Given a side-by-side look at people who call themselves “Democrats” now (Texas candidate you mention great example) and truly progressive Ds from a few decades back, the older ones much more resemble Bernie than today’s iterations.
One example among many: A State Representative in small-town Western Pennsylvania (where I was raised), Bil…
Given a side-by-side look at people who call themselves “Democrats” now (Texas candidate you mention great example) and truly progressive Ds from a few decades back, the older ones much more resemble Bernie than today’s iterations.
One example among many: A State Representative in small-town Western Pennsylvania (where I was raised), Bill Shane, was a truly committed progressive in terms of civil rights and social justice in a place with both a history of abolitionists and of fascist/KKK activities. A Harvard grad and U Penn-trained lawyer, he ran for state house and served in the 70s when the local swimming pool was still segregated and worked hard for social justice there and as a Borough Councilor and County Commissioner as well. He was remembered by R colleagues as having worked across the aisle to get things done and enormously well-liked. He was a truth-teller and a pragmatic politician, to hear it told (was a friend of my dad’s).
Now in that state legislature, one of the most venal and corrupt (miserly towards children and libraries; full of largesse for frack-daddies) and hate-filled in the nation (stiff competition these days, I know) his own party would shun him if he could even get elected in the first place. The Rs moved further and further right and the do-nothing Dems let his seat rot for years, not bothering to run even a ham sandwich on the ballot. This allowed former State (R) Rep Reed (D62) to collect whopping contributions from banks, fracking companies, insurance companies &c and distribute the loot all over the state since he didn’t have to campaign to win re-elections, leading to his rise to Speaker. The results were not pretty for ordinary people in that county, where over 25% of children live in poverty, where broadband access was often scarce, where the radio station is a “Fox News Corner of the World,”where my classmates don’t have access to decent dental care and have succumbed to opioid & other addictions in huge numbers.
One cycle a clever, brave political science student at the local college (IUP) ran for the seat, only to be given the cold shoulder and NO support by do-nothing Dems who thought he was too progressive. I assistant managed his campaign and on a budget of about $1K we got him 34% of the vote, but the complete lack of wisdom, support, and help from his own party was astonishing. (Went out of state to work closely with Kucinich snd will likely have a distinguished career in politics after grad school.)
Mad as a wet hen after that, I planned to run for that seat in 2020; do-nothing Dems laughed or told me it was a bad idea (checkered past) and put up a Blue Dog, retired Penndot double-dipper in response. Not wanting to remain in a party like that any more, I planned to run as an Independent after the closed primary season ended. Would have been great to debate the R Reed successor and the double-dipping old blue dog on the radio and get in a few cracks about frackers buying politicians and our lack of teeth and addiction problems in the 62nd.
However, Pandemic interfered (taught in NYC, lived in PA, commuting by train) since I didn’t want to become the Typhoid Mary of Western PA, I dropped out and got an Air BnB to be closer to work in NYC, little realizing it would be years. So it wasn’t Rs who ran my political aspirations as a progressive Social Democrat down, it was the entrenched Do-Nothing Ds.
If Hillary is a feminist icon it should be on her own merits, but she lost places like my native Western Pennsylvania by being the wrong sort of candidate (“perfect” for liberals/elites doesn’t play among Appalachians; corporate coziness doesn’t play among progressives; foreign policy horrified many) and taking the vote for granted - she canceled events in the final days of the 16 campaign and Trump ADDED stops in the general area (WPA-OH-WV culturally similar).
Fast-forward and we’re looking as you said at a perilous party divide in which social dems are alienated from machine dems/corporate dems and we are the only thing standing against pure fascism unbridled in the US. Sobering. If anyone can figure out what to do, though, I firmly believe it will be Professor HCR and that we, her Ragged Irregulars, will take up arms against a sea of foes and save our relatively young experiment in democracy, the USA.
( In the meantime, I’m running for Congress in NY’s CD 10 if I can get 1500 signatures in a week to get on the ballot…a small miracle or a lot of grassroots efforts should suffice to do that. Help an Irregular out by asking a friend to ask a friend to download a petition and get a signature? Www.LauraThomas.nyc)
Thank you! If you have friends who might reach out to friends, every signature will count since (I’m sure you’re aware) Former Mayor deBlasio will have $600-an-hour lawyers in court challenging every signature and I’m nowhere near 1500+ yet.
