Unless Democrats wake up, history could repeat itself

[sinkingfeeling]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/unless-democrats-wake-up-history-could-repeat-itself/2019/07/26/58fe9e02-af09-11e9-a0c9-6d2d7818f3da_story.html?utm_term=.6c230466a5df

By Colbert I. King


Even as Trump’s Justice Department is arguing in favor of a Texas judge’s decision to invalidate the Affordable Care Act — which has extended health coverage to millions of low-income people — Democratic presidential candidates are at each other’s throats over whether all private health insurance should be eliminated or be allowed to compete with federal programs.

While Trump moves to end asylum protection for migrants fleeing persecution and torture, Democratic presidential hopefuls are going back and forth over whether unauthorized border crossings should be a civil or criminal offense.

Meanwhile, voices for job creation, tightening stitches in the safety net, sticking to bread-and-butter issues and making Trump’s first term his last are drowned by the sounds of wannabe political celebrities and rookie gurus tooting their own horns. Edsall quotes Democratic strategist Paul Begala as saying Democratic candidates and their staffs are “turning the nomination contest into ‘some kind of purity game to see who can be the most leftist.’ ”

We saw this game get played out between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary. Progressive purity vs. political pragmatism. How did that turn out?

But it is the same direction in which the Democratic Party is headed today — resuming a war that pits the left-leaning faction against ideological moderates.

[democratisphere]

1. So true. The last thing we need is a repeat of 2016.

The Russians have already begun their attacks.

[still_one]

2. There is predominately one of those "political puritiy" groups, where some of their members

would consider NOT voting for the Democratic nominees.

Hint: 2000 and 2016

[murielm99]

5. Or they find people to primary

some of our best lawmakers, like Nadler.

[still_one]

6. I know, pretty outrageous, especially with Nadler being one of the best prgressive legislators we

have

[KPN]

3. That's an opinion. I don't buy it.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. The argument presented here is always used to ensure that the right wins

Oh, those terrible leftists want to actually help people.

We, as a nation, can't have that.