To borrow from Ray Donovan, where do I go to get my label back? I am a Liberal, a reform Liberal, and have been forever. I trace my serious political involvement back to 1968, long before may of today's lefties were born. I think I am entitled to be considered "progressive" within the historical meaning of the term. The Bernie wing Democrats and wanna be socialists are no more entitled to the "progressive" label than the SDS activists were back in 1968. The term for them back then was "radical" and it should be so for the far left today.
The problem with "socialism" that these folks seem to forget - or ignore - is that it has failed miserably everywhere that it has actually been implemented. China is a world economic power after moving to capitalism. That is not to say that capitalism is without problems, but it works better than anything else that has been attempted.
I hate the term Democrat Socialists, if only because to those of us of a certain age “socialist” is fraught with a sordid history—Russian revolution, Communism, McCarthyism, the Cold War. Embracing the term is bad optics and poor politics. Though we haven’t come round to universal healthcare like our European allies—we should—we still belong, like them, to the ranks of social democracies, yes? After all, we’re sustaining the Sacred Cow called Social Security. Would “Social Democrats” make it any more palatable to you, Joe? Is this really at matter of semantics? Also, the rise of Democrat Socialists hews to the same laws that nature does—for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. Along with all the other damage he’s done, Trump is radicalizing the left.
I keep trying to edit my comment to use the proper term “Democratic Socialist.” But Substack posted the comment in its entirety a second time. So I deleted the second one. Weird. Either way, ick.
I’ve been saying for awhile that Trump has made everyone crazy. The question is, how long are we going to be paying the cost of the universal craziness and what will the cost be?
I agree with you and would never vote for someone who hates Jews. But how do moderates fight back? Why did Slotkin jump to endorse El-Sayed? To keep herself safe? What do we want Senators like Booker and Murphy to say that will make any difference? Does the public really believe that the Dems are just lambs to slaughter?
What you want is for politicians to tell the truth. These Democrats don't. You want them to say Bibi must be replaced but Israel should always exist. You want them to say, all people are created equal, with no exemptions. You want them to say, two parents are better than one (though there are plenty of heroic single parents out there). You want them to say: We will not go to war unless attacked. I could go on....
Thanks Joe for your response. You know what really drives me crazy and tells me how ignorant this movement is? Every industrial country, basically every country with universal health care, still has private insurance. If only Bernie had done his homework he would know that. But yet blah, blah Medicare for All and end everything else. I teach health policy and all my students know this is the way to go. It's not so hard to understand.
I'm no expert on him, but I don't think El-Sayed hates Jews. Think he may well hate Israel but that's something different.
As for why Slotkin and Stevens and others now support him? For the same reason I would if I were a Michigan voter. Because it's critical that the Democrats regain the Senate. While I believe El-Sayed is wrong about many things, as one Senator he will have little power to enact those but a lot of power to help the Democrats control judicial appointments, committees, etc. So I believe that Democrats like me should be very clear about all the things that El-Sayed gets wrong, while also supporting him in November.
Joe: As always, I agreed with your position on most of the issues discussed, but I laughed with satisfaction at one in particular. Every week I argue with my adult sons that it is essential that Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank be called out as totally unacceptable. They feel doing so provides a cover for anti-semites, and point to the 100 plus members of the House who voted to cut off all military aid for Israel. I agreed that eliminating all military aid would be unacceptably dangerous for Israel, but argued that we can and should cut off offensive weapons until the government is replaced by more rational politicians. Providing the means for Israel to obliterate more than 80% of the infrastructure in Gaza while killing tens of thousands of women and children, and allowing West Bank settlers to take land, farm animals, and the lives of Palestinians who have no means to defend themselves with the absolute knowledge there will be no consequences, cannot ever be acceptable.
Thus, I was pleased to read your position days later: “On Israel, there is a bright line: I will vote for candidates who think Bibi Netanyahu and his West Bank Settlers are a scourge. I will vote for candidates who oppose sending Israel offensive weapons (defensive weapons are another thing). But I will not vote for candidates who waffle on the future existence of Israel, who mouth dilettante slogans like “From the River to the Sea…” I believe such people are myopic thugs who may put the lives of my children and grandchildren in jeopardy. If Israel goes, protection for Jews around the world—already a periilous proposition—drifts closer to the historic norm: paranoid Jew hatred and the never-ending pogrom.” Thank you for describing so well what I have been trying to say to my sons.
I think I am basically where you are, Joe. Everyday I become more comfortable with my decision to re-register as a No Party Preference voter. Btw, re: Michigan: Mike Rogers used to impress me—- even before we ended up seated sort of together at an Eagles concert in DC in 2013! But his apparent conversion to Trumpism is deeply troubling. Glad I don’t live in Michigan.
Thank you for the article, Mr. Klein. At this time in my life, I felt America needed a good change across the board. Adam Hamilton a popular minister won the election over 12 democratic opponents. Cindy Holchel of whom I voted for ran a great race for the democratic primary and won in a very big way. Ty Masterson will lose this election going away this fall.
To borrow from Ray Donovan, where do I go to get my label back? I am a Liberal, a reform Liberal, and have been forever. I trace my serious political involvement back to 1968, long before may of today's lefties were born. I think I am entitled to be considered "progressive" within the historical meaning of the term. The Bernie wing Democrats and wanna be socialists are no more entitled to the "progressive" label than the SDS activists were back in 1968. The term for them back then was "radical" and it should be so for the far left today.