You have nailed it Laura. The Democratic party is dangerously(I refuse to say hopelessly) fractured. The leadership (Pelosi) is terrified of losing the conservative wing to the tightly organized, anti-democratic, Putin molded, Republican party with it's highly successful coalition of the over-lords and the (somewhat, sometimes) disadvantaged underclass using a nearly indestuctible two part epoxy of hatred and racism.
The solution has to involve the youth. If we can convince them to vote they, and we, can crush these hatemongers in a heart-beat. Pelosi's choice in Texas will not get them to vote. Reading Heather is working on a number of the ones I know.
Thanks for your drive and for this quote:
"Fast-forward and we’re looking as you said at a perilous party divide in which social dems are alienated from machine dems/corporate dems and we are the only thing standing against pure fascism unbridled in the US. Sobering. If anyone can figure out what to do, though, I firmly believe it will be Professor HCR and that we, her Ragged Irregulars, will take up arms against a sea of foes and save our relatively young experiment in democracy, the USA."
No one with an ounce of sense, which is why WE hope Pelosi-style corporate dems will make common cause with social dems, hash out OUR differences, roll up our sleeves, and feed some hungry kids, protect all of us with universal healthcare, and enact sensible gun registration legislation among other things - together.
Pelosi tried to bring AOC into more prominence as a freshman, but AOC demanded the ability to write bills or she wouldn’t work with leadership. Freshmen don’t get that opportunity. Then she publicly said Pelosi has a problem with women of color because she didn’t get what she wants. AOC has publicly admitted she almost didn’t stand for reelection because she hates how Washington works (or doesn’t). She could be a great leader in the party, but has a lot of growing up to do first.
Thank you! Bruce, do you have friends in NY’s CD10 (or friends of friends) who mught be willing to sign a petition? Need 1500 signatures in a week-stiff order with no machine,
I like the ring of that word and thank you! A chubby bookworm/activist/mom does not usually think of oneself in battle mode. Do you have friends in NY’s CD 10 (or maybe friends of friends) who would consider signing a petition and getting another friend to sign? There is 1 week but it isn’t theoretically imposdible,
Thank you! If you know any NY friends who live in CD 10, please reach out! It would take a small miracle, but if 2 friends tell 2 more friends, and they download petitions from RepMyBlock.org and get a friend or two to sign, it could happen.
What area is that? I don't, but you never know. I have a friend who moved from Manhattan to Montclair and another who lives in Ithaca. I can tell them and see if they have any friends in that area.
Laura thanks for that reply it really sums up many things. I had to beg my son to vote because he does not feel that either party gives a damn about him and his future. I don’t think Biden is making him feel any better. I will share your info on social media and hope friends of friends will share. Thanks so much for stepping up. If I was younger and did not have health issues I would do the same thing. Good luck fighting the billionaire money.
WE are, if we’re readers/believers in Professor HCR’s truths. We may be diverse, but we believe the armed attempt to stop certification of electoral ballots was an attempt to thwart democracy (hanging Pence was floated as an idea, too) - anyone better out there who feels differently about details but like we have keeping the Union strong in common ought to get out there and run for office too! (Go up against me in CD 10, please! More power to you-we can debate our differences.) True democracy comes in many flavors and the PEOPLE decide.
You seem to want to pick a fight. It’s not me, it’s we. We who recognize incipient fascism when we see it. If I’m violating any terms of service, I’ll be deleted; otherwise, freedom to associate here and our freedoms include scrolling on by if you don’t enjoy what you read. I’m sure you’re doing your part to help our latger cause, as are we all by reading Professor HCR’s Letters.
Good luck,Laura. It’s obvious that well qualified women are more than criticized for the same behavior celebrated and expected by the Suits. We only have to look at the numbers. And understand why we could not pass the ERA.
We "ragged irregulars" have much work to do! Thanks for all you are doing for democracy. Let us know if you get on the ballot so we can $upport your campaign!
Given a side-by-side look at people who call themselves “Democrats” now (Texas candidate you mention great example) and truly progressive Ds from a few decades back, the older ones much more resemble Bernie than today’s iterations.
One example among many: A State Representative in small-town Western Pennsylvania (where I was raised), Bill Shane, was a truly committed progressive in terms of civil rights and social justice in a place with both a history of abolitionists and of fascist/KKK activities. A Harvard grad and U Penn-trained lawyer, he ran for state house and served in the 70s when the local swimming pool was still segregated and worked hard for social justice there and as a Borough Councilor and County Commissioner as well. He was remembered by R colleagues as having worked across the aisle to get things done and enormously well-liked. He was a truth-teller and a pragmatic politician, to hear it told (was a friend of my dad’s).
