General Discussion

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts) Sat Apr 18, 2015, 12:14 AM Apr 2015

Our party leaders need to let go of the "they have nowhere else to go" attitude towards the base. [View all]

The Democratic Party DEMANDS that workers, the poor, and activists give its presidential ticket their votes-and yet, at the same time, refuses to accept that they owe those groups anything in exchange for that support(while believing, at the same time, that they owe everything to the big Wall Street donors who demand that the party leave the base out in the cold on economic, foreign policy, and budgetary issues.

This attitude can only lead to massive absentions from the polls by those groups, and thus can only guarantee a Republican re-take of the White House in 2016.

Yes, most Democratic presidential candidates(other than the frontrunner and Chafee)are going to be significantly better than whoever the GOP puts up. But those we ask to vote for the Democratic presidential ticket have the right, if nothing else, to expect that the party will take them seriously and treat them and their needs with respect.

One-way loyalty is not a sustainable way to run politics...at least for a party that wants to be the alternative to the GOP.

And at some point, the base, if it continues to be treated as the party treats it now, will FIND somewhere else to go.

147 replies

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Our party leaders need to let go of the "they have nowhere else to go" attitude towards the base. [View all] Ken Burch Apr 2015 OP

you are implying Hillary Clinton and Chafee will not be better than the Republican ? JI7 Apr 2015 #1

Unfortunately that's most likley because the party and its base has become centrist. cui bono Apr 2015 #6

The party leadership may now be centrist, but NOT the base! cascadiance Apr 2015 #22

No, he's right. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2015 #33

Oh so if you're not a supporter of Clinton, then you're not a Democrat.... cascadiance Apr 2015 #46

That's the feeling I get from the centrists. cui bono Apr 2015 #87

She, actually. cui bono Apr 2015 #88

you also notice that our candidates talk all populist -- until they get elected, then they ND-Dem Apr 2015 #92

What "base"? You mean low information voters who only go with name recognition? NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #9

HRC's "base" ... NanceGreggs Apr 2015 #14

What makes her the superior democrat in your eyes, Nance? Scootaloo Apr 2015 #15

Well, thanks for the invite ... NanceGreggs Apr 2015 #18

So you have no explanation whatsoever? nt delrem Apr 2015 #23

Mm hmm ... NanceGreggs Apr 2015 #47

Actually, you said worse. You refused to answer a simple question. cui bono Apr 2015 #89

there is no answer. ND-Dem Apr 2015 #93

This political message board ... NanceGreggs Apr 2015 #101

Then why do you post here? There's no reason not to answer it. cui bono Apr 2015 #102

Saying I refuse to answer ... NanceGreggs Apr 2015 #132

+1000 Katashi_itto Apr 2015 #109

This is where I'm at - exactly JustAnotherGen Apr 2015 #28

Among poll respondents, most by far are not as bright as you, Nance. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #54

No personal offence meant, NYC ... NanceGreggs Apr 2015 #60

You do not want to be called stupid but it is okay for you to call others deluded because they do jwirr Apr 2015 #67

Agreement or disagreement with me ... NanceGreggs Apr 2015 #82

Everytime I read an OP like this I wonder ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #61

This has been a delusional and even fairly hilarious tactic that a loud group have deployed here for Number23 Apr 2015 #77

The base that knows how to spell "D", and thinks nothing else is important. GoneFishin Apr 2015 #50

10% of that base is now registered as Independent. Dem voter registration is now only at 32% sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #96

if they are registered as independent they are not the base JI7 Apr 2015 #99

The base is defined as who is voting for them, not necessarily by party affiliation. n/t cui bono Apr 2015 #105

They WERE the base. Now why would the base of a political party be fleeing that party? Shouldn't sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #114

the base is black voters, lgbt, hispanics , asians and i see no evidence any of these groups JI7 Apr 2015 #115

Are you saying that minorities are different in some way to white voters and therefore have nowhere sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #116

you do realize that majority of white voters vote republican while majority of minorities vote dem ? JI7 Apr 2015 #117

What I realize is is that you have assumed that the loss of 10% of registered Dems since 2008 sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #118

yes, i would say not many minorities but even among some independents many still JI7 Apr 2015 #121

