On the spectrum of the left, which group is "the base"?

[cry baby]

I'd like to know who we are talking about then the pols and media says "The Democrat Base". I get the feeling that progressives aren't the base.

[endarkenment]

1. urban voters.

Big city voters are massively progressive/liberal democrats.

[cry baby]

3. If that is so, why are so many dems moving right?

It seems that they are purposefully moving away from the "Librul Elite".

I think that the base used to be blue collar, certainly union people. Reagan began the abolishment of the unions, our manufacturing jobs have all but gone overseas, and family farms have all but dried up. Things in this country have changed so much and we dems havent caught up. We haven't defined ourselves.

[endarkenment]

17. They aren't.

Your assertion is unfounded. The media has moved right. The Democratic Party's leadership has largely been coopted by rightwing organizations such as the DLC, but the Democratic base remains as liberal/progressive as it ever was.

The debate is framed by a rightwing media and two parties controlled by rightwing groups. So you, along with a lot of other people, think that everyone must have moved to the right.

Your second paragraph is a different subject - yes sure union jobs have disappeared along with the manufacturing base. Regardless, the Democratic base continues to be urban voters by which I mean quite simply that the biggest margins for Democrats come from the big metro regions of the country.

[cdb]

2. the usual suspects

the unemployed welfare queens, slackers, hippies, and over-educated collge liberal egghead types... :-)

[cry baby]

5. That is a pretty small group!

[Sammy Pepys]

4. I don't know.

Sometimes I think it's the progressives out there making a difference, and sometimes I shudder to think that it might those who believe in the cause and support the party but have limited, if any, participation.

[cry baby]

7. Welcome to DU, Sammy Pepys!

:hi:

[Sammy Pepys]

hahah...thanks!

Longtime lurker.

[Walt Starr]

6. The "base" are those who campaign, donate, make phone calls

you know, the "activists with unrealistic expectations".

[Lexingtonian]

8. think "New York City"

and you've got all the stereotypes together.

After 4+ years here, I know what 'liberal' means. I know what 'Left' means. I know what 'radical Left' means. I know what "moderate Democrat" means.

I have yet to figure out, despite the common use of the term, what "progressive" actually means.

[msgadget]

12. I also have no clear definition of 'progressive'

though I've come to suspect it was originally coined to replace 'liberal'. Now I think some factions are using it to broadly encompass 'reasonable', awake democrats willing to compromise to succeed and others use it to refer to active/grassroots democrats.

[PAdem2]

15. I think the term progressive has a connection

with progressive taxation and those that support it. An economic liberal.

[msgadget]

18. Ah, that makes sense, thank you

More and more conservatives are coming out of the woodwork defining themselves fiscally so the term 'conservative' is obviously too broadly appropriated as well.

[Lexingtonian]

19. yep, it's linked to Progressivism

aka the nativist Left, linguistically.

What people call 'progressive' is more a mashing of libertarianism and Leftism without resolving their contradictions, though. It's sort of diffuse and incoherent.

[bvar22]

9. The Working Class, the Poor, the Minorities, the Oppressed.

althoough the above mentioned could fairly ask the Democrats,
"What have you done for me lately?"

[firefox]

10. You won't believe this, but

The real base of the Democratic Party is those that do not vote. If the Dems actually had a populist candidate for president instead of promoting just another loyalist to corporate America insider, he would sweep to victory.

Everything is designed to keep that from happening, from a controlled media to an election system that lets a candidate into office without a majority vote. Carter was the last President to sneak in and that was all corrected with the Hunt Commission and stacking the primaries early so that it is all over before an unknown can make his presence and position known.

The Democratic Party is as controlled by big money as the Republicans and donating to the DNC is just giving them power to support candidates loyal to the "Democratic" position, which is all about preserving the 6 media companies, the electoral college, The Largest Minority Rule, and the stacking of the primaries.

Republican fall in line because if they don't the party will run a candidate to replace them. They are the Borg that do as they are told because they know damned well there is another Borg that can put them on the street if they do not worship the Party and prize loyalty.

People that donate money to the DNC need to really evaluate such actions. It is yet another mechanism to control the entry of a populist candidate. People would be better off donating their time and money to a candidate they thought worthy of office.

There is a big problem in the country in the two party system. The two party system first institutes a sense of helplessness that sees that the majority of people over 18 do not vote to start with. It also creates the illusion that it is all a game where if your team wins, everything will be fine. You have Democratic clappers as seen here on DU and you have the Republican clappers that are all excited because their team wins.

People have bought into the game, when what is needed is a type of revolution and that is what the Patriot Act and the tyranny laws (as in drug war laws) seek to prevent.

But my direct response to your question is that the base that will deliver a government that seeks form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity are the ones that do not even vote and are sickened by the clappers.

[msgadget]

13. Good answer!

Bravo! I too have great problems with our current two party system since actions seem to be geared more toward getting and keeping power than truly tending the needs of the populace. And, like sports fans, voters are so thrilled with their party's victories it takes a long time for them to realize their importance ends when the election has been certified.

We, the people, don't seem that important these days.

[RethugAssKicker]

11. African Americans are definitely the "base"

Generally speaking,,

All inner city people are the deomcratic base

[msgadget]

14. Locally speaking, yes,

but nationally the party doesn't go out of its way for blacks in particular.

[PAdem2]

16. I agree. Unfortunately

the black vote is taken for granted.

[RethugAssKicker]

22. Yes, thats very obvious.

But still, Blacks are the democratic base.

[UTUSN]

20. Things having to do with rights - civil rights, social justice, workers'

[cry baby]

21. kick for a few more ideas - there doesn't seem to be a consensus.