I Want My Party Back

[Hound of Heaven]

I long for the Democrat party of the 60s to 90s, a time when the party engaged in reasonable discourse and refrained from labeling Republicans as Nazis to instill fear. It is essential to understand that Joe Biden's decision to run this time is the primary factor behind Donald Trump's victory. Biden was expected to be a transitional candidate, passing the reins of power to Kamala after a few years; at least, that's what I believed would occur. The Democrats' initial error was permitting Biden to pursue a second term. The second mistake was the way they shifted from a Biden campaign to a Harris campaign. Fourteen million primary voters were completely disregarded and dismissed when Democratic elites appointed Harris as the new presidential candidate, rather than permitting voters to choose their preferred candidate. In my view, if they had simply presented 4 or 5 candidates in a makeshift primary or permitted Democratic voters to choose at the convention, Trump would not have emerged victorious. It's important to highlight that Biden received approximately 14 million votes in the primary, which is roughly equivalent to the number of votes Harris lost by. The third reason Trump won is that the Democratic elites who lead the party genuinely believed that equating Republicans with Nazis would be an effective strategy. Only those on the progressive left are misguided enough to think that Republicans are akin to Nazis. It is truly astonishing to consider that incorporating that aspect can be beneficial for a campaign's success. Labeling a significant portion of the population with terms like Nazis, racist, stupid, and brain dead, along with numerous other insults, has resulted in losing the White House, Senate, and likely Congress as well. Four years ago, Elon Musk identified as an Andrew Yang Democrat. RFK Jr. was a committed member of the Democratic Party. Joe Rogan and Tulsi Gabbard were members of the Democratic Party. However, due to the divisive language that is currently prevalent within the Democrat party, numerous notable individuals are departing in search of what they consider to be a more reasonable and compassionate alternative. What can be done to address the loss of so many proud democrats? I identify as a Kennedy Democrat. What that truly signifies is my belief in civil rights. I desire leaders who will confront large corporations, steer clear of military engagements, implement tax reductions when necessary, and increase taxes when appropriate. I recognize that Democrats will not always emerge victorious; such is the nature of a free society. However, contemporary Democrats appear to think that the world will face dire consequences if their policies are not followed precisely, leaving no room for any deviation. Those who hold differing views are often labeled as adversaries. This peculiar and somewhat extreme perspective on half of the nation is likely to enable the Republicans to gain even more backing in the years ahead. Jimmy Carter was the first Democrat for whom I cast my vote in a presidential election. During the 70s to the 90s, I don't recall there being such a strong animosity directed at the Republicans. How can we return to an era when we recognized that individuals in a free society will always hold opinions, and that does not imply they are Nazis?

[Doctor Steuss]

How can we return to an era when we recognized that individuals in a free society will always hold opinions, and that does not imply they are Nazis?

Some things I think could help.

- Republicans could vote for someone that wasn't the first major party candidate ever endorsed by the leader of the American Nazi Party.
- Republicans could vote for someone that doesn't dine with avowed Nazis and Hitler sympathizers.
- Republicans could disavow popular movements within their ranks that approvingly quote Hitler in their newsletters.
- Republicans could vote for someone that doesn't have people flying Nazi flags at Republican events.
- Republicans could stop having people give Nazi salutes and yell "Heil Hitler" at Republican events.
- Republicans could vote for someone who doesn't release campaign videos celebrating a "unified Reich."
- Republicans could vote for someone that doesn't quote Mein Kampf, and then double-down when called out on it.

As a lifelong registered Republican that has never been accused of being a Nazi, I've found that the best way to avoid it is to not do and say things that make Nazis think I'm one of them. When Nazis themselves think you're one of them, can you really blame some people for being confused and thinking Nazis are capable of spotting their own?

The apocryphal Mike Masnick post seems relevant here. Link.

[ceeboo]

Hi HOH,

Because you seem to be wanting advice/opinions/perspectives from fellow democrats (and there is certainly nothing wrong with that), I will simply say a few words.

I agree with much of what you posted - I think any moderate democrat would have beaten Trump - And lastly, it is my opinion that it would be very hard to understate how meaningful and impactful this newly formed coalition (In part, those you mentioned in your OP - like Gabbard, Kennedy, Musk, Rogan, etc) has been - and has the potential to be in the future of American politics.

Unfortunately, there will be many of the political left that will refuse to consider any of this and will continue to scream vulgarities at individual people and point fingers of blame at large and complex groups of people (Christians, White men, uneducated women, LDS folks, racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc)

Anyway - thanks for the board contribution. I enjoyed reading it.

[Marcus]

Labeling a significant portion of the population with terms like Nazis, racist, stupid, and brain dead, along with numerous other insults, has resulted in losing the White House, Senate, and likely Congress as well.

You have your sentence backward. Trump's standard procedure of "labeling a significant portion of the population" with numerous insults and slurs has resulted in Trump winning.

[drumdude]

Hi HOH,

Because you seem to be wanting advice/opinions/perspectives from fellow democrats (and there is certainly nothing wrong with that), I will simply say a few words.

I agree with much of what you posted - I think any moderate democrat would have beaten Trump - And lastly, it is my opinion that it would be very hard to understate how meaningful and impactful this newly formed coalition (In part, those you mentioned in your OP - like Gabbard, Kennedy, Musk, Rogan, etc) has been - and has the potential to be in the future of American politics.

Unfortunately, there will be many of the political left that will refuse to consider any of this and will continue to scream vulgarities at individual people and point fingers of blame at large and complex groups of people (Christians, White men, uneducated women, LDS folks, racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc)

Anyway - thanks for the board contribution. I enjoyed reading it.

Agreed.

[Res Ipsa]

You lost me at the notion of “reasonable and compassionate alternative” having something to do with Donald Trump.

After democrats have put up with 40 year campaign of hate and demonization starting with Rush Limbaugh, continuing with hundreds and hundreds of hate radio Rush wannabes, through Fox News, Brietbart, and the whole current fetid right wing media ecosystem, your tone policing comes off as a little silly.

Those “compassionate” people you are describing have called me “libtard,” “demon rat,” “communist,” “Marxist,” “pedophile,” “vermin,” “demon,” and other flavors of “not human.” So, this notion that language used by democrats drove Musk, Rogan, Kennedy, or anyone else to Donald Trump is absurd.

And this idea that all Ds are running around calling all Relief Society Nazis is just false. What is true is that Trump and the Republicans ran a campaign straight out of the same playbook that Hitler and the Nazi party used to scapegoat and dehumanize Jews, homosexuals, Romanis and others. They just did it to people here without permission and trans folks instead of the Third Reich’s targets. If that’s your idea of compassion, then I’d say you are well outside the core values of the Democratic Party.

There is no going back 60 years. It’s easy to be nostalgic for the 60s, until you remember that John Kennedy was murdered, Robert Kennedy was murdered, Martin Luther King was jailed and murdered, and black folks fighting for their civil rights were beaten and murdered.

There is no going back. There is only where are and how we go forward.

[Bond]

During the 70s to the 90s, I don't recall there being such a strong animosity directed at the Republicans.

That's because when Nixon was meddling in elections (even when he was cruising to a landslide) he was talked into resigning by his Republican Senate allies because they were going to impeach him. Today's Republicans have covered for a guy who tried to overthrow an election.

[Hound of Heaven]

How can we return to an era when we recognized that individuals in a free society will always hold opinions, and that does not imply they are Nazis?

Some things I think could help.

- Republicans could vote for someone that wasn't the first major party candidate ever endorsed by the leader of the American Nazi Party.
- Republicans could vote for someone that doesn't dine with avowed Nazis and Hitler sympathizers.
- Republicans could disavow popular movements within their ranks that approvingly quote Hitler in their newsletters.
- Republicans could vote for someone that doesn't have people flying Nazi flags at Republican events.
- Republicans could stop having people give Nazi salutes and yell "Heil Hitler" at Republican events.
- Republicans could vote for someone who doesn't release campaign videos celebrating a "unified Reich."
- Republicans could vote for someone that doesn't quote Mein Kampf, and then double-down when called out on it.

As a lifelong registered Republican that has never been accused of being a Nazi, I've found that the best way to avoid it is to not do and say things that make Nazis think I'm one of them. When Nazis themselves think you're one of them, can you really blame some people for being confused and thinking Nazis are capable of spotting their own?

The apocryphal Mike Masnick post seems relevant here. Link.

In 2020, Biden garnered 81 million votes. In 2024, Kamala received 68 million. One of the primary reasons Kamala performed significantly worse than Biden is that the American public does not perceive half the nation as a group of Nazis. Making such an absurd assertion during an election only undermines the trust of those who are prepared to cast their votes. Obama inspired hope and change, and people admired him for it. Kamala inspired with vote for me because the other candidate and your neighbors are Nazis. It was unsuccessful! She struggled to persuade them, but her words fell on deaf ears. Pew Research Center identifies merely 6 percent of Americans and 12 percent of Democrats as belonging to the "progressive left." If a moderate democrat like Joe Manchin, Jacky Rosen, Bob Casey, or Governor Shapiro had run for president, they would likely be president-elect today instead of the current situation. Kamala was likely the least favorable candidate to run, and the final national vote tally supports this conclusion.

[Some Schmo]

It's funny how all the reasons provided for Trump votes are reactions to the perception of Democrats. Apparently, no GOP voter has the backbone to make a decision based on GOP policy (or because they actually favor their politicians). It's all about the grievance of whiney children the Democrats didn't sufficiently appease.

It seems we all view GOP voters as children who need to be handled with kid's gloves. Perhaps that's because they are children who need to be handled with kid's gloves.

[Res Ipsa]

Hi HOH,

Because you seem to be wanting advice/opinions/perspectives from fellow democrats (and there is certainly nothing wrong with that), I will simply say a few words.

I agree with much of what you posted - I think any moderate democrat would have beaten Trump - And lastly, it is my opinion that it would be very hard to understate how meaningful and impactful this newly formed coalition (In part, those you mentioned in your OP - like Gabbard, Kennedy, Musk, Rogan, etc) has been - and has the potential to be in the future of American politics.

Unfortunately, there will be many of the political left that will refuse to consider any of this and will continue to scream vulgarities at individual people and point fingers of blame at large and complex groups of people (Christians, White men, uneducated women, LDS folks, racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc)

Anyway - thanks for the board contribution. I enjoyed reading it.

LOL, my friend. Part of the 40 year propaganda campaign by the right is to instantly label every single prominent Democratic candidate an extremist. Every. Single. One. I’ve watched this game go on since the ascendancy of Newt Gingrich. Joe Biden is the epitome of a moderate Democrat. He always has been and he always will be. Harris is too.

This is the tried and true tactic of the right in our current politics. It doesn’t matter what a Ds policy positions actually are, they will be demonized as extremists and radicals. It happens even when a D politician adopts proposals originally promoted by Relief Society.

We could run the reanimated corpse of Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan and you’d still be talking about how a moderate Democrat could win an election if only we ran one. C’mon, my friend, don’t pee on me and tell me it’s raining.

I doubt your Dream coalition will make it six months together. Elon Musk is a billionaire who is about becoming a trillionaire. He and Trump will be on the outs pretty quickly as there can be only one (ego). Kennedy is a nightmare of a human being. His anti-vax nonsense is bat-crap crazy. He’s another massive ego who abandoned any political principles he might have had to prostrate himself before the guy he thought would give him power. He is also one who too many.

Tulsi tried to con progressives into thinking she was of them and then fled the party when folks didn’t buy what she was selling.

There’s really no there there. And if there were, the R party would launch an all out assault on them and give them the same scorched earth treatment that it gives every D candidate.

And, please, playing the victim after your guy won the election? Really? I’m dealing with the fallout of half of the voters who voted for the guy who demonized them in 100 millions of negative advertising. I’ll bet you aren’t spending your day supporting folks who are suicidal over the campaign of hate that targeted them. So, you’ll have to excuse me for not having room in my compassion tank today.