Reply #69: to those who want to push the party further right or further left...

[AJH032]

I think it is selfish. In my opinion, EVERYONE on the left has the right to call him or herself a Democrat, no matter if they're moderate or a "fringe lefty." Any center-left Dem who wants to draw all other Dems into the middle with them, is in my opinion a selfish person. And the same goes for those on the far left who want to "take back" the Democratic party and make it ultra liberal. You know, the Democratic party belongs to the DEMOCRATS of America. It doesn't belong just to the moderates or just to the lefties or anyone in between. It belongs to everyone on the left. Whatever the majority of American Democrats want, is the direction that the Democratic party should go, even if you or I personally are not 100% comfortable with that direction. So, I respectfully disagree with anyone who wants to "take back" the party (on any extreme), if a majority of Democrats do not agree with that direction.

On the other hand, if you're not happy and really unwilling to compromise (again, that goes for EVERYBODY, from DLC to far left), then of course, it is your right to leave and make a new party. Of course, the left will be forever divided and thus dead as the Republicans perpetually rule, but it is of course, your right.