21 thoughts on “Friday Open Thread”

1. I want a different president.
   In my lifetime, only presidents nominated by either Republican or Democratic parties have been elected. And it has not been close for an of the others.
   Wallace got electoral votes – but were no where close to getting elected. Peror won some counties (freaks) but got a grand total of zero electorl votes.

   Any voter who agrees that a different president is better-  Vote D.

   No matter who the nominee is – vote D.
   It's the only way that has worked.

    

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   1. Amen.  Like the bumper sticker says : " Literally anyone else – 2020 "

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2. Pop Quiz:

   https://www.kff.org/quiz/health-issues-and-the-election-quiz/

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   1. How'd you do?

      I got 4/10 and this is my biz.

      I underestimated costs for the average family, but also the share  that goes to retail pharmacy.

      Happily more states fund around Hyde than I thought.

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      1. O/10

         I know nothing.
         But I am a wobblie. Or a communist – and I believer what ever gucifer 2.0 tells me

          

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      2. 6/10 wasn’t sure what other candidates had proposed.

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3. WOTD from James Carville via VOX: "We’re losing our damn minds"

   I don't typically agree with Carville, but he does a good job making the case for moderation in the Democratic Party:

   James Carville

   Who the hell knows? But here’s what I do know: Sanders might get 280 electoral votes and win the presidency and maybe we keep the House. But there’s no chance in hell we’ll ever win the Senate with Sanders at the top of the party defining it for the public. Eighteen percent of the country elects more than half of our senators. That’s the deal, fair or not. 

   So long as McConnell runs the Senate, it’s game over. There’s no chance we’ll change the courts and nothing will happen, and he’ll just be sitting up there screaming in the microphone about the revolution.

   The purpose of a political party is to acquire power. Alright? Without power, nothing matters.

   Sean Illing

   What’s the answer?

   James Carville

   By framing, repeating, and delivering a coherent, meaningful message that is relevant to people’s lives and having the political skill not to be sucked into every rabbit hole that somebody puts in front of you.

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   1. I think framing the Democratic Party split as "left-right" hurts our understanding.

      Thinking of the split as Mainstream-Progressive is better, where mainstream means "using language that reassures", and progressive means "talking about significant changes because the system is corrupt and it's screwing the average Joe."

      I think both are necessary. In other words, you need the inspiration of promoting changes that are going to rile up the rich and powerful, and you need to "not get sucked into the rabid (umm rabbit) hole" as Carvile points out.

      You can do both while canceling the Republican culture of racism, xenophobia, and corruption.

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      1. Thank you , Park Hill. The split is progressive and mainstream.

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         1. I've been thinking of it as progressive&idealist versus progessive&pragmatic. Or maybe progressive&maximum versus progressive&moderate.

            I think all of the Democratic candidates will sign ANY bill that can clear Congress and move toward universal coverage.  I don't see any true believers who would turn down a well-financed public option OR a sustainably-financed single-payer option.

             

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      2. OK, Cajun Boomer.

         MITCHELL: And what do you think of this whole semantic debate, who’s the real progressive?

         CARVILLE You know, the one thing, and I like the debate with a negative spot or not a negative spot. You’re running for president. If you have a difference with somebody, don’t sit and say, you’re not going to draw a distinction. This is what this is about…

         I don’t know what a progressive is, but he’s a socialist. I consider myself a progressive, a Democrat, anything else. But I think which candidate has the best plan for Wall Street? Which candidate has the best plan for manufacturing? The best plan for higher ed. On those measures, I’m excited and comfortable where she is. But can’t be more progressive than Bernie Sanders.

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   2. Rational and logical thought like Carville’s observation do not hold a candle to a raging demagogue promising to make your wildest dreams come true.

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      1. By raging demagogue you mean Trump.

         Bernie Sanders is a passionate advocate for Social Democratic reforms to Capitalism.

         My point is you need passionate advocacy of progressive programs AS WELL AS the ability to communicate to “mainstream” people, whatever that is.

         Biden is the ur-mainstream voice this season, and he has lots of support with older people, especially older African Americans (except not in Iowa). His record is a complete failure for younger people, especially younger African Americans.

         Sanders’ rhetoric might be off-putting for older people and ex-Republicans, but the younger generations and the bottom 50% of the economic system are pissed as hell that the system has screwed them and is screwing them. Moderate rhetoric just means more of the Same-ole, Same-ole.

         While I can agree with Carville about not going down every rabid hole, you are not going to get out the base unless you have a strong “hope and change” campaign. Hmmm, where did I hear that before.

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         1. There are demagogues on both ends of the spectrum.

            BTW, I think Biden is history. He did a little better this year in Iowa than he did in '08…..but not much. Suffolk Univ. tracking poll in N.H. out last night has him dropping down to 11% with Bernie at 24% and Buttigeig at 23%. Undecided and Warren fall between Buttigeig and Biden.

            With the economic numbers being where they are – see this morning's job report – Bernie will have a hard time convincing people that things are as bad as he says they are.

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   3. Carville has endorsed and been working for Bennet for some time

      Bennet would be a great nominee.

      Carville called him the “perfect candidate”
      
       

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      1. "Bennet would be a great nominee."

         If watching paint dry is your passion.

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         1. How about another reality tv star? They get the ratings – so much be fun to watch

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            1. I'm with you on this one, MADCO.  I know it's not a terribly popular theme on this blog but I have a deep appreciation for Bennet's style and skills; he's a good man.  

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4. Bernie's South Carolina strategy……

   https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/upstate-gop-leaders-plotting-to-impact-sc-democratic-primary-by/article_f1e7abd2-4788-11ea-aa9f-33a1d262994c.html

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   1. Hillary Clinton campaign trolls GOP by boosting Donald Trump

      Make no mistake: Both Trump and Clinton must be very happy to be embroiled in this spat. Indeed, the Clinton camp has cheerfully fed the flames of this fight, in what appears to be a concerted effort to boost Trump among GOP voters. The theory may be that Trump benefits among those voters if he is perceived as a chief antagonist of Clinton, thus helping him spread more intra-GOP damage.

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   2. probably Russians too.

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