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Bluetus

(3,377 posts)

16. The "gifts" we keep handing the Republicans is NO PLAN

Sun Jun 28, 2026, 11:27 AM

Sunday

Dems have had no real platform for several generations. They have become free agents with every campaign telling a different story, and few of the candidates even try to articulate anything specific they would do if we elect them. In the Age of Trump, that has gotten worse because now Dems are almost entire an "anti" party. We are all Anti-Trump and Anti-Fascism, but "anti" is not a plan.

It was not that long ago that 50% of the public identified as Democrats. Now that number is 25%, and that is entirely because much of the public doesn't even know what we want to accomplish, much less trust us to actually fight for it.

The DSA platform is very action-oriented. I understand that can appear jolting when we have become so used to candidates that say nothing actionable. So this really boils down to whether we are afraid to fight for real actionable plans because Republicans will say bad things about us?

I know it is scary, but we will never have a governing majority without actually fighting for progress. Being against Trump and Musk and AI is not enough. We must offer a forward-looking plan. We must tell the American public where we want to go. If the Democratic Party can't or won't do it, then they will be replaced. And at the moment, it seems that the DSA is beginning that replacement process. It will be much better if the Dem Party writ large embraces many of these forward-looking, actionable ideas of the DSA platform.

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I was sobered to see some of the details of the revised DSA platform. [View all] LAS14 Sunday OP

Just makes no sense and will convince many that the Dem party is not a left party but a communist one. efhmc Sunday #1

Cite on closing prisons? WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #2

There is this point about mass incarceration Bluetus Sunday #9

Right, I saw that part, which is a bare-ass minimum place to start. But didn't see anything about abolishing prisons. WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #11

The reason that you H2O Man Sunday #15

If the "some people" happens to be, or become, the majority of voters RandomNumbers Sunday #65

Darializa Avila Chevalier won the primary MichMan Sunday #20

Deleted tweets are not a platform, though. The OP said it was the platform. WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #24

It was so sobering, the platform that the OP definitely read Prairie Gates Sunday #36

Right, but suggests where her mindset is or was. And if "was" is apt, then RandomNumbers Sunday #66

She has, so you don't need to worry about it. WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #72

Link? RandomNumbers Sunday #74

She is the official Democratic nominee for that seat in the House. yardwork Sunday #88

It was a safe Democratic seat all along MichMan Sunday #90

Never underestimate the forces against us. yardwork Sunday #93

Excellent points. RandomNumbers Sunday #94

Exactly! yardwork Sunday #95

Thanks for solving the mystery. nt LAS14 Sunday #67

Here is a link to her platform as a now 32 year old candidate for congress Quiet Em Sunday #69

Everyone who accepted Platner's apologies, MorbidButterflyTat Sunday #89

I wish I knew when she decided to delete the Twitter account. LAS14 Sunday #111

It doesn't exist. Wiz Imp Sunday #59

I was watching the statement scroll by on Smerconish, but can't... LAS14 Sunday #64

Bend over to reach across the aisle orthoclad Sunday #3

I think you are close to the point but missing it still bottomofthehill Sunday #4

Dems look crazy? WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #6

*IF* someone believes the D platform says "abolish prisons" then HELL YES RandomNumbers Sunday #48

Also, if that belief is out there and some D has it in their platform RandomNumbers Sunday #50

This! FalloutShelter Sunday #8

The "gifts" we keep handing the Republicans is NO PLAN Bluetus Sunday #16

Gaslighting absurdity. The fictional polling data and the claims that Democrats have "no real platform" ignores reality. QueerDuck Sunday #105

I think I was clear that I was talking about multiple generations Bluetus Sunday #107

The goalposts keep moving. QueerDuck Monday #116

Several points Bluetus Monday #119

Let's be honest here, okay? Democrats have not "sat back on 40-year-old laurels"... QueerDuck Monday #122

OK, we can disagree about how much real fight there has been versus posturing Bluetus Monday #124

The majority of that 1/3 H2O Man Sunday #18

There was a great post on here a few years ago, orthoclad Sunday #47

Do you have a link to that? Thanks n/t leftstreet Sunday #5

I don't. I saw it scroll by on Smerconish. But others do. Also, see my OP edit. nt LAS14 Sunday #68

You can find the platform here. There are 'sobering' items you did not mention. RandomNumbers Sunday #71

Look, we can't be afraid of Republicans twisting our words. We KNOW that will happen. Bluetus Sunday #7

thank you for posting this! mike_c Sunday #14

Here are countries that are largely Democratic Socialist nations Bluetus Sunday #19

if I'm not mistaken all those countries have a mix... mike_c Sunday #53

Maybe candidates should say "regulated capitalism" then. RandomNumbers Sunday #70

I'm good with that mike_c Sunday #75

Or "Level Playing-field Capitalism" Bluetus Sunday #79

That'll work. But I think RandomNumbers Sunday #82

Personally I would not use the word "regulated." It is inherently negative. Bluetus Sunday #86

Senator Warren said/says exactly that. mjvpi Sunday #101

You write of "the Democrats" and "the DSA" as if they are two entirely separate wnylib Sunday #21

