Democratic Primaries

wyldwolf

(43,867 posts) Mon Jul 8, 2019, 11:44 AM Jul 2019

The Atlantic: The Progressive Nonargument Against Biden

Although Joe Biden leads in the polls, he is opposed by many of the progressive opinion-makers who exercise disproportionate influence in the press, social media, think tanks, and academia. They don’t tend to attack his electability, and only rarely discuss what he is likely to do in office in comparison to Democratic rivals. Instead, they’re obsessed with how he presents himself and his ideas, which they characterize as “problematic.”

Anti-Biden progressives earnestly believe he’s too centrist (even if they have agreed with his past policies and would likely agree with many of his future policies), but they also know, on some level, that the rank and file are centrist as well and, furthermore, associate centrism with electability.

So they publicize Biden’s supposed failures of respectability.

Like a Fox News anchor forever focusing on Senator Elizabeth Warren’s claims of Native American ancestry, anti-Biden progressives betray their inability to make a persuasive substantive case by trying to preemptively disqualify him as too problematic: Vote Harris or Warren––Biden is too cringeworthy to be the nominee.

Progressives could, I’m sure, mount a strong case against Biden, but it wouldn’t include his fundraiser comments or his 1970s stance on busing. Democrats focus intraparty debate on such backward-looking conflicts at their peril in a country full of voters most interested in how the next president will affect their lives.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/progressive-biden/593410/

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

13 replies

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The Atlantic: The Progressive Nonargument Against Biden (Original Post) wyldwolf Jul 2019 OP

People searching for an ultra left wing utopia NYMinute Jul 2019 #1

Puritopians wyldwolf Jul 2019 #2

This is perfect. betsuni Jul 2019 #8

+1000 NYMinute Jul 2019 #12

Exactly. highplainsdem Jul 2019 #11

Conor Friedersdorf - right wing author of the OP. bluewater Jul 2019 #3

ah, yes, it's the Source Police. So tell us what isn't true in the piece? wyldwolf Jul 2019 #4

btw, you didn't indicate the snips when you pasted your OP together bluewater Jul 2019 #5

btw, there is NO DU rule requiring that. LOL wyldwolf Jul 2019 #6

There isn't a rule against it kcr Jul 2019 #10

don't you know BW, it's...... SITUATIONAL........, lolol, sung to the tune of........ Celerity Jul 2019 #9

The author willy-nilly confuses "progressives" with "media elites" marylandblue Jul 2019 #7

The bulk of the party is not in extremely liberal block Gothmog Jul 2019 #13

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)

1. People searching for an ultra left wing utopia

Reply to wyldwolf (Original post)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 11:55 AM

Jul 2019

get Trump elected.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

wyldwolf

(43,867 posts)

2. Puritopians

Reply to NYMinute (Reply #1)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 12:03 PM

Jul 2019

Puritopian, also known as a 'progressive.'

A Puritopian is a self-described liberal or progressive whose political orientation is to be angry, dissatisfied and unhappy with the state of the nation, because in their view, liberal policies are not being implemented quickly or forcefully enough. They have particular contempt for Democratic presidents.

They are ideological purists who disdain compromise and incremental change, which they see as "selling out" liberal ideas like full employment, an end to war, and liberal social policy. Their views can often sound like utopian fantasy where opposing views never exist.

Puritopians dislike Republicans but reserve their greatest disdain for Democratic presidents, whom they relentlessly attack for not meeting a set of ideological goal posts that are constantly adjusted to ensure that the president will be deemed a disappointment, "not progressive enough" or "just like a Republican" no matter what policy achievements are made.

Puritopians routinely dismiss or ignore congress' role in making or impeding policy, believing presidents can simply "use the bully pulpit" in order to overcome constitutional or legislative obstacles. more...

