On board

With a Warren-Harris ticket, we get fire on two fronts that need it -- the economic system and the legal system. Each system has been distorted for the privileged for far too long.

which is why it's (not) a good idea to alienate them, yes?

care not to call them out. Truth hurts, facts hurt. We are not a left-center country, never have been and never will be. Success can not be vilified, business can not be vilified and that comes across way too many times from the activist left.

When I hear being rich should disqualify you from being elected or even running I think its the most ridiculous thing to hear. We elected a billionaire for Illinois governor in 2014 who was a trump lite and and real ass...then we elected a billionaire in 2018 who has made the most progressive moves in Illinois in 30 years. I would support him for president if he ever chose to run.....billionaire or not. Priztker is proving to be the real deal inspite of his wealth and success that others would penalize

All I would say is that left-center-right are relative terms - what was center after FDR (eg Eisenhower) was different than center after Reagan. There's a difference between transformational and pragmatic presidencies.

GOP in 1960's more like the democrats of today than the GOP of today. Class warfare doesn't exist as that war was lost a few decades ago, what we see now is perhaps a final last pitch effort to plunge america into a 3rd world country as the ONLY person smiling in glee over the plight of the direction of America (and England) is Putin.....

Today's GOP has drifted so far from Reagan 'conservatatism ' it is difficult to recognize it. For all his Dad Jokes, Reagan could do presidential dignity well when the script called for it.

Today's Democratic Party is reacting to 6 years of the Clinton & Obama administrations after they suffered catastrophic defeats in the midterms. Both ran on ambitious agendas, both were tasked with repairing the economies left to them, and both were blamed for ongoing hardship in the midterms. When it comes to arresting a depression, center or left have little meaning - there's what works and what doesn't.

In both cases they attacked the democratic President's enacted without proposing clear headed alternatives. In both cases, the right was motivated and took advantage of our internal divisions.

What has to happen if we are to have longterm sustained progressive policy taking root in the country is the far left need to realize that grabbing for the pony in the sky is a bridge too far and that we are better off enacting ambitious, but achievable policy.

Ah ... no. That would be the hard right - the Contact on America and the Tea Party.

vote. The contract with America (in spirit, not in form) was in existence during the 92 election and was defeated. One only had to watch McCain and Palin rallies in 2008 to see that the tea party was there and virulent (again in spirit, not in form). What happened in 94 and 10 was the far left raised hell because policy was not left enough for them, republicans were motivated by their beating from two years earlier and organized around a message of hate and exclusion, coopting a lot of the loud complaints from the far left.

rather than anecdotes, I would be interested.

The people that became the audience for the contract with America were the same people trying to disrupt Clinton rallies and pushing Paula Jones. The same people that became the tea party were the same people that were calling candidate Obama a monkey at McCain and Palin rallies.

What the right did not have in 92 and 08 was far left democrats kneecapping the party. After 16 years of Reagan/Bush the far left was as ready as all other democrats and independents to elect a democrat, so they voted that way, the same dynamic existed in 08 after 8 years of Bush II chaos, lies and wars. The issue came after the far left tasted victory with other democrats in 92 and 08 and after the democratic administration had to repair the damage republican administrations caused over their first two years, in the face of virulent opposition from republicans - the far left decided the changes were too cautious and started going after democrats they did not feel measured up to the image that they have of a "good" democrat.

And it wins few votes

I believe the country is moving toward left-center. If that was not the case republicans would not be cheating so hard.

I really think that the country would elect a left asskicker that said something and meant what was said. Keep in mind, candidates are forced to adjust once they become a real choice for voters. Elizabeth Warren is in line with what voters say they want, except for outlawing health insurance companies and on that last issue, she will be forced to moderate once she becomes a one or the other choice for the party nomination (say if it comes down to a choice of her or Harris, or her or Biden). We have good insurance industry democrats, Warren would need to explain how she would handle insurance companies without creating chaos. Personally on health care, I see insurance companies having a longterm role in the system that eventually come about, first they will continue to insure people as the Public Option or Medicare for All system evolves and covers more Americans and companies. During the evolving, I see the bigger insurance companies contracting with the government to administer the insurance, like Medicare Plan B runs now. Ultimately, most insurance companies will offer complimentary insurance for things like non life intensive elective surgery, while several will administer that national health insurance plan under the directive of a group that include the federal government and states.

