home. It is always shocking to me how many people do not vote. They just stay home. Why? "And I think a majority of Americans now realize it was a BIG mistake" that tRump got elected, but do they acknowledge that their staying home contributed? Probably allowed it to happen? I certainly hope so, but I am not confident it is the case.
Interesting take, Bill, and I agree with Deborah. But those labels and "Moderate" are not mutually exclusive. Maybe I'm conflating "Moderate" with "Centrist," but I don't want to abandon the idea. If there's a difference, I guess I'm more of the latter.
I think a lot of the extremists pose as moderates, and then show their true colors. Even pmurT did that in 2024, and people fell for it despite ample evidence to the contrary.
I think a bigger problem for the Dems is that they're still trying to play nice, and they're almost always on defense. Until the balance is restored, that's gotta change. Dems also have a habit of condemning the whole meal because of distaste for one or two items on the menu. Half a loaf is better than none.
Right on target. One plays by the rules, the other just ignores them.....Kind of hard to win. As Matthew Dowd says, Democrats always fight these battles with one hand tied behind their back - the UPPRER HAND. They need to get it out and use it. The Biden Admin missed the boat there when they went over board with trying to be fair rather than delivering justice.
Yes, yes, yes! Look at the crowds that Bernie Sanders is drawing across the country. Look at the people in NYC cheering for Zohran Mamdani. Look at the protesters attending No Kings rallies being held in cities, suburbs, and even rural communities in every state. Americans are FED UP.
Is healthcare for every American a “lefty radical idea? It used to be... not anymore.
<rant on> Should the environment be put at risk so fossil fuel companies can make more money? No, and while many other countries are adopting solar and wind energy at a rapid pace, we have an administration (or regime, if you like) that has cancelled nearly-completed wind farms and cut investments in alternative power sources. Many other countries are also moving to electric and hybrid vehicles. Only in T*umpy's America are fossil fuel companies (and their highly paid lobbyists) calling the shots. </rant off, for now>
The New York Times is wrong. I'm so sick of the labels used by the media: "moderate," "radical," "conservative." These are just more ways to divide us.
And Bernie Sanders won California, then to be defeated by the mindful actions of the DNC by selecting a state next that he would loose; and then framing him as unelectable because the corporate democrats wanted Clinton and not Progressive solutions We are in civil war with no apparent exit. The bottom up not the top down is the solution. But how to communicate without media?
Bill, you and I are in total agreement on this. Playing 'nice' and going along to get along do NOT win elections. Admitting the truth, that Democrats plotted to rig the system to support and increase the obscene wealth of those less than 2,000 billionaires. WHY? because they wanted a piece of the same pie Republicans were enjoying.
A 5% wealth tax on fortunes exceeding 500 million dollars will NOT lose us votes. For the past 44 years 90% of the American citizenry have seen their wages deteriorate, their cost of living sky rocket, their savings gush upwards to the greediest amongst us and have felt helpless to stop it.
We don't need moderation. We need liberal progression toward restoring a reasonable distribution of wealth to all, not just the "elite" few.
Good article, Bill. You speak to the anger we’re feeling.
The problem I see with the NYT’s appeal to moderation is that it just buys a reprieve from the inevitable. Biden is an exemplar of this approach. He should have moved boldly. Jan 6 had exposed the Trump agenda and the American people were appalled at that. Instead of issuing a commission to study SCOTUS reform, he should have reformed it. The Roberts court had acted against the people with its Dobbs and Citizens United decisions. It would have been a fight but he could have done it. That would have prevented them issuing Trump complete immunity in office.
The Democratic nominee must not be an incrementalist. The country is broken and tinkering won’t bring it back.
The Democrats need an image overhaul, and then actually become that image. That's going to be a stretch until they regain the 'common touch' they used to posses (I know it's been decades ago). Broadening out into rural spaces and listening to those folks concerns is a must and the Dems have been fools not to have done this over the years - now those regions have been labeled 'unwinnable'.
And (this can't be emphasized too much), they have to incorporate and accept younger members! The old guards like Schumer and Pelosi had their day and their say - now step aside or get run over.
I know that sounds disrespectful and crass, and I apologize for that, but the forest is burning down around us.
Let's hear it for disrespectful and crass winners. Along with knives and glasses of chardonnay, one does not bring courtly manners to a bar brawl. Schumer's biggest problem is that he's boring, or maybe BORING and can't even hold the camera's attention when it's pointed at him.
Really well ranted Bill, and I agree completely. Your opening scenario is one that Fletcher Knebel and Charles Bailey would have gone to town with, but now it's not speculative fiction.
I don't hear anyone saying what I think is the perception problem the Democrats have: people see them as the party of gays, lesbians and trans people. Not the party that champions education and food for children. We're the ones who try to find a way to provide healthcare for people. Protect the environment and make sure the extraordinarily wealthy pay a legitimate share of taxes. Prevent monopoly power. Get fair treatment under the law.
Most people want Bette r healthcare at a reasonable cost, and education that doesn't cripple them economically. Safe food and not be ripped of by conglomerates.
If we get rid of the cultural crap of a very small minority of the population while stressing fairness and opportunity for everyone, were true to our values and still support these minority communities.
Our system allows only TWO parties. One is totally evil. No one reading this will vote for it. Finding the numerous wrongs with the other party is ok. But cultural crap is a made up story designed to distract. The so called nice people that would choose against evil are being gamed. And we’re too nice, with our corporate media to fight such.
