Dem Convention

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  • #119415
    Avatar photoZooey
    Moderator

    Anybody going to watch any of it? What part? What for?

    I usually watch some of each of the conventions. Often my interest is simply a case of wondering what their Advertising Campaign is going to be. How are they marketing themselves? But this time…I just DGAF. In fact, I’m nauseated. I don’t even want to hear Bernie.

    Maybe I’ll watch Kamala to see what her line of attack is going to be, and maybe Biden just to see if he can avoid losing his train of thought. But…I’m leaning towards sitting it out, and waiting for people to give me a reason to watch some of the “highlights.”

    I may watch the VP debate just to watch Pence get disemboweled.

    But mostly, I’m just settling in for the inevitable judicial hell we are entering on Nov. 4.

    #119419
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    #119428
    Avatar photowv
    Participant

    I would be physically unable to stomach watching the corporate-dems.

    I’ll tell you something else I wont watch — If Biden survives the Rep-Cheating and manages to win, I will stay away from news/tv for a month. I couldnt stomach the new version of ‘hopey-changey’ shit from the dem-corporatists.

    …course it might be fun to watch a little fox-news if Trump loses.

    w
    v

    #119455
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    #119472
    Avatar photowv
    Participant

    Well, there’s some weird-twisted truth in what the disgusting-Rep had to say though. In a weird way, AOC does get a lot more pub than any other Dem i can think of except maybe Pelosi. Why?

    The ‘why’ of it, is more interesting than the ‘what’ of it.

    I’m not sure ‘why’ she gets so much media-attention given her length of membership and power. Partly, i think its because the MSM likes to smear her. Partly its because she must get high-ratings. Partly, because the MSM likes to set up conflict in its narratives: AOC vs Pelosi, etc.

    I dunno. But Kasich is not completely off base. Not totally.

    w
    v

    #119475
    Avatar photowv
    Participant

    ======

    #119476
    Avatar photoZooey
    Moderator

    Well, there’s some weird-twisted truth in what the disgusting-Rep had to say though. In a weird way, AOC does get a lot more pub than any other Dem i can think of except maybe Pelosi. Why?

    The ‘why’ of it, is more interesting than the ‘what’ of it.

    I’m not sure ‘why’ she gets so much media-attention given her length of membership and power. Partly, i think its because the MSM likes to smear her. Partly its because she must get high-ratings. Partly, because the MSM likes to set up conflict in its narratives: AOC vs Pelosi, etc.

    I dunno. But Kasich is not completely off base. Not totally.

    w
    v

    I think you are right about all those things. I think it’s also because she’s hot.

    She isn’t politically different from other members of the Squad, and they get some attention too, but not as much as she does. The media makes it appear like she’s the captain of the Squad. So she just works from a media Ratings standpoint.

    Yeah, Kasich is right. He’s also a fucking asshole who should not be at the convention, and his placement there is a huge Tell about the DNC…though nothing that we didn’t already know. It’s not like the Democrats pretend to be progressive anymore.

    #119477
    waterfield
    Participant

    I would be physically unable to stomach watching the corporate-dems.

    I’ll tell you something else I wont watch — If Biden survives the Rep-Cheating and manages to win, I will stay away from news/tv for a month. I couldnt stomach the new version of ‘hopey-changey’ shit from the dem-corporatists.

    …course it might be fun to watch a little fox-news if Trump loses.

    w
    v

    At the risk of losing a friend let me say something profound:

    Since I’ve been posting on this board-like for a hundred years-I’ve noticed that 99.9 % of the political criticisms are directed at the democrats. A very, very, tiny number are directed at the Republicans. Might I suggest you and all others here move to the other side of the field?

    #119478
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    At the risk of losing a friend let me say something profound:

    Since I’ve been posting on this board-like for a hundred years-I’ve noticed that 99.9 % of the political criticisms are directed at the democrats. A very, very, tiny number are directed at the Republicans. Might I suggest you and all others here move to the other side of the field?

    That’s simply empirically not true. You are straight-up wrong about that.

