"You can not have a government for and by the people if it is not represented by all of the people"

[JHan]

Link to tweet

Congratulations on your win Ayanna!

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Amen!

Brava!

[JHan]

3. She's just great. I'm really happy tonight.

[George II]

2. Great win for her, on her own merits. Very experienced in local, state, and national politics....

....she'll be great in the House.

[JHan]

4. She will, she has political skills.

[sheshe2]

5. I like her.

I really do. She will be good for us MASSites!

Love this.

[The Polack MSgt]

6. I don't know either candidate in this district

I understand that it is a safe "D" so no seat is at risk.

I have to ask though, what was wrong with the incumbent? Had he lost touch with his district?

Am I wrong to fret over the loss of seniority, connections, knowledge and the skills that 20 years on the job brings?

This is an awesome speech. but...

I would like hearing it more if she was flipping an "R" seat rather than just swithcing out with an incumbant Democrat

[JHan]

9. There were few differences between her and Capuano ideologically..

Their debates were cordial, except for the final one where she hit him hard on abortion, immigration and gun control.

But really I think this was a matter of campaigning styles - She adopted a more activist approach and he, being the incumbent, was seen as milquetoast. It was enough to make a difference in her favor. I also get your skepticism of change candidates who just run on change for the sake of change but she has a good grasp on issues. Moreover, I think she's just another example of the pattern we're seeing with women dominating primaries.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

10. I think you have a valid concern.

Just look at what we lost in Al Franken.

In a different, rational world it would make sense for an honest, experienced incumbent be expected (or required) to groom one or more apprentices by working them beside him and sharing his knowledge and connections. Those apprentices could even go into a pool for future selection, or transfer into government administrative jobs.

This is the way it worked quite well for decades in industry, with skilled craftsmen and engineers training apprentices who were not allowed to do finish work until they were thoroughly trained (it's still that way in many union crafts).

The point would be that when the voters are ready for change, it would be great to have knowledgeable candidates to nominate that are ready to hit the trail running that wouldn't be total strangers to politics.

...........

[The Polack MSgt]

11. If the voters were ready for the change, I can't say boo about it

Their district is not mine after all.

The speech is impressive and I understand that she is a known quantity locally - So the people have chosen.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

14. TPM, I was being entirely hypothetical for the future.

Just as we have lost untold man-hours of skilled experience in industry crafts with layoffs, so it is in politics. I know that election defeats can be very bitter, but it seems a shame to lose all that experience (and political leverage) overnight with little or no "passing of the baton".

[JHan]

25. You'll be interested in 538's analysis too..

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-ayanna-pressleys-upset-win-in-massachusetts-isnt-really-like-alexandria-ocasio-cortezs/

ehrnst posted it on DU too : https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211095004

The part that stands out:

"Maybe voters agreed with Pressley’s argument that Congress needs politicians with different “lived experiences” — in her case, surviving sexual assault or being raised by a single mother. Maybe identity politics did play a role, just in an unexpected way. Maybe it was “woke” white voters who preferred to see an African-American represent a majority-minority district and voted accordingly. Maybe voters agreed with the assertion that top House Democrats should yield to the next generation of leaders and, unable to vote Nancy Pelosi out of office directly, opted for Pressley (age 44) over Capuano (66). Maybe Pressley’s gender was actually the No. 1 factor; there is clear evidence that women have outperformed men in Democratic primaries this year.

Personally, I think the simplest explanation is the best one: Voters just wanted new blood. "

There wasn't a wide margin of victory last I checked. Just a competitive race, with an excellent ground game from Pressley which gave her an advantage. And she's got experience on her side. This is an excellent example of building experience over time and how it made her competitive against a strong incumbent who she had little disagreement with policy-wise.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

28. Thank you, JHan.

Excellent article on 538 - well written and easy to read. From a distance, it seems this was almost a perfect competitive race. Ms. Pressley"s experience in government and in life would have made it a hard choice for me!

