General Discussion

Tom Rinaldo

(22,911 posts)

74. Doesn't lend itself to a crystal clear answer, but...

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 08:58 AM

Jun 2014

Maybe something along the lines of "when the clear majority of your former fellow Democrats renounce you for having betrayed your Party". Something akin to that I think befell the Dixicrats who backed Strom Thurman over Adlai Stevenson. In 1968 the Democratic National Convention refused to accept the credentials of a number of Southern State delegations and seated alternate delegates instead.

On the other hand, if a Democratic Party organization evolves away from what an individual Democrat believes are the values underlying the Democratic Party as they knew it, then it may be time to consider starting a new political party, or to launch a counter offensive to retake control the old one.

Democrats as individuals in Connecticut soundly rejected Joe Lieberman and made it hard for him to claim he still represented the Democratic Party.

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At what point is a self-proclaimed "Democrat" not a Democrat? [View all] MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 OP

Rule #1, there is no such animal as a DINO MohRokTah Jun 2014 #1

So if Ted Cruz or Louis Gohmert became Democrats, MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #3

Damned straight I'd be down with that. MohRokTah Jun 2014 #11

I'm sure we have members like them in the Democratic Party Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2014 #107

So, you would have voted for George Wallace. Luminous Animal Jun 2014 #16

Nope MohRokTah Jun 2014 #19

If you reject the majority of the platform, you have no place. joshcryer Jun 2014 #51

At one point a few years ago, a Dem congressman from the South Ken Burch Jun 2014 #63

I seem to recall 'independent' Lieberman got a lot of support Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #117

Does a Democrat support Ayn Rand's philosophy? JDPriestly Jun 2014 #64

with the way that the parties are shifting right-ward, I call myself more a "liberal" than "Democrat NRaleighLiberal Jun 2014 #2

I hear you! nt MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #8

I'm with you on that. I consider myself a Liberal who votes Democrat. bluesbassman Jun 2014 #45

Easy answer: when they vote for other-than-Democrats Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #4

So it's basically color war? MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #5

No Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #6

Seems like it's exactly color war MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #7

It seems like that because that's actually the argument being made. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #13

Right. So what makes a democrat? Is the only requirement "not republican?' Ed Suspicious Jun 2014 #26

What makes a Democrat is the party ideology. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #30

Right. I think the point of the OP might be that the tent is too big. Does the third way represent Ed Suspicious Jun 2014 #31

One can be a liberal/progressive/socialist and vote for non-Democrats, but pampango Jun 2014 #77

It's evolution. LWolf Jun 2014 #9

Move over - I am under the bus as well... NRaleighLiberal Jun 2014 #10

It's getting crowded under hear. LWolf Jun 2014 #21

I guess some are comfortable with the changing beliefs of the party. I certainly am not. I voted liberal_at_heart Jun 2014 #12

When they would have preferred that McCain had won instead of Obama...nt SidDithers Jun 2014 #14

What would have been different? leftstreet Jun 2014 #17

Supreme Court would look different. Nt seabeyond Jun 2014 #20

The SC that just said anti-abortion whacks can...nevermind leftstreet Jun 2014 #23

And we'd be fight 2 or 3 more wars. eom. 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2014 #24

i think so. i do not know what will happen in iraq, but i think obama's history with these seabeyond Jun 2014 #29

Aca, doma. Betcha Syria, Libya would look different. Iraq and afg worse. Nt seabeyond Jun 2014 #22

The GOP could NEVER have passed mandated health insurance leftstreet Jun 2014 #25

And yet, Romney got something similar passed in Massachusetts Art_from_Ark Jun 2014 #35

The GOP was hated in 2008 leftstreet Jun 2014 #37

And yet, the GOP bounced back in 2010 Art_from_Ark Jun 2014 #40

i am sure those that have pre existing are not gonna really agree with you, you think? nt seabeyond Jun 2014 #43

It's a pretty complex situation Art_from_Ark Jun 2014 #52

Took the Dems 2 yrs to make 'em viable again leftstreet Jun 2014 #48

Well, the Dems were able to establish 40 years of House control Art_from_Ark Jun 2014 #55

It was cooked up by the far-right Heritage Foundation. nt MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #41

Don't ask, don't tell would still be in place KamaAina Jun 2014 #106

Right now, I prefer that Elizabeth Warren win, not Hillary Clinton. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #66

+1 Scuba Jun 2014 #69

... Cali_Democrat Jun 2014 #96

... winter is coming Jun 2014 #15

When they're actually just an agent provocateur? frazzled Jun 2014 #18

When they never actually vote for Democrats and encourage other people not to do so. pnwmom Jun 2014 #27

Zell Miller. Liberal Veteran Jun 2014 #28

So the NJ Democratic leadership who endorsed Christie... MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #32

