72% of Democrats Say Opposing Trump Isn't Enough, Want Congressional Candidates to Push Progressive

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

The largest portion of respondents also said they'd be "more likely" to vote for a candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

A CBS News/YouGov poll asked Democrats, Independents, and those who lean toward voting for Democrats to choose between two options for what Democratic candidates' "first priority" should be. A full 72 percent said they want to see party candidates prioritize a progressive political agenda. The remaining 28 percent opted for merely opposing President Donald Trump's agenda.

Strong support for a progressive agenda was also reflected in responses to a question asked of everyone surveyed—including Republicans and Republican-leaning voters—that aimed to gauge the potential impact of endorsements: The largest amount of respondents, 29 percent, said they would be "more likely" to vote for a candidate endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), more than double that of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

However, as the results indicate, Democratic voters want to see more than just opposition to the president; they want candidates for Congress who actually advocate for progressive policies. That momentum to propel progressives into political office has been seen in primary races throughout the nation—even as the Democratic Party establishment plots against them.

"The 2018 midterm elections will be long remembered as a pivotal moment in American history because, if we are successful, we can put an end to the disastrous Trump agenda," Sanders said in March. "But we cannot defeat Trump and the Republican Party with the same playbook, or by supporting the same kind of candidates long favored by the political establishment and financial elite."

The only way to win back the states that swung toward Trump, and push the Democratic Party away from centrist policies, Sanders concluded, "is by supporting progressive candidates who have the guts to defend working-class families—white, black, Latino, Asian American, Native American—and take on the power and greed of the billionaire class."

Source

Fogdog · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
The largest portion of respondents also said they'd be "more likely" to vote for a candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

A CBS News/YouGov poll asked Democrats, Independents, and those who lean toward voting for Democrats to choose between two options for what Democratic candidates' "first priority" should be. A full 72 percent said they want to see party candidates prioritize a progressive political agenda. The remaining 28 percent opted for merely opposing President Donald Trump's agenda.

Strong support for a progressive agenda was also reflected in responses to a question asked of everyone surveyed—including Republicans and Republican-leaning voters—that aimed to gauge the potential impact of endorsements: The largest amount of respondents, 29 percent, said they would be "more likely" to vote for a candidate endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), more than double that of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

However, as the results indicate, Democratic voters want to see more than just opposition to the president; they want candidates for Congress who actually advocate for progressive policies. That momentum to propel progressives into political office has been seen in primary races throughout the nation—even as the Democratic Party establishment plots against them.

"The 2018 midterm elections will be long remembered as a pivotal moment in American history because, if we are successful, we can put an end to the disastrous Trump agenda," Sanders said in March. "But we cannot defeat Trump and the Republican Party with the same playbook, or by supporting the same kind of candidates long favored by the political establishment and financial elite."

The only way to win back the states that swung toward Trump, and push the Democratic Party away from centrist policies, Sanders concluded, "is by supporting progressive candidates who have the guts to defend working-class families—white, black, Latino, Asian American, Native American—and take on the power and greed of the billionaire class."

Source

Opinion polls are poor predictors of how people will vote.

Elections are won and lost in each district, not at a national pulpit. Some districts are more liberal, many are not. Candidates in each district should listen to the people who live there, not some old white man from lilly white and relatively liberal Vermont.

What has Sanders actually accomplished anyway? He lost by 12% margin in a fair election. Who is he to say what people who WON their primary should do?

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

Fogdog said:
Opinion polls are poor predictors of how people will vote.

Opinion polls are representative of American opinions. Elections are representative of ~40% of Americans, half of which generally split the vote, meaning ~20% of Americans choose who to elect president to represent the other ~80% that didn't vote for him/her

Since the majority of Americans don't vote, your strawman would seem obvious

The objective of opinion polls and what they represent are not supposed to be predictors of how people will vote. They're supposed to be indicators of how effective people believe the government under current leadership to be. So far, they indicate the government under current leadership, both Republican and Democratic, to be wholly inadequate and unrepresentative.

