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Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts)

13. the simple reality is that national elections set the political mood and range of debate for the

Reply to MineralMan (Reply #8)

Tue Nov 18, 2014, 04:50 AM

Nov 2014

whole country. The 1964 Goldwater campaign put in place the skeleton of what would become the new rightwing. The election of Ronald Reagan in in 1980 legitimized as mainstream a political movement that was once seen by the vast majority of Republicans as right-wing extremist. Even Pat Robertson's run in the primaries and caucuses in 1988 - created much of what is now the mobilized religious rights. Of course we have to elect progressives at all levels - but national campaigns do set the national tone and create at the national level the parameters of debate.

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If it's impossible to ever elect a progressive President - there is no hope of saving our country [View all] Douglas Carpenter Nov 2014 OP

We have been a de facto police state since 2001 Kelvin Mace Nov 2014 #1

A progressive president? Indydem Nov 2014 #2

The Progressive Caucus is the largest caucus within the Democratic Party in Congress Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #6

Yes. Some are electing them. We need to elect more of them, MineralMan Nov 2014 #9

exactly fxstc Nov 2014 #14

And the Third Way Coalition has 53. Indydem Nov 2014 #12

Congress, not presidents, write the laws. Nuclear Unicorn Nov 2014 #3

It's important to keep trying, hifiguy Nov 2014 #4

For progressive or liberal change progressives or liberals must control Congress and the agenda. Agnosticsherbet Nov 2014 #5

It's done all over the place it's just that Democrats don't currently care to talk about such things Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #10

This is because if someone supports policies that agree with many on the left, Agnosticsherbet Nov 2014 #11

Bender says Rex Nov 2014 #7

The answer is to elect progressives to Congress and state legislatures. MineralMan Nov 2014 #8

the simple reality is that national elections set the political mood and range of debate for the Douglas Carpenter Nov 2014 #13

It's not impossible to elect a real progressive President. baldguy Nov 2014 #15

Sen. Warren has already made it clear she is not running - I tend to believe her Douglas Carpenter Nov 2014 #17

You can have a progressive President and a ReTHUG House malaise Nov 2014 #16