Eleanor Roosevelt responded to these types in a letter to members of the DNC in 1935, in response to heavy criticism that her husband was getting from the left:

"The ups and downs in peoples’ feelings, particularly on the liberal side, are an old, old story. The liberals always get discouraged when they do not see the measures they are interested in go through immediately. Considering the time we have had to work in the past for almost every slight improvement, I should think they might get over it, but they never do."

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

betsuni

(25,544 posts)

8. This is perfect.

Reply to wyldwolf (Reply #2)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 06:11 PM

Jul 2019

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)

12. +1000

Reply to wyldwolf (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 9, 2019, 04:18 PM

Jul 2019

Great post!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

highplainsdem

(49,004 posts)

11. Exactly.

Reply to NYMinute (Reply #1)

Tue Jul 9, 2019, 03:11 PM

Jul 2019

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

bluewater

(5,376 posts)

3. Conor Friedersdorf - right wing author of the OP.

Reply to wyldwolf (Original post)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 12:25 PM

Jul 2019

The Progressive Nonargument Against Biden
Media elites aren’t talking about his electability or his policy proposals.
by
Conor Friedersdorf

Views[edit]
In an interview with journalist Matt Lewis, Friedersdorf stated that he has right-leaning views but that he does not consider himself to be a doctrinal conservative or a member of the conservative movement.[5]

Writing for The Atlantic, Friedersdorf laid out his argument for why he refused to vote for Barack Obama in 2012 and was supporting Gary Johnson in his bid for president as the Libertarian Party candidate.[6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conor_Friedersdorf

So, a post by a right-wing writer that didn't vote for President Obama.

Does this count as a right wing talking point post?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

wyldwolf

(43,867 posts)

4. ah, yes, it's the Source Police. So tell us what isn't true in the piece?

Reply to bluewater (Reply #3)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 12:27 PM

Jul 2019

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

bluewater

(5,376 posts)

5. btw, you didn't indicate the snips when you pasted your OP together

Reply to wyldwolf (Reply #4)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 12:34 PM

Jul 2019

There's a lot you left out between each paragraph, no? I read that stuff and it doesn't come across well, it seems to be very critical of Democratic politicians like Cory Booker and Kamala Harris by name.

And if you want to quote a right wing writer that didn't vote for President Obama feel free.

I mean, I wouldn't quote a right wing author that voted against President Obama who is opining on Democratic politics, but that is just me.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

wyldwolf

(43,867 posts)

6. btw, there is NO DU rule requiring that. LOL

Reply to bluewater (Reply #5)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 12:40 PM

Jul 2019

Links designate an article. You really shouldn't expect people to adopt your chosen style.

There's a lot you left out between each paragraph, no?

That's because we can only post so much from an article. Now that IS a DU rule.

And again, what in the piece isn't correct?

You really try to spin out of these things...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

kcr

(15,317 posts)

10. There isn't a rule against it

Reply to wyldwolf (Reply #6)

Tue Jul 9, 2019, 02:59 PM

Jul 2019

But why would you post a right-wing opinion piece? What's wrong with it? Only the part where almost none of it is sincere. Anyone can google the writer's name and read other articles that show the writer is a social and political conservative, but there are substantive hints in the wording of the piece itself. It's evident in how he misidentifies groups in the typical ways righties do.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Celerity

(43,417 posts)

9. don't you know BW, it's...... SITUATIONAL........, lolol, sung to the tune of........

Reply to bluewater (Reply #3)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 09:39 PM

Jul 2019

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)

7. The author willy-nilly confuses "progressives" with "media elites"

Reply to wyldwolf (Original post)

Mon Jul 8, 2019, 06:05 PM

Jul 2019

(assuming writers for the Atlantic don't count as part of the elite) and two African American candidates.

They are not all the same people. But I'm sure he knows that.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Gothmog

(145,321 posts)

13. The bulk of the party is not in extremely liberal block

Reply to wyldwolf (Original post)

Tue Jul 9, 2019, 07:46 PM

Jul 2019

The bulk of the party is center left

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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