2016 Postmortem

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

38. My experience, watching Democratic politics since the early 1970's

Wed Nov 30, 2016, 02:21 PM

Nov 2016

is that the party still blames grassroots activism for the McGovern defeat(in fact, the blame for that lies solely with the party regulars who refused to support McGovern even though he had done nothing to betray them) and prefers this to be a party with as little passion and grassroots enthusiasm as possible. It's why the Rainbow Coalition was driven away after 1988 and it's why Dennis Kucinich's supporters were treated with such utter scorn and contempt, even though the ideas Dennis supported were much more popular than his own presidential campaign.

That's the only explanation I can think of for why the party insisted, immediately after the 2008 election, on blocking the Obama movement from continuing on any level other than an empty-shell fundraising organization.

We should let this party be a place where people can fight for what they care about, and where helping to elect a Democratic president and Congress means you get a say in what that president and Congress try to do.

It never strengthens us to tamp down enthusiasm and tell people to just shut up and take what they're given. Yet that has been the choice I've seen the party make over and over again, in my experience.

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So-what does anyone here think it would take those who voted Trump this time... [View all] Ken Burch Nov 2016 OP

Wait until they lose their health insurance, the wall is not built and the jobs don't return. LonePirate Nov 2016 #1

I can't wait that long. without medicare and SS I'm in big doo doo... pangaia Nov 2016 #17

Yeap, the UE rate in WI is 4.4, in PA its 4.8 and is 5.6 in MI...I don't see DPutin making those ... uponit7771 Nov 2016 #22

The unemployment rate doesn't count people who gave up trying to find work jfern Nov 2016 #26

The LFPR is up and the U6 rate is down in those areas too, I don't peddle RWTP's, they're usually uponit7771 Nov 2016 #27

Median incomes are still 1400 less than in 1999. jfern Nov 2016 #29

... which is excellent after a GOP great depression. There's very few bad caveats to the economic .. uponit7771 Nov 2016 #30

But they'll have wonderful Health Savings Accounts to use! Tommy_Carcetti Nov 2016 #43

I really don't care about Trump voters. It's the idiots who didn't vote LuvLoogie Nov 2016 #2

Yep. After Johnson voters find out AG Sessions will be enforcing federal marijuana laws they'll will RAFisher Nov 2016 #6

As a party, we need to be actively involved in persuading nonvoters to start voting. Ken Burch Nov 2016 #11

Use it or lose it. That is the extent of my persuasive speech. LuvLoogie Nov 2016 #13

Maybe this will bring the glorious progressive revolution Proud Liberal Dem Nov 2016 #37

Stop delivering beer outside the city limits and tell them rwheeler31 Nov 2016 #3

I think if Republicans are actually stupid enough to kill the ACA without having a real plan mythology Nov 2016 #4

They'll kill the ACA and blame Obama. And they'll get away with it. LuvLoogie Nov 2016 #14

That's my take also. pangaia Nov 2016 #18

It will depend on their reasons for their votes. The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2016 #5

Yes on all counts. NanceGreggs Nov 2016 #7

When they start losing their health care, they will wake up. Trump made a lot of bold promises akbacchus_BC Nov 2016 #8

No they won't wake up. They will keep blaming LuvLoogie Nov 2016 #12

Do not underestimate ignorance. He promised them a bread basket and sooner than akbacchus_BC Nov 2016 #15

4 YEARS !!! pangaia Nov 2016 #20

You are right. pangaia Nov 2016 #19

in too many districts there is NO dem on the ballot at any level. lost dems might come back msongs Nov 2016 #9

That is an excellent point. Ken Burch Nov 2016 #10

That is what the repubs started doing at least as long agho as 1980.. in the '70s really.. pangaia Nov 2016 #21

I've felt, for the longest time, that establishment core of this party fears grassroots involvement. Ken Burch Nov 2016 #24

That is just not the case. boston bean Nov 2016 #33

My experience, watching Democratic politics since the early 1970's Ken Burch Nov 2016 #38

THIS !!!! Deans 50 state all counties should be dem mantra RIGHT HOT DAMN NOW... don't uponit7771 Nov 2016 #23

Well, there are also a kazillion districts where there is no Republican on the ballot at any level frazzled Nov 2016 #39

Guns. Rural voters care about their right to buy any kind of weapon. 33taw Nov 2016 #16

Do those people Doreen Nov 2016 #25

Yes, they think the republicans will let them keep their guns. 33taw Nov 2016 #28

I do not know Doreen Nov 2016 #41

I think a lot of them don't really understand what the GOP stands for, what it has in store for 'em Warren DeMontague Nov 2016 #31

I suspect watching their loved ones sicken and die will have an effect Vogon_Glory Nov 2016 #32

You all have too much faith in people Txbluedog Nov 2016 #34

Loss of health insurance, benefits, jobs, etc. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2016 #35

Some people vote based on their personal feelings about the world rather than how they're affected gollygee Nov 2016 #36

I respect what you're asking, however, I don't believe we should be converting Trump voters. Hugin Nov 2016 #40

I'm not talking about trying to convert Trump voters. Ken Burch Nov 2016 #42