On WBUR's On Point program this morning, a Sioux City IA man called in.

[Skidmore]

He said he participated in a Republican focus group this past week and he had said in the group that, if Cruz were to be the candidate, he would leave the party. Said they escorted him to the hall and asked him to bring his things with him. He said that the party doesn't want to take feedback that doesn't fit the campaign organizers' strategies. He also said that participating in party events now is like being at a revival meeting.

Just wanted to make note of that caller's remarks.

[djean111]

1. I have a feeling that this sort of thing will happen in the Democratic Party, too.

Right now, the Florida DNC is spitting mad that some liberals are speaking out against DINO Murphy, and prefer Grayson.
Instead of saying oh, maybe a primary, the reaction is let's move to eject the malcontent liberal caucus from the DNC, and bet on Murphy appealing to Republican voters.

[Fred Sanders]

10. Rather different things, because one is a religious revival and the other is a political revival.

[Hoppy]

11. Thank God we can criticize St. Hillary here on D.U. without being criticized, ourselves.

Yes, Arlene, its sarcasm.

[greenman3610]

29. oh

because there's not a dime's worth of difference between Hilary Clinton and Ted Cruz. Right?

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. Why? ...

Respond to an OP about republican DOING something, with "Well, the Democrats MIGHT ..."

Why?

[djean111]

13. Because Democrats are already doing something like this in Florida.

You know, we all KNOW that the GOP are a bunch of assholes. We KNOW that. I am willing to bet that there is not one DUer who was on the fence about supporting the GOP until they read this OP.

I am worried about the Democratic Party doing the same sort of thing - here in Florida, the DNC wants to oust the liberal caucus because the liberal caucus does not endorse Patrick Murphy. Same shit.

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. No, it's not ...

Your worries of what might happen are not the same as what is happening.

[Scuba]

16. You're arguing semantics. His/her point is that such behavior IS HAPPENING NOW.

The right-wingers who have infested our party are behaving in the same way they do when in their own party.

[1StrongBlackMan]

17. Come onnn ...

This:

I have a feeling that this sort of thing will happen in the Democratic Party, too. Right now, the Florida DNC is spitting mad that some liberals are speaking out against DINO Murphy, and prefer Grayson.
Instead of saying oh, maybe a primary, the reaction is let's move to eject the malcontent liberal caucus from the DNC, and bet on Murphy appealing to Republican voters.

Is not what IS happening; nor, is it remotely related to what OP is relating.

[Scuba]

19. "Right now ... the reaction is let's move to eject the malcontent liberal caucus ..."

Mirror image of what the Republicans are doing. This is what happens when we let a bunch of conservatives purchase the Democratic Party. Everything moves further and further to the right.

[1StrongBlackMan]

20. Yeah ... Okay! ...

Disagreeing, and continuing to work = ejecting. Right!

[Scuba]

24. Are you equating ejecting the liberal caucus with "continuing to work"? 'Cause that's ....

... straight from you and not found in djean's post.

I guess for conserva-Dems, ejecting the liberal caucus is continuing to work.

[1StrongBlackMan]

25. Are you being deliberately obtuse? Or, do you just like ...

arguing with me?

I'm saying the "conserva-Dems" or "3rd-wayers" or whatever is the "really real Democrat's" term of the day for the part of the party that consistent wins elections, when faced with the DU really real Democrats' preferred really, real Democratic candidate (much to the chagrin of the really, real Democrats "in the party&quot ... are continuing to work to elect their candidates AND that does not include ejecting the "liberal caucus".

The ejection bit is djean111's fantasy. That's all anyone can take from djean111's post.

That is straight from me.

[Scuba]

26. Consistently wins elections????? No, that's the group that loses.

That's your fantasy.

[1StrongBlackMan]

28. There you go, again ...

I said:

... consistent wins elections, when faced with the DU really real Democrats' preferred really, real Democratic candidate (much to the chagrin of the really, real Democrats "in the party&quot

That's NOT fantasy.

[djean111]

27. Have some fantasy -

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/decertify-democratic-progressive-caucus-florida-urges-party-leader

Decertify Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, Urges Party Leader

Democrats close to Florida party leadership are buzzing over the bold call Monday from Democratic progressives to replace senatorial candidate Patrick Murphy with Alan Grayson -- and an equally bold, retaliatory call the very next day from a party executive chair to disband the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida.

Fuming over the attempt to sabotage FDP's choice to run for Marco Rubio's seat, Celeste Bush, DEC chair of St. Lucie County, said in an email distributed Tuesday, "Yesterday an unprecedented action was taken by Susan Smith, (president) of the 'Democratic' Progressive Caucus and Nancy Jacobson, an elected DNC member. "They called a press conference to discredit Congressman Patrick Murphy’s run for U.S. Senate. You may have seen some of the news stories."

snip.....

The Progressive Caucus called out Murphy, a Republican less than four years ago, as too moderate to replace Rubio and insisted liberals were looking for another candidate -- namely U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Central Florida.

"This action runs counter to our Democratic Party’s very existence," wrote Bush. "We cannot have 'so called' Democrat leaders aggressively attacking an elected Democrat or any Democrat running for office. A Democratic leader is just that – a leader of Democrats – not just some Democrats that fit a preconceived notion of what constitutes a Democrat."

Yup. What it actually means to be a Democrat is sooooo old-fashioned.
Anyway, not a fantasy - real shit.

[1StrongBlackMan]

31. After reading the linked article ...

it is true that the Florida Democratic Party is calling to de-certify the Progressive Party.

