Liberals: Are far leftists hurting your agenda, and how will that impact the Democratic Party in November?

[Adam&Allison 128]

I'm not trying to be rude here, but I am genuinely curious. The Democratic Party has often been the favored party of liberals, with Barack Obama probably being the most liberal President the United States has ever had, apart from perhaps Lyndon B Johnson in terms of expanding Government programs. 

 

But with how divided the country is right now, it appears to me - and openly I will admit I'm a Republican so perhaps somewhat biased - it appears to me that the left is far more intolerant and more willing to shut down opposing views than the right. The irony of this, the current champion of the liberal agenda is Bernie Sanders - who has probably divided the Democratic Party more than any other politician in recent memory through riling up a base during the 2016 election, and not being able to then control that base when he didn't get the nomination (through illegitimate means or not, that's another discussion). 

 

I've been in Philadelphia, which admittedly is a largely liberal city, wearing a Reagan - Bush '84 campaign shirt, and on more than one occasion I've had people come up to me, hysterical, calling me a bigot, sexist etc. completely unprovoked. 

 

So for liberals, I know that most of you are reasonable people - but for the more extreme liberals, are they hurting the Democratic Parties chances in the mid terms? Right after Trump's election the Democrats had a 13 point lead in the polls, that lead has all but disappeared and most polls now show the two sides neck in neck going into November. What's the solution? 

[Unidentified 2,930]

Well I can only speak for myself... I don't know what to identify as anymore. I came here from a pretty liberal country and figured the Democrats were "my people". But damn, they're crazy. But the republicans are not that much better either, some of their ideas are outdated. 

 

Sure, I can admit Trump has done some pretty good things lately especially with N. Korea. But he is so narcissistic it's nauseating.  Everything is about him. Even holidays who are definitely not about him, he manage to make about himself. It's just me, me , me, me. The democrats have completely lost their marbles after Obama left the White House. I'm glad we didn't elect Hillary, but I wish there had been a better option than Trump. 

 

But one thing I do want to say, yes the liberals have lost their marbles and are attacking republicans. But republicans have done their share of attacking too. If you can call liberals sore losers then you can definitely call the republicans gloaters and I think that is what started our whole divide of the country. Maybe if the republicans hadn't attacked the liberals so much, the liberals would eventually have stopped sulking and moved on. But now, even if you're not a democrat, and you say something that doesn't align with the republican party lines (imagined ones or actual) you're automatically a snowflake or **. We can't even discuss things as adults anymore and see both sides of an issue. It's my way or the highway instead of thinking "even though I don't agree with that, they have their right to their opinion and I should be respectful of that". But both sides are being 5 year old children at the moment. 

 

So yeah,  I guess I am a liberal who refuses to identify as a democrat because they've completely lost it. I think my idea lines up the closest with Bernie Sanders but then he doesn't seem to have all his marbles in place either. 

 

So to answer your question: Yes, I think the crazy democrats have hurt their party definitely. But I don't think people see the republicans as much better to be honest. I mean not long ago, Trump barely had any support from his own people, even the republicans wanted him out. So we'll see what happens. Hopefully the democrats can collect their marbles and pull themselves together enough to at least save some of their dignity. And hopefully Trump can continue on his path with some improvements (think before he act and stop making everything about himself) them maybe even the crazy democrats can dial down a few notches. 

 

And I am sorry for this long rant, I hope some of it makes sense. 

[Dashinka 24,764]

1 hour ago, Unidentified said:

Well I can only speak for myself... I don't know what to identify as anymore. I came here from a pretty liberal country and figured the Democrats were "my people". But damn, they're crazy. But the republicans are not that much better either, some of their ideas are outdated. 

 

Sure, I can admit Trump has done some pretty good things lately especially with N. Korea. But he is so narcissistic it's nauseating.  Everything is about him. Even holidays who are definitely not about him, he manage to make about himself. It's just me, me , me, me. The democrats have completely lost their marbles after Obama left the White House. I'm glad we didn't elect Hillary, but I wish there had been a better option than Trump. 

 

But one thing I do want to say, yes the liberals have lost their marbles and are attacking republicans. But republicans have done their share of attacking too. If you can call liberals sore losers then you can definitely call the republicans gloaters and I think that is what started our whole divide of the country. Maybe if the republicans hadn't attacked the liberals so much, the liberals would eventually have stopped sulking and moved on. But now, even if you're not a democrat, and you say something that doesn't align with the republican party lines (imagined ones or actual) you're automatically a snowflake or **. We can't even discuss things as adults anymore and see both sides of an issue. It's my way or the highway instead of thinking "even though I don't agree with that, they have their right to their opinion and I should be respectful of that". But both sides are being 5 year old children at the moment. 

