Stupid question but... do the Democrats have something equivalent to CPAC?

[question everything]

I was asked and I have not idea..

[djean111]

1. Maybe the Third Way folks have something like that, but then again, I consider the Third Way

to be more GOP than Dem. Just not as in your face. Expressing the view that Warren was getting "out of hand' was kind of a clue. Assholes.

[busterbrown]

2. If they do, no one would care.

A meeting with just normal minded politicians trying to advance their causes would be ignored by the media...... On the other a meeting of a collective bunch of hateful clowns will always attract all sorts of attention..

[northoftheborder]

3. Netroots Nation.....but doesn't get any press

[Gman]

5. Yup. That's probably the closest.

[karynnj]

4. The closest I can remember was the "Take back America" - the last of which was in 2008 or the Daily

Kos Netroots Nation annual event. Just as the Republican potential nominees came to CPAC, I can remember people including Dean, Kerry, Clinton, Edwards and Obama appearing at TBA in 2005, 2006, 2007, or 2008. In addition, I think people more to the left - Kuchinich, Sharpton etc spoke too.

Here is a link to the wiki article on Netroots Nation -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netroots_Nation

I suspect that the reason our side has been quieter is that we hold the Presidency and - to a very real degree, Hillary Clinton is being treated almost as an incumbent -- just as some VPs have. Gore had a powerful challenger who might have run better in 2004 than 2000 - but the entire power structure signaled it was Gore's "turn". At this point, there is at least as much thought that it is Hillary's turn.

[Jamaal510]

6. If they do,

I certainly haven't heard of it. People in the middle and on the left generally don't need to be told what to think. Basically, CPAC was designed to be an echo chamber. It is the ultimate Kool Aid-drinking convention, where the speakers are to walk lock-step with as much of the RW agenda as possible and push talking points, and the crowd eats (or drinks) up whatever they say.

[question everything]

7. Thanks. Good summary. This is why we cannot succeed in radio stations

like Air America. Don't know if still exists.

We do not strive on hate, flaming and outright lies.

[packman]

8. Yes, we don't

But I worry about the scope,depth, and power of those that do strive on the hate of groups and spout outright lies . Seems like in Europe a few decades back there was a party that took over a government with such an agenda and caused a hell of a lot of misery.

[question everything]

9. This really cannot happen here, in the 21st century

Even in the most repressive regimes, opposition voices find ways through the Social Media, Skype, etc.

This is a vast country and many people and even a Cruz or another crazy will, if get to control power - which I doubt - try to present a sense of democracy.

We've had our share of flaming and haters. And while these days their voices are amplified through 24-hr cable and blogs and social media, these channels also expose their weaknesses.

Remember, many of the tea party and others are anti government - any government. And certainly anti any attempt to regulate their free expression.

(I hope..)

[packman]

10. I hope also

But there is a whole host of parallels to the experience in Germany. First the appeal to a national identity (USA,USA), second fear of and hatred of a minority ("illegal" aliens, blacks, gays), also the enemy within (liberals-you and me) and an enemy without (any Arab nation), a strong appeal to religion and a warped sense of elitism. The control of mass media printed and visual . The suppression of dissent thru the control of that media.
Keep in mind the first thing that the party did after the election of the democratically elected leader was to get rid of the fringe, wacky arm of the party.
Again - I hope you're right.