The Democratic Workers Party is overdue.
May I add a number eight? 8. The NYT has been on tRump's side since they refused to endorse Kamala. Be very wary of any advice they give us... they aren't trying to help.
Also, with respect to “Moderate” actions and policies did not win in 2024. Bigotry and cruelty won" I would like to add that laziness also won. Many who would not have voted for tRump stayed home. It is always shocking to me how many people do not vote. They just stay home. Why? "And I think a majority of Americans now realize it was a BIG mistake" that tRump got elected, but do they acknowledge that their staying home contributed? Probably allowed it to happen? I certainly hope so, but I am not confident it is the case.
Interesting take, Bill, and I agree with Deborah. But those labels and "Moderate" are not mutually exclusive. Maybe I'm conflating "Moderate" with "Centrist," but I don't want to abandon the idea. If there's a difference, I guess I'm more of the latter.
I think a lot of the extremists pose as moderates, and then show their true colors. Even pmurT did that in 2024, and people fell for it despite ample evidence to the contrary.
I think a bigger problem for the Dems is that they're still trying to play nice, and they're almost always on defense. Until the balance is restored, that's gotta change. Dems also have a habit of condemning the whole meal because of distaste for one or two items on the menu. Half a loaf is better than none.
Right on target. One plays by the rules, the other just ignores them.....Kind of hard to win. As Matthew Dowd says, Democrats always fight these battles with one hand tied behind their back - the UPPRER HAND. They need to get it out and use it. The Biden Admin missed the boat there when they went over board with trying to be fair rather than delivering justice.
Yes, yes, yes! Look at the crowds that Bernie Sanders is drawing across the country. Look at the people in NYC cheering for Zohran Mamdani. Look at the protesters attending No Kings rallies being held in cities, suburbs, and even rural communities in every state. Americans are FED UP.
Is healthcare for every American a “lefty radical idea? It used to be... not anymore.
<rant on> Should the environment be put at risk so fossil fuel companies can make more money? No, and while many other countries are adopting solar and wind energy at a rapid pace, we have an administration (or regime, if you like) that has cancelled nearly-completed wind farms and cut investments in alternative power sources. Many other countries are also moving to electric and hybrid vehicles. Only in T*umpy's America are fossil fuel companies (and their highly paid lobbyists) calling the shots. </rant off, for now>
The New York Times is wrong. I'm so sick of the labels used by the media: "moderate," "radical," "conservative." These are just more ways to divide us.
And Bernie Sanders won California, then to be defeated by the mindful actions of the DNC by selecting a state next that he would loose; and then framing him as unelectable because the corporate democrats wanted Clinton and not Progressive solutions We are in civil war with no apparent exit. The bottom up not the top down is the solution. But how to communicate without media?
Bernie is not going to run for president again. He is setting the stage for other, mostly younger progressive candidates, like AOC.
Bill, you and I are in total agreement on this. Playing 'nice' and going along to get along do NOT win elections. Admitting the truth, that Democrats plotted to rig the system to support and increase the obscene wealth of those less than 2,000 billionaires. WHY? because they wanted a piece of the same pie Republicans were enjoying.
A 5% wealth tax on fortunes exceeding 500 million dollars will NOT lose us votes. For the past 44 years 90% of the American citizenry have seen their wages deteriorate, their cost of living sky rocket, their savings gush upwards to the greediest amongst us and have felt helpless to stop it.
We don't need moderation. We need liberal progression toward restoring a reasonable distribution of wealth to all, not just the "elite" few.
Good article, Bill. You speak to the anger we’re feeling.
The problem I see with the NYT’s appeal to moderation is that it just buys a reprieve from the inevitable. Biden is an exemplar of this approach. He should have moved boldly. Jan 6 had exposed the Trump agenda and the American people were appalled at that. Instead of issuing a commission to study SCOTUS reform, he should have reformed it. The Roberts court had acted against the people with its Dobbs and Citizens United decisions. It would have been a fight but he could have done it. That would have prevented them issuing Trump complete immunity in office.
The Democratic nominee must not be an incrementalist. The country is broken and tinkering won’t bring it back.
The Democrats need an image overhaul, and then actually become that image. That's going to be a stretch until they regain the 'common touch' they used to posses (I know it's been decades ago). Broadening out into rural spaces and listening to those folks concerns is a must and the Dems have been fools not to have done this over the years - now those regions have been labeled 'unwinnable'.
And (this can't be emphasized too much), they have to incorporate and accept younger members! The old guards like Schumer and Pelosi had their day and their say - now step aside or get run over.
I know that sounds disrespectful and crass, and I apologize for that, but the forest is burning down around us.
Let's hear it for disrespectful and crass winners. Along with knives and glasses of chardonnay, one does not bring courtly manners to a bar brawl. Schumer's biggest problem is that he's boring, or maybe BORING and can't even hold the camera's attention when it's pointed at him.
Yes, they need to get that UPPER HAND out and use it before it is removed completely.
Bill, I love your 5 word conclusion
We can BE this
Mahalo /Thank you for sharing and it’s anything other than a “rant” …it’s righteous anger and I’m in lockstep with you .
Really well ranted Bill, and I agree completely. Your opening scenario is one that Fletcher Knebel and Charles Bailey would have gone to town with, but now it's not speculative fiction.
Correction, I gave Bailey extra credit, he didn't collaborate on Night of Camp David, only on 7 Days in May.