Ocasio-Cortez: "few can say they accomplished more on their first day"

[sharedvalues]

Be positive because AOC is helping Dems.

The rightwing media and Republicans are trying to turn Dems against themselves. Do not help the rightwing media attack AOC!!!

AOC is good for the party.


Here is a longer explanation about how AOCs stand in Pelosi’s office is one of the most productive things any new member has ever done on their first day.

Pelosi and AOC are working together. It’s gonna be great.

https://threader.app/thread/1062761886796668934

But then came this bit of disinformation from the spokeswoman of Paul Ryan to Capitol Hill reporters, which set the tone for the entire day: "Huh, well this is unconventional," AshLee Strong wrote in an email. "The incoming speaker is getting protested by one of her freshman."

8. From this point onward, Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t doing what a young dynamic liberal legislator does. No, no, no! She was “protesting” Pelosi!

9. AshLee Strong paved the way for every Capitol Hill reporter to tell a story they had been wanting to tell even though the narrative” was based on a falsehood: that this unruly mob can’t be controlled.

10. This “narrative” drew the ire of liberals who would have otherwise cheered Ocasio-Cortez. It rekindled the battle between the youngs and the olds, between “centrists” and “leftists,” and between “insurgents” and “the establishment.”

11. Worse, it inspired some liberals to trot out the old (often vaguely sexist) nomenclature: Ocasio-Cortez was grandstanding. She was showboating. She was this, that, and whatever. Too many liberals accepted as true what liberalism’s enemies said about it and them.

12. Thing is, when you actually listen to the women, a different picture comes to light. Not only was Ocasio-Cortez doing what young dynamic liberal legislators are supposed to do—bring new energy and new ideas to the table—

13. she was charting her own course while forging alliances with established powers. She created a bridge between an energized under-30 base & the party’s leadership. She’ll likely be an invaluable ally as Pelosi plots a way forward.

14. Few can say they’ve accomplished more on their first day.

[sharedvalues]

1. Adam Serwer on how the right HATES Ocasio-Cortez

If nothing else, the fact that the rightwing media HATES Alexandria should make us love her.

Link to tweet

[oberliner]

12. I think the opposite is true

[sharedvalues]

23. Oberliner, come on. The rightwing media is losing their minds about AOC.

[oberliner]

24. Yes, but I think they like having a "bad guy" character

That they can rally their viewers against - like they did with Hillary.

[sharedvalues]

27. Yes that's the point: rightwing media attacks AOC

Don’t help them.
They attacked Hillary
They attacked Pelosi
They attacked Warren

And they assasinated the character of all of those women.

Now a ton of people say “I just don’t like X” but they can’t say why.

Why: because the rightwing media assassinated their character.

Don’t let it happen to AOC.

[oberliner]

30. I agree with you

I guess I am just saying that their "hatred" of her is manufactured.

[JudyM]

33. This.

[vlyons]

2. Pelosi can handle AOC

No doubt we need a climate change champion. We need a lot of then actually. I'm betting that Pelosi will give AOC plenty of opportunities to rise and shine.

[sharedvalues]

4. Yes they will work together.

Both Pelosi and AOC are good eggs.

[Celerity]

10. +1

[Hortensis]

11. Of course we have a lot of climate change champions,

but none getting the media attention Ocasio is. For sure with AOC's current stature she can be a tremendous asset for that and other issues, and Pelosi and her committee chairs will be glad to help her make the most of this first term. I hope that it turns out just that way.

Ocasio's intention to work with Justice Democrats (her chief of staff is also a JD cofounder) to primary those of her new colleagues that JD doesn't approve of is kinda concerning, though, for obvious reasons.

JD has a strong and narrowly ideological orientation, while our party's big coalition is predominantly liberal but nevertheless broadly diverse and inclusive. Ocasio says "This is about unity." Her chief of staff and co-founder of Justice Democrats says, "We need new leaders, period. We gotta primary folks." And they also intend to focus on ousting incumbents from safe Democratic districts. (!)

Anyone see a potential conflict of goals and priorities here? The DNCC and party leadership help elect and reelect many members of congress. That's what they do. Our party leaders already identify people who are poorly representing their districts and/or showing signs of corruption or other serious problems and support replacements when they feel it's really needed. That what they do.

And Ocasio's new colleagues do include many who accept large-donor money, especially a very large number in our progressive and minority caucuses who represent working class and lower-income districts with little money to donate and some who represent constituencies with overall conservative progressive values whom JD intends to come in from outside and remove.

