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Jesus Malverde

(10,274 posts)
Sun Dec 14, 2014, 10:50 PM Dec 2014

Democrats divided on their path to 2016

In the six weeks since their repudiation in the midterms, Democrats have seen the opening of fissures within their once-disciplined ranks, marking the start of an internal struggle between now and the 2016 election over the ideological identity and tactical direction of the party.

The tension — shown in high relief during the messy final days of the congressional session — is in some ways a mirror image of the stresses within the Republican Party, which has been divided between its tea party and establishment factions in recent years.

In the case of both parties, the argument pits the more populist, purist elements of the base against the more pragmatic center.

For Democrats, “it is a conflict that was looking for an occasion,” said William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, who was a policy adviser to former President Bill Clinton. “The election provided the occasion.”

Read More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-divided-on-their-path-to-2016/2014/12/14/5ff3ba68-82fd-11e4-9f38-95a187e4c1f7_story.html

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RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
1. Why is wanting our representatives to do the right thing for the greater good suddenly "Purist" ?
Sun Dec 14, 2014, 10:53 PM
Dec 2014

They make it sound bad to want what's right.

Just another sign of how far our collective moral compass has strayed, I guess.

 

immoderate

(20,885 posts)
2. I resent being labeled a "purist."
Sun Dec 14, 2014, 10:59 PM
Dec 2014

I don't think it's "pragmatic" to support a system that is designed to self destruct.

--imm

MisterP

(23,730 posts)
3. hmm, noisy failures followed by blaming everyone but themselves
Mon Dec 15, 2014, 01:59 AM
Dec 2014

or pushing for policies that help 90% of the country and build a base for future wins?

what an impossible choice

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)
4. I like the term populist. If being a populist means being labeled a purist, I'll
Mon Dec 15, 2014, 02:02 AM
Dec 2014

take it. I don't care what they label me.

Jesus Malverde

(10,274 posts)
6. Pretty amazing, and with congress getting such low approval rating.
Mon Dec 15, 2014, 05:26 AM
Dec 2014

The veneer of legitimacy and claims of representation are lacking.

Good times.

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