DL Open Thread: Thursday, November 7, 2024
I think Bernie Sanders got it right:
“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” the Vermont independent said in a statement Wednesday. “First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”
Sanders, who just won reelection to another Senate term in Vermont, didn’t sound optimistic the party brass would heed his calls though. “Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign?” Sanders asked.
“Will they understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing? Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful Oligarchy which has so much economic and political power? Probably not.”
Hmmm, could this be why, say, the Working Families Party succeeds, at least in Delaware, more than the traditional political parties?
I have another thought as well. Any of you who made it through ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ knows that the Vance who wrote the book did a lot of ‘victim-blaming’, a stance he completely abandoned once he decided that politics was in his future. I think that the resentment that the R ticket cultivated resonated with voters. As in ‘My life sucks. Yours should too.’ Ours most certainly will. Randy Newman wrote a song about it:
Delaware Will Have Two Special Elections. Sarah McBride will get sworn into Congress before the Delaware General Assembly convenes in January, and Kyle Evans Gay will be sworn in as Lt. Governor on January 21. Since Bethany Hall Long will be the acting Governor starting on January 7 (that’s when Carney is sworn in as Mayor of Wilmington), she will almost certainly issue the writ for the special elections. I expect that both elections will take place during the Joint Finance Committee hearings that run from the end of January through mid-March. I don’t know whether they will be held on the same date, or on different dates, although my guess would be that they would both be on the same date. Parties designate the nominees for these special elections, and the RD’s and/or city wards play a key role in selecting the nominees. I’m glad that the Special Elections aren’t taking place in December (and, yes, we’ve had Special Elections in December), because, let’s face it, we are, as Chuck Berry sang, Too Pooped To Pop:
That’s it for today. Still trying to figure out what a Fascist era Open Thread should be, or if it even should exist.
What do you want to talk about?
George Frankel’s county council president signs have been stamped in black with “Senate 1” in recent days, so I guess he’s running for that seat? I’m supporting someone else and I surely hope she breaks through. She’s the type of progressive fighter than SD 1 needs.
Think I’m supporting the same candidate that you are.
Feel pretty hopeful/confident.
Frankel can have signs but the party will choose the nominee, so kind of a waste. This is where inside baseball becomes important. Personally Frankel strikes me as a builder backed guy so I take a pass.
When are other names being floated?
What are we thinking about who for SD5? Does Larry want it? Shay F?
Patience, my friend. Patience.
Can answer that question soon, but not today.
Saw some Frankel signs the other day but was moving too quickly to catch the change.
Good that he believes in recycling. Bad that he looks like a serial candidate in search of a job.
Who does he think he is? Monique Johns?
I was thinking Scott Walker.
Wannabe Dennis Williams.
Except that Williams actually won an election.
Took him a good long while to accomplish it, though.
Not to mention, he won only because Brian McGlinchey and his three Laborers’ checkbooks sought to avenge his brother’s defeat at the hands of Bob Valihura.
Didn’t take people too long to get wise to the fact that Dennis was unfit for public office.
OK, then, Sean Barney minus the credentials.
I’m good with that.
The real question is what on earth will Monique do in 2026 when she has nothing to run for? Check that, Monique will find something to run for. Attention is like oxygen to these people…
One of the biggest problems the democratic party had over the years was trumps continuing fascination with celebrity, so who were the main voices endorsing kamala? celebrities. I agree with sanders and what i see mostly around social media is that the average person a) doesnt understand the ebb and flow of the economy or inflation and think it can be fixed in an hour (it will be fixed and will be fixed during trumps first year and he will say he did it and people will believe it) b) the real middle class, not from NY or CA are hurting the most and they see billions going to fight a war that doesnt affect them and that is triggering for them (and i think they are right to an extent) c) making a big deal of paying off college loans (yes i understand how the payoffs work) but the average blue collar worker, of which there are more and more becuase less people are going to college and learning a trade are angry that someone who chose to take the loans are now not having to fulfil their obligation. I think in the last year of the campaign the optics of what the dems did didnt resonate with the average person – the people they are supposed to represent. they wanted to be the party of celebrities, immigrants and democracy. the problem is they lost every one of those categories.
I thought, but didn’t mention, that the Harris focus on celebrity could backfire. You know, the ‘beautiful people’ vs. the real folks out there.
I did too but they did one thing that I thought was cool. There were celebrities in the lines but I know a fair number of DJ’s and they hired and deployed a bunch of local DJ’s as well
Yes keep thinking the average person is dumb and you all are smarter. That wasn’t the underlying reason behind why the left lost so bad so please keep doing it.
Keep proving us right and we will.
If people want to kill themselves I’d be a fool to stop them.
This is what proves you’re stupid: Your response to being shown stupid is to plug your ears and insist you’re right to vote against your own interests.
Yes, that’s a wonderful way to prove you’re smart. Or rather, it is if you’re as stupid as you obviously are.