 

So yeah,  I guess I am a liberal who refuses to identify as a democrat because they've completely lost it. I think my idea lines up the closest with Bernie Sanders but then he doesn't seem to have all his marbles in place either. 

 

So to answer your question: Yes, I think the crazy democrats have hurt their party definitely. But I don't think people see the republicans as much better to be honest. I mean not long ago, Trump barely had any support from his own people, even the republicans wanted him out. So we'll see what happens. Hopefully the democrats can collect their marbles and pull themselves together enough to at least save some of their dignity. And hopefully Trump can continue on his path with some improvements (think before he act and stop making everything about himself) them maybe even the crazy democrats can dial down a few notches. 

 

And I am sorry for this long rant, I hope some of it makes sense. 

The political divide started way before 2016.  Heck, you could argue that the left (I refuse to call them Liberals as real Liberals deserve more respect) has harbored sour grapes since 2000 at the very least.

[yuna628 9,711]

On ‎6‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 10:34 PM, Adam&Allison said:

I'm not trying to be rude here, but I am genuinely curious. The Democratic Party has often been the favored party of liberals, with Barack Obama probably being the most liberal President the United States has ever had, apart from perhaps Lyndon B Johnson in terms of expanding Government programs. 

 

But with how divided the country is right now, it appears to me - and openly I will admit I'm a Republican so perhaps somewhat biased - it appears to me that the left is far more intolerant and more willing to shut down opposing views than the right. The irony of this, the current champion of the liberal agenda is Bernie Sanders - who has probably divided the Democratic Party more than any other politician in recent memory through riling up a base during the 2016 election, and not being able to then control that base when he didn't get the nomination (through illegitimate means or not, that's another discussion). 

 

I've been in Philadelphia, which admittedly is a largely liberal city, wearing a Reagan - Bush '84 campaign shirt, and on more than one occasion I've had people come up to me, hysterical, calling me a bigot, sexist etc. completely unprovoked. 

 

So for liberals, I know that most of you are reasonable people - but for the more extreme liberals, are they hurting the Democratic Parties chances in the mid terms? Right after Trump's election the Democrats had a 13 point lead in the polls, that lead has all but disappeared and most polls now show the two sides neck in neck going into November. What's the solution? 

I'm not liberal by definition. I think most reasonable people that believe in the founding principles actually should tend to be very liberal on human rights and less liberal on fiscal issues if we really believe in what this country was founded on. As you are a Republican, you likely would want people to not judge a book by it's cover, so too should it be for Democrats. There's going to be extremes on each side. You believe that the left is intolerant, so too you will find those on the left viewing your party with those same eyes. You'll cite examples, and they'll cite examples.

 

My husband being an immigrant, is on neither side. His views are roughly as consistent as my own though. This week he was screamed at by a coworker who decided to vent upon him all of his bigotry and hatred for his fellow Americans. That coworker would define themselves as Republican and extremely religious right. That person would like to physically kill any other American who does not agree with him and install a theocracy (this is not hyperbole here). He hates immigrants, but my husband was okay apparently as he is ''a white one''. He wanted my husband's thoughts but did not actually want to hear those thoughts, nor could my husband get a word in edgewise. It's a little difficult too when your coworker has just said he'd like to murder anyone that doesn't agree, you know....

 

And that's what it comes down to....intolerance.. snowflakeism.. whatever you want to call it. There's a lot of very loud people in this country that cannot handle the fact that a democracy is NOT one-sided. Eventually a party wins and a party loses, but both shape America, because we are all not like-minded sheep. Attempts to make us all like-minded sheep... or establish a theocracy because of zealot-religiousness is not anything what this country is based upon.

 

Sanders IMHO, never stood a chance. He was a useful idiot per say...to coin a phrase, as in, useful to be a distraction and divide a party up into factions. We've seen several elections like this where a 'third party' doesn't succeed but ends up splitting the vote. This tends to be very useful to the main contenders and even welcomed as a tactic to win. As a whole though I would like to see third parties, in particular Independents become a viable 'not a joke' party and have success, because I think it's vital to a healthy democracy. There's extremes on each side, but ultimately a lot are divided and would like an Independent that not only does what they say but actually means it.

 

Lastly, the Republican party is to some degree also becoming very factionalized. This will neither be healthy or sustainable for the long term. I like to see politicians with spines and principles... and I have not seen that in many many years.

 

As to being yelled at in Philly.... it's Philly man.

[Keith & Arileidi 437]

I'm not the essay type of person... But I'll try my best to get my opinion across.

I am a moderate liberal, I respect republicans and will side with a few of their ideals. I have no problem voting republican when it comes to the right candidate. 