The math says you are wrong. But who cares about math? sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #122

no it doesn't, party registration has nothing to do with who is the base JI7 Apr 2015 #123

Are you denying the reality that with the shrinking of the base, we lost the House AND the Senate? sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #125

and most independents lean democratic, we lost the house because of how districts are drawn out JI7 Apr 2015 #128

Whatever you say! Maybe some day you will take a closer look at those mid terms, and not just sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #130

it's about recognizing reality . JI7 Apr 2015 #131

Yes, exactly. And the reality is we are losing. We lost the House and the Senate. That is the sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #133

republicans have lost more party registration so how did they win ? JI7 Apr 2015 #134

Christie was VERY vulerable over his handling of Sandy. But even if he wasn't, explain why over 60 sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #135

because he was not vulnerable and actually was popular JI7 Apr 2015 #136

Wrong, you are repeating the EXCUSES that were handed down when outraged Dems sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #137

he was popular, and i'm not condoning anything, i'm stating facts, reality JI7 Apr 2015 #138

So it's okay for Democrats to support a Republican? Thanks, that's what I thought you were saying. sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #139

oh, you are the one that claimed millions of people watch RT ? JI7 Apr 2015 #140

You have defended Democrats voting for a 'popular' Republican. I will remember that. sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #141

stop accusing people of things for stating facts JI7 Apr 2015 #142

It's a simple thing to say. What the Dem Party did to Buono in NJ was reprehensible. They supported sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #143

i'm not being scammed, id on't think millions watch RT JI7 Apr 2015 #144

Exactly why are you trying to change the subject to something so far from sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #145

you change the subject all the time JI7 Apr 2015 #146

NJ is a BLUE STATE. A rotten, corrupt Republican was in trouble there. And the Dem Party rushed to sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #147

We don't have anywhere else to go scscholar Apr 2015 #2

No, we're asking that they actually listen to what we want Maedhros Apr 2015 #5

Well I can't vote for Hillary. So they better start listening and responding. n/t cui bono Apr 2015 #7

And we're dirty hippies. GoneFishin Apr 2015 #51

Oh there's the faint lip service paid to the Party Plank BEFORE the election. AFTER the election ... blkmusclmachine Apr 2015 #3

if this group actually exists why didn't they vote for Chuy Garcia in Chicago ? JI7 Apr 2015 #4

They did betterdemsonly Apr 2015 #12

so they make up a very small percentage in the country ? JI7 Apr 2015 #13

The wheels on your goalpost seem very well-greased. Scootaloo Apr 2015 #16

nope, i don't agree with what the poster claims JI7 Apr 2015 #20

Conclusion: the Republican won. And you're laughing. nt delrem Apr 2015 #24

No a DEMOCRAT that you don't support, won. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #63

That depends on whether you define Democrat as someone with a 'D' after their name or cui bono Apr 2015 #90

It's the "D," baby. Just the big "D". ND-Dem Apr 2015 #94

LOL ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #97

Well... what has Emanuel done that is true to Democratic principles and what has he done that isn't? cui bono Apr 2015 #98

I don't know ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #107

What percentage of Emanuel's vote was from Republicans? cui bono Apr 2015 #111

Good question and good point. Do you have an answer? n/t 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #112

I do not. I thought you might since you made the statement that Dems voted him in, cui bono Apr 2015 #113

It's probably why Chicago's mayoral race is now officially "nonpartisan". Ken Burch Apr 2015 #26

so is los angeles and new york JI7 Apr 2015 #62

Are you sure about New York? Ken Burch Apr 2015 #83

yes, i was wrong, because the only contest was really the dem primary JI7 Apr 2015 #84

heh RobertEarl Apr 2015 #8

That was the most accurate & depressing post this morning. CrispyQ Apr 2015 #40

Since the 90's/Clinton until now, for the most part it seems to me Vote Democratic lexington filly Apr 2015 #10

Because we haven't found another place to go and they're betting that we never will. DeSwiss Apr 2015 #11

Love that quote - by the way, the dirty fucking hippies were right. polichick Apr 2015 #32