I do agree most voters are disgusted with the depressing overall tone we get from both Washington and many state governments, and that surely is a factor at voting time. I honestly believe Republicans have done that to us intentionally to create an overall negative view of government so it's easier for them to destroy our government's structures for greed's sake.

However, I just hope we don't unnecessarily toss out good, experienced incumbents due only to that disgust. Seeing what's happening in these primaries certainly will cause my family and myself to more thoroughly do our homework before November. It's a shame more people didn't do that in the fall of 2016.

....... .........

[JHan]

29. "to create an overall negative view of government so it's easier for them to destroy our government"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yes! that's exactly it.

[JHan]

26. Well known and she has experience too, not at all an outsider.

[lostnfound]

13. There's a tendency to question a woman for lack of experience more than men

I think representation of youth in congress has its own positives for the country, though

I understand your point though. I felt suspicious of Ocasio-Cortez.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

15. That is a serious ingrained cultural problem.

And, the questioning and doubts continue throughout a typical woman's career. Yet, women continue to save our butts.

Will we ever grow up?........

[lostnfound]

37. Some already have...

Like you.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

39. Thank you.

And, my mom and dad - long past - would thank you too 'cause they raised me that way......

[NCTraveler]

30. Her and her opponent were almost identical.

Though he has been fighting for single payer for over a decade and just two years ago she was taking shots at Sanders and his plan. She feels Citizens United is no big deal to her constituents. So in certain areas this is a little shift to the right.

[The Polack MSgt]

33. Thanks to everyone for cluing me in with the information regarding this primary.

I appreciate the attempt t' cram some learning into a head as hard as mine.

I want everyone to know that I wasn't trying to suggest that Ayanna Pressley was in some way a step down from the incumbent, or automatically a risky choice because of any of the factors that make her different from the incumbent.

That isn't it. At least I hope not.

I did sit and think about why my 1st reaction was to wonder what Capuano had done to get tossed rather than ask what she did to beat him.

A big part of it is an old technician's preference for proven performance - If Capuano was judged fit to serve 10 times, in a row, what's changed?


Another thing I have to admit to is a weakness that a lot of folks share:
The knee jerk reaction that happens when you see someone you identify with losing, is to assume it somehow reflects on you.

He's very similar to me in age and exactly like me in race gender and sexual ID.

Now I can't guarantee that I have no impure thoughts, and I will tell that I tend to prefer the older candidates. For instance I bristle at the way Nancy Pelosi is treated on this board.

But I do attempt to pick apart the why of it - I don't "go with my gut" very often - And I want to thank Jhan, KY enviroguy, and lostandfound for the civil discourse on this issue

[betsuni]

7. Wow, she's impressive!

That "identity politics" stuff is nonsense.

[radical noodle]

8. K&R

So happy for her!

[Gothmog]

12. Great speech-

I like this lady

[Cha]

16. So Absolutely True! Ayanna shoves that "identity politics"..

right back in the collective face of those who would try to label her.

I love her voice, focus, and brilliance!

Mahalo, JHan

[JHan]

17. :)

[Cha]

19. ..

[lunamagica]

18. K&R. Great speech!

[brer cat]

20. Outstanding!

[NurseJackie]

21. Wow!

I can think of at least one politician who ought to listen to this and take it to heart. And that's all I have to say on this matter, for obvious reasons.

[NCTraveler]

32. She has no problem throwing shade in "his" direction.

“plans without price tags are simply pandering.” Pressley talking about Sanders "healthcare plan".

[NurseJackie]

34. I saw that. It's nice to see the truth... blunt and direct.

[Cary]

22. K&R

[ehrnst]

23. Congratulations, Ayanna! (nt)

[Hortensis]

24. Congrats, Ayanna. I wish she'd be careful using the word "identity

politics," though. That's long been coopted by the right into a denigration meant to keep people from recognizing America's one extremely diverse and representative party for what it is and to recast Democratic Party unity as division.

