The Democrats are in a bizarre hypnotic trance where their leadership seems incapable of resisting even the craziest demands of their left wing. At some point they will remember that elections are about winning the vote.
The Democrats have maxed their vote harvesting machine ... And and impressive machine it is (75% of *mail in* ballots went to McAuliffe). Now they need to start winning back actual humans who show up at polls with IDs and vote. The other issue is Dems cannot veer from radical politics because the activists and harvesters that do the street work are paid for and motivated by the extremists in the party. I don't expect anything but double down from the Dems.
While I agree with this, I think it means trouble for the democrats. Identity and equity aren't policy preferences to them the way that something like carbon credits might be. Instead, identity and equity are moral issues. To crib from John McWhorter, asking democrats to lighten up on identity and equity would be like asking them to accept that pedophiles just have different opinions.
Losing elections isn't enough to do it. In their minds, they're fighting evils like racism. You don't just stop fighting evil because you're losing.
"Of course, Democrats shouldn’t stop fighting for justice or cultural progress..."
I realize that Persuasion has a progressive sensibility, but every once in a while you should consider whether what you're fighting for is really justice or progress.
I like the results (especially Herring losing!), but let’s be real - Virginia is BLUE! So many people have moved to VA from failed States like New Jersey, PA, NY and IL and settled in Eastern Loudoun county and Fairfax county.
Youngkin didn’t win - McAuliffe set himself on fire. He honestly believes and stated as much that parents should have NO SAY in their child’s education…
That was played on an endless loop in VA..
It doesn’t take a genius to see what happened.
Bottom line: don’t read too much into the VA results. I really wish we could but I don’t think that’s realistic…
I'm not sure if the Democratic Party is ready to listen. We are primarily a two-party system but parties change over time and balance is often created by reshaping each party's focus as perspectives naturally change. However, when things get so out of balance the shifts are more like strong, short earthquakes and right now, there is a huge rupture as we can't talk or connect with each other. After being a lifelong member, I left the Democratic party and it was liberating. I look for intellectual discourse where I can find it and that has sent me on a journey of discovery, one of which led me to Persuasion.
While losing elections isn't exactly the goal of political parties, perhaps there is a silver lining to the fiasco in Virginia.
The Democratic congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pass infrastructure and social spending laws but has been mired in bickering. It's so simple: pass the infra bill; get the economy moving again; have a fighting chance at the mid-terms. But no, progressives and centrists can't agree on anything and risk going down in flames next year.
If losing an eminently winnable election isn't enough to shock the Democrats out of their preoccupations, nothing will.
The way you described McAuliffe's website makes it sound a lot like the governor had nothing to do with it, but instead a gang of young operatives were sent down from 430 S Capitol Street SE to "help out" with messaging. It is difficult for me to believe the governor of a state like Virginia could be so tone deaf and clueless.
The argument over what is taught in schools was critical. Democrats need to distance themselves from "Critical Race Theory" which, in fact, is not taught in schools and will never be. It is a sophisticated social science theory which is appropriate for juniors and seniors in college as well as graduate school.
Certainly SOME college-educated Democrats, not in any sense truly democrats, believe they are entitled to govern
FDR, Groton and Harvard, did not look down on people. I wish some recent Presidents and candidates for that high office would read his “garden hose” speech about Lend Lease
Without least hint of condescension, in words any six year old could understand
The Democrats are in a bizarre hypnotic trance where their leadership seems incapable of resisting even the craziest demands of their left wing. At some point they will remember that elections are about winning the vote.
Yes, yes, and yes again !
Democrats cannot be the party of contempt for and condescension to our “deplorable “ fellow citizens
The Democrats have maxed their vote harvesting machine ... And and impressive machine it is (75% of *mail in* ballots went to McAuliffe). Now they need to start winning back actual humans who show up at polls with IDs and vote. The other issue is Dems cannot veer from radical politics because the activists and harvesters that do the street work are paid for and motivated by the extremists in the party. I don't expect anything but double down from the Dems.
While I agree with this, I think it means trouble for the democrats. Identity and equity aren't policy preferences to them the way that something like carbon credits might be. Instead, identity and equity are moral issues. To crib from John McWhorter, asking democrats to lighten up on identity and equity would be like asking them to accept that pedophiles just have different opinions.
Losing elections isn't enough to do it. In their minds, they're fighting evils like racism. You don't just stop fighting evil because you're losing.
"Of course, Democrats shouldn’t stop fighting for justice or cultural progress..."
I realize that Persuasion has a progressive sensibility, but every once in a while you should consider whether what you're fighting for is really justice or progress.
I like the results (especially Herring losing!), but let’s be real - Virginia is BLUE! So many people have moved to VA from failed States like New Jersey, PA, NY and IL and settled in Eastern Loudoun county and Fairfax county.
Youngkin didn’t win - McAuliffe set himself on fire. He honestly believes and stated as much that parents should have NO SAY in their child’s education…
That was played on an endless loop in VA..
It doesn’t take a genius to see what happened.
Bottom line: don’t read too much into the VA results. I really wish we could but I don’t think that’s realistic…
I'm not sure if the Democratic Party is ready to listen. We are primarily a two-party system but parties change over time and balance is often created by reshaping each party's focus as perspectives naturally change. However, when things get so out of balance the shifts are more like strong, short earthquakes and right now, there is a huge rupture as we can't talk or connect with each other. After being a lifelong member, I left the Democratic party and it was liberating. I look for intellectual discourse where I can find it and that has sent me on a journey of discovery, one of which led me to Persuasion.
While losing elections isn't exactly the goal of political parties, perhaps there is a silver lining to the fiasco in Virginia.
The Democratic congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pass infrastructure and social spending laws but has been mired in bickering. It's so simple: pass the infra bill; get the economy moving again; have a fighting chance at the mid-terms. But no, progressives and centrists can't agree on anything and risk going down in flames next year.
If losing an eminently winnable election isn't enough to shock the Democrats out of their preoccupations, nothing will.
The way you described McAuliffe's website makes it sound a lot like the governor had nothing to do with it, but instead a gang of young operatives were sent down from 430 S Capitol Street SE to "help out" with messaging. It is difficult for me to believe the governor of a state like Virginia could be so tone deaf and clueless.
Dear JT
You are surely not dense
I am perhaps too terse
Groton and Harvard are, respectively, the school and college where FDR was educated. Deeply patrician in his day
And one thinks too of the jolly old patriots in the House of Lords. As one noble peer said of his Chamber: “No damned nonsense about merit”
The argument over what is taught in schools was critical. Democrats need to distance themselves from "Critical Race Theory" which, in fact, is not taught in schools and will never be. It is a sophisticated social science theory which is appropriate for juniors and seniors in college as well as graduate school.
I do not agree with JT entirely
Certainly SOME college-educated Democrats, not in any sense truly democrats, believe they are entitled to govern
FDR, Groton and Harvard, did not look down on people. I wish some recent Presidents and candidates for that high office would read his “garden hose” speech about Lend Lease
Without least hint of condescension, in words any six year old could understand