Now in that state legislature, one of the most venal and corrupt (miserly towards children and libraries; full of largesse for frack-daddies) and hate-filled in the nation (stiff competition these days, I know) his own party would shun him if he could even get elected in the first place. The Rs moved further and further right and the do-nothing Dems let his seat rot for years, not bothering to run even a ham sandwich on the ballot. This allowed former State (R) Rep Reed (D62) to collect whopping contributions from banks, fracking companies, insurance companies &c and distribute the loot all over the state since he didn’t have to campaign to win re-elections, leading to his rise to Speaker. The results were not pretty for ordinary people in that county, where over 25% of children live in poverty, where broadband access was often scarce, where the radio station is a “Fox News Corner of the World,”where my classmates don’t have access to decent dental care and have succumbed to opioid & other addictions in huge numbers.
One cycle a clever, brave political science student at the local college (IUP) ran for the seat, only to be given the cold shoulder and NO support by do-nothing Dems who thought he was too progressive. I assistant managed his campaign and on a budget of about $1K we got him 34% of the vote, but the complete lack of wisdom, support, and help from his own party was astonishing. (Went out of state to work closely with Kucinich snd will likely have a distinguished career in politics after grad school.)
Mad as a wet hen after that, I planned to run for that seat in 2020; do-nothing Dems laughed or told me it was a bad idea (checkered past) and put up a Blue Dog, retired Penndot double-dipper in response. Not wanting to remain in a party like that any more, I planned to run as an Independent after the closed primary season ended. Would have been great to debate the R Reed successor and the double-dipping old blue dog on the radio and get in a few cracks about frackers buying politicians and our lack of teeth and addiction problems in the 62nd.
However, Pandemic interfered (taught in NYC, lived in PA, commuting by train) since I didn’t want to become the Typhoid Mary of Western PA, I dropped out and got an Air BnB to be closer to work in NYC, little realizing it would be years. So it wasn’t Rs who ran my political aspirations as a progressive Social Democrat down, it was the entrenched Do-Nothing Ds.
If Hillary is a feminist icon it should be on her own merits, but she lost places like my native Western Pennsylvania by being the wrong sort of candidate (“perfect” for liberals/elites doesn’t play among Appalachians; corporate coziness doesn’t play among progressives; foreign policy horrified many) and taking the vote for granted - she canceled events in the final days of the 16 campaign and Trump ADDED stops in the general area (WPA-OH-WV culturally similar).
Fast-forward and we’re looking as you said at a perilous party divide in which social dems are alienated from machine dems/corporate dems and we are the only thing standing against pure fascism unbridled in the US. Sobering. If anyone can figure out what to do, though, I firmly believe it will be Professor HCR and that we, her Ragged Irregulars, will take up arms against a sea of foes and save our relatively young experiment in democracy, the USA.
( In the meantime, I’m running for Congress in NY’s CD 10 if I can get 1500 signatures in a week to get on the ballot…a small miracle or a lot of grassroots efforts should suffice to do that. Help an Irregular out by asking a friend to ask a friend to download a petition and get a signature? Www.LauraThomas.nyc)
Laura,
Best wishes in you effort. Thank you for the detailed critique.
Thank you! If you have friends who might reach out to friends, every signature will count since (I’m sure you’re aware) Former Mayor deBlasio will have $600-an-hour lawyers in court challenging every signature and I’m nowhere near 1500+ yet.
You have nailed it Laura. The Democratic party is dangerously(I refuse to say hopelessly) fractured. The leadership (Pelosi) is terrified of losing the conservative wing to the tightly organized, anti-democratic, Putin molded, Republican party with it's highly successful coalition of the over-lords and the (somewhat, sometimes) disadvantaged underclass using a nearly indestuctible two part epoxy of hatred and racism.
The solution has to involve the youth. If we can convince them to vote they, and we, can crush these hatemongers in a heart-beat. Pelosi's choice in Texas will not get them to vote. Reading Heather is working on a number of the ones I know.
Thanks for your drive and for this quote:
"Fast-forward and we’re looking as you said at a perilous party divide in which social dems are alienated from machine dems/corporate dems and we are the only thing standing against pure fascism unbridled in the US. Sobering. If anyone can figure out what to do, though, I firmly believe it will be Professor HCR and that we, her Ragged Irregulars, will take up arms against a sea of foes and save our relatively young experiment in democracy, the USA."
Guess who is fracturing the Democratic Party?!
No one with an ounce of sense, which is why WE hope Pelosi-style corporate dems will make common cause with social dems, hash out OUR differences, roll up our sleeves, and feed some hungry kids, protect all of us with universal healthcare, and enact sensible gun registration legislation among other things - together.
Pelosi tried to bring AOC into more prominence as a freshman, but AOC demanded the ability to write bills or she wouldn’t work with leadership. Freshmen don’t get that opportunity. Then she publicly said Pelosi has a problem with women of color because she didn’t get what she wants. AOC has publicly admitted she almost didn’t stand for reelection because she hates how Washington works (or doesn’t). She could be a great leader in the party, but has a lot of growing up to do first.
Tried to ❤️
Well put. Thanks.
So dramatic. And self-righteous too.
That's what they have been working on.
It is not people like Laura who are fracturing the party it is corporate Dems like Pelosi and the Texas race is the perfect example.
Thank you! Bruce, do you have friends in NY’s CD10 (or friends of friends) who mught be willing to sign a petition? Need 1500 signatures in a week-stiff order with no machine,
I did but think they have all moved, alas.
Can’t blame a person for asking, sailor. 1400 to go...
I don't see Pelosi having any fear. She IS feared. As Hilary was.
Thanks for being a warrior!
I like the ring of that word and thank you! A chubby bookworm/activist/mom does not usually think of oneself in battle mode. Do you have friends in NY’s CD 10 (or maybe friends of friends) who would consider signing a petition and getting another friend to sign? There is 1 week but it isn’t theoretically imposdible,
I hope you get your signatures!!!
Thank you! If you know any NY friends who live in CD 10, please reach out! It would take a small miracle, but if 2 friends tell 2 more friends, and they download petitions from RepMyBlock.org and get a friend or two to sign, it could happen.
Have reached out to Brooklyn friends and given them access to petitions and asked them to pass along to others.
Good campaigning, Laura. Keep us informed on progress.
Salud!
Thank you-I have! If you know a few in Sunset Park, Red Hook, Gowanus, Prospect Heights, South Slope, DUMBO, Park Slope would really appreciate help!
What area is that? I don't, but you never know. I have a friend who moved from Manhattan to Montclair and another who lives in Ithaca. I can tell them and see if they have any friends in that area.
Thank you! I lived in montclair for a few months-nice town.
👍
If you know a few in Sunset Park, Red Hook, Gowanus, Prospect Heights, South Slope, DUMBO, Park Slope would really appreciate help
I'll email them
Laura thanks for that reply it really sums up many things. I had to beg my son to vote because he does not feel that either party gives a damn about him and his future. I don’t think Biden is making him feel any better. I will share your info on social media and hope friends of friends will share. Thanks so much for stepping up. If I was younger and did not have health issues I would do the same thing. Good luck fighting the billionaire money.
Thank you! Still working on petition signatures. If I can get on the ballot, I’ll be facing a giant financially and literally (6’4” to my 5’1”)
Good luck it is hard to get on a ballot, too hard. I think that is why most legislators are very wealthy people.
"we are the only thing standing against pure fascism unbridled in the US. " You most certainly are not.
WE are, if we’re readers/believers in Professor HCR’s truths. We may be diverse, but we believe the armed attempt to stop certification of electoral ballots was an attempt to thwart democracy (hanging Pence was floated as an idea, too) - anyone better out there who feels differently about details but like we have keeping the Union strong in common ought to get out there and run for office too! (Go up against me in CD 10, please! More power to you-we can debate our differences.) True democracy comes in many flavors and the PEOPLE decide.
This isn't about you. Please stop running for office in these comments.
You seem to want to pick a fight. It’s not me, it’s we. We who recognize incipient fascism when we see it. If I’m violating any terms of service, I’ll be deleted; otherwise, freedom to associate here and our freedoms include scrolling on by if you don’t enjoy what you read. I’m sure you’re doing your part to help our latger cause, as are we all by reading Professor HCR’s Letters.
Wish I knew someone
Me too. The arrogance.
Good luck,Laura. It’s obvious that well qualified women are more than criticized for the same behavior celebrated and expected by the Suits. We only have to look at the numbers. And understand why we could not pass the ERA.
We "ragged irregulars" have much work to do! Thanks for all you are doing for democracy. Let us know if you get on the ballot so we can $upport your campaign!
Thank you!