walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
Hope in one hand, shit in the other, which one fills up first?
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2026 Elections: To the Midterms and Beyond!
- Thread starter Kepler
- Start date
Slap Shot
I got nothing
The Dems lost in 2024 because of low voter turnout. The victory in 2026 was easily as much about the MAGA stink becoming too strong as the Dems inspiring people.
Look I'm likely always going to be Blue all the way, but it's time for the Dems to actually inspire the people. To live up to the promise of what being a Democrat actually means. Tax the rich, reject Israel, AIPAC and corporate influence, correct all the deregulation that's occurred since Reagan, breakup monopolies, if possible take back SCOTUS and overturn Citizen's United, and so much more.
That Harris lost to the most despicable human being that's ever existed should be a wake-up call that lasts for a very long time.
MichVandal
Well-known member
Well, I've heard a few times what's going to happen...
First some emergency stuff- fix the ACA and Medicare, pay for them with the former tax cuts; stop the war to get oil prices under control (and I hope reign in exports to lower prices). That will address the emergency situation for the kitchen table.
Then, as has been told, the administration needs to lawyer up. And what's fun about that, given the huge number of committees, multiple branches can be investigated at once- but it will start with DOJ on top, and the DOD. And the DOJ part will likely open the child rapist system up.
BTW, got a note from relatives in Europe- they are relieved. But I'm sure they are as impatient as we are- and we have to at least wait until Jan 1 to get things started. And priority has to be national relief.
First some emergency stuff- fix the ACA and Medicare, pay for them with the former tax cuts; stop the war to get oil prices under control (and I hope reign in exports to lower prices). That will address the emergency situation for the kitchen table.
Then, as has been told, the administration needs to lawyer up. And what's fun about that, given the huge number of committees, multiple branches can be investigated at once- but it will start with DOJ on top, and the DOD. And the DOJ part will likely open the child rapist system up.
BTW, got a note from relatives in Europe- they are relieved. But I'm sure they are as impatient as we are- and we have to at least wait until Jan 1 to get things started. And priority has to be national relief.
rufus
rock and roller
The thing is, Harris was cruising to victory until the last months of the election, when she listened to those people saying she should be more centrist, appeal to the middle. Holding rallies with Liz Cheney and other Republicans, and Oprah, Beyonce and movie stars. Abandoning the populist message that had been resonating so well with the voters and falling back on that old tried and true glitz and glamour, campaign by connections, that all the consultants love so much. Stop pounding on the message in favor of "look at all these famous people who support me", try not to be offensive, don't disturb the status quo.
Yeah, where did that get her?
Yeah, where did that get her?
Boston_E
Veteran
Harris was cruising to victory?
If you look back at the polling, at best she was 2% points up in the national polls and even less the battleground states (actually consistently behind in AZ, GA, NC). You are badly mis-remembering there.
That election was over as soon as Biden insisted on running again.
Boston_E
Veteran
As is 2030.
Barring anything unexpected - D's are likely to hold the senate for at least the next 6 years. (Especially if they hang on in either MI, AK or both).
Although the map is hard to predict years out - i mean, who would have imagined flipping states like South Carolina, Kansas etc 2 years ago.
psych
Well-known member
Makes sense to elect more leftist candidates to office while the iron’s hot then, right? I know you were worried about El-Sayed in Michigan, but he won comfortably. This environment is going to turn out to be what, +10D? +15? Being as left as El-Sayed is might have cost him 3.5% if compared to the Michigan Gov race, but that’s irrelevant in such an environment. And now, instead of Haley Stevens, (failed) opportunist candidate of the year, Democrats get an actual leftist on policy. Not because El-Sayed, or any DSA member elected, will actually be able to enact any left-ish policies, but because maybe they’ll drag the Democrats left from “world’s furthest right left-wing party” to a centrist world party.
ScoobyDoo
NPC
DSA is irrelevant because of the numbers. Fetterman is irrelevant because of the numbers. Going to be fun to watch Fetterman disappear completely from the public. He is nothing now.
Boston_E
Veteran
Sure - the hope is that you stay a big tent party. I would have preferred a more centrist candidate but as you point out especially in years like this is when you may be able to get your more DSA candidates through.
My point i guess, is that is pretty unproductive to already be criticizing more centrest D's who won in Red states in anticipation of them not voting like a lemming along some sort of farther left party line.
FadeToBlack&Gold
Proud Statist
AES isn't even that left. Making support for universal healthcare his big issue is the main thing that gets him lumped into the DSA camp (of which he's not a member). That and abolishing ICE, which he argues no longer functions as a legitmate law enforcement agency. Their actions in Minneapolis last winter pretty much support that conclusion to anyone who isn't a fascist. He still supports securing the US-Mexico border.
Reining in massive data center projects with appropriate federal regulations is not exclusively a left-wing issue, a lot of average Republican voters are opposed to these DCs soaking up local energy and water infrastructure as well. Ending foreign wars and exclusive US funding for foreign militaries (i.e. no more "Team America: World Police") also has bipartisan support (with the exception of neocons and AIPAC conservadems, who are a dying sect anyway). He has defended support for Ukraine and cited the 90s intervention in Kosovo as positive examples of US aid because they were/are provided by a broad multinational coalition of governments and organizations.
He never says anything about and did not campaign on actual leftist policies like UBI or nationalizing energy. He calls himself "a capitalist who understands how capitalism works" which means expecting billionaires to fund the public infrastructure that contributes to their success isn't that radical of an idea. He strongly supports collective bargaining rights, particularly in the face of AI growth - "Oh no, how dreadful!" (said no one not already in the ownership class).
Reining in massive data center projects with appropriate federal regulations is not exclusively a left-wing issue, a lot of average Republican voters are opposed to these DCs soaking up local energy and water infrastructure as well. Ending foreign wars and exclusive US funding for foreign militaries (i.e. no more "Team America: World Police") also has bipartisan support (with the exception of neocons and AIPAC conservadems, who are a dying sect anyway). He has defended support for Ukraine and cited the 90s intervention in Kosovo as positive examples of US aid because they were/are provided by a broad multinational coalition of governments and organizations.
He never says anything about and did not campaign on actual leftist policies like UBI or nationalizing energy. He calls himself "a capitalist who understands how capitalism works" which means expecting billionaires to fund the public infrastructure that contributes to their success isn't that radical of an idea. He strongly supports collective bargaining rights, particularly in the face of AI growth - "Oh no, how dreadful!" (said no one not already in the ownership class).
Kepler
I loafe and invite my soul
Lakshya and Favreau were talking about the actual substance of AES' policies. He's not far left at all. He'll be a boring midwestern Dem backbencher. The most Left thing about him is he's a Muzzie so the Haters went nuts and the cowardly Dem centrists wanted to nix him because they betray anyone at the first sign that some racist in Missouri won't like them.
Be constructive. Be clear. Stop using identity to hide your cowardice in taking on the donor class. Start shouting positive substantive policy from the rooftops. Let the GOP kill those policies, to demonstrate the difference between you to the world.
Be an active force for good and make the GOP either go along with you or be an active force for evil. And tell the rich to either get with the program or get out of the way. Make America moral and healthy and fair again.
Be constructive. Be clear. Stop using identity to hide your cowardice in taking on the donor class. Start shouting positive substantive policy from the rooftops. Let the GOP kill those policies, to demonstrate the difference between you to the world.
Be an active force for good and make the GOP either go along with you or be an active force for evil. And tell the rich to either get with the program or get out of the way. Make America moral and healthy and fair again.
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FadeToBlack&Gold
Proud Statist
I disagree that he'll be a backbencher. Gary Peters was a classic, boring/safe backbencher.
With the right Majority Leader and Speaker in place, I see AES working with like-minded House colleagues to lead the charge on Medicare for All, ending Congressional insider trading, regulating data centers and AI, and strengthening collective bargaining rights. If Slotkin was serious about bringing corrupt MAGA officials to their knees, he'll work with her on that too.
I am cautiously optimistic.
With the right Majority Leader and Speaker in place, I see AES working with like-minded House colleagues to lead the charge on Medicare for All, ending Congressional insider trading, regulating data centers and AI, and strengthening collective bargaining rights. If Slotkin was serious about bringing corrupt MAGA officials to their knees, he'll work with her on that too.
I am cautiously optimistic.
Kepler
I loafe and invite my soul
I think he'll be a do nothing and I think that's healthy.
It will be a good day in America when Muslims or black women or TEH GAYZ taking power is such a non-issue that they are just as likely to be nobodies as white men. Minorities and women don't have any special pixie dust or magic. They're idiot apes like every other human. Let them pick at their ass and smell their fingers and stare vacantly into the void like you or me.
That is equality.
It will be a good day in America when Muslims or black women or TEH GAYZ taking power is such a non-issue that they are just as likely to be nobodies as white men. Minorities and women don't have any special pixie dust or magic. They're idiot apes like every other human. Let them pick at their ass and smell their fingers and stare vacantly into the void like you or me.
That is equality.
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Boston_E
Veteran
aparch
Acetaminamerican
Imma need you to fold back up the Mission Accomplished banner and put it back in storage for another decade.
This is a long road to respectability, and we finally found the starting line. USAid isn't going to suddenly get funding and be 100% on January 3rd. Healthcare cuts that kick in next spring aren't going to be magically hand waved away and restored by the end of Orthodox Christmas.
We need a bunch of people to get cool really quickly with this being a marathon, not a sprint. AOC/AES in '28 isn't going to bring about global change in the US's standing. Not with the constant threat of the right snatching back power.
In F1 terms, we just had "Lights out and away we go!" and some are planning their positioning for a podium while the pack is not even into turn one yet.
FadeToBlack&Gold
Proud Statist
Not to mention Jhina already backfilled quite a bit of what USAid was doing, so that might very well be a permanent loss.
I'm going to make a bold prediction that no matter what her biggest supporters think, AOC '28 is a pipe dream. I don't think she will even run (yet).
I would look at someone like Ossoff for '28. He's the right age while still having youthful energy and won big in a state that until recently was solid red. He is a great speaker and fits the mold of who the Dems should run at this time.
psych
Well-known member
I know. My thought is that at least their voices on the fringes can keep moving the party left.
Who is saying that? unofan is saying the exact opposite - that Democrats in those red states and red seats must be allowed to break with the party - and a lot of us are agreeing with him. I never hated Susan Collins because she lied about being bipartisan- I hated her because she was so good at faking it for her voters.
As for AES, he’s further left than Stevens. We’ll take it. Flanagan too. Among others. This was the time and place for candidates like them.
ScoobyDoo
NPC
As long as people are honest about it it's fine. The problem is they lie to get in, and then they keep lying to stay in. Just tell your truth and let the chips fall where they may.
Kepler
I loafe and invite my soul
Oh sure, of course. "Democracy has no finish line." This is neither a sprint nor a marathon. We are Sisyphus, the boulder is human rights, the mountain is all the obstacles of uncaring nature and actively evil people.
It's a life sentence.