 

Now to get to the nitty gritty...

Republican sources of news ussually have a lower amount of factual information. Therefore it distorts their perception of our country.

Posting something like "Obama is the most liberal president" is just flat out wrong. 

Saying "Bernie Sanders split the Democratic party" is for the most part wrong. I mean... Hillary litterally one the election by a significant margin but lost to a technically. 

 

intolerance... Its coming from both sides equally,just in different forms. Republicans are spewing white nationalist, nationalist and protectionist rehetoric. While, Democrats arent respecting respecting these viable opinions. I'll admit that I don't respect a lot of the current "conservative" opinions out there. 

 

 

 

Edit**"

 

I guess I forgot to actually answer the question.. No , far leftist are not hurting the party. In this type of political climate there's no room for moderates. 

So you could say that moderates are hurting the party. People willing to reason are hurting the party. 

They are up against dirty opponents and most of the Democrats are deciding to play nice. 

 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2018 by Keith & Arileidi

[Boiler 46,012]

There is nothing Liberal or Progressive about the Dems, this is the party of Slavery.

 

Both terms have been co opted and now basically mean Illiberal and regressive.

[Unidentified 2,930]

1 hour ago, Bill & Katya said:

The political divide started way before 2016.  Heck, you could argue that the left (I refuse to call them Liberals as real Liberals deserve more respect) has harbored sour grapes since 2000 at the very least.

Prior to 2016 people could still talk to each other in a relatively respectful way though, it wasn't like now when the crazy loony tones divorce their spouse because they voted for Trump.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

 

   The Republicans had a lot at stake in this last election. Democrats will next time in 2020. While it is important to try and pick up a senate seat in 2018 by whatever means necessary, I think the focus has to quickly get back to 2020.

 

   Democrats are capable of pulling off big wins in 2018 and 2020. People shouldn't overlook just yet how easily the democrats actually won in 2008 and 2012. Can they win using the same tactics as Trump? Definitely not. No one (Republican or Democrat) is going to consistently beat Trump at his own game. The biggest question for the Democrats is can someone get the party as energized and as cohesive they were 10 years ago? If not that, the next question is can the Democrats at least find someone capable of stopping them from shooting themselves in the foot. For this November, it's hard to see any one of the sad sacks at the top of the party right now being able to do any of those things. They need a plan for 2020.

 

   

[Boiler 46,012]

Hillary 2020

[Adam&Allison 128]

Just now, Boiler said:

Hillary 2020

 

It wouldn't surprise me, as sad as it is. 

[Unidentified 2,930]

They need to find someone better than Hillary.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

4 minutes ago, Adam&Allison said:

 

It wouldn't surprise me, as sad as it is. 

 

  Some of our conservative posters seem to have a little thing for Hillary, kind of like that long lost love that got away. For whatever reason they can't stop talking about her.

 

  From a liberal perspective it's pretty safe to say she's done. If the Republicans like her so much, perhaps they should invite her over?

[Dashinka 24,764]

47 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  Some of our conservative posters seem to have a little thing for Hillary, kind of like that long lost love that got away. For whatever reason they can't stop talking about her.

 

  From a liberal perspective it's pretty safe to say she's done. If the Republicans like her so much, perhaps they should invite her over?

Why invite her over, she is doing great things for the GOP right where she is.  

 

1 hour ago, Steeleballz said:

 

   The Republicans had a lot at stake in this last election. Democrats will next time in 2020. While it is important to try and pick up a senate seat in 2018 by whatever means necessary, I think the focus has to quickly get back to 2020.

 

   Democrats are capable of pulling off big wins in 2018 and 2020. People shouldn't overlook just yet how easily the democrats actually won in 2008 and 2012. Can they win using the same tactics as Trump? Definitely not. No one (Republican or Democrat) is going to consistently beat Trump at his own game. The biggest question for the Democrats is can someone get the party as energized and as cohesive they were 10 years ago? If not that, the next question is can the Democrats at least find someone capable of stopping them from shooting themselves in the foot. For this November, it's hard to see any one of the sad sacks at the top of the party right now being able to do any of those things. They need a plan for 2020.

 

   

Certainly the DEMs won in the WH in 2008 and 2012, but didn’t the House flip to the GOP in 2010 and the Senate in 2014?

[Boiler 46,012]

Says it all:

 

 

[Póg mo 1,749]

Oh joy, yet another tread bemoaning how the Democratic party has gone too far to the left according to Republicans. 

 

5 hours ago, Adam&Allison said:

 

It wouldn't surprise me, as sad as it is. 

So how exactly would that show that the Dems are moving far Left? Wait, wait don't tell me. Hillary is now far left