On the issue of rejecting a person for public office because that person is wealthy, that is an insane position to take, especially if the person is competent and has been involved in government at some level, like advisory groups, councils, ect. I really believe that Warren makes decisions on merit instead of being an ideologue like Sanders, I believe she would listen to a rich person if that person made a rational argument.

16 election...there is no evidence whatsoever that the country is moving left...and in 18 moderates gave us the house...not progressives. Also, we lost three Senate seats and gained in Arizona with a moderate candidate...there is no reason to believe the country is moving left. In fact, the evidence shows something completely different...akin to the 80's were we lost the presidency for 12 years... I would also add that moderates were elected to state government with few exceptions...we run left we lose it all. We have to operate within the realm of political reality...we simple can't decide that the country will elect an activist with no evidence in support of that because they won't. And God help us if Trump wins another term.

I believe that we can win with a person of the left that presents a strong argument for policies and who simply works his or her ass off on the campaign trail, no taking days off.

Liz Warren is exciting because she has down home simplicity in her words, yet she is enormously intelligent. She can explain the complexities of the world that we face and will face even more moving forward in time. She has a left-center, business oriented person like me convinced, I think that she is going to pull in a lot more Americans, tens of millions of them once she talks to them.

I just have a feeling deep in my bones about Warren, a feeling that we are seeing our next President, one that will likely be among the greatest. She just seem to have that it.

believe she would lose...she simply won't win the rust belt.

A campaign to sell their message in states other than New York and California might help like the South and the rust belt. You have to be able to win statewide elections and presidential elections in order to have the kind of influence activist are demanding. And at this moment...they can't. I like Warren, but Trump will beat her in a general. Thus while of course I would vote for her in a general, I won't support her in a primary. This election is too important...6-3 court best case scenario if Trump wins.

Centrists should team up with activists rather than trying to condescend them into falling in line. Biden clearly will be 2016 all over again... It shouldn't have been close enough to steal, but it was. This election is too important to blow.

And we will lose the general. We almost won last time...and I believe we will win this time with Biden...no one else with the exception of Beto who is not doing well in the general can win...the reason why activist can't win a primary is there is not enough Democrats who agree with them to win and certainly in a general even less moderate voters...time to work on hearts and minds.We lost independent as well as the activists last time...but the most important states are MI, WI and PA...and the activist message will not work in those states.

them from Sanders' hard-core dissidents with their anti-establishment hostilities.

Both Warren and Harris have always been "establishment," too rational, competent -- and respectful of mainstream voters in a democracy -- not to work from within to harness its enormous power. The larger scope of change that Warren especially calls for draws what this author is calling the activist left.

In contrast, Sanders and his intransigents, both his LW extremists and populist factions, would blow it up if they could. Their antagonism to "the establishment" has been proven stronger than commitment to their avowed, potentially achievable goals.

So have all my activist left groups.

and has little to do with the "Activist Left".

In fact I'm puzzled by this, more Bernie primary voters voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 than Hillary Clinton primary voters voted for Barack Obama in 2008. So what's with the tired trope of punching left, when it appears to be moderates who are more flaky?

If Warren wins the nom, I'd like her to consider Harris for a more powerful position than VP, if she is elected. Ditto for Harris. Elizabeth Warren's abilities & expertise would be wasted in a VP role.

but I think she would choose to stay in the Senate.

I'd like to see Inslee as VP, he could take that toothless job and turn it into a real platform for climate issues.

I think there are other equally important things that need doing...so it depends on what is possible.

Not totally sure about Harris yet. She's young enough and might consider it a springboard to running in eight years. Also, if Biden wins the nom and then the presidency, the odds of his making it thru eight years are far from unfavorable for Harris.

Same reasons.

We need senators.

If the moderates get the nominee they want they lose liberal activists.

The key to unifying the party behind one candidate and getting rid of Trump is to nominate a genuinely GOOD person who both sides can support.