Yes we were, and we still are! haikugal Apr 2015 #58

Right on! polichick Apr 2015 #66

Yes they (we) were..... DeSwiss Apr 2015 #129

You do have elsewhere to go treestar Apr 2015 #37

+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #68

Thank you. woo me with science Apr 2015 #106

you are not the base treestar Apr 2015 #17

I think you mean the proactive people they work for betterdemsonly Apr 2015 #19

The base would be people who try to get donors treestar Apr 2015 #36

I disagree, I think Ken is a part of the base. Major Hogwash Apr 2015 #25

The base turns up reliably treestar Apr 2015 #35

actually, they are supposed to serve us PowerToThePeople Apr 2015 #38

No the party is "us" treestar Apr 2015 #39

well, I push the candidates I want pretty constant. PowerToThePeople Apr 2015 #42

I have yet to see where other candidates are not allowed to run, you can't lay blame at the DNC. Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #59

They are not a pulic servant until they are elected. And if we are active in the party we are the jwirr Apr 2015 #71

+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #70

No, the party has changed, the "base" is still liberal. The party, as evidenced by so many posts on cui bono Apr 2015 #104

Do primaries always play chicken over pulling a Nader? daredtowork Apr 2015 #127

Obama, Clinton and the DLC still believe they can replace betterdemsonly Apr 2015 #21

I'm going to vote for the Dem nominee, whoever it may be. The Party doesn't want my thoughts. Shrike47 Apr 2015 #27

Yep. Then when they lose elections they blame us. If they want our votes, they have to .... Scuba Apr 2015 #29

See the post below you treestar Apr 2015 #41

When they lose elections, a Republican wins and screws us. I know, not popular. Don't care. n/t libdem4life Apr 2015 #45

There's a sure way to have influence in the Party, and that's to help build the Party over the years struggle4progress Apr 2015 #30

They're changing who 'the base' is. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2015 #31

I dont think that's the attitude. DCBob Apr 2015 #34

That calculation seems to work well enough for the purposes of those doing the math, Ken. TheKentuckian Apr 2015 #43

Bollocks, Ken - your OP is full of it. "other than the frontrunner"? Ridiculous muriel_volestrangler Apr 2015 #44

It's crap like "there's no difference between Hillary and Republicans" that turns people off voting workinclasszero Apr 2015 #108

republican party leaders often yields to the policy wishes of the far-right. Our party pampango Apr 2015 #48

I like this H2O Man Apr 2015 #49

+1000 !!!! orpupilofnature57 Apr 2015 #52

Posted to for later. 1StrongBlackMan Apr 2015 #53

They ALREADY have somewwhere else to go - HOME Glitterati Apr 2015 #55

Real true blue dems vote quid pro bono HereSince1628 Apr 2015 #56

I have said it before and I will say it again, they are creating a vacuum and Autumn Apr 2015 #57

Except -- they're right. Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2015 #64

To make the question a bit clearer: Seriously, where would we go if we want to protect what little jwirr Apr 2015 #75

I can't count the number of times I have been told I support Republicans just today alone. liberal_at_heart Apr 2015 #65

Only if they have a moral center. Jakes Progress Apr 2015 #69

You are not the base. MineralMan Apr 2015 #72

Whoa there. Many of us have done those things. madfloridian Apr 2015 #73

Past tense? MineralMan Apr 2015 #74

Some of us do what we can now. madfloridian Apr 2015 #76

You don't have to justify yourself to anyone, madflo. smokey nj Apr 2015 #91

I've done ALL of those things...for decades. Ken Burch Apr 2015 #81

That's not what the base is. The base is the voters who vote for a particular party. cui bono Apr 2015 #95

Of course, you're right. Major Hogwash Apr 2015 #100

So if we don't do those things we are not the Democratic base? Autumn Apr 2015 #119

I wish I had said that. guillaumeb Apr 2015 #78

Research speeches by many influential Democratic leaders like Rahm Emanuel or Al From and democrank Apr 2015 #79

I am no one's "base" and my vote is my own. Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2015 #80

I don't think the dc dems want the votes. The president was desperate to get a republican congress Doctor_J Apr 2015 #85

Why? MFrohike Apr 2015 #86

You know why they keep on doing this? Because they CAN AZ Progressive Apr 2015 #103

The problem is the cure may be worse than the disease 1939 Apr 2015 #110

Issues, not party loyalty, DirkGently Apr 2015 #120

That's for damned sure. n/t LWolf Apr 2015 #124

Bull shit upaloopa Apr 2015 #126