PRIMARY: so, we can never get fresh apples?

[Lerkfish]

I reference an episode of Taxi, where Reeger and Tony are trying to figure why there is always rotten apples in the vending machine.

the short version is they realize that they can't buy up all the rotten apples to convince the vending company to refill the machine, because that will only convince the company to stock it with more rotten apples, thinking they LIKE rotten apples.

So Tony asks: so how do we get fresh apples?

Reeger says: you don't.


this is what it is like in the democratic party these days, we're told we can only elect DLC candidates, and the DLC keeps weeding out more liberal candidates, and then telling liberals that they should vote for the DLC or they'll get nothing... but the fact is, as long as the DLC continues to block liberal candidates, we get nothing anyways but rotten version of what we want.

so how do we get liberals in office?

we don't.

[trotsky]

1. So let me get this straight: the evul DLC has paid operatives in every precinct in the country...

who attend every local caucus and FORCE everyone to vote for a DLC mouthpiece?

Damn, that's some amazing organization.

[Lerkfish]

2. I guess you're not keeping up with current events

but essentially, yes that is what I'm saying, on at least the US senate and house level.

[cali]

9. sure. Bernie Sanders is a DLC mouthpiece.

So is Pat Leahy and Russ Feingold and Barbara Boxer.

[iamjoy]

3. Here's How...

Find a very wealthy Liberal
Make sure the Liberal is bold and outspoken
Have the Liberal self-fund his (or her) initial campaign, but also rely very strongly on grass roots activists who have an abundance of passion, but a shortage of funds


The Liberal gets elected.
The Liberal makes bold statements that draw media attention
Liberals around the country (frustrated with DLC and milquetoast candidates/electeds) will contribute millions to the re-election campaign.

I refer to a specific candidate. Guess who?

[scheming daemons]

4. Sestak beat Specter.... Halter is going to beat Lincoln..... how 'bout them apples?

[trotsky]

5. OUTLIERS! Pay no attention to any facts that contradict my awesome conspiracy theory!

:patriot: :tinfoilhat:

[customerserviceguy]

11. What counts in those two cases

is if they can win the general election in the fall.

Let's face it, in a wide swath of this country, you simply cannot elect a true progressive. All you can do is maybe get a Blue Dog in there when the citizens get tired of watching a Repuke take campaign bribes, so that they can watch a BD doing the same thing a few years later.

You make progress when you have enough nominal Democrats to get the progressive agenda accomplished. That's how the Rethugs did it for most of the last three decades, they just held their noses when John McCain hung up his coat in the cloakroom, and counted on his vote.

[notesdev]

6. How to get liberals in office

Run them in the primary, then the administration will offer them a job to get out so the corrupt establishment candidate can win. Ta-da, liberals in (appointive) office.

[HughBeaumont]

7. Yup.

About as good as it gets. Unless millions of us really, really, REALLY want it BAD enough.

Sorry to say, but if anyone's under the notion that the powerful old man cabal that really runs this nation will submit to a limitation of their power - a reverse Magna Carta of sorts - they're sadly mistaken. It's got to be a coup.

http://theyrule.net/

[rug]

8. One good apple can spoil the whole barrel.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Looks Like Some Of Those Apples Are Getting Tossed Out...

I don't think many here are shedding a tear to see Evan go Bayh Bayh...even if it means a rushpublican winning that seat. Nor are there any tears being shed for Arlen or Lincoln...doesn't look like the evil DLC had much of an affect there. Sure there are blue dogs...and in a large party that covers many areas and interests, you can't expect the lock-step ideological dogma that the GOOP plays with. The way to change is from the grassroots...from building a strong farm system of Progressives on the state and local level who can learn the system and thus move up and change it.

The salad days of the DLC are long gone...this isn't the 90s and their influence, that didn't show well at the ballot box, is lobbyists and PACs who have a lot more money to throw around (especially now).

[NNN0LHI]

12. Used to be a poster here who's opinions I really respected. Think a lot of people felt the same way

Then one day she said all her opinions were based on what she had learned from watching The Apprentice.

I remember that day well. It was like a cold chill went down the board that day.

And she never posted here again. At least under that screen name.

Don