Excepting those in the states that WILL determine who our president will be come January 2021.

Who will get us over the finish line in states like Michigan.. Wisconsin.. Pennsylvania.. Florida.. Arizona..

Who might actually add states to the list of the few that actually matter?

Stacy Abrams would have been a good choice by bringing Georgia to that swing state table.

I’m still hopeful Beto will turn it around as he can add Texas to the battleground, and when combined with Hegar’s bid for Senate makes those great 38 electoral votes attainable.

I don’t support Beto because he’s the most progressive candidate, nor for his positions on issues, nor any “RFK” likeliness.. It’s all about that 270 map, and not only does he put a game changing state into play for the POTUS, but his campaign could help put us 1 more senate seat closer to ousting the turtle.

Biden's but a chance...a Biden Beto ticket would be good...but the activist forgetting that geography trumps all would have a fit...two white guys which is dumb. A Biden Abrams ticket would be good also, I have my doubts if she can deliver Georgia but it would be close...and maybe she would.

If Beto can damn near beat Ted Cruz and help flip so many safe red seats down ticket in Texas talking about gun control, racism and progressive issues then he can do it in the rust belt. All he has to do is go there and meet people. He listens, really hears, learns and tries to reflect what he learns in his policies. He makes ALL feel welcome, values and heard...and that is the key with the working class white voters who have felt overlooked for so long. He connects on a level that I have never seen a politician truly do before. If he is the nominee he will help flip so many red states...and THAT is why the smear campaign against him started before he even entered the race.

Also, Beto WILL win Texas, but he's the only Democrat who can do it. Based on TX canvassers, in suburban areas Beto is the choice of about 90% canvassed. In RED districts Beto is up 38% over Trump(Canvassers are NOT only knocking on Dem doors, they are knocking on ALL doors). No other Dems even get consistently mentioned.

I like Biden. I just wish he were better at addressing his gaffes. He's got to learn to just get it right immediately so it doesn't lead to days and weeks of distraction. Everyone makes mistakes. He's just got to be less stubborn about fixing his fast, lol.

left want...we will lose if Warren is the nominee or Harris.

The Daily Kos, who is responsible for Netroots Nation, hates Bernie Sanders. I would hardly call this gathering a good representation of what or who left-wing activists want. Most progressive YouTube channels like The Young Turks, The Humanist Report or The Jimmy Dore Show want Bernie Sanders with Warren as a second choice. None of them are crazy for Harris.

The Media are pushing an anti-Bernie, pro-Harris campaign. For instance, CNN either doesn't mention Bernie when he's high in the polls or makes a big deal when he drops. And CNN certainly does its best to promote Harris. Also, The NYT routinely has negative articles on Bernie. This article by the Atlantic is just another anti-Bernie, pro-Harris piece of work.

I'm not seeing anything about that. Netroots does not choose the Democratic nominee. Voters in 50 states do.

So, how are the Netroots folks going to feel if Biden wins the nomination. Are they going to get behind him and get out the vote? Or are they going to go into a blue funk and let the Republicans win?

I'd like to hear some conversation about that possibility, because it is a very real possibility.

In the general fall in line' - WJC

Will they go into a funk and let Republicans win?

The Hillary voters are more or less the same. We don't know that they would not have voted for Bernie. But we do know of the opposite, i.e. Jill Stein/nonvoters/accusations of favoritism by the DNC and Debbie W.S. Claims Bernie was cheated.

We need their votes, too. We need everyone's votes.

You know... start the conversation you want to hear.

At a recent gathering, though, I asked them how they'd feel if Biden won the nomination. Every last one of them, including a couple of Jill Stein voters from 2016, said they'd gladly vote for him. To a person, getting rid of Trump is their highest priority.

None of them, though, is a Netroots attendee, so I could ask any of those. I know none.

perhaps vote for him holding their nose, vote for Jill Stein/successor, stay home and pout and say Warren was cheated. Blame the successor of Debbie W.S. Anything but admit Biden got the most votes. They are setting this up again. GOTV of the ordinary voters!

Harris, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and a few others, at least not in the eyes of the general public.