What'll happen to the left in 2004 and beyond?

[mstrsplinter326]

Assuming Kerry wins the WH, and continuities his current political direction, stays true to what he says, where does that leave the left?
Will they embrace one of the two major parties, and fore go their beliefs? Will they form or strengthen a third party and direct it to balance the political spectrum? Will liberal Dem's leave for such a party like Dennis K? Will they just remain politically unrepresented forever?

What's the political future of those who identify with DK, Nader, Sharpton, etc?

[Old and In the Way]

1. The Democratic Left will be busy rebuilding this country and repairing

damage that this administration has caused. We'll be working on a progressive new agenda for this country.

I have no idea what the Nader Left will be doing....probably bitchin' about their lot in life and telling each other how smart they are.

[Warpy]

2. It all depends on what the Dem candidate, if elected, really does

If it's just another DLC-designed, business as usual presidency, then the left will not be voting them back in. If the Democrats want progressives to vote for them, they're going to have to deliver.

By deliver, I mean rolling back Bush's insane tax giveaways to the rich, rein in the Pentagon, stop robbing Social Security, and generally live up to their promises to working Americans.

Of course, if the GOP's insane enough to run Jebbie in 2008, all bets are off.

[Old and In the Way]

3. If business as usual, you mean 8 years of Clinton, yes I'd accept

that. Hopefully, we can get Democratic majorities which Clinton didn't have for 6/8 years....that would help.

Of course the next President will have to roll back the tax increases, that goes without saying. Bush has esentially bankrupted the government and we'll need to either dismantle Defense or raise taxes...hopefully a combo of the 2.

But change will only happen if we can get a significant majority of voting Americans, not just Democrats, to agree that this country is totally fucked under Republican leadership. It will take a real mandate from the people to drive change in Washington.

But I have no doubts that either Kerry or Edwards can provide the leadership to make it happen, assuming we regain control of the Houses.

[molly]

4. I agree

[Sorry.]

5. the death of social democracy

A similar situation in the UK, in that we've got the labour oriented party far to the right of its traditional demographic.

Here, we've got less and less people voting, less and less respect or interest in politicians. The left is searching for new solutions. Grass roots organisations to get a significant presence in local/district councils, and to start rebuilding working class politics from the bottom up. It's got a sort of pseudo-federalist/syndicalist tinge to it. It's still early days but it's an exciting concept.

[eridani]

6. We'll be riding President Kerry's ass

exactly 3 minutes after the inauguration, and working to elect candidates who will back the Kucinich platform.

[napi21]

7. Good to keep pushing but....

extremes on either side can't last long. That's what happened to * and it would happen ti DK too.

It's right to keep pushing your agenda the same way anyone negotiates for anything. Always try for way more than you really expect in hopes you will get back to what you want.

[eridani]

8. What the fawking hell is extremist about universal health care?

GADDAMMIT!! 51% of Republicans want it, and you think people who advocate it are in the same class as fundie whackjobs who think they will vanish into heaven any day now, leaving the rest of us in deep shit. Whassup with that?