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QueerDuck

(2,351 posts)

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

Sun Jun 28, 2026, 11:41 AM

Jun 28

Spot on, LAS14. You have hit on the exact reason why so many pragmatic Democrats get deeply anxious when these fringe platforms gain institutional standing.

There is a massive difference between winning a safe, deep-blue district and trying to hold a razor-thin majority in a purple or red competitive seat. When DSA-branded platforms start demanding the public nationalization of large corporations, closing all prisons, or calling for immediate federal halts on technology infrastructure, they hand the opposition an absolute gift-wrapped playbook for attack ads.

Whether it is the baggage of "Defund the Police" or the recent pushes for government sovereign wealth funds to seize corporate AI stock, these proposals put Democrats in an impossible position.

We win majorities by building a broad, center-left coalition ... something that appeals to independent and swing voters in Middle America. When ideological purism and DSA extremes takes precedence over basic electoral math, it doesn't just hand weapons to the opposition... it makes it significantly harder to actually govern.

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RandomNumbers

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I was sobered to see some of the details of the revised DSA platform. [View all] LAS14 Jun 28 OP

Just makes no sense and will convince many that the Dem party is not a left party but a communist one. efhmc Jun 28 #1

Cite on closing prisons? WhiskeyGrinder Jun 28 #2

There is this point about mass incarceration Bluetus Jun 28 #9

Right, I saw that part, which is a bare-ass minimum place to start. But didn't see anything about abolishing prisons. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 28 #11

The reason that you H2O Man Jun 28 #15

If the "some people" happens to be, or become, the majority of voters RandomNumbers Jun 28 #65

Darializa Avila Chevalier won the primary MichMan Jun 28 #20

Deleted tweets are not a platform, though. The OP said it was the platform. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 28 #24

It was so sobering, the platform that the OP definitely read Prairie Gates Jun 28 #36

Right, but suggests where her mindset is or was. And if "was" is apt, then RandomNumbers Jun 28 #66

She has, so you don't need to worry about it. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 28 #72

Link? RandomNumbers Jun 28 #74

She is the official Democratic nominee for that seat in the House. yardwork Jun 28 #88

It was a safe Democratic seat all along MichMan Jun 28 #90

Never underestimate the forces against us. yardwork Jun 28 #93

Excellent points. RandomNumbers Jun 28 #94

Exactly! yardwork Jun 28 #95

Thanks for solving the mystery. nt LAS14 Jun 28 #67

Here is a link to her platform as a now 32 year old candidate for congress Quiet Em Jun 28 #69

Everyone who accepted Platner's apologies, MorbidButterflyTat Jun 28 #89

I wish I knew when she decided to delete the Twitter account. LAS14 Jun 28 #111

It doesn't exist. Wiz Imp Jun 28 #59

I was watching the statement scroll by on Smerconish, but can't... LAS14 Jun 28 #64

Bend over to reach across the aisle orthoclad Jun 28 #3

I think you are close to the point but missing it still bottomofthehill Jun 28 #4

Dems look crazy? WhiskeyGrinder Jun 28 #6

*IF* someone believes the D platform says "abolish prisons" then HELL YES RandomNumbers Jun 28 #48

Also, if that belief is out there and some D has it in their platform RandomNumbers Jun 28 #50

This! FalloutShelter Jun 28 #8

The "gifts" we keep handing the Republicans is NO PLAN Bluetus Jun 28 #16

Gaslighting absurdity. The fictional polling data and the claims that Democrats have "no real platform" ignores reality. QueerDuck Jun 28 #105

I think I was clear that I was talking about multiple generations Bluetus Jun 28 #107

The goalposts keep moving. QueerDuck Jun 29 #116

Several points Bluetus Jun 29 #119

Let's be honest here, okay? Democrats have not "sat back on 40-year-old laurels"... QueerDuck Jun 29 #122

OK, we can disagree about how much real fight there has been versus posturing Bluetus Jun 29 #124

The majority of that 1/3 H2O Man Jun 28 #18

There was a great post on here a few years ago, orthoclad Jun 28 #47

Do you have a link to that? Thanks n/t leftstreet Jun 28 #5

I don't. I saw it scroll by on Smerconish. But others do. Also, see my OP edit. nt LAS14 Jun 28 #68

You can find the platform here. There are 'sobering' items you did not mention. RandomNumbers Jun 28 #71

Look, we can't be afraid of Republicans twisting our words. We KNOW that will happen. Bluetus Jun 28 #7

thank you for posting this! mike_c Jun 28 #14

Here are countries that are largely Democratic Socialist nations Bluetus Jun 28 #19

if I'm not mistaken all those countries have a mix... mike_c Jun 28 #53

Maybe candidates should say "regulated capitalism" then. RandomNumbers Jun 28 #70

I'm good with that mike_c Jun 28 #75

Or "Level Playing-field Capitalism" Bluetus Jun 28 #79

That'll work. But I think RandomNumbers Jun 28 #82

Personally I would not use the word "regulated." It is inherently negative. Bluetus Jun 28 #86

Senator Warren said/says exactly that. mjvpi Jun 28 #101

You write of "the Democrats" and "the DSA" as if they are two entirely separate wnylib Jun 28 #21

That is all valid, IMHO Bluetus Jun 28 #27

FDR would have approved of freely crossing borders wnylib Jun 28 #97

You make some good points. However, in a negotiation Bluetus Jun 28 #108

Right? If you ask for exactly what you want Bettie Jun 29 #117

And when you don't ask for anything at all? Bluetus Jun 29 #121

DSA is not a party. yardwork Jun 28 #28

They sure aren't playing nice for being different wings of the same party MichMan Jun 28 #55

Wow...that is literally NOTHING like Bettie Jun 28 #25

To be fair to the OP Bluetus Jun 28 #29

Members of DSA are welcome to create any list of goals they wish. yardwork Jun 28 #30

And we should have goals that are not currently attainable Bettie Jun 28 #40

I agree. yardwork Jun 28 #42

Republicans can twist anything Bettie Jun 28 #32

+10000 Bluetus Jun 28 #35

Many would disagree with you. Igel Jun 28 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author MichMan Jun 28 #54

The Democratic Socialist Party isn't the Democratic Party. patphil Jun 28 #10

DSA is not a political party. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 28 #12

That is true, but I bet if a survey asked voters to pick which statement they agree with more, RandomNumbers Jun 28 #62

. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 28 #76

I don't remember "defund the police" being in the official platform either RandomNumbers Jun 28 #78

"Defund the police means defund the police" -- as one put it, had supporters in Congress. betsuni Jun 28 #99

And don't forget DSA's position on "Open Borders" ... QueerDuck Jun 28 #102

Law and order, border -- going to be a serious problem. betsuni Jun 28 #104

I don't worry about Republican attack ads AZProgressive Jun 28 #110

"Regulated international commerce" is not what "Open Borders" means. QueerDuck Jun 29 #112

For context and so people can have actual information to form opinions... Nanjeanne Jun 28 #13

DSA is not affiliated with the Democratic Party. yardwork Jun 28 #17

Weren't they included in the Democratic primary? MichMan Jun 28 #23

DSA is not a party. yardwork Jun 28 #26

I will be voting for every Democrat Bluetus Jun 28 #31

Candidates need to present what will win their election, that is (hopefully) RandomNumbers Jun 28 #58

Not just holding the gavel. yardwork Jun 28 #80

Thank you, 100% correct. RandomNumbers Jun 28 #83

Needs to be repeated, and false claims Dems in minority could stop Republicans if they wanted to pushed back on. betsuni Jun 28 #96

Completely agree. The "purity test" platforms ignore the reality of competitive districts. QueerDuck Jun 28 #22

Please tell me what district does NOT want Bluetus Jun 28 #33

I hope you will consider running for office. yardwork Jun 28 #34

I have a strong belief that people my age should not be deciding the future Bluetus Jun 28 #38

this septuagenarian agrees! mike_c Jun 28 #57

We have a corporate/advertising-dominated culture Bluetus Jun 28 #77

Those mainstream goals aren't what makes the platform fringe. QueerDuck Jun 28 #45

Where does it say "close all prisons" and "nationalize all industries"? Bluetus Jun 28 #84

Please don't gaslight me. It says it right in the official, published DSA Platform. QueerDuck Jun 28 #92

I take your point. So, we don't have to accept everything the DSA people wrote. Bluetus Jun 28 #106

I completely agree with you on the principle: the profit motive has absolutely no place in prisons or healthcare. QueerDuck Jun 29 #115

My argument is that we would get those majorities if Bluetus Jun 29 #118

The issue is not a lack of campaign courage; it is the gap between campaign goals and structural reality. QueerDuck Jun 29 #120

There is EVERYTHING vague about those things Bluetus Jun 29 #123

Trump's already there, govt owned corps adam_vermont Jun 28 #37

If you were sobered, may I suggest you drink more. mr715 Jun 28 #39

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 29 #113

This is simply a social democratic platform. Link here David__77 Jun 28 #41

Fear Cirsium Jun 28 #43

I'd be willing to bet The Madcap Jun 28 #46

If "changing ownership of large corporations to public ownership" is scarry to non-progressives I in2herbs Jun 28 #49

Bye orangecrush Jun 28 #51

Here, from their website, is the list of things they call "What We Fight For": Wiz Imp Jun 28 #52

This was on their website as well MichMan Jun 28 #56

Yep. That is correct, IMO mike_c Jun 28 #63

So, they are anti Democratic Party then. RandomNumbers Jun 28 #73

I completely disagree that they are anti-Democratic Party mike_c Jun 28 #85

Yes, they are. Agree with ranked choice or other. betsuni Jun 28 #103

Not at all. Should have never been allowed in the first place. Blue Full Moon Jun 28 #60

Trump.has been negotiating deals with corporations Klarkashton Jun 28 #61

I personally more interested in fighting the Republican Party and it's harmful affects walkingman Jun 28 #81

This! Vote for the Democrat in November! yardwork Jun 28 #87

It pisses me off that people think one person can change EVERYTHING without having help. dave99 Jun 28 #91

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 29 #114

Look at the platform of the Democrats 50 years ago - resembles the DSA platform OutNow Jun 28 #98

It's fascinating to read all the past D platforms Nanjeanne Jun 28 #100

Like I said in another thread AZProgressive Jun 28 #109