    I don’t know where you get that impression from. Maybe it’s that you are much more dem party identified than many of us are, and so you’re more sensitive to that criticism. Either way you declaring it is just 0.9% against Trump strongly suggests you don’t read the board.

    You can personally dislike the criticism of mainstream establishment dems. That’s far and away your right. But you don’t have to worry about this group NOT criticizing Trump. We do it all the time, it’s common. This group tends to share a strong DISidentification with establishment dems…and that ain’t gonna change any time soon…but it is also heavily, and outspokenly, anti-Trump. You can rest assured about that.

    Examples: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/the-trump-thread-pro-con-who-cares/
    + http://theramshuddle.com/topic/trump-admits-today-that-hes-trying-to-sabotage-vote-by-mail/
    + http://theramshuddle.com/topic/voting-voter-suppression/
    + http://theramshuddle.com/topic/trump-biden-harris-and-my-humble-request-to-leftists-with-audiences/

    #119479
    Avatar photoZooey
    Moderator

    At the risk of losing a friend let me say something profound:

    Since I’ve been posting on this board-like for a hundred years-I’ve noticed that 99.9 % of the political criticisms are directed at the democrats. A very, very, tiny number are directed at the Republicans. Might I suggest you and all others here move to the other side of the field?

    It’s my observation that – on the web, and probably in real life, too – people notice the stuff they disagree with a lot more than the stuff they agree with. If you think about it, that makes sense for psychological reasons. Stuff that you agree with is unremarkable. Stuff you find objectionable is going to hit you 100% of the time.

    And…I have to say, in light of that, I’m glad you still come to the board from time-to-time, W. I am sincere about that. You are a good voice here, and I always read what you have to say with interest.

    Meanwhile…I agree with zn.

    And I will also add that you will find more criticism of the US than of other countries. That’s not because we HATE the US. It’s because its actions reflect us. We are a part of it. Similarly, although we don’t identify with the Democrats, it’s the party that represents The Left politically. We criticize it because it disappoints us in that respect. The GOP doesn’t disappoint us. It does not stand for us in any way, and we don’t expect it to ever represent us.

    But I think that you will find that every person in this forum agrees with Chomsky’s assertion that the GOP is the most dangerous organization in the history of the world. Without question.

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Avatar photoZooey.
    #119497
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    “AOC Hits Back After Kasich Claims She’s Extremist”

    Doel’s good. I identify with his whole approach to things.

    #119498
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    “AOC Hits Back After Kasich Claims She’s Extremist”

    Doel’s good. I identify with his whole approach to things.

    #119499
    waterfield
    Participant

    At the risk of losing a friend let me say something profound:

    Since I’ve been posting on this board-like for a hundred years-I’ve noticed that 99.9 % of the political criticisms are directed at the democrats. A very, very, tiny number are directed at the Republicans. Might I suggest you and all others here move to the other side of the field?

    It’s my observation that – on the web, and probably in real life, too – people notice the stuff they disagree with a lot more than the stuff they agree with. If you think about it, that makes sense for psychological reasons. Stuff that you agree with is unremarkable. Stuff you find objectionable is going to hit you 100% of the time.

    And…I have to say, in light of that, I’m glad you still come to the board from time-to-time, W. I am sincere about that. You are a good voice here, and I always read what you have to say with interest.

    Meanwhile…I agree with zn.

    And I will also add that you will find more criticism of the US than of other countries. That’s not because we HATE the US. It’s because its actions reflect us. We are a part of it. Similarly, although we don’t identify with the Democrats, it’s the party that represents The Left politically. We criticize it because it disappoints us in that respect. The GOP doesn’t disappoint us. It does not stand for us in any way, and we don’t expect it to ever represent us.

    But I think that you will find that every person in this forum agrees with Chomsky’s assertion that the GOP is the most dangerous organization in the history of the world. Without question.