As a strong liberal, I've always been for breaking institutional stasis and moving the party left, but to a point where a solid majority want to see it. Expert observers believe that's mostly already happened. We've always been firmly against money in politics, but now, 8 years after Citizens United, the national consciousness of crisis has reached a point where we can begin taking big action starting with the house majority the people gave us. That would have happened in January 2017, of course, with control of the presidency and one but possibly both houses, but we had a setback.

I really hope to see Ocasio focus her main energies on working for change through congress, like Elizabeth Warren for instance. JD is very small potatoes compared to the U.S. congress, and she needs to become independent from this group. That way she can support those activities that do not put her in direct conflict with a large majority of her colleagues who do not agree with them, while distancing herself from those that do.

[oberliner]

13. She does not need to become independent from this group

Her values are aligned with theirs. Her political ascendance is premised on the idea of defeating long-standing Democrats in primaries.

[Hortensis]

14. Well, let's hope that last's not true.

Notably, Ocasio just became far more powerful than Saikat Chakrabarti, a man who helped get her elected and is now installed as her new chief of staff. Hopefully that realignment of power will be reflected in increasing independence of thought on her part as she settles into congress and sees the enormous advantages of working for change from within the center of power that are now open to her.

(Btw, Chakrabarti really, really should not be making inflammatory public statements that contradict Ocasio's own. She needs to put a stop to that pronto.)

[oberliner]

15. I think it could strengthen the party

Primary challenges make all candidates stronger, in my opinion.

[Hortensis]

17. Why do you think Chakrabarti wants to strengthen the party?

This statement below from him makes me genuinely wonder how committed he is to Ocasio's interests through and continuation as a congresswoman.

I don't have a crystal ball to look into his mind. But it made me to realize that a single dissident term filled with internal conflicts covered by sensationalist national media could serve his interests. As could its end in electoral defeat and her return to working with his organization as a political activist of national renown.

"And I can attest to how incredibly exhausting this is. I've now seen @Ocasio2018 take radical risks like this literally weekly since her primary win, and I have no idea how she's still standing. Truth is, we gotta keep pushing the chips in until we see the change we need."

His discussion related to the possibility that her brave public stands ("radical risks" ) could damage, apparently even ruin, her position and opportunities within our caucus. Is she a chip this man's playing?

[oberliner]

18. I meant Ocasio-Cortez

To be honest, I don't know anything about Chakrabarti and would have to learn more (and thus it was probably dumb of me to comment so I will step out of this one).

[Hortensis]

19. Sure. Your statement about her is something

virtually all of us want to turn out to be the case. And may well.

There's little about Chakrabarti out there. However, he is very tech savvy. He and his fellow organizers of Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress (all are in both organizations) reportedly provided the technical advantage that powered the Bernie Sanders campaign.

The other thing that is unmistakable is that these organizations' goals ("Brand New Congress" ) are not at all in alignment with Ocasio's stated hopes for unity and working effectively from within the Democratic caucus she is now part of.

[Gothmog]

3. Again, I am curious to see what her committee assignment will be

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Should be interesting

[SixString]

6. She's a firebrand. And I'm diggin' it

The centrists? Not so much.

[libdem4life]

7. Loved the article. Gives me even more hope. Thanks. n/t

[sharedvalues]

8. +1

[sharedvalues]

22. Ps thanks

Your reply made my day.
Onward together!

[libdem4life]

25. Absolutely. n/t

[JudyM]

9. Some would apparently prefer to participate in dragging her through the mud.

[sharedvalues]

20. Thanks

Stand up for Dems together!

[Vinca]

16. I like her. She stirs a pot that's long overdue stirring.

[sharedvalues]

21. +1

[sharedvalues]

28. She's turning out to be an Eleanor Roosevelt.

A smart activist, wise beyond her years, helping the party move to help people and helping the country move towards justice and a fair shake for all.

AOC is a good egg — don’t help the rightwing media smear her.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

29. She's starting to sound like Donald Trump

Dial it down a bit.

[JNelson6563]

31. The best first day EVER, believe me!

Got a familiar ring to it...

[Awsi Dooger]

32. A+

Every day

[VOX]

34. WTF is with the Trump-speak?

“Few can say they’ve accomplished more on their first day.” Give a break!

That’s pure, vintage Dotard right there. How long before “many people are saying?”

[ucrdem]

35. Other than getting her picture in the papers what exactly did she accomplish?

It looked like she was helping the anti-Pelosi crowd. Possibly she wasn't but that is what it looked like. How is that even a good thing let alone the best EVAH thing?

[sharedvalues]

36. Did you read the post? It explains how they worked together.

Also the post, linked thread, and first reply explain why what she did “looked” bad — because rightwing media is trying to smear her.
Don’t help the rightwing media smear her.