A Deepening Democratic Party Divide

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/04/03/a-deepening-democratic-party-divide/

On the presidential campaign trail, Hillary Clinton has been promoting standard pro-middle class rhetoric, yet also has been raking in speaking fees from financial firms. One of her potential primary challengers, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, has been sounding anti-Wall Street themes, but only after finishing up two terms in office that saw his state plow more public pension money into Wall Street firms, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in financial fees.

Similarly, in Washington, the anti-Wall Street fervor of those such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren sometimes seems as if it is on the ascent — that is, until big money comes calling.

Indeed, on the very same day Reuters reported on big banks threatening to withhold campaign contributions from Democratic coffers, Democratic lawmakers abruptly coalesced around Charles Schumer as their next U.S. Senate leader. CNN captured in a blaring headline how unflinching an ally the New York senator has been to the financial elite: “Wall Street welcomes expected Chuck Schumer promotion.” Notably, Democrats appeared ready to promote Schumer over Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, who once dared to publicly complain that “banks frankly own” Capitol Hill.

<snip>


“We’ve put every Democrat in America on notice that there’s a political price to pay for putting the demands of hedge-fund billionaires ahead of the needs of working families,” said Kristen Crowell, executive director of the grassroots Chicago group United Working Families, a sister organization of New York’s progressive Working Families Party.

As perplexing as the Democratic Party’s divide is, Crowell’s straightforward statement rings true. National Democratic politicians may not yet be hearing the message, but if they hope to hang onto power, they probably should start listening.

[F4lconF16]

1. I think there's an even deeper divide than just in the Democratic party.

People are leaving to go even farther leftward. The Democratic party is a capitalist party, and many people, myself included, have realized that we cannot continue to support that system. I think many of the people who aren't voting know that something is dreadfully wrong, but don't have an option to go elsewhere. When the Democratic party keeps trending rightward (as they are indisputably doing), more and more people will abandon them. It's happening faster than I think most of the party realizes, and it's probably the biggest danger to it. If they don't change tack, and quickly, they may find all their support has disappeared.

[Vincardog]

3. The only support they are really interested in has at least six zeros after the digit. >$9,000,000

[aspirant]

6. Nay-Sayers

Starting from a point of negativity is never a long term winner.

IMO, when Bernie announces you will hear a gigantic whooooosh as all our lsftward friends rush to a long-awaited home.

Those who say Bernie can't this, can't do that, I say keep your eyes wide open.

[F4lconF16]

7. I'm not advocating against Sanders.

I'd even vote for Sanders. But my point was more towards the vast majority of Democratis, not the one or two declared Democratic Socialists. He is a force unto himself because he speaks the truth, and stands a very good chance of winning the election. I think he is as far left as is possible in a capitalist system, and I have yet to disagree with anything he says. Were we in another world, I think he would be a fully committed socialist.

Also, my worldview may be mis-interpreted as negativity at times, but in reality, I am filled with a hope for a society that can prioritize everyone, that choose the well being of the people and the world we live in over anything else. But the Democratic Party is unfortunately not going to get us there, and that is a historical fact.

[sabrina 1]

9. People are abandoning both parties. Statisics show that the largest voting bloc in the country

now at over 40%, is the Independent vote. Iow, a majority of registered voters now register as Independents. Dem voter registration is down to 32%, Repub, 29%.

So the question for the Dem Party now is, how are they going to attract the all important Independent vote for a Corporate Friendly candidate which is the reason WHY many are now registered as Independents?

[Warpy]

11. "Business as usual" and "pro middle class" don't sell like they used to

because business as usual is killing most of us financially and because of that, the middle class is now for all intents and purposes completely gone. We've been shoved down into the working class and we know it and business as usual is what did it to us.

That's why turnout was so abominably low in the last election, all the Democrats were running on the tried and true New Democrat mantras and only the churchy types were fired up enough to vote and they vote overwhelmingly Republican.

I'm quite honestly bracing myself for at least 4 years of some Republican lunatic in the White House in 2017 because the Democratic leadership is consistently failing to get the message and we have no way to tell them since they're so well insulated from us.

There will, of course, be another crash. That's the least it will take to get us some changes in leadership because there is nothing like a negative cash flow to cost people their jobs.

[rhett o rick]

13. I disagree that the DC Democratic Leadership "is consistently failing to get the message."

They get the message loud and clearly. But the message they pay attention to is from GOLDMAN-FRACKIN-SACHS and the Wall Street players. When Goldman runs HRC against a Republicon, what the frack are the independents going to do? What is the Left going to do? Besides, they can steal elections if they need to.

I agree there will be another crash. The last crash was a quick, easy trillion, why wouldn't they do it again. Our government did nothing to prevent it from happening again.

[F4lconF16]

4. Not much to say except

[840high]

5. kick

[daleanime]

8. K&R....

[Eleanors38]

10. Crowell is right, but I don't think Warren cowed down...

The Democratic Party has worked its way into Third Party status in a Two Party system.

[blackspade]

12. What we have is a divide between the Democratic Party....

And Republicans from two generations ago that have no home in the nihilism of their own party.

[rhett o rick]

14. The rift is obvious. The Progressive Wing wants to better regulate the banks

before we have another crash. The Conservative Wing (HRC) is in bed with Goldman-Frackin-Sachs and supports a Wall Street controlled government.

Let's look at some of the differences:

Progressive Wing-----vs.--Conservative Wing (Turd Way)

stop fracking-----------------------support fracking (Obama says it's the bridge to a new energy tomorrow)

no to TPP--------------------------Support TPP and Fast Tracking and "Free Trade"

roll back the Patriot Act--------------Extend the Patriot Act

Punish War Criminals------------------Pardon War Criminals

Support Whistle-blowers--------------Treat whistle-blowers severly

Cut defense spending --------------- fully support the MIC