And it probably will come as no surprise to you; but, in agree with the move ... for exactly the reason(s) the Florida Democratic Party leadership indicate:

This action (calling a press conference, slamming the Democratic Party's choice of candidates because they didn't get their way) runs counter to our Democratic Party’s very existence," wrote Bush. "We cannot have 'so called' Democrat leaders aggressively attacking an elected Democrat or any Democrat running for office. A Democratic leader is just that – a leader of Democrats – not just some Democrats that fit a preconceived notion of what constitutes a Democrat."

And,

The sole role of the DNC and its members is to elect Democrats. That does not include discrediting them. ... Let them be who they are: 'Progressives.' Let them try to get the attention of the media with that moniker

See ... I believe that when one chooses to be a part of a party or group, you do not publically slam that group because you don't get your way ... Rather, you WORK inside that group to garner the support you need from the larger group. That is what democratic (with a small "D&quot organizations do, and how those within democratic (with a small "D&quot organizations operate.

But that's just me ... I have problems with governance by tantrum.

[djean111]

32. And why does one choose to be part of a party or group?

Because of what that Party or group stands for, at least that is what I used to think.
Now it is "not as bad as the GOP" and "Hey, yeah we are corporate DINOs, but not as bad as the GOP".
Barf.

[sendero]

33. Not when your group...

.. has been infiltrated by traitors, i.e. folks that would fit just as well in the Republican party.


According to you, Americans should have the choice between right wing and ultra right wing. Fuck that.

[1StrongBlackMan]

34. Then, perhaps, you should ...

Last edited Thu Apr 9, 2015, 02:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Take the FDP Leaders secondary advice ... go for your "Progressive Party" and stop pretending that YOUR narrow faction represents the totality of the Democratic Party.

The Progressive Caucus was in the room ... they had their say ... the majority of the DC disagreed. That happens, from time to time in democratic organizations ... some members of these democratic organizations respond by leaving that organization, as it no longer represents they political positions (But by leaving, they leave the name of the larger organization, too); others respond by accepting the decision of the larger group and work their butts off, within, the organization to win the discussion next time (And they get to keep the name of the larger organization); still a third group will respond by claiming the group is betraying what the group is REALLY about and then blows up the organization (while claiming the name of the larger organization).

Guess which groups lose the next election?

[Tarheel_Dem]

35. Thank You!

Then, perhaps, you should ...Take the FDP Leaders secondary advice ... go for your "Progressive Party" and stop pretending that YOUR narrow faction represents the totality of the Democratic Party.

[wolfie001]

2. Cruz is the same type of demagogue as Raygun so...........

....the poor man should've left "his party" forty years ago.

[Iliyah]

3. Right now one thing about the Democratic Party is the diversity.

GOP party right now are like Queen/King bee and its drones. Hopefully some Republicans will wake up.

The Democratic Party is far from P E R F E C T by a long shot, but the two parties are truly and sincerely not the same.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

5. Yep...

... too many educated and free thinkers in the Democratic Party. Which can at times resemble herding cats when issues come up and consensus is needed. The "sweeping change" vs the "lesser of two evils", so to speak...

[rurallib]

4. heard that also

the fact that he was from Sioux City brought back memories of some of the public fights Republicans have had out there.
I remember a few years ago when (I think) a literal fight erupted and the county chair was thrown out of the room and the door locked behind him.

I think that is VanerPlaats territory and as such they have some of the craziest of the crazy.

[slumcamper]

7. Yes--Steve King's district, and home to this current impasse:

"Thirty members of the Woodbury County Republican Party Central Committee want state Sen. Bill Anderson, R-Pierson, to resign from the county party leadership because he voted for a gas tax increase."

Farmers' fuel-guzzling, humongous machinery has been destroying our state and county roads for years, and until this year the Norquist-fearing, tax-averse GOP-controlled Iowa House hasn't had the spine to raise the fuel tax. Just a few months ago, after growing public pressure, they finally relented. Now the crazies want to tar and feather their Republican State Senator.

VanderPlaats and his "congregation" have spewed a toxic ideology of social, cultural and economic resentment and spite, all of which accounts for the political derangement that has afflicted the area's populace.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Sounds like he has had to leave the party earlier than he thought.

I wonder if that was enough for him to decide to leave the Republican party.

[heaven05]

8. quite revealing

of the fascist mentality that is growing in the GOP mindset. Thanks. K&R

[TeamPooka]

9. That is called a Republican Listening Tour. nt

[Cha]

23. Precisely!

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. They don't want to listen to their own focus groups. That's not a good sign for them.

[GoCubsGo]

18. They're sounding more and more like a cult every day... n/t

[hatrack]

21. "sounding like"? They've been a full-on cult since Chimpy's "election"

They've always been a melange of stupid, fearful and greedy. Since 2000, that reeking stew has had a full 15 years to crust over with mold and toxins.

They know how to do three things, and three things only - deregulate, privatize and cut taxes.

And when those tactics blow up in their faces, they invoke Jesus Reagan, and wave little flags, and brandish guns and shout "USA!! USA!! USA!!" until the bad thoughts go away.

[Cha]

22. That's where we get some of our most interesting news, Skidmore! I wouldn't have expected anything

more from the gop. Thank goodness there's still a few sane repubs around.

Maybe he'll "leave the party" anyway.. cruz isn't the only idiot running.

[riversedge]

30. Scott Walker's campaign slogin_Our American Revival ..

Yes, it is--his exploratory camp

[alp227]

36. audio is here, where is the call?

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/04/08/rand-paul-2016-presidential-race-ted-cruz-marco-rubio

[Skidmore]

37. Starts at about 30:00 into the audio.

But you could have listed for it too.

[alp227]

38. Thanks for the tip. On Point isn't broadcast where I live,

so when I do listen to it it's either via WBUR's stream or podcast. I didn't want to wait 30 minutes to find that caller.