Who split the Democratic Party?

[Guaranteed]

[leyton]

1. It's split?

Wasn't aware of that.

I knew there were issues and everything. I figured we were on track to be mostly unified by the convention.

Edit: why are there so many posts ranting against the Democratic establishment that masqerade as polls? They're quite annoying.

[Guaranteed]

2. We seem to be having some problems with

"party cohesion" on this board.

[diplomats]

7. This board is not the real world, fortunately

The party is not "split." Our nominee will get close to 90 percent of the Dem vote in the election. Our voters are already solidifying behind our top two candidates, which is great news because it doesn't usually happen this early in an election year. BTW, Nader's run has nothing to do with our party and everything to do with him and his delusion that 99 percent of the people actually care what he says. The man's not even a Democrat.

[Guaranteed]

11. Alright then...so what are we all freaking out over? nt

[Taeger]

3. Clinton ...

I'm tired of this "New Democrat" shit. Clinton openend up a new era of dealing with the devil. Whether he was actually trying to "beat" the devil is debateable.

Clinton anti-democrat agenda

* International trade deals
* Corporatization of government
* Walmart-ization of America (in fact, his wife was Waltons main "babe" in his colonization effort)
* The subjugation of welfare recipients to corporate task-masters (subsequently depressing wages). There are likely hundreds of thousands of non-profits that could have accepted labor from welfare mothers (like non-profit day-care providers). Especially those in the communities in which they worked (See the Flint Michigan shooting in Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" for an excellent example)*.
* Very little effort on the part of the justice department to slow or halt the record level of corporate consolidation during the 90s.
* Efforts to boost H-1Bs to over 65,000. Eventually these folks had levels up to 295,000 per year. (They recently elapsed back to the WTO mandated 65,000/year).


Had the whole "internet craze" not hit America, I think that Clinton would NOT have had NEARLY the same level of economic prosperity. Those with the capital felt threatened that they would become obsolete if they didn't have a web-presence. The level of spending and speculation in this era was unprecedented. When the internet "bubble" burst, so did the robust economy.


Back to the thesis ...

It was Clintons revolution of "New Democrats" that has split the party. The party has moved AWAY from it's roots as class warriors. Accepting big corporate money has made them appear little different than Republicans on issues of corporate governance and democratic process. The only difference is the social agenda which is utterly rejected by middle Americans.

This is a 100% shift from the party of Roosevelt, Truman, and Carter. These folks FOUGHT for the little guy. They weren't interested in pushing social agendas. They let the social fabric of the nation deal with itself. They were closely allied with churches who saw welfare for the poor as a mission derived from Christ's teachings.

Democrats have flip-flopped on themselves. THIS is what has led to Democratic marginalization. Democrats have been split and splitered by THEMSELVES. No doubt that Hegelian operatives actively supported this split that has paralyzed the progressives.

It's time to END this nonsense. It's time to move BACK to the center on social issues and BACK to the left on economic issues. It's time to re-mount the cause of class warfare that America has been DECEIVED to believe is a thing of the past.




* For the record, I don't think it's "bad" to accept work in return for public assistance. But that "work" should be for the public benefit and community development. It should be "part-time" to allow these folks to be effective parents, not corporate slaves.
The "welfare to work" plan accomplished the depressing of wages for NON welfare recipients by creating a low-cost source of government controlled and subsidized labor.

[diplomats]

4. You're a Clark supporter

and you're not aware he's a New Democrat? I never heard him complain about Clinton's record.

[Taeger]

20. Neither has Kucinich ...

That doesn't mean they don't disagree!!!!

[SaddenedDem]

15. And HERE is your proof - I hold THIS document in my hand

What's it Worth to Leave Welfare for Work?

A SINGLE PARENT WITH TWO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Employed full time 40 hours a week at $4.75 an hour

A parent leaving welfare may work full time and still get the benefits listed below. The Earned Income Tax Credit and Food Stamps are based on income. Transitional benefits may be received for one year. After the year of transitional benefits, depending on income, the family may still be able to recieve help with medical coverage for the children and child care.

$9,880 Yearly Wages
$1,810 Transitional medicaid (est. cost of family premuim only)
$3,556 Earned Income Tax Credit
$4,784 Transitional child care (est. cost of child care)
$2,604 Food stamps
$22,634 Total value of wages and benefits

During the first year of employment, benefits for the working parent may bring an hourly wage of $4.75 up to a realized value of $10.88 an hour.

And there you have Mr. Clinton's Welfare Reform.

[revcarol]

16. BINGO. (Wish you got the million $$.)And the DLC shadows.

We have become that which we most abhorred.

It's sickening the way our party ignores the needs of its citizens at the expense of corporations. Telecommunications Act and Bankruptcy Reform, anyone?

And goes on its merry militaristic empire building way, letting the multi-nationals and U. S. companies rape the world.

The differences between our candidates has highlighted this for many for the first time.
And if Clinton endorsed someone, I would be sure NOT to vote for that person.

[rpf113]

5. This is a ridiculous, sanctimonious poll.

There should be more options.

It seems to me disgruntled Dean supporters who say they are going to write him in are pretty big in dividing the party.

I'd say all those people who are jumping ship to Nader are dividing the party.

[Guaranteed]

8. What else do you want me to put up? nt

[mandyky]

6. The DLC

and pink tutu Dems - Gephardt, Lieberman, et al.

[anti-NAFTA]

9. Clinton

NAFTA
Defense of Marriage Act
Bombing the people of Yugoslavia
Welfare Reform
Balancing the Budget at the expense of the people's welfare
...

I could go on

[JVS]

10. Great poll!

[Scott Lee]

12. Who is one of Bush-hole's most reliable supporters? Kerry!

Kerry sided with Bush-hole on:

The Iraq War

No Child Left Behind

The Patriot Act(s)

NAFTA

ANWR drilling (late breaking event)


With congressional opposition like this, who needs elections?

[rpf113]

13. The poll is ridiculous... I say it again.

Neither Kerry or Edwards or any other Democrat (not even Zel Miller) voted with Bush on every issue. Your poll makes it sound like many Dems and Republicans are voting with eachother most of the time and that it is false.

Other options should be:

"People who will not accept anyone who doesn't 100% fit the liberal litmus test."

"People who jump ship each election and go 3rd party and then blame us for it."

Actually don't even bother, this poll is so incredibly stupid that you shouldn't even add on to it. It doesn't make fundamental sense.

[Guaranteed]

14. Not every issue. Just the important ones. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. Tsk, tsk.

They were "misled."

[Feanorcurufinwe]

18. No one. The Democratic party is more united now than ever before.

[rhite5]

19. In my 50+ years in politics ....

I have never seen the Democratic Party more divided!

Wishing it were united does not make it so.