Agreed.
The problem with "socialism" that these folks seem to forget - or ignore - is that it has failed miserably everywhere that it has actually been implemented. China is a world economic power after moving to capitalism. That is not to say that capitalism is without problems, but it works better than anything else that has been attempted.
I hate the term Democrat Socialists, if only because to those of us of a certain age “socialist” is fraught with a sordid history—Russian revolution, Communism, McCarthyism, the Cold War. Embracing the term is bad optics and poor politics. Though we haven’t come round to universal healthcare like our European allies—we should—we still belong, like them, to the ranks of social democracies, yes? After all, we’re sustaining the Sacred Cow called Social Security. Would “Social Democrats” make it any more palatable to you, Joe? Is this really at matter of semantics? Also, the rise of Democrat Socialists hews to the same laws that nature does—for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. Along with all the other damage he’s done, Trump is radicalizing the left.
I keep trying to edit my comment to use the proper term “Democratic Socialist.” But Substack posted the comment in its entirety a second time. So I deleted the second one. Weird. Either way, ick.
I’ve been saying for awhile that Trump has made everyone crazy. The question is, how long are we going to be paying the cost of the universal craziness and what will the cost be?
I agree with you and would never vote for someone who hates Jews. But how do moderates fight back? Why did Slotkin jump to endorse El-Sayed? To keep herself safe? What do we want Senators like Booker and Murphy to say that will make any difference? Does the public really believe that the Dems are just lambs to slaughter?
What you want is for politicians to tell the truth. These Democrats don't. You want them to say Bibi must be replaced but Israel should always exist. You want them to say, all people are created equal, with no exemptions. You want them to say, two parents are better than one (though there are plenty of heroic single parents out there). You want them to say: We will not go to war unless attacked. I could go on....
Thanks Joe for your response. You know what really drives me crazy and tells me how ignorant this movement is? Every industrial country, basically every country with universal health care, still has private insurance. If only Bernie had done his homework he would know that. But yet blah, blah Medicare for All and end everything else. I teach health policy and all my students know this is the way to go. It's not so hard to understand.
I'm no expert on him, but I don't think El-Sayed hates Jews. Think he may well hate Israel but that's something different.
As for why Slotkin and Stevens and others now support him? For the same reason I would if I were a Michigan voter. Because it's critical that the Democrats regain the Senate. While I believe El-Sayed is wrong about many things, as one Senator he will have little power to enact those but a lot of power to help the Democrats control judicial appointments, committees, etc. So I believe that Democrats like me should be very clear about all the things that El-Sayed gets wrong, while also supporting him in November.
Agreed. A vote for Mike Rodgers - or any Republican, would undoubtedly be a vote to further Trump’s agenda. And that is frankly unacceptable.
As a long time moderate Democrat, this captures the moment precisely. When are party moderates going to start strongly speaking out?
Thank you. Yes. Cattle prod for the Dems needed
Perfect! 100% agreement.
Thanks Joe…right on target as usual. I feel absolutely lost.
Agreed! rather amazingly so.
Joe: As always, I agreed with your position on most of the issues discussed, but I laughed with satisfaction at one in particular. Every week I argue with my adult sons that it is essential that Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank be called out as totally unacceptable. They feel doing so provides a cover for anti-semites, and point to the 100 plus members of the House who voted to cut off all military aid for Israel. I agreed that eliminating all military aid would be unacceptably dangerous for Israel, but argued that we can and should cut off offensive weapons until the government is replaced by more rational politicians. Providing the means for Israel to obliterate more than 80% of the infrastructure in Gaza while killing tens of thousands of women and children, and allowing West Bank settlers to take land, farm animals, and the lives of Palestinians who have no means to defend themselves with the absolute knowledge there will be no consequences, cannot ever be acceptable.
Thus, I was pleased to read your position days later: “On Israel, there is a bright line: I will vote for candidates who think Bibi Netanyahu and his West Bank Settlers are a scourge. I will vote for candidates who oppose sending Israel offensive weapons (defensive weapons are another thing). But I will not vote for candidates who waffle on the future existence of Israel, who mouth dilettante slogans like “From the River to the Sea…” I believe such people are myopic thugs who may put the lives of my children and grandchildren in jeopardy. If Israel goes, protection for Jews around the world—already a periilous proposition—drifts closer to the historic norm: paranoid Jew hatred and the never-ending pogrom.” Thank you for describing so well what I have been trying to say to my sons.
I think I am basically where you are, Joe. Everyday I become more comfortable with my decision to re-register as a No Party Preference voter. Btw, re: Michigan: Mike Rogers used to impress me—- even before we ended up seated sort of together at an Eagles concert in DC in 2013! But his apparent conversion to Trumpism is deeply troubling. Glad I don’t live in Michigan.
Thank you for the article, Mr. Klein. At this time in my life, I felt America needed a good change across the board. Adam Hamilton a popular minister won the election over 12 democratic opponents. Cindy Holchel of whom I voted for ran a great race for the democratic primary and won in a very big way. Ty Masterson will lose this election going away this fall.