Liberals to pull the Party leftward after the election

[Seeking Serenity]

Maybe there's already a thread on this, so if so, please lock and redirect, but. . .

SF Chronicle reports:

Left in the wings
The looming fight for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party

Fights over a political party's future are common after the party loses a big election. But John Kerry figures to face a fight over control of the party from fellow Democrats even if he beats George W. Bush on Nov. 2.

Influential figures on the party's left wing are planning a long-term campaign to move the Democrats to the left, just as right-wing activists took over the Republican Party and moved it to the right over the past 30 years.

snip

Now, leftist Democrats are planning to challenge the centrists' control. The leftists argue that many Democrats, especially the party establishment in Washington, have become too much like Republicans and too afraid to stand up to right-wingers like George W. Bush.

snip

"We're going to celebrate with John Kerry the night of Nov. 2. But the morning of Nov. 3, we're going to start organizing to take the party away from him, because we have serious disagreements about what the party should stand for and where this country needs to go," said one activist at the "What We Stand For" conference, Bertha Lewis, co-chair of the Working Families Party in New York state and a leader in the grassroots antipoverty group, ACORN.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/10/10/INGEF94FCU1.DTL

What does everyone think? I just hope our internecene battles aren't played out in public.

[lightbulb]

1. Any stories like this should be looked upon

with much suspicion. I personally would love to see it happen, but the spectre of a leftward migration is likely to spook fence sitters.

[Seeking Serenity]

2. I suppose

but it is what we want, no? I wouldn't mind it, if it could be done quietly and stealthily.

[BayCityProgressive]

3. I think this will happen

but I dont think it will be loud and public. We have already seen this begin. To appease the left Kerry opposed CAFTA. Nancy Pelosi one of the most liberal members of congress- a supporter of gay marriage and universal healthcare, is our house leader and first woman leader. Obama is center left and he will certainly win election. Howard Dean stole the show for most of the primaries. ted Kennedy has been increasingly vocal. Kucinich has started a great left wing movement and he swayed many state democratic platforms. I think the party will move to the left and I think Daschle will be replaced. Possibly with Corzine or Hillary.

[Q]

7. I think we've tried to appease the 'fence-sitters' for far too long...

...while ignoring the giant natural base of the Democratic party.

- And exactly what does 'leftward migration' mean besides going back to the grass roots? I get the feeling that even many Democrats have been brainwashed into believing much of the propaganda put out by the right over the last few decades.

- Moving to the left means nothing more than standing up for principles and values that a majority of Democrats seem to agree upon...from government/corporate regulations...to environmental protections...civil/human rights...women's rights...support for workers and unions...social welfare...social security...the list goes on and on.

- Don't be afraid of moving to the 'left'. Most of America is there already.

[jaysunb]

12. Bingo !!

:toast:

[Kanary]

16. suspicion? As in, McCarthyism? Haven't we had enough of that?

I don't give a rip about "spooking" anyone. It's time we left fear behind, and brought back hope!

Kanary

[bread_and_roses]

4. Right on Bertha!!

That's what I think...which I would, being registered and active in WFP for years, now. We are working to change the dynamic in NYS. This election has energized people all around the country who care about peace and economic justice; I fervently hope it continues after the election.

[H2O Man]

5. The democratic party will make a

significant move to the left in the first six months of the Kerry administration. It will not be as much because of any of the leadership as it will be due to the overwhelming energy and power of the grass-roots. America will become our America again.

[H2O Man]

9. Refugee in America

There are words like Freedom
Sweet and wonderful to say.
On my heart-strings freedom sings
All day everyday.

There are words like Liberty
That almost make me cry.
If you had known what I knew
You would know why.

- Langston Hughes

[kodi]

6. good, then we can start hiring commie teachers in our schools

so we force innocent children to watch us kill puppies and perform abortions while singing the Internationale, just like the good ole' days.

victory is within our grasp comrades!

[Seeking Serenity]

8. I can't divine the meaning behind your sarcasm

Positive or negative?

[kodi]

10. um......how about its what the Right thinks we think?

and shows how crazy the Right really is?

[jaysunb]

11. I've always thought ...

Bush would be the best friends Progressives have run into in a long time. 40 years to be exact....Barry Goldwater.

[realFedUp]

13. Whoever takes the helm of the DNC will be telling

of some of the direction of the Dem party.

[AP]

14. Pull American left and the party will follow.

[Sugarbleus]

15. Woooooooooohooooooooooooooooo Best news I've heard

In quite a while! I'm stoked and I'm in! Where do I sign up? :D

I've been ranting about "getting back to our roots" for months! I realize the world has changed but we can still have that true Democractic/progressive society we long for. We just have to get together and DO IT....MOVE IT FORWARD.

This could be the next American Revolution; the shifting to/back to/forward to human rights, civil liberties, level playing field, fair domestic economic policy, healthcare for everyone, new approaches to outside "threats", lifting ALL the boats......And away from run away greed, imperialism/world domination, racism, sexism, and the "Every Man for Himself" agenda. This isn't the wild west anymore! I would have thought our country might have moved much closer to an enlightened and civilized society by now.

Thanks for posting. Booking and printing. :hi: