Can the Democratic Party be an "opposition" party? .............

[socialist_n_TN]

Or are they doomed by their history and their instincts to only be a "compromise" party.

I don't have much hope that they can oppose Trump, at least not in the same way that the Republicans opposed Obama. The nature of the Dems is to "compromise", so I expect them to "compromise" away some of the more restrictive and more blatantly offensive parts of the right-wing agenda and then vote for it.

Are there any signs that they are ready to go into full scale "opposition" mode? Not only in elected offices, but also among the rank-and-file who consider themselves to be Democrats.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Get to your local democratic party meetings, vote for people who will resist, not

compromise.

Compromise at this point is certain death for everybody.

[KPN]

4. Yup!

[socialist_n_TN]

6. What if there are no "resisters" on the local ballots?.........

And what if any "resister" that runs is not allowed to run for whatever reason? IOW, what if resistance is not a choice in local party politics.

[Eliot Rosewater]

7. You have a broken leg? If there isnt one, become one.

Sorry, not trying to be an ass, but trying to make a point at your expense.

I know it is not that easy, but we are looking at dire consequences otherwise.

You brought it up and I am grateful you did, but this is how it is done, and it aint fun or convenient.

[socialist_n_TN]

11. Two things.........

What if you're not a Democrat? I'm a Trotskyist. For me the Democratic Party is a dead end because it supports my hated class enemy the bourgeoisie. I asked the question because I think that the BEST that the Dem Party can do in the age of Trump is to BECOME an opposition party rather than a compromise party. So I'm asking Democrats about this.

The second point is how will a resister, even if he/she IS a lifelong Democrat, be heard if he/she has not been active, other than voting, in the past? From what I can see, it take several years to even be considered for local offices even inside of the party, much less for elected offices. If it takes 3 to 4 years (or more) to even become recognized enough to be heard, what is to be done if the Dems need to become an opposition party within the next six months?

[putitinD]

2. yeah, it will probably oppose itself!

[The_Voice_of_Reason]

3. We have no choice

but to become the opposition party, or we will become the obsolete party, doomed to the waste bin of history as we are pushed aside as Fascism takes center stage.

[socialist_n_TN]

5. But can the Dems really oppose fascism?........

Remember that fascism is a movement that isn't really concerned with votes and laws, but only by street-level intimidation. Therefore fascism can only truly be fought in the streets where the fascists will take their bullying. Can the Democratic Party advocate for smashing fascism in the streets?

I ask because when I here Dem politicians talk about "working with" Trump or equating militant resistance to fascism as being the same as the fascists themselves, I wonder if the party is up to the challenge of really fighting fascists where they MUST be fought. That arena isn't in Congress. Or at least not ONLY in Congress.

[Chasstev365]

8. Absolutely Not!

It's only slightly less beholden to corporate dollars than the GOP.

Until we get the money out of our political system, nothing is going to change!

[CrispyQ]

9. Can they turn on a dime?

Cuz they haven't been a true opposition party in 35+ years.

[MineralMan]

10. Well, it often does a good job of opposing itself internally.

One of the problems is participation. Too few people participate in Democratic Party organizations by far. Those who do are often older and have participated for decades. When meetings and caucuses occur, only a few people bother to show up and offer to become part of the process.

For example, in my precinct in St. Paul, MN, we have never once had enough people come to a caucus who were willing to fill our 16 delegate slots at the next level's convention, the State Senate District Convention. Not once since I have been here. We had a small turnout at the caucus, and Bernie Sanders won, 37 to 21. But, when it came time to elect delegates to the convention, everyone had disappeared, except for a few who were willing to give up a Saturday morning at the convention.

And yet, those same people who can't be bothered to participate in the actual business of the party are among the first to criticize what happens at those conventions. They could have been there, but didn't bother to participate. And so it is every election year. Don't even ask about the mid-term election caucuses. I go, since I'm the precinct chair, but I'm often alone at the caucus, so I'm the only delegate to the conventions that help endorse candidates for office. And in odd-numbered years? I don't remember a precinct caucus that was ever called in those years.

Here's the thing: If all of those people who were protesting this year's election and its candidates had come to the caucuses, offered to be delegate to the conventions and got involved, they'd have been represented in the Party much better. The actual activities of the Democratic Party depend on who shows up. If you show up, you have a voice. If not, you go unheard.

So, if you want an active, progressive party that will get the things done you want to get done, you'll have to become part of the party organization, starting at the local level. The party will welcome you, I guarantee. I can't even describe how easy it would be for a progressive bloc to become the entire organization at the precinct level. From there, numbers of people also count.

You want a better party? Show up and become the party you want. If you don't show up, others will do it. It's really up to you. It takes some work, but not as much as you'd think. Try it. I think you'll like it.

[socialist_n_TN]

13. As I said upthread, I'm asking Democrats on a Democratic forum because.........

we need the Dems to step up and BE an opposition party tomorrow, not in some nebulous future time AFTER you've gone to local meetings and paid your dues before you can even be heard in the party hierarchy.

And of course, the Dems becoming an opposition party rather than a compromise party is only one facet of a multi-pronged resistance to the Trump, and more importantly the right-wing Congress's, agenda.

[Vinca]

12. They can if they make an effort to locate their spines.

They also must stop apologizing for stepping on toes.

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. Sanders showed that it's possible

Sad that it takes a registered independent to show them the way. He went where no Democrat dared. He publicly took on, not Republican policies per say, but the autocratic establishment that caters to only 1%. It's just that it's mostly Republicans (obviously not all) are in that camp. And he showed that a popular chord can be struck with a solid message that does not compromise.
But for Democrat reps, they'd have to be brave enough to challenge their own parties over 20 year strategy of third way triangulation who's very definition is Compromise. The DLC is made up of elite corporatists as we speak.