“it will be fixed and will be fixed during trumps first year ”
Fix what? Republicans have the advantage of inheriting a Democratic boom, as usual. With the current full employment, the only way to go is down. As far as prices, the antidote to inflation is anti-trust enforcement, but Republicans will do the opposite. Of course, union-busting will help cool wage inflation.
I so agree with Arthur, Chris Matthews was so correct in his interview on MSNBC. I have said it on here, but the working class feels so unappreciated.
“the working class feels so unappreciated.”
Because FOX and Russian news feeds told them they were unappreciated and that it was Biden’s fault.
And they will get what they voted for. If they’d rather have appreciation than higher pay, well, now you understand how companies buy off employees with a fancier title and no raise.
I am not going to argue on here. I am a true-blue Democrat, but my members are hurting and yes, they want higher wages. Sorry to inform you about this. They are hurting at the food stores is all we hear. I cannot wait to listen on here, how we are going to do affordable housing lol. I know the answer but already in my district the most liberal people are telling me not in my back yard. So we are not helping the working class. I am not going to debate with anyone. Well because you have all the answers but come to a civic meeting with me and listen. You might even say oh wow.
Why would I argue with any of that?
I hope you don’t think it’s arguing to point out that nothing the Republicans have proposed will fix any of that.
Are your members happy with the idea that Trump praised Musk for? You know, they walk out, go ahead and fire them? Because they’re gonna experience a lot of that–without any government agency standing up for them.
When you cannot afford food, they could care less about Musk. They hate musk, but the Democrats are making them as they feel as needing a government agency. They want to be able to stand on their own. No argument, Steve I actually agree with you. Problem is they feel The D’s are driving them to Musk with the EV or nothing outlook. I am going to Brookside tonight a big D community. I will no doubt hear the phase that I hear again and again. I did not leave the Democratic party they left me. Again, I am just repeating what they say. I agree with you EL
My advice to the Democratic Party:
Election Day is over. Recriminations have begun. It’s hard to not play the blame game. It’s even harder to look in the mirror and own what went wrong. But, that’s exactly what should be done. I have never seen any campaign win solely on, we’re not the other person. Yet, time and again, this is the trap many fall into. Tell me instead what you’re going to do for me, the average citizen, not in broad sweeping strokes, but, down to the details. Tell me how my economic status will be impacted, that I can afford a house, can get a living wage job, can live independently as I age without having to rely on the next generation to provide my care because I’m not poor enough to receive subsidies and not rich enough to pay out of pocket. Tell me how my healthcare will be better, in terms of quality, access and affordability. Tell me how I will not be impacted by catastrophic storms, you know the one-in-a-hundred year events that are pretty much happening every year somewhere.
While I constantly hear how I can become involved and how I should donate to your campaign, what are you doing to reach out to the disenfranchised, disillusioned? People want to be heard, need to be heard. And they hunger for something different. Something new. Something exciting. Not the same old, same old.
Find that issue, those constituents, build on it, tout it on every form of social media you can. Find your Don Draper to give you the new “fake news” catch phrase and saturate the market with it. Highlight successes and how it benefited the broad audience. Find and work with lobbyists, small businesses, entrepreneurs that can affect change. Find the leaders of the next generation, truly it is with them that the fate of this democracy lies. Understand the opposition, their viewpoint, where there may be common ground, and don’t underestimate them.
In other words, give me a PLAN and give it to me now. Republicans in my recent memory have had a Contract with America and now a Project 2025. Democrats: get cracking on whatever catchy name you want to put in place for 2027. I’ll give you a head start: how about subsidies for small farmers instead of plowing under arable land for tract housing that the first time buyer still can’t afford? How about finding a way to hold slumlords responsible for upkeep on their property and if they refuse, donate it to a Habitat-type of charity or non-profit, or even for profit that will rehab said property into something that isn’t an eyesore? And what about putting a moratorium on new buildings until older buildings that are for lease are reused. In Delaware, I’m looking at you Concord Mall. It’s time to flip the model.
Health care is at a tipping point, better to build those bridges now with those powerful lobbyists like the AMA, ANA, etc. Here’s another novel idea, and I’m looking at you Pharmacy Associations, let’s grant pharmacists the ability to prescribe. Use the Kano model to give customers what they don’t even know that they want. Most mildly sick people go the pharmacy before they see a doctor. Imagine a country where the pharmacist is actually in charge of a patient’s medication: not just dispensing it but actually helping patients manage chronic conditions at the point of care.
Let’s also stay on top of the economic impact of policies. Four years ago, I, for one, do not feel we were better off. We were in the midst of a pandemic that killed millions because of inaction at the top. We were building temporary mortuaries for crying out loud. And while people, myself included, were happy to get some government money, to quote Mordo from Dr Strange, “the bill always comes due.” All this money went into the economy and guess what? That let us to inflation. And let’s not forget while the pandemic played a part in disrupting the supply chain, so did the tariffs imposed on foreign goods. But, yet, that is exactly what is being proposed again. And guess what? Other countries will retaliate and slap tariffs on our goods. Please, I beg of you Democratic leadership, find a Bill Clinton-type who can explain, in simple terms, the economy to citizens and how it impacts them.