A fair point, but Miller crossed the line. And not endorsing a candidate is beside the point. Liberal Veteran Jun 2014 #34

Would include Debbie Wasserman Schultz? bvar22 Jun 2014 #91

When they change their registration. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2014 #33

All I know is anyone who says "you must do this to be a Democrat" is full of crap quinnox Jun 2014 #36

Mistake #1 is trying to define what a Democrat is Gman Jun 2014 #38

Not voting for Democrats BainsBane Jun 2014 #39

So the NJ Democratic leadership who endorsed Christie... MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #42

At what point Jeff Rosenzweig Jun 2014 #44

Probably not until I take my dirt nap. MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #46

I wouldn't look forward to that, personally. Jeff Rosenzweig Jun 2014 #53

Seems like there hasn't been a propitious time for 30 years MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #58

After the midterms four years ago was a very propitious time. Jeff Rosenzweig Jun 2014 #60

Four posts and Manny is already getting to you? bluesbassman Jun 2014 #47

You'll find my old journal here Jeff Rosenzweig Jun 2014 #59

I stand corrected and apologize for the jibe. bluesbassman Jun 2014 #61

I appreciate your kindness. Jeff Rosenzweig Jun 2014 #62

Hey Jeff! Number23 Jun 2014 #67

Jeff if you PM Skinner or Earlg Puglover Jun 2014 #71

When they register as something other than a democrat. LostOne4Ever Jun 2014 #49

The moment they reject 51% of the platform. joshcryer Jun 2014 #50

I'd say when you sell yourself out to the oil industry and Wall Street. Cleita Jun 2014 #54

Took 54 posts but somebody finally got it right tularetom Jun 2014 #56

Giving or not giving speeches to Goldmann-Sachs does or does not make one a Democrat. Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #101

Well, it sort of works like this tularetom Jun 2014 #102

Watch your language here and get past the name calling. Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #103

Watch my language and get past the name calling? tularetom Jun 2014 #105

The name calling is over the top. Your actions judge you. Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #108

Why did I know.... bobGandolf Jun 2014 #68

+1 Scuba Jun 2014 #70

They were also the party of segregation and mostly anti-choice Hippo_Tron Jun 2014 #109

That was and is unfortunately in the South. Cleita Jun 2014 #110

Abortion prevents us from being competitive in a lot of western states we used to compete in Hippo_Tron Jun 2014 #113

They need to be informed, which means we need to get our media Cleita Jun 2014 #115

No question about that, many don't even have an internet connection Hippo_Tron Jun 2014 #121

DU would be a ghost town Puzzledtraveller Jun 2014 #57

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2014 #65

Obviously when they ask whistler162 Jun 2014 #72

Tough Question... Jeff In Milwaukee Jun 2014 #73

Doesn't lend itself to a crystal clear answer, but... Tom Rinaldo Jun 2014 #74

And, Jane Hamsher and FDL were roundly trashed for it.... KoKo Jun 2014 #83

When you say they are not treestar Jun 2014 #75

Beat me by about 2 minutes. JoePhilly Jun 2014 #76

So if we refuse to recognize those who want to bring back slavery, MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #80

There is a shortage of straw in your area treestar Jun 2014 #99

Oh, a mind reader! MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #100

That depends on who is asking. MineralMan Jun 2014 #78

A long history of being a Republican and supporting some of the most deadly ignorant policies Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #79

Why are you in favor of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars? MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #81

You'll have to do better than that, Manny. Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #84

Again: why do you embrace the Iraq and Afghanistan wars? MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #85

Your disregard for history and your snarky replies to extremely serious questions define you. Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #88

If you voted for John Kerry, then you favor the Iraq and Afghanistan war, no? MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #89

When did your question to me transition to an attack on me? I'm not standing for office. Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #90

I'm dealing just fine with the responses, I think. MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #112

At this point it's mainly a color war to make you think there are two sides. polichick Jun 2014 #82

Modern Democrats are a powerful force for the economic Status Quo. Romulox Jun 2014 #86

the Democratic National Platform... LanternWaste Jun 2014 #87

I remember when 'color war' meant something else bigtree Jun 2014 #92

Manny I'm wearing the blue bandanna nilesobek Jun 2014 #93

When they vote for Reagan.... Cali_Democrat Jun 2014 #94

It would be easier to mark the point at which they cease to be the left. Marr Jun 2014 #95

When I see a person promote the idea that an anti choice, anti gay activist should be the pattern Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #97

If you self-identify as a Democrat... yallerdawg Jun 2014 #98

They can get your vote that way. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #116

A better way to phrase the OP: Maedhros Jun 2014 #104

Actually, that wasn't what I meant. MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #111

According to many people, Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #114

Do you happen to have a link for that polling on young people? MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #118

Firefox is acting up on me, but do this google search. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #119

This gets me angry as hell MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #120