The State of the Democratic Party Post-2016

[Valrifell]

The same thing happened to Jeb. Hillary and Jeb would have been considered good candidates in any other year and they followed the traditional campaign blueprint.

You mean by relying on money and family name? Frankly it is a not bad thing that those who spent the most money lost. Good that you can no longer buy and/or inherit office.

It's a bit naive of you to assume US political dynasties will stop being a thing when Americans love them so.

[Geilinor]

The same thing happened to Jeb. Hillary and Jeb would have been considered good candidates in any other year and they followed the traditional campaign blueprint.

You mean by relying on money and family name? Frankly it is a not bad thing that those who spent the most money lost. Good that you can no longer buy and/or inherit office.

Bad that we got Trump, but good that both of them lost. Note Jeb! did not only lose to Trump. But pretty much everyone else. Including to actually good canidates like Kasich and Rubio. Not just Trump.

Trump is likely to create his own dynasty with his former desire to give them security clearances and their fame.

[Novus America]

You mean by relying on money and family name? Frankly it is a not bad thing that those who spent the most money lost. Good that you can no longer buy and/or inherit office.

It's a bit naive of you to assume US political dynasties will stop being a thing when Americans love them so.

Fair enough.
I of course do not actually believe they stopped being a thing, or will not win again. Or did not win down ballot. I am just glad they did not win the presidency this time.

"Good that you can no longer buy and/or inherit office."
was a smart ass remark, not intended to be truly accurate if taken literally, as it is not accurate if taken literally. I should have added a smiley.

[USS Monitor]

Yeah... I'd be more enthusiastic about Ellison if I was hearing more coherent arguments based on his credentials, ideology, strategic ideas, etc. rather than Bernie's support for him. He might be able to do a good job, but I really don't know, and I don't think his supporters are doing a good job of communicating why they've rallied around him.

I've actually seen a macro on facebook essentially saying "He's black and Muslim which makes him the perfect candidate."
Wait what?

If only ironclads could facepalm...

[Arlenton]

Yeah... I'd be more enthusiastic about Ellison if I was hearing more coherent arguments based on his credentials, ideology, strategic ideas, etc. rather than Bernie's support for him. He might be able to do a good job, but I really don't know, and I don't think his supporters are doing a good job of communicating why they've rallied around him.

I've actually seen a macro on facebook essentially saying "He's black and Muslim which makes him the perfect candidate."
Wait what?

That kinda makes him a bad candidate though. And that reasoning makes it 100x worse.

[USS Monitor]

"Good that you can no longer buy and/or inherit office."
was a smart ass remark, not intended to be truly accurate if taken literally, as it is not accurate if taken literally. I should have added a smiley.

Considering Trump wouldn't really be anybody without his inherited wealth, yeah... Not accurate.

[Novus America]

"Good that you can no longer buy and/or inherit office."
was a smart ass remark, not intended to be truly accurate if taken literally, as it is not accurate if taken literally. I should have added a smiley.

Considering Trump wouldn't really be anybody without his inherited wealth, yeah... Not accurate.

I said it was not accurate. But it is notable Jeb! and Clinton spent the most and had the political dynasty names yet still lost. Jeb! did not merely lose either. He got crushed like a bug on a windshield.

[USS Monitor]

Considering Trump wouldn't really be anybody without his inherited wealth, yeah... Not accurate.

I said it was not accurate. But it is notable Jeb! and Clinton spent the most and had the political dynasty names yet still lost. Jeb! did not merely lose either. He got crushed like a bug on a windshield.

He seemed like he had no idea what he was doing or why he was running other than family tradition.

[Novus America]

I said it was not accurate. But it is notable Jeb! and Clinton spent the most and had the political dynasty names yet still lost. Jeb! did not merely lose either. He got crushed like a bug on a windshield.

He seemed like he had no idea what he was doing or why he was running other than family tradition.

True. Thus showing money and dynasty alone were not enough.

[Ngelmish]

http://www.vox.com/2017/1/3/14084382/keith-ellison-dnc-chair

In the interest of even-handedness, this article makes arguably the best case for Ellison that I've yet seen. It's not enough to move me even though I agree with at least one major portion of the premise, but fine.

If the Ellison backers whose main criteria is that whoever the next chair is has to be a Bernie person want to make that argument, this is the way they should make it: It's very hard to push back on without sounding petty and/or pivoting to support for a low-wattage candidate like Ray Buckley.

[Southerly Gentleman]

I said it was not accurate. But it is notable Jeb! and Clinton spent the most and had the political dynasty names yet still lost. Jeb! did not merely lose either. He got crushed like a bug on a windshield.

He seemed like he had no idea what he was doing or why he was running other than family tradition.

It also doesnt help to get emasculated, multiple times, on national TV by a reality television star.

[Major-Tom]

He seemed like he had no idea what he was doing or why he was running other than family tradition.

It also doesnt help to get emasculated, multiple times, on national TV by a reality television star.

Even had Trump not run, Jeb wouldn't have won the nomination. He simply lacks the charisma and anything "new" so to speak.

[Major-Tom]

http://www.vox.com/2017/1/3/14084382/keith-ellison-dnc-chair

In the interest of even-handedness, this article makes arguably the best case for Ellison that I've yet seen. It's not enough to move me even though I agree with at least one major portion of the premise, but fine.

If the Ellison backers whose main criteria is that whoever the next chair is has to be a Bernie person want to make that argument, this is the way they should make it: It's very hard to push back on without sounding petty and/or pivoting to support for a low-wattage candidate like Ray Buckley.

Truth be told, I really can't decide if Ellison will be a net gain or detriment for the Democrats.

[Ngelmish]

http://www.vox.com/2017/1/3/14084382/keith-ellison-dnc-chair

In the interest of even-handedness, this article makes arguably the best case for Ellison that I've yet seen. It's not enough to move me even though I agree with at least one major portion of the premise, but fine.

If the Ellison backers whose main criteria is that whoever the next chair is has to be a Bernie person want to make that argument, this is the way they should make it: It's very hard to push back on without sounding petty and/or pivoting to support for a low-wattage candidate like Ray Buckley.

Truth be told, I really can't decide if Ellison will be a net gain or detriment for the Democrats.

The arguments for and against Ellison at this point boil down to symbolism: He probably wouldn't do a worse job than anyone else and if the position were going to be filled solely on credentials Buckley and Harrison would be the clear front-runners right now. I think that selecting Ellison, both on the basis that he wants the job and would be an effective olive branch to a lot of the more restive Sanders' backers is the best argument in favor of him. On the other hand I don't approve of the implicit threat in that argument that party should be held hostage to whether or not Sanders' backers will bolt if they don't get a Sanders' backed candidate.

[Novus America]

He seemed like he had no idea what he was doing or why he was running other than family tradition.

It also doesnt help to get emasculated, multiple times, on national TV by a reality television star.

Even if Trump had won Jeb would still have been crushed. It is not like he was in second place.
Rubio, Kasich and Cruz all did much better than Jeb. Had Trump not run one of them would have.

Jeb came in a very distant sixth place.

[Cattle Mutilators]

I'm still holding out for Jamie Harrison.

[Ngelmish]

I'm still holding out for Jamie Harrison.

Although I have wanted Perez, after watching his credentials and accomplishments be baselessly smeared I have started to consider that going with one of the state party chairs, Harrison or Buckley, might be the closest thing to a unity candidate.

[Corrian]

Notice how Clinton has fallen off of the face of the Earth while Bernie is still out fighting?

I mean, I get it, she had a rough campaign and needs the break, but Jesus, Bernie hasn't even stopped. He's posting CONSTANTLY and every day, and is on shows regularly, while continuing to push and push for his movement still.

I'm sure it has to do with him still being in the senate and all, but it still feels to me like how she was more in it to be President, and now that she's not, she's gone. While Bernie was in it for the betterment of everyone.

(Sorry for the non-Trump related ramble, I just don't know where else to post it and I'm just noticing it. And I follow both on Facebook right now)

[Ashmoria]

Notice how Clinton has fallen off of the face of the Earth while Bernie is still out fighting?

I mean, I get it, she had a rough campaign and needs the break, but Jesus, Bernie hasn't even stopped. He's posting CONSTANTLY and every day, and is on shows regularly, while continuing to push and push for his movement still.

I'm sure it has to do with him still being in the senate and all, but it still feels to me like how she was more in it to be President, and now that she's not, she's gone. While Bernie was in it for the betterment of everyone.

(Sorry for the non-Trump related ramble, I just don't know where else to post it and I'm just noticing it. And I follow both on Facebook right now)

he's had a longer time to adjust to being a loser.

ill be disappointed in her if she doesn't start some kind of activism in the next few months.

[Corrian]

he's had a longer time to adjust to being a loser.

Except he never stopped. He lost, fought for change in the DNC platform, and then fought to get Clinton elected, and now is continuing to fight after she lost.

[Balkenreich]

he's had a longer time to adjust to being a loser.

Except he never stopped. He lost, fought for change in the DNC platform, and then fought to get Clinton elected, and now is continuing to fight after she lost.

Sanders has bigger balls than Clinton, this is me feigning shock.

[Novus America]

he's had a longer time to adjust to being a loser.

Except he never stopped. He lost, fought for change in the DNC platform, and then fought to get Clinton elected, and now is continuing to fight after she lost.

Maybe Clinton should just retire. Just because you were once in politics does not mean you should stay. At some point bowing out and letting other people replace you is better than trying to keep doing it.

[Collatis]

Even had Trump not run, Jeb wouldn't have won the nomination. He simply lacks the charisma and anything "new" so to speak.

It's not like Romney had that much charisma or offered anything new. If Trump had not run, Jeb! certainly would have had a decent chance.

Truth be told, I really can't decide if Ellison will be a net gain or detriment for the Democrats.

Anyone would be an improvement over DWS, to be quite honest.

[Corrian]

Honestly, at this point, I'm not sure ANY establishment Republican had a chance. I think the outsider would have done better.

I'm not entirely sure, but it sure seems like it.

[USS Monitor]

Notice how Clinton has fallen off of the face of the Earth while Bernie is still out fighting?

I mean, I get it, she had a rough campaign and needs the break, but Jesus, Bernie hasn't even stopped. He's posting CONSTANTLY and every day, and is on shows regularly, while continuing to push and push for his movement still.

I'm sure it has to do with him still being in the senate and all, but it still feels to me like how she was more in it to be President, and now that she's not, she's gone. While Bernie was in it for the betterment of everyone.

(Sorry for the non-Trump related ramble, I just don't know where else to post it and I'm just noticing it. And I follow both on Facebook right now)

Maybe Clinton just realized that she wouldn't be helping and the party needs to move on. I don't see what good it would do for anyone for her to be out there making noise. You've got to consider that there is a large right-wing smear campaign against her that is more vicious than anything they've been throwing at Bernie, and that makes it harder for her to accomplish anything good by maintaining a high public profile.