    Ok-I respect what you wrote. Rather than telling me I’m dead wrong you provided a reasonable explanation of what I see. An yes-it does make sense. And I most certainly agree with Noam-especially when it comes to the freedom caucus (today’s Republicans) and the president. Having a man with his lack of mental acumen and challenges along with his immorality being that close to the nuclear button keeps me awake at night. When I think of my grandchildren and what they will face if this country continues on its path of “its all about me” I’m just sad not just for them but for all people-especially those less fortunate than they are. I get the love for Sanders and AOC, I really do, but I can’t bear the thought of another Trump 4 years. I think you heard that from Sanders tonight as well. If I thought Sanders would be able to beat Trump I would support, campaign, and vote for him. While some on this board act as if they despise and hate any democratic centrist like Biden-calling him a piece of shit-I’ve never felt that way about Sanders or any progressive. I like both him and AOC and respect both. Maybe I just think differently.

    #119500
    Avatar photoZooey
    Moderator

    While some on this board act as if they despise and hate any democratic centrist like Biden-calling him a piece of shit-I’ve never felt that way about Sanders or any progressive. I like both him and AOC and respect both. Maybe I just think differently.

    I’m glad to hear that.

    I think it’s safe to say that most Democrat loyalists DON’T think that way, though. I mean… the DNC is giving AOC 60 seconds of time. And Sanders got 3 minutes, I think. Maybe 4, but I think it was 3.

    They are giving more than that to John Kasich, a Republican. And I know they are playing the “Republicans for Biden” card, but that sends a message. That is not lost on us.

    #119501
    Avatar photoZooey
    Moderator

    THIS is the pull quote from Michelle Obama? THIS is the Big Takeaway from Night 1/4?

    #119504
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    Rather than telling me I’m dead wrong you provided a reasonable explanation of what I see.

    If you are incorrect about what you claim we say, why would I not say it? You said that more than 99% of our criticism is aimed at the democratic party, and that is literally not correct. I linked whole threads just on this page showing it. And this is coming from someone who has absolutely no hesitation about criticizing the right-centrist democratic party.

    You also seem to be saying that criticizing Biden runs the risk of electing Trump. I don’t agree. People here have actually discussed this–again in things you apparently did not read–and the majority here say the important thing is to dis-elect Trump. So my count is that everyone is voting for Biden–and I can tell you that that is the position among most progressives I know out there.

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Avatar photozn.
    #119512
    Avatar photowv
    Participant

    At the risk of losing a friend let me say something profound:

    Since I’ve been posting on this board-like for a hundred years-I’ve noticed that 99.9 % of the political criticisms are directed at the democrats. A very, very, tiny number are directed at the Republicans. Might I suggest you and all others here move to the other side of the field?

    ================

    Well, BillyT also noticed a while back, that sometimes it seems I post more anti-dem stuff than anti-rep stuff. Or something along those lines.

    I think there’s some truth to that. At the same time, I think its also true that I make it pretty clear (now and then) that the Reps are worse than the Dems.

    I post more virulent, rage-filled venting-posts about the Dems because:
    A) Thats how i feel. I feel differently than you. You dont feel rage towards Bernie and AOC. But I do feel rage towards the DNC. So there’s a difference there.
    B) I post less about the Reps, because in my brain, its just a shared-given among leftists that the Reps are Horrific, Biosphere-Killing, Lying, Beyond-words-Dangerous, Fascist, Gigantic-Pieces-of-American-Shit. As Noam sez, “the most dangerous organization in the world” or somethin like that.

    I dont think ‘the board’ posts more anti-dem stuff, than anti-rep stuff. I think wv does that. But not the board. But i dont keep track of it. Every individual here kinda has there own posting-style. Best not to lump us all together, i suppose.

    Look, W, we are all worried/concerned that Trump might win. I feel it everyday.
    He might win. Jeezus-fucking-christ. What a country.

    w
    v

    #119516
    JackPMiller
    Participant

    #119517
    Avatar photoBilly_T
    Participant

    My own two cents. Just this thread alone shows how “diverse” we leftists are. Just the examples of ZN, Zooey and WV show that. We’re a very small group here, but we don’t sing from the same hymnal, necessarily, and this diversity literally gets multiplied as we zoom out on the whole of Leftist World. Btw, HBO should do a show about that. A theme park of sorts. No robots, obviously. A lot of unruly cat-herding, though.

