At 83+ years old, I’ve lived through a multitude of disappointments. And I spent many years trying to right the ship. The fact that Donald Trump is in the WH was the last straw. Sorry to be so cynical.
I’m “only” 71, and I’ve been growing more cynical since Jimmy Carter’s solar panels came down from the White House roof… BUT, I can’t help feeling hopeful for the first time in almost 50 years. Hope can be a powerful kick in the ass.
The real test is always how these newcomers will actually perform once in office. American history is littered with supposed progressives who immediately move to the right on assuming office.
Buttigieg lacks credibility. He and Gavin are cut from the same cloth that bankrolled Democrat Haley Steven’s,AIPAC,etc. The same billionaires who are now supporting the R in Michigan.
Excellent piece. Informative and analytical, but also entertaining. As for the movement, I sum it up in the words of the late, great D. Boon: the working man is pissed. News flash, too: if the majority of your income is wage or salary as opposed to equity compensation or investment income, you're in the working class. It's full income tax vs. mostly capital gains tax.
A significant part of this is the broad sea change in public opinion, left, right and middle, concerning Israel, genocide, Israel First foreign wars and AIPAC's consequent weakening hold on both major parties, but not yet the MSM. Kamala Harris's loss to Trump was an early harbinger that the MSM played down. More recently, it's a key to the splitting of MAGA and Trump's declining popularity. How much a part of the current upheaval is due to this shift is hard to say, but it is certainly a larger part of the mix than the captured MSM and the donor-supported leadership of the two major parties are willing to discuss in public.
Buttigieg would be a great running mate for someone like AOC. I really believe most of this is about wanting fresh and new, but not necessarily far to the left. Bring on good ideas and institutional changes, not take a sledgehammer to everything, Trump style. That’ll just make the pendulum swing back harder.
To deny there's been a significant shift within the Democratic Party toward the young and the left is to deny facts. To say that the shift is good for America is open for debate. Politicians effective at using resentment and revenge and hate have been very successful these past ten years. But that sort of angry populism is as dangerous on the left as it is on the right.
it's not just left. i didn't include it because i didn't want the piece to go too long, but there are also many primary ousters by people who aren't progressive. this is about people wanting something new, which includes but is not limited to left progressivism
I searched for Democratic House and Senate primary defeats of incumbents and what found was that the defeated incumbents lost to candidates on their left. Could you name an example? I may very well be missing something.
Can you publish that as a separate piece? Are there connections between Republican insurgents the way connections exist with the insurgents in the Democratic Party?
It's not just the young (although I hope the young turn out in droves). There is a primary today in the state where I live so some local news outlets are door-stopping voters as they exit polling stations One couple in their 70s revealed they'd voted for the upstart candidate decades younger than the silver-haired incumbent because 'it's time for baby boomers to get out of the way".
Great, sharp and let's hope, an accurate to be proved on the field essay. Both parties, constituting the "establishment," are corrupt and beholden to interest groups other and far smaller than the general mass of voters. Every poll confirms they consistently ignore majority citizen preferred policies. If younger positioned pols like Mayor Pete think they can shift and manage the winds, good on them. If they temporize and heaven help us further "triangulate," let them reap the whirlwind. Pitchforks out.
I, the ultimate cynic, will wait and see. As for Buttigieg, a pox on his house. I will never forgive him, no matter how many languages he speaks, for his inaction after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
We haven't won until I see convictions.
Turn the pressure up.
Not gonna happen, at least for POTUS. Nixon was the break moment.
Radical leftist politics are about being mad and impassioned, the more mad I am about my ideas, the more leftister my ideas are
Don’t hold your breath.
We can't think that way. We saw checks and balances fail and now it's up to you and me and our communities to right the ship.
At 83+ years old, I’ve lived through a multitude of disappointments. And I spent many years trying to right the ship. The fact that Donald Trump is in the WH was the last straw. Sorry to be so cynical.
No need to apologize. I just know that to sit and despair only serves the other side. While there's air in my lungs, I will carry the fight.
I haven’t given up yet, Michael!
I’m “only” 71, and I’ve been growing more cynical since Jimmy Carter’s solar panels came down from the White House roof… BUT, I can’t help feeling hopeful for the first time in almost 50 years. Hope can be a powerful kick in the ass.
