"The U.S. shifts left"

[applegrove]

The U.S. shifts left

By E.J. Dionne Jr at the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-jr-america-shifts-left/2013/11/06/2119e06e-470e-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story.html

"SNIP...............................


Terry McAuliffe won in Virginia as a middle-of-the-road, business-friendly champion of “jobs.” But he was also firmly liberal on gay marriage and abortion, and cast Ken Cuccinelli, his opponent, as a social troglodyte.

More than that: McAuliffe was outspoken against the National Rifle Association and in favor of a variety of gun-safety measures, including background checks. McAuliffe did not shrink from his F rating from the NRA. He boasted about it.

His outspokenness was rewarded. He overwhelmingly won the suburbs outside of Washington and built a large margin among women. The power of the gun-control issue should not be lost in the sometimes-foggy talk about centrism. This should embolden supporters of sane gun laws.

In New York City, Bill de Blasio built the day’s second landslide on another sort of liberalism, a populist assault on rising inequality. In a victory speech that will be read as a manifesto for a new progressivism, de Blasio declared that inequality “is the defining challenge of our time.” He renewed his campaign call for modest tax increases on the best-off to finance education programs to give poorer kids a chance to join the ranks of the successful.




...............................SNIP"

[Rex]

1. Yeah you can see some foaming at the mouth over the idea!

Their hatred of anything Left is telling.

[HereSince1628]

2. WOW!!!!!! We just might find ourselves on the right of the moderate middle!

McAuliffe? I suppose he's part of the Clintonite left That almost certainly depends on the meaning of left.

Which we all KNOW is a relative position to the radical right.

[SchmerzImArsch]

11. Exactly

[gopiscrap]

51. welcome to DU

[Deep13]

3. Well, the U.S. shifts slightly less to the right. nt

[Mojorabbit]

7. +100 nt

[SchmerzImArsch]

12. Hehehe. That too!

[progressoid]

15. +1

[Myrina]

16. +2

Sad state of affairs, ain't it?

[Deep13]

19. yup. nt

[boomersense]

17. Yep. This is most accurate..........nt

ddd

[Hestia]

21. No it doesn't - not even close. Have you today's salon?

Tea Party shocker: Even right-wingers become liberals when they turn off Fox News
America's center is to the left, and even Tea Partyers are liberals when they turn off Rush and learn real facts

http://www.salon.com/2013/11/08/tea_party_shocker_even_right_wingers_become_liberals_when_they_turn_off_fox_news/

It goes with my personal observations (and it seems quite a few posters on this board) with real live people are not as conservative as we allowed ourselves to be told.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024002652

[bananas]

41. Obama and Chomsky both say: Obama Would Be Considered A Moderate Republican

"Obama: I Would Be Considered Moderate Republican In 1980s - ABC News"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101793318

"Noam Chomsky: Obama Would Have Been Called a ‘Moderate Republican’ in Recent Decades"
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/noam-chomsky-obama-would-have-been-called-moderate-republican-recent-decades

[bananas]

42. Salon: "the center is well to the left of the Democrats in D.C."

two central (but routinely ignored) facts of American public opinion that have remained remarkably stable since the 1960s, despite all that’s changed since then:

1. It’s not just the center vs. the extremes; there is broad consensus across the boards on the basic contours of government spending priorities — the historically most important dimension of political opinion.
   
   
2. It’s just that the center is not where it’s supposed to be: It’s not somewhere in between the two parties, it’s well to the left of the Democrats in D.C.
   

[Warren DeMontague]

4. They're finally figuring out that the "all powerful values voter", isn't.

Gee, Cucinelli's proposal to outlaw oral sex wasn't popular? Go figure.

Authoritarians and control freaks and people obsessed with finger-wagging all haz a sad.

[DJ13]

5. Imagine how well Mcauliffe might have done if he was also a fiscal liberal

Instead of a sycophant of the wealthy like all DLC'ers are.

It might have been a real landslide.

[Jamaal510]

14. Imagine how well he would've done

if Republicans hadn't cheated and rigged the voting laws there.

[nomorenomore08]

39. +1

[MADem]

52. +1,000 nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

62. +1000 n/t

[Marie Marie]

6. I think that more Americans are beginning to lean left.

Now how do we get the politicians to represent us instead of the corporations, religious groups and the right wing fringe who keep getting louder in spite of ever decreasing numbers?

[applegrove]

8. +1000....that connection of real politicians to real people is suddenly desirable. And it is

a relief, I imagine, for some independents to not be bullshitted.

[Hestia]

23. That is the conundrum Marie - the solutions debate is nowhere to be found really, all we get is a

regurgitation of the same articles and thought patterns from 2004 onward. We are too spread out and way too thin in trying to be inclusive of every issue at every moment. It is easy for us/we (as in the royal we ) to hold onto those issues day in day out. Can we not fight one big battle, inflict some hurt, and then come back to the table that we own, sit down and hammer the laws of the land out?

One Major Event, with every group, without defining their stated position, one day and one day only, and really stand for Something? And(!) don't announce it over the friggin' internet tubes?

In my dream castle, it would be rolling walkouts, industries wide. Extremely simplified, A-H goes Monday, I-P goes next Monday, Q-Z the following Monday. It could either be by surname or corporation/LLC/business name. If it is not announced, or even announced, in such a way as to not be trashed on boards, websites, forums, etc. et al ad nauseum, I like to think it would work. I've always wondered what "the numbers" would look like, or if anyone would pay any attention other than the bean counters at the GAO? It will show somewhere; and I picture board members everywhere looking at the vacation and sick day numbers, faces turned white as a sheet. Can you imagine...

Wouldn't that be a great sub-thread - Building Your Dream Castle - and as we all know, dreams can come true

[onethatcares]

31. great idea, I was picturing

just a ten minute work stoppage, whether you're driving somewhere, sitting at a computer, building houses.

Your idea kicks mine in the butt.

[Left Coast2020]

57. It could be that increases in younger voters getting involved

Certainly the demographics have been changing--which the tea freaks can't handle--and it will eventually make the GOP a fractional presence on the political stage. It's happening. Slowly but surely it's happening.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. Never occured to the DC Punditocracy that all that "America is a center/right country" was CRAP.

[closeupready]

22. THANK you. I was trying to figure out how to insert that little lie here.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. Eventually, reality intrudes.

[JEFF9K]

10. Imagine how well the left would do ...

... if not for the billions in free false advertising that the right gets from Fox and talk radio.

[SchmerzImArsch]

13. Don't exempt the corporate media.

Anything that isn't Teabaggery is left by definition, but certainly isn't left of center.

[ananda]

18. You mean slightly left from far right, but still well to the right of left.

..

[LondonReign2]

20. This must stop!

We sensible woodchucks know that we'll never get a grand bargain if we so much as slow our move to the righ, errrrr middle.

[DallasNE]

25. I Made The Same Point Wednesday

McAuliffe did not run as a blue dog in a southern State and ran a rather mainstream Democratic campaign. I always thought the biggest win in terms of margin was in NYC where Bill de Blasio won with a whopping 73% of the vote using a very left message. Indeed, this should be seen as helpful in races in the South such as GA, LA, AR, KY etc.

[Tarheel_Dem]

26. The president's coalition in VA held for T Mac! That's no surprise. I don't care for these.....

declarations. I remember these kind of headlines when Scott Brown won Teddy's seat. I've learned through the years, that these things are cyclical. The country, outside the blue areas, are sick to death of the Tea Party, even the people who once threw money at them.

If people actually believe that the de Blasio victory could be replicated across the country, I've got some swampland for ya. That being said, I think McAuliffe's victory is much more in line with where the country actually is. Socially liberal, and economically pragmatic.

[socialist_n_TN]

28. Would that be the economic pragmatism that says ALL wealth needs to funnel..........

up into the 1% before it'll "trickle down" to the rest of us? Is that your definition of "pragmatic"? If anything, the OPPOSITE of your "socially liberal, economically pragmatic" formula is true, ESPECIALLY in the south.

I can't wait to see how a Huey Long type of left economic populist does in the Republican dominated areas of the country because I believe they'll do very well. Better than the DLC type of Republican lite will anyway.

[Tarheel_Dem]

30. Call me when TN elects a "Huey Long type of left economic populist" statewide, then we'll talk.

[socialist_n_TN]

33. When someone RUNS as a Huey Long left economic populist.....

then we'll see. Southern Dems are too invested in the Republican Lite concept to even try something like that EVEN THOUGH THEY CONTINUE TO LOSE ELECTIONS RUNNING ON THE SAME OLD PLATFORM.

I would think that if you lose every fucking time running as Republican Lite, you might at least WANT to try something else.

[Tarheel_Dem]

34. You mean the "Huey Long left economic populist" TN voters like yourself don't pick your nominees?

And why haven't you thrown your own hat in the ring? Are you "Waiting for Mr. Goodbar"?

[socialist_n_TN]

35. Actually we don't. At least not realistically...

But you know that. I'm sure they don't actually don't do it in North Carolina either. You get that choice between corporate candidate A and corporate candidate B.

[socialist_n_TN]

36. BTW, you never did answer the question about that economic pragmatism ......

that you touted. That's the same economic pragmatism that means we funnel wealth into the 1% so they can trickle it back down to the rest of us peons, correct?

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. Which is why I keep asking why those like yourself don't throw their own hats in the ring?

Since you aren't happy with the choices, why not put your own arse on the line? Stop blaming other people for your shortcomings.

[Fumesucker]

38. If you ~are~ happy with the choices why are you even here in the first place?

If everything is dunky hory and the candidates are all above average there in Lake Wobegon why are you bothering to discuss politics?

[Tarheel_Dem]

55. When you assume ownership of DU, you can make the rules. Until then, I'll....

discuss WHATEVER the hell I want, WHENEVER I want, WHEREVER I want. And the question still remains for the other poster....If you're as dissatisfied as you appear with the choices, you know exactly what you need to do. "Be The Change" in Tennessee.

[Fumesucker]

56. I asked a question, not gave a command

If everything is already perfect then what's the point of talking about it?

I'm always interested in motivations, I don't understand the motivation to talk about politics if someone is convinced that we already live in the best of all possible worlds.

For instance I'm not particularly interested in talking about politics in Canada or Australia because they have little to no effect on me or anyone I know and yet we have Canadians and Australians posting here on the DU who seem even more obsessed by American politics than many Americans who post on here.

Not everyone who is interested in politics is remotely capable of being a politician, I'm interested in and regularly discuss a variety of scientific subjects but I'm not qualified either by temperament or training to be a an actual scientist and don't have the lifespan left to acquire the skill set needed for that endeavor.

[sabrina 1]

50. When we get rid of 'democrats' who don't WANT a real Progressive Dem to win in this areas, then we

can finally test it out. One thing is certain, everyone despises the DLC types on all sides and the ONLY reason they ever make it at all is because Progressives always show up to vote, even if they have to hold their noses. But left leaning Independents are not committed to any party and in 2010 they just refused to support Republican lite. Dems lost the house despite the best efforts of Progressives who helped hold on to the Senate and MOST of the progressive seats in Congress.

Imagine if a real Dem had run in some of those districts, we might have held on to the House, Independents would have had a reason to vote.

Everyone knows this is a left, on the issues, country. Only the right denies it and fake dems, iow, only corporate puppets keep up that pretense for obvious reasons.

[nomorenomore08]

58. +1

Sure wouldn't hurt to try...

[Brickbat]

27. Heh, I thought this would be an article about NAFTA and TPP, or something.

[Scurrilous]

29. K & R

[Orsino]

32. Or the Right's spectacular series of pratfalls is demotivating their base...

...and alienating independents. I think it's far to early to term this shift any sort of progressive movement.

But it's definitely a shift from far right to center-right, at least.

[blkmusclmachine]

40. OMG. McAuliffee a "shift left..."

[nomorenomore08]

59. Compared to Cuccinelli, sure. But Darth Vader would be "left" relative to him. n/t

[KG]

43. maybe a slight tap on the brakes of the rightward careen

[randome]

44. What a bunch of Debbie Downers in this thread!

You don't recognize a sea change when you see it? Gay rights are mainstream. Even the Pope recognizes that. ACA is saving people's lives while the GOP self-destructs. We're starting to win on the issue of increasing taxes!

And yet some of you want to sit around complaining that Obama isn't good enough for you. The OP isn't even about Obama!

No one says you're required to be happy on demand but I swear, some of you would be moping about the GOP disbanding and moving to Tahiti.

It's a sea change! At least recognize the facts in front of your nose!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[davidn3600]

45. Tide has been moving in favor of gay rights for quite some time

That's not really new.

The social Christian conservative wing of the GOP has been losing power for years.
The party is now being led by moderates, libertarians, and rich business folk. These guys don't really care about homosexuals or even abortion for that matter....they just care about money.

[randome]

46. The OP is about a sea change. It's happening.

The descent of the GOP, gay rights being mainstream, more progressives getting elected. Even the Pope's selection is a sign of the times.

I don't mean to hijack this thread but even Occupy is a sign of the times, despite the disappointment in its tactics.

I don't believe in optimism but the signs are there. In this case, it's best to 'go with the flow', IMO. Push it to Warp Factor Bazinga!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[Bosso 63]

47. I've been waiting for the political pendulum to swing back to the Left

for my whole adult life. I was 17 when Regan was elected, and even then I thought;"this is messed up, but only temporary". Now I'm 50, and finally we ARE moving back to wards the center. This would have happened a long time ago, but the Right jammed the machine to keep the pendulum stuck for as long as they could. The Republican have been trapped in their Sisyphean endeavor for decades, and are blinded by fear and panic as even they see what is happening. The gig is up and its about fucking time, but in the meantime remember; few things are more dangerous than men blinded by fear and panic.

[randome]

49. When I think about the promises of the 60s, I get depressed.

In 1968, we actually thought we would have a base on the Moon by 2001!

But it is what it is. Yes, the GOP is still dangerous. But after 10 years of successive failures, they are at their weakest yet. Demographics ensure they will not rise up from this, IMO.

We have to keep moving forward and not get depressed about what might have been.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[nomorenomore08]

61. People are worried, scared, pissed off. I don't blame them for that.

And when their party seems made up mostly of "fiscal conservatives" - when right-wing economic policies have just about destroyed this country as it is - I don't blame them for thinking it's not "good enough."

Which isn't to say that we shouldn't recognize a positive development when we see one. And Cuccinelli losing - McAuliffe aside for the moment - is certainly a positive development.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

48. Hey,

one piece at a time, one piece at a time.

[SHRED]

53. a micro-shift but yes a "shift"

[2banon]

54. Oh Really? I guess this comment makes if official then.

DC Media Pundits' rank stupidity defines that election as a "shift to the left" for the nation of sheep to blindly accept.

[nomorenomore08]

60. Even if it's not a shift to the left, at worst we're holding steady, more or less.

If Cuccinelli had won, on the other hand, that would have been an obvious (and frightening) shift to the right.

[B Calm]

63. People are starting to wake up to what's going on!