[Hortensis]

27. Otoh, maybe she can give it back a good meaning?

It originated in black feminist activism, and that may be why she's fond of it. It's one of the most misused phrases in politics, though, weaponized by both the right and today's far left against the Democratic Party, those attacks of of course multiplied RT and other Russian sources.

[JHan]

35. I thought she framed it eloquently.

"It's one of the most misused phrases in politics, though, weaponized by both the right and today's far left "

it is.

was disturbing to see how it was utilized in the immediate aftermath of the election.

During the election, and immediately after, WWC narratives centered around scolding those of us who emphasized that diverse representation matters. The argument was this made rustbelt whites feel left out: I always found this take insulting to those same people, is it that whites in the rustbelt can't stand discourse about social justice.. ??

Then there was the criticism from the "far left" that Democrats would win these whites who vote Republican by being more "socialist" and focusing less on identity politics. The idea that white conservatives ( 2 years after voting Obama these people voted the tea party in )are actually socialists in hiding who would only vote Democrat if the party leaned far more to the left is a funny kind of pretzel logic. Anything to avoid "identity politics" I suppose. Republican policies are unpopular, yet these people consistently vote Republican. "Economic anxiety" has little to do with it.

And "Identity politics" critiques really only came in vogue post-civil rights - as one would expect but it was always a factor in American politics.

Take a look at this memo from Truman's re-election campaign of 1948. It blows a hole in the idea that identity politics is a modern day invention by Democrats. For Clark Clifford, it was imperative the Dem Coalition remain united, and he acknowledges the uneasy alliance between disparate groups with interests which don't always overlap.

He mentions farmers, labor, northern "liberals", Italians, "Negroes", Jews, Catholics. He talks about the necessity to form an intricate web of connections through triangulation. A lesson in how the sausage gets made.

So the idea that if you just focus on economics and policies, the Republicans will be defeated has been a really poor myopic reading for a long time now. It's often said we're "divided", without further interrogation as to what we're divided over and why. What has happened is one party has succumbed to ethnonationalism and full-blown white supremacy, doubling down on white resentment and anger. They've gamed the system to ensure they can continually use legislation as a weapon against the vulnerable.

So the most effective way to resist is to demonstrate we are the opposite to Republicans. We care about diversity, we listen to all Americans to the benefit of all. And this is just fact. It's been shown that when women are elected, issues pertaining to women are addressed more effectively. More diverse representation shifts dynamics and focus. I still remember the meme last year of dogs in a room discussing health care for cats was it? as an analogy for while male Republicans deciding what's best for all women.

Appreciating diversity doesn't mean we open our arms to the intolerant. Even peace agreements have terms and conditions but our inclusive vision is the polar opposite of our divisive opponents, and we shouldn't be ashamed of it.

[JHan]

36. There's another element of "Identity politics" which doesn't get discussed..

And this is the one that's toxic.

The whole boycott vs attend hearing dust-up is a case in point.

What is this thing that makes people assume that engagement with the system is not a form of direct action?

This is where identity politics and consumerist politics meet and is expressed through how people signal themselves to the world - Like the pseudo-revolutionary who is too cool to respect reformers. Who wants to "fight" and take it to "streets". All fine and good but nary a word about how to change systems in impactful ways i.e ways that will actually work.

And anyone engaging with the system, or just doing their job effectively ( or an incrementalist) is too milquetoast, too mild, too "cautious", too "weak".

And this posturizing has a gendered element to it because Democrats - the party with more women and the party which prioritizes social justice, gets hit with the "weak" accusations - no matter the situation, no matter the occasion, no matter if there's a Dem president or not, or if Dems have a majority or not.

[NCTraveler]

31. I posted this quote from her yesterday.

Before people knew who she was.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100211091518

[Andy823-2.0]

38. K&R

nt

[Scurrilous]

40. K&R