    That said, when I look back, I wish I had done a better job, especially regarding WV’s posts, of making this point:

    There is a huge difference between what individual leftists say, and what folks with audiences say, especially when it comes to elections. I don’t always follow my own advice on stuff like this, but I know this is the case: We shouldn’t get wound up about those individual voices.

    It’s really just shooting the shit more often than not, though it does have the potential for more: revising one’s views, working on one’s own arguments, trying to express and exchange thoughts, feelings, letting folks know where we stand, etc. etc. But we shouldn’t kid ourselves. What we say here, or in 99% of the rest of the Internetz, won’t budge the folks in power one iota. Knowing this means it really is okay to dissent, disagree, diverge on the issues. It really is okay that WV prefers Krystal Ball to the far cooler Francesca Fiorentini and Zoë Amanda Wilson. It really is okay that ZN has this very odd fixation on pies. And Zooey? Well, I reread Salinger’s collection the other day, and man, his namesake can be annoying at times, especially when he’s going after Franny for using the Jesus Prayer.

    Bottom line for me? I can’t stand orthodoxy. I’m not so thrilled when the supposedly heterodox start to sound alike either. Like when I was taking Art classes in college and a group of “outsiders” within that college basically dressed the same and sang from the same hymnal on all too much. Vive la différence!

    #119518
    Avatar photowv
    Participant

    There is a huge difference between what individual leftists say, and what folks with audiences say…

    ===========

    Just riffing off of that…I have a different voice for ‘Apoliticals,’ Mainstream-Dems, Repugnants, and Leftists. I have at least 4 different voices.

    Around here, in this tiny backwater leftist enclave, i use my leftist-voice. So i rage against Dems. In wv-brain its just a given the Reps are MORE-rage-worthy.

    Lately though, i’ve raged more about Trump. The mail thing got to me. The mail thing bothers me so much i cant even read the mail thread. It will cause me to rage too much during my day. So, i dont even open the thread now.

    Anyway, back to my point — I think if i had a big general american audience, i would not use my rams-leftist-board Voice. It would not be good strategy. I am aware of this. Its like flag burning. I dont burn flags in front of mainstreamers. I only burn flags among my leftist friends 🙂

    w
    v

    #119521
    Avatar photoBilly_T
    Participant

    There is a huge difference between what individual leftists say, and what folks with audiences say…

    ===========

    Just riffing off of that…I have a different voice for ‘Apoliticals,’ Mainstream-Dems, Repugnants, and Leftists. I have at least 4 different voices.

    Around here, in this tiny backwater leftist enclave, i use my leftist-voice. So i rage against Dems. In wv-brain its just a given the Reps are MORE-rage-worthy.

    Lately though, i’ve raged more about Trump. The mail thing got to me. The mail thing bothers me so much i cant even read the mail thread. It will cause me to rage too much during my day. So, i dont even open the thread now.

    Anyway, back to my point — I think if i had a big general american audience, i would not use my rams-leftist-board Voice. It would not be good strategy. I am aware of this. Its like flag burning. I dont burn flags in front of mainstreamers. I only burn flags among my leftist friends 🙂

    w
    v

    Makes a ton of sense, WV.

    “Apolitical.” I remember when I was in that category, and a hell of a lot “happier.” Always had a passion for the environment, for its protection, but I just didn’t give a damn about the two-party system, etc. etc. Didn’t follow it. Had better things to do.

    The genie’s out of the bottle, though. I can’t go back to my salad days.

    On the mail thingy: Trump is pushing the idea of redoing the election if people actually get the chance to vote (by mail). Of course, he has no say in the matter. No power regarding that. But given the fact that he’s destroyed so many other guardrails, and has his zombie horde of enablers, I’m not feeling so confident about that one remaining in place. Anything is possible in the Twilight Zone.

    Trump raises prospect of needing to redo the election

    (If this link shows all the updates, the one in question is at 10:16 a.m.)

