FiveThirtyEight: The Six Wings of the Democratic Party

[JaneQPublic]

Interesting framework by Perry Bacon, Jr. of 538 splitting Dem ideology into six factions.
However amusing these categorizing exercises are, I'd argue there are more critical factors to consider regarding candidates besides where they are positioned along a left-right continuum.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-six-wings-of-the-democratic-party/?ex_cid=story-twitter

...So here’s a short guide to the various factions of the 2019-20 Democratic Party, based on my reporting and conversations with Democratic staffers on Capitol Hill, on the various presidential campaigns and at liberal-leaning activists groups.1 The goal is to better reflect the disagreements playing out among party elites in the real world, which aren’t well captured by “liberal vs. moderate” or other broad terms like that.

We have generally ordered these blocs from most liberal to least:

The Super Progressives
Very liberal on economic and identity/cultural issues, anti-establishment. (Anti-establishment is a very fuzzy term, but in this piece, what I’m referring to is people who see part of their role as not just attacking Republicans, but also highlighting what they see as shortcomings of the Democratic Party itself.)

Prominent examples: Ocasio-Cortez , Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan

People in this bloc generally see the Democratic Party as too centrist and too cautious. This bloc is pushing for very liberal policies on economics (for example, its members favor a plan that would put all Americans in a Medicare-style system for health insurance). But unlike the next bloc, they are also pushing for very liberal stands on issues around identity and race (they support abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.)

In short, this group represents the most left wing of the modern Democratic Party on both of the main policy areas occupying U.S. politics. Moreover, its members are aggressively pushing their vision even when other Democrats balk.

MORE...
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-six-wings-of-the-democratic-party/?ex_cid=story-twitter

[samnsara]

1. its cuz we are ALL leaders. The Rupugs are taught to be followers and sheeple...

...thats one thing we are NOT..altho sometimes i can see an advantage!

[TwilightZone]

2. A big tent is going to have a lot of variety. That's a plus, but it's also a challenge.

The trick is getting those factions behind the eventual nominee, particularly the larger blocs, and understanding what will appeal to the rest of the voting public, outside of the Trump diehards.

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. Interesting. Proud member of the super progressive wing here

[Blue_true]

4. I am a member of The Progressive New Guard.

The description for that group fit me more closely than any other.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

5. Perry Bacon Jr. falls into the common trap of thinking people are "more liberal"

when they move from away from being liberals and towards being leftists.

How do these people get professional writing positions with political websites?

[ecstatic]

7. The Progressive New Guard

I guess I'm part of that group but I'm offended by the characterization:

The people in this group (and the next one) are often reacting to the ideas of the two more progressive blocs instead of really driving the party’s vision themselves.

Not true, we have a vision with practical solutions. Change has to be done in incremental steps. President Obama understood that, and that's why the next major change to healthcare will be the addition of the public option. That is the key to Medicare for all.

Eta: So really, it's the 2 more "progressive blocs" who react in response to the problem solver ideas. "It's not progressive enough! Yada yada!" That being said, it's a good give and take that tends to work out in the end. It's just that voters give up in off year elections which stifles our ability to move forward.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

8. +1

People who get things accomplished are the real progressives.

[David__77]

9. The left right thing is overplayed.

...