That is all valid, IMHO Bluetus Sunday #27

FDR would have approved of freely crossing borders wnylib Sunday #97

You make some good points. However, in a negotiation Bluetus Sunday #108

Right? If you ask for exactly what you want Bettie Monday #117

And when you don't ask for anything at all? Bluetus Monday #121

DSA is not a party. yardwork Sunday #28

They sure aren't playing nice for being different wings of the same party MichMan Sunday #55

Wow...that is literally NOTHING like Bettie Sunday #25

To be fair to the OP Bluetus Sunday #29

Members of DSA are welcome to create any list of goals they wish. yardwork Sunday #30

And we should have goals that are not currently attainable Bettie Sunday #40

I agree. yardwork Sunday #42

Republicans can twist anything Bettie Sunday #32

+10000 Bluetus Sunday #35

Many would disagree with you. Igel Sunday #44

This message was self-deleted by its author MichMan Sunday #54

The Democratic Socialist Party isn't the Democratic Party. patphil Sunday #10

DSA is not a political party. WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #12

That is true, but I bet if a survey asked voters to pick which statement they agree with more, RandomNumbers Sunday #62

. WhiskeyGrinder Sunday #76

I don't remember "defund the police" being in the official platform either RandomNumbers Sunday #78

"Defund the police means defund the police" -- as one put it, had supporters in Congress. betsuni Sunday #99

And don't forget DSA's position on "Open Borders" ... QueerDuck Sunday #102

Law and order, border -- going to be a serious problem. betsuni Sunday #104

I don't worry about Republican attack ads AZProgressive Sunday #110

"Regulated international commerce" is not what "Open Borders" means. QueerDuck Monday #112

For context and so people can have actual information to form opinions... Nanjeanne Sunday #13

DSA is not affiliated with the Democratic Party. yardwork Sunday #17

Weren't they included in the Democratic primary? MichMan Sunday #23

DSA is not a party. yardwork Sunday #26

I will be voting for every Democrat Bluetus Sunday #31

Candidates need to present what will win their election, that is (hopefully) RandomNumbers Sunday #58

Not just holding the gavel. yardwork Sunday #80

Thank you, 100% correct. RandomNumbers Sunday #83

Needs to be repeated, and false claims Dems in minority could stop Republicans if they wanted to pushed back on. betsuni Sunday #96

Completely agree. The "purity test" platforms ignore the reality of competitive districts. QueerDuck Sunday #22

Please tell me what district does NOT want Bluetus Sunday #33

I hope you will consider running for office. yardwork Sunday #34

I have a strong belief that people my age should not be deciding the future Bluetus Sunday #38

this septuagenarian agrees! mike_c Sunday #57

We have a corporate/advertising-dominated culture Bluetus Sunday #77

Those mainstream goals aren't what makes the platform fringe. QueerDuck Sunday #45

Where does it say "close all prisons" and "nationalize all industries"? Bluetus Sunday #84

Please don't gaslight me. It says it right in the official, published DSA Platform. QueerDuck Sunday #92

I take your point. So, we don't have to accept everything the DSA people wrote. Bluetus Sunday #106

I completely agree with you on the principle: the profit motive has absolutely no place in prisons or healthcare. QueerDuck Monday #115

My argument is that we would get those majorities if Bluetus Monday #118

The issue is not a lack of campaign courage; it is the gap between campaign goals and structural reality. QueerDuck Monday #120

There is EVERYTHING vague about those things Bluetus Monday #123

Trump's already there, govt owned corps adam_vermont Sunday #37

If you were sobered, may I suggest you drink more. mr715 Sunday #39

Message auto-removed Name removed Monday #113

This is simply a social democratic platform. Link here David__77 Sunday #41

Fear Cirsium Sunday #43

I'd be willing to bet The Madcap Sunday #46

If "changing ownership of large corporations to public ownership" is scarry to non-progressives I in2herbs Sunday #49

Bye orangecrush Sunday #51

Here, from their website, is the list of things they call "What We Fight For": Wiz Imp Sunday #52

This was on their website as well MichMan Sunday #56

Yep. That is correct, IMO mike_c Sunday #63

So, they are anti Democratic Party then. RandomNumbers Sunday #73

I completely disagree that they are anti-Democratic Party mike_c Sunday #85

Yes, they are. Agree with ranked choice or other. betsuni Sunday #103

Not at all. Should have never been allowed in the first place. Blue Full Moon Sunday #60

Trump.has been negotiating deals with corporations Klarkashton Sunday #61

I personally more interested in fighting the Republican Party and it's harmful affects walkingman Sunday #81

This! Vote for the Democrat in November! yardwork Sunday #87

It pisses me off that people think one person can change EVERYTHING without having help. dave99 Sunday #91

Message auto-removed Name removed Monday #114

Look at the platform of the Democrats 50 years ago - resembles the DSA platform OutNow Sunday #98

It's fascinating to read all the past D platforms Nanjeanne Sunday #100

Like I said in another thread AZProgressive Sunday #109