The real test is always how these newcomers will actually perform once in office. American history is littered with supposed progressives who immediately move to the right on assuming office.
The DSA doesn't turn Democrats into socialists. DSA candidates being elected as Democrats turns them into Democrats.
Buttigieg lacks credibility. He and Gavin are cut from the same cloth that bankrolled Democrat Haley Steven’s,AIPAC,etc. The same billionaires who are now supporting the R in Michigan.
Mayo Pete is only where he is because the Boomers love him. He's no threat to income inequality.
There are countless bars in this piece. I can’t quote them all
Excellent piece. Informative and analytical, but also entertaining. As for the movement, I sum it up in the words of the late, great D. Boon: the working man is pissed. News flash, too: if the majority of your income is wage or salary as opposed to equity compensation or investment income, you're in the working class. It's full income tax vs. mostly capital gains tax.
A significant part of this is the broad sea change in public opinion, left, right and middle, concerning Israel, genocide, Israel First foreign wars and AIPAC's consequent weakening hold on both major parties, but not yet the MSM. Kamala Harris's loss to Trump was an early harbinger that the MSM played down. More recently, it's a key to the splitting of MAGA and Trump's declining popularity. How much a part of the current upheaval is due to this shift is hard to say, but it is certainly a larger part of the mix than the captured MSM and the donor-supported leadership of the two major parties are willing to discuss in public.
My qualifier on all candidates is their position on Israel. Unless they have come out strongly in opposition to the genocide, I won’t vote for them.
Thanks, Ken. Fine reporting. The losing centrist status quo is played out. Politics as usual is an anchor. Unapologetic boldness wins.
Buttigieg would be a great running mate for someone like AOC. I really believe most of this is about wanting fresh and new, but not necessarily far to the left. Bring on good ideas and institutional changes, not take a sledgehammer to everything, Trump style. That’ll just make the pendulum swing back harder.
AOC can't win. Harris, far less qualified than Hilary, if as entitled, should serve as a lesson.
I agree, but I think she would do better with Mayor Pete as opposed to choosing someone like Mamdani as a running mate.
Maybe. But she ought to stick to Congress, for now.
To deny there's been a significant shift within the Democratic Party toward the young and the left is to deny facts. To say that the shift is good for America is open for debate. Politicians effective at using resentment and revenge and hate have been very successful these past ten years. But that sort of angry populism is as dangerous on the left as it is on the right.
it's not just left. i didn't include it because i didn't want the piece to go too long, but there are also many primary ousters by people who aren't progressive. this is about people wanting something new, which includes but is not limited to left progressivism
I searched for Democratic House and Senate primary defeats of incumbents and what found was that the defeated incumbents lost to candidates on their left. Could you name an example? I may very well be missing something.
I’m referring to republicans - sorry for confusion
Can you publish that as a separate piece? Are there connections between Republican insurgents the way connections exist with the insurgents in the Democratic Party?
It's not just the young (although I hope the young turn out in droves). There is a primary today in the state where I live so some local news outlets are door-stopping voters as they exit polling stations One couple in their 70s revealed they'd voted for the upstart candidate decades younger than the silver-haired incumbent because 'it's time for baby boomers to get out of the way".
the crypt caucus 🤣🤣🤣
I want CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!!!
(You forgot to mention Maine but I forgive you ;)
Hope all those establishment pols racing to Michigan to hug El-Sayed aren't the kiss of death.
Great, sharp and let's hope, an accurate to be proved on the field essay. Both parties, constituting the "establishment," are corrupt and beholden to interest groups other and far smaller than the general mass of voters. Every poll confirms they consistently ignore majority citizen preferred policies. If younger positioned pols like Mayor Pete think they can shift and manage the winds, good on them. If they temporize and heaven help us further "triangulate," let them reap the whirlwind. Pitchforks out.
I, the ultimate cynic, will wait and see. As for Buttigieg, a pox on his house. I will never forgive him, no matter how many languages he speaks, for his inaction after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Love your new acronym, Ken! DOPE is dope.
Excellent piece
I hope you're right.
Really good! Rope-a-Dope! (Credit to Muhammad Ali.)