2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Democrats: Step back, squint your eyes, and consider this. [View all]WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)the half that's had control of the Party for a generation now, is hemorrhaging individuals with FDR Democratic values, turning others off to the political process, and inspiring others to register Independent. This is a big deal in that, in practice, it works like voter suppression. As opposition outside the Party continues to grow, so too does the relative strength of the establishment. It's winning by losing. Following NY, Joan Walsh was so proud of herself, and lauded by her colleagues, after writing what this generation of New Democrats does best: shame people for not showing up. She wrote, Bernie supporters love to rally but they don't like to vote. She, and the rest of the media that's been fueling this meme for years, totally missed the real story. Bernie's engaged people the Democratic establishment has happily ignored for years. Unfortunately, they've rejected the Democratic Party and registered Independent. Joan will get to pat herself on the back again come California's closed election, as 300,000 Californians, likely mistakenly, registered with the Independence Party. People don't understand the machine, especially people who vote in states where their vote never matters.