I remain ever hopeful. Anyone else?
Inflation was caused by several factors, only one of which was the increase in the money supply.
Just a couple things – re: small farms. you cant begrudge a family wanting to sell a plot of land to make money to better their lives. I have 3 chicken famers as clients and each one of them has said “when i die i want my family to sell the land and make sure they have better lives than we do.” Farms are a hard life and parents don’t want their kids in that life. they want them to do better.
re:concord mall – it is a dead mall as many are but its also a victim of the changing shopping experience. Sears – gone. Macy’s – dying. Small shops inside have to deal with an out of date model and thats the only rent they can afford, hence lower quality stores. The meme is they should turn old malls into retirement homes. Why not retrofit it for affordable housing and apartments. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffsteele/2023/06/30/old-malls-are-new-homes-to-senior-living-communities/
Bill Clinton was an “everyman” from Arkansas, right in the middle of what is now MAGAville. As long as dems keep running candidates from the “coastal elite” that won’t change. Was Kamal qualified, hell yes. Was she viewed as an ‘everyman’ no. Trump is also not an everyman but he’s sto stupid his supporters feel good becuase they are on the same level.
“a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people”
Wait till working class people find out what Republicans really think about them.
I was curious to see how long Trump’s parents lived…mom until 88, dad until 93. Yeah, he’s unlikely to die in office if he actually “serves” another 4 years.
There are countless examples of your analogy not holding. In my family, my mother died at 82, my father at 84. Neither of my sisters made it to 74.
25% of lifespan is impacted by genetics. He’s wealthy, was never addicted to alcohol (although he probably did cocaine), so while he’s far from a health nut, I still bet he’ll survive the term. If he does indeed have frontotemporal dementia and developed it in the last couple of years, and the average life expectancy after onset is 7-10 years, he’ll live, even though they’ll have to hide him from the public.
“a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people”
I have seen this answered/ responded to by a couple people so far and their response is similar. The response is basically: the other side is worse. While it may be true, why would anyone expend any energy or capital on extending mediocrity at best? We already know what the Republicans think of us, but tell me how the Democrats think any better? All I have to do is read this site to understand that.
Then vote for Republicans. It’s not me you’re hurting, it’s you.
This response is typical and the reason why people are willing to try anything, even a con man who promises everything and produces nothing.
Democrats in many ways suck. But Republicans are actively trying to make life worse for 99% of America. If people are too dumb to realize that, well, sucks for them. Unfortunately we all pay the price.
Exactly. To quote, as I often do, late Phillies GM Paul Owens, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t stick the dumb son of a bitch’s head in it.”
Why? It’s on me to convince people to vote in their own self-interest? Sorry, that’s a mug’s game.
Trump got between 4 and 5% above any previous base number. Thats 4 million voters more or less. There will come a time when significant numbers realize they were fleeced. Never underestimate the wrath of a voter scorned, which is how they felt about the “D’s”. Like everything he does his “mandate” is built on sand. On another note the dark side appears to be floating the indictment of Liz Cheney. That move would energize and mobilize the people. I marched against Richard Nixon on November 15, 1969 we wore placards with dead soldiers’ names and then 500,000 of my closest friends were with me on the Ellipse and Monument grounds. Tricky Dick did not like the noise. Trump will like it less. Steel your spine gain courage from your friends and move forward!
FYI Sarah McBride is on Chris Hayes’s show tonight on MSNBC.
Bernie got it exactly right. And he got the right answer to his rhetorical question. Will the Democratic party leaders and consultants and think tank pundits get the message and make relevant change? No.
Go Working Families Party and get ranked choice voting.
The Delaware Working Families Party has saved the Delaware Democratic Party from itself. Imagine all the Delaware Way types who would be serving right now were it not for WFP, who helped elect, among others: Madinah Wilson-Anton, Eric Morrison, Larry Lambert, Rae Moore, Russ Huxtable, Kamela Smith, Marie Pinkney, Cyndie Romer, Sophie Phillips, DeShanna Neal, Laura Sturgeon, and Frank Burns.
Could you tell Delaware readers what’s coming down the pike with ledgeslature leadership please? New Gov coming in and he really wants inspector General bill to pass. The gov weasel CARNEY is captured in Wilmington by his own making. Anything for the CHURCH, INVESTORS and continuance of PUBLIC -PIRATE PARTNERSHIP. The system that leaves taxpayers holding the bag when the bond expires. And I almost forgot, corporations control the politician like CARNEY. You have an illusion of democracy. I truly believe the new governor will change all that shit and start out right with audits of all funds including the CLEARING HOUSE COMMITTEE. He will be able to see what these cork soakers have been doing with taxpayers money 💰.