    #119523
    waterfield
    Participant

    While some on this board act as if they despise and hate any democratic centrist like Biden-calling him a piece of shit-I’ve never felt that way about Sanders or any progressive. I like both him and AOC and respect both. Maybe I just think differently.

    I’m glad to hear that.

    I think it’s safe to say that most Democrat loyalists DON’T think that way, though. I mean… the DNC is giving AOC 60 seconds of time. And Sanders got 3 minutes, I think. Maybe 4, but I think it was 3.

    They are giving more than that to John Kasich, a Republican. And I know they are playing the “Republicans for Biden” card, but that sends a message. That is not lost on us.

    I don’t get the message you are implying. The message to me is we have a president that is closer to Hitler than anyone before. He must be stopped and if that means doing what’s necessary to get Republicans on board and lessening the time given to Sanders and or AOC then that is the path to take. I doubt it has anything to do with the policies advanced by Sanders or AOC as much as losing potential voters over those issues. I think they are right on the latter (i.e. voter loss) but who can tell. The only way would have been to have nominated Sanders. Right now the issue is not about the policies advanced by progressives. It’s about November. It this were reversed and Sanders was the nominee and the powers to be felt Biden should not even be mentioned at the convention I would be all for it. Again its about November and the Hitler wannabe.

    #119525
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    I don’t get the message you are implying.

    That’s because you don’t care as much about progressives and their position in the party machine. You also don’t think of the party machine as regressive.

    Anyway don’t worry, everyone but Trumpies know all about Trump. All of us already said that progressives will vote to dis-elect Trump.

    But we also notice how regressive the dem party machine is.

    #119537
    Avatar photoBilly_T
    Participant

    In a sane society, IMO Sanders would be considered in “the center” space of debate, policy, etc. He would be seen as a “centrist.” His call for the Nordic, Social Democratic model, would be seen as “the middle” of the political spectrum, the baseline, the default zone, so to speak. Those on the so-called “far left,” OTOH, would, like Peter Kropotkin, advocate for some form of “libertarian communism,” drawing from even earlier theory and practice such as the Diggers of 17th century Britain. A bit to their right would be “libertarian socialists” and then, perhaps -> democratic socialists -> radicals -> | Bernie | -> (today’s) liberals -> moderates -> conservatives -> tea-partiers -> anarcho-capitalists -> QAnon/Fascists or some such.

    Of course, things get confusing out there on the “far left,” as, from my reading, and especially in the 19th century, folks seemed to use terms like anarchist-socialism, anarchist-communism, libertarian-socialism, or just plain socialism (etc.) kinda interchangeably. At least that seemed to be the case with William Morris, Kropotkin and Elisee Reclus, among others.

    *The usual caveat: not implying I’m the Mayor of Political Terms, though I am the Master of the Multiverse.

    ;>)

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Avatar photoBilly_T.
    #119559
    waterfield
    Participant

    I don’t get the message you are implying.

    That’s because you don’t care as much about progressives and their position in the party machine. You also don’t think of the party machine as regressive.

    Anyway don’t worry, everyone but Trumpies know all about Trump. All of us already said that progressives will vote to dis-elect Trump.

    But we also notice how regressive the dem party machine is.

    That doesn’t even begin to address what I wrote.

    #119564
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    That doesn’t even begin to address what I wrote.

    Seems to be a lot of that going around. For example, I posted links to the threads just on this page showing that this board spends plenty of time and space on Trump and his problems. You apparently never saw that in the first place nor looked at the threads I linked. Those links directly counter your claims about what people here talk about and what percentage, etc.

    As it happens, in terms of your response to Zooey, I get full well what he was saying. The dem party machine does a lot of things to marginalize (and sometimes even demonize) progressives. He and I don’t buy the party argument that shifting to right center means winning elections. You do, you see it as legit. That’s an impasse. Conflicting visions of the same thing.

    Meanwhile, your constantly re-stated worry is that Trump could win, and you want to tell progressives not to contribute to that. My own different view is that Trump has no shot of