Fogdog said:
Candidates in each district should listen to the people who live there

Then why do you support the Democratic establishment objectively influencing Democratic primaries by pushing their support behind establishment candidates instead of letting the voters in those districts choose which candidate they want to represent them during the primary where policy would win out absent external financial support?

Fogdog said:
What has Sanders actually accomplished anyway? He lost by 12% margin in a fair election. Who is he to say what people who WON their primary should do?

You believe raising more money from big donors increases the chances for Democrats to get elected, meaning you believe raising more money is more important than campaigning on the right issues. You support government corruption as long as it results in the wins you believe to be important.

TimBar · May 25, 2018

The problem with Trump winning was that most folks did not vote. I hope it is a lesson that no dope on election day until after you vote. 42% of those who could vote did not in 2016. Up from previous years, but really see what happens when you don't - the corner bum wins.

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

TimBar said:
The problem with Trump winning was that most folks did not vote. I hope it is a lesson that no dope on election day until after you vote. 42% of those who could vote did not in 2016. Up from previous years, but really see what happens when you don't - the corner bum wins.

As the poll in the op shows, simply opposing Trump isn't enough; Democrats need to offer their own progressive agenda to get people out and excited to vote for them. Russia, Russia, Russia, Stormy Daniels, North Korea isn't working when more than 50% of the country earns $30K or less per year. When income and wealth inequality is at record highs. When corporations have total control over government policy.

Fogdog · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
Opinion polls are representative of American opinions. Elections are representative of ~40% of Americans, half of which generally split the vote, meaning ~20% of Americans choose who to elect president to represent the other ~80% that didn't vote for him/her

Since the majority of Americans don't vote, your strawman would seem obvious

The objective of opinion polls and what they represent are not supposed to be predictors of how people will vote. They're supposed to be indicators of how effective people believe the government under current leadership to be. So far, they indicate the government under current leadership, both Republican and Democratic, to be wholly inadequate and unrepresentative.

You or more precisely, the article quotes a poll and then talks what Democratic voters want goes on to talk about the mid-term elections. So, I'm pointing out that opinion polls are a poor basis for deciding what to do to win the mid-terms. Nearly meaningless.

Padawanbater2 said:
Then why do you support the Democratic establishment objectively influencing Democratic primaries by pushing their support behind establishment candidates instead of letting the voters in those districts choose which candidate they want to represent them during the primary where policy would win out absent external financial support?

You speak in general terms. I have consistently spoken about specific races. Specifically, Moser in Texas had tainted herself by moving to Texas just to run in that race. She had written with disdain about the idea of living in Texas in an article published in 2014. The DCCC never endorsed her opponent.

I don't think the DCCC should have done what they did but I'm not bent out of shape about it. The political committee followed all election laws. What was so great about Moser over her opponent that you would be so bent out of shape over this? Moser lost, 29% to 65% in the primary this week. The DCCC never gave Moser's opponent money, by the way.

What was so great about Lindemann in Colorado or what's so bad about Crow? I don't have a dog in that fight. Just saying again that the DCCC has every legal right to back Crow. From comments that I've read, Crow was the early mover and had a fully fledged campaign before Lindemann even announced. Crow, by the way supports shoring up the ACA and has forsworn contributions from corporations.

Padawanbater2 said:
You believe raising more money from big donors increases the chances for Democrats to get elected, meaning you believe raising more money is more important than campaigning on the right issues. You support government corruption as long as it results in the wins you believe to be important.

You just can't get it right. First, I believe what studies say -- that 95% of the time the campaign that spends the most is the winner. SPENDS THE MOST, not "raising more money from big donors". At least quote me, don't put words in my mouth.

If you were to ever try to look at original data instead of the propaganda pap fed you on blogs like Common Dreams, you'd see that Democrats don't get most of their money from big corporate donors, it's unions and liberal PACS most often run by Hollywood celebrities.

"Spends the most" doesn't explain why they were able to do so. In the PA race where Lamb won, the Republican was the one flush with corporate cash. Lamb won because the DCCC gave him a large infusion of cash. Lamb, by the way also eschews donations from corporations and campaigned on the promise to shore up the ACA. I'm all for Lamb winning. He seemed like a good candidate for his district. Not mine, his district.

Are you OK with Republicans winning in the fall? I'm not. I want the Democrats to run good candidates who are aligned to the issues and values of their districts. For Democrats that means running on subset of Democratic Party values such as worker's rights, civil rights, support for unions, a clean environment, family issues such as universal access to health care coverage, reforming campaign finance laws, supporting public education and a competitive economy that grows jobs.

Bernie's health care policy is a crappy one to run on and a loser in the general election. Same goes for that dystopian jobs program he also entered a half-baked bill for political not practical reasons. I don't really want your kind of Progressive naivete in candidates running in conservative districts. It's not a recipe for taking the House in the fall. Apparently the DCCC thinks the same.

Fogdog · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
As the poll in the op shows, simply opposing Trump isn't enough; Democrats need to offer their own progressive agenda to get people out and excited to vote for them. Russia, Russia, Russia, Stormy Daniels, North Korea isn't working when more than 50% of the country earns $30K or less per year. When income and wealth inequality is at record highs. When corporations have total control over government policy.

The media is all about "Russia, Russia, Russia, Stormy Daniels, North Korea", not Democratic Party leadership or its voters . If you look at the campaigns that are being run, it's about local issues and traditional Democratic policies such as worker's rights, civil rights, support for unions, a clean environment, family issues such as universal access to health care coverage, reforming campaign finance laws, supporting public education and a competitive economy that grows jobs.

The poll you love to quote was nearly as dumb as you. I mean, do you really expect Democrats to answer "run against Trump" when the alternative was "promote a progressive agenda"? Let me restate that poll: Which do you prefer, a) doing dumb stuff or b) doing smart stuff.

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

Fogdog said:
If you look at the campaigns that are being run, it's about local issues and traditional Democratic policies such as worker's rights, civil rights, support for unions, a clean environment, family issues such as universal access to health care coverage, reforming campaign finance laws, supporting public education and a competitive economy that grows jobs.

Go ahead and post those campaigns political goals

Fogdog · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
Go ahead and post those campaigns political goals

You'll have to find somebody to read it out to you. It will take too long for you to sound it out.

https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

Fogdog said:
You'll have to find somebody to read it out to you. It will take too long for you to sound it out.

https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

They tell you they support that and you buy it without any actual proof of voting when it mattered. The difference is they tell me the same thing and I don't buy it because their voting record when it actually counted contradicts their rhetoric.

You think the Democratic party is actually progressive when they actually represent their donors interests (business interests)

But you agree leadership has a right to choose the candidate and subvert democracy in smoke filled back rooms

tangerinegreen555 · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
They tell you they support that and you buy it without any actual proof of voting when it mattered. The difference is they tell me the same thing and I don't buy it because their voting record when it actually counted contradicts their rhetoric.

You think the Democratic party is actually progressive when they actually represent their donors interests (business interests)

But you agree leadership has a right to choose the candidate and subvert democracy in smoke filled back rooms

You ever actually work on an actual campaign for anybody? Knock on doors, talk to people? The real world doesn't ever seem to support all these polls.

If all your poll results you constantly post actually reflected how people will vote, then we wouldn't have an asshole as president.

I'm certain you can produce a poll that says 58% don't like him.

How much faith do you have in polls?

Your polls paint a much prettier picture than reality. Maybe they aren't getting accurate samples.

Fogdog · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
They tell you they support that and you buy it without any actual proof of voting when it mattered. The difference is they tell me the same thing and I don't buy it because their voting record when it actually counted contradicts their rhetoric.

You think the Democratic party is actually progressive when they actually represent their donors interests (business interests)

But you agree leadership has a right to choose the candidate and subvert democracy in smoke filled back rooms

I keep telling you that there are only three people that I have voted for sitting in Congress. Two senators, Wyden and Merkely. One Representative, DeFazio. They are all good progressive legislators and they do in fact support the values listed in that party platform. They have a very good voting record. Look them up if you don't believe me.

You keep talking in generalities as if they are important.

What is so great about Lindemann? What was so great about about Moser? Explain why you would spend so much time and energy being angry that the DCCC either didn't support them? Or that they published a pamphlet that showed Moser was tainted by earlier comments and a sure loser in the fall were she to win the Democratic primary? What has Nixon done or said that makes her sooooo much better a NY Gov. candidate than Cuomo?

Who are these candidates who subvert Democracy? Name them. Tell me what's so bad about them.

tangerinegreen555 · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
You believe raising more money from big donors increases the chances for Democrats to get elected

If Bernie had a trillion $ to buy TV commerciaIs in 2016, would he have still lost?

Don't lie, don't spin, just answer the simple question.

Trump's strategy is just repeating a lie over and over till people accept it as truth, kinda like free commercials. Every damn day.

Put a commercial on 4 times an hour and a lot of people start to believe it. Money buys them. WTF else you going to do, throw in the towel?

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

tangerinegreen555 said:
If all your poll results you constantly post actually reflected how people will vote, then we wouldn't have an asshole as president.

Maybe they aren't getting accurate samples.

The polls are not reflection of how people will vote

They're a reflection of how people are thinking

People don't vote for establishment Democrats because they don't represent their values/interests

Establishment Democrats don't represent their constituents values or interests because they're paid not to

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

tangerinegreen555 said:
If Bernie had a trillion $ to buy TV commerciaIs in 2016, would he have still lost?

Don't lie, don't spin, just answer the simple question.

Trump's strategy is just repeating a lie over and over till people accept it as truth, kinda like free commercials. Every damn day.

Put a commercial on 4 times an hour and a lot of people start to believe it. Money buys them. WTF else you going to do, throw in the towel?

A party that accepts corporate bribes vs. a party that doesn't, and unabashedly promotes that it doesn't. If you think the corporate bribe party would win American votes over the party that only accepts individual contributions, you're simply wrong. Americans are not as stupid as you think.

Democrats would reign for decades, just like they did when they pushed FDR's economic policies

tangerinegreen555 · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
The polls are not reflection of how people will vote

They're a reflection of how people are thinking

People don't vote for establishment Democrats because they don't represent their values/interests

Establishment Democrats don't represent their constituents values or interests because they're paid not to

That's fucking spin. 48.2% voted for Clinton in 2016. 46.1% voted for Trump.

The Democrat got more votes than anyone else. So you're not telling the whole truth.

Again.

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

tangerinegreen555 said:
That's fucking spin. 48.2% voted for Clinton in 2016. 46.1% voted for Trump.

The Democrat got more votes than anyone else. So you're not telling the whole truth.

Again.

Do you actually believe the right policies should come down to the margin of error?

Sanders policies beat Trump 10% on average before the election. What does that tell you about what the American people want?

tangerinegreen555 · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
A party that accepts corporate bribes vs. a party that doesn't, and unabashedly promotes that it doesn't. If you think the corporate bribe party would win American votes over the party that only accepts individual contributions, you're simply wrong. Americans are not as stupid as you think.

The fuck they're not. lt's a dumbed down society. 46.1% voted for an entitled racist enabling shit bag.

Americans aren't all bright. You need to get out of Cali for a month.

You'd be shocked.

tangerinegreen555 · May 25, 2018

Padawanbater2 said:
Do you actually believe the right policies should come down to the margin of error?

Sanders policies beat Trump 10% on average before the election. What does that tell you about what the American people want?

Who is the current president?

Trump would have chanted 'Communist' instead of 'Lock her up' if Bernie had won.

Padawanbater2 · May 25, 2018

tangerinegreen555 said:
46.1% voted

46% of the 40% who voted voted for Trump, not 46% of the population. ~20% voted for Trump

72% of Democrats Say Opposing Trump Isn't Enough, Want Congressional Candidates to Push Progressive

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