Will the traditional Democratic Party coalitions survive this election?

[Skidmore]

Specifically will they survive this prolonged and excruciating pre-election season? Sometimes I wonder about this. So many candidates pulling so many different constituencies in so many directions. I'm interested in the thoughts of others about this.

[MonkeyFunk]

1. there's not a single damned thing

different about this election than any other - other than the race and gender of the people involved.

Every open primary has always been well-contested and hard-fought.

We'll do just fine.

[Skidmore]

3. Oh, I think there is so much riding on this election for so many different

groups, that the old rules cannot be necessarily counted on.

[MonkeyFunk]

5. The stakes are higher than in 1804?

or 1860? Or 1930?

Read some history books.

[Skidmore]

7. Is snide the only setting you operate on?

[MonkeyFunk]

9. Is ignorant the only one you operate on?

[Didereaux]

2. All Democrats black, white, beige, pink, green, or puce are family,,,

more specifically they are an Irish family. You really, really, really don't ever want to go to an Irish family get together!

[harmonicon]

4. Good question.

I think we won't really know until 2010 or 2012 though. This stripping states of delegates thing is total crap - this is making a lot of people upset and may actually lead to some reforms being enacted. Things like this may keep people away from the party, which will hurt much more in the long run than in just one election. We also need a president who will stand up for traditional Democratic values, or our party will disappear (though perhaps not in name). If something isn't done about healthcare, minimum wage and trade we'll lose the votes of the poor, the working class and the unions. The election itself won't make this happen, but putting all of the focus on the politics of politics or propaganda instead of strong policy will make it happen.

[Skidmore]

6. I think there are traditional constitutencies that have been taken for granted

cycle after cycle. Courted for votes, their concerns are given lip service when the real work needs to be done. We've seen it time and time again and have discussed a full range of topics in this area on these boards over the years. We talk about change and need to deliver it. If we are not able to deliver, then those alliances will break down.

[Kolesar]

8. Which groups are on the outs?

The antiwar partisans ?

[cyclezealot]

10. The Democratic party has been the American version of UK's Labour.

It was Bill Clinton with Nafta that almost split apart those loyalties in 1993. I am not sure they have recovered. Maybe labor still sucks up DLC Demo types, but not sure that dilema has kept Reagan style Labor Democrats jaded about how loyal Democrats are to the needs of labor. Women's groups seem to suck up Hillary's positions. The liberal wing. They are torn between Nader's call for progressive politics. Maybe we have always been this divided. Yet, when backed up by the Republicans destruction of our Civil Liberties, maybe we can unify. ?

[eridani]

11. The two front runners don't really like the traditional Dem "special interests"

I suspect the real people that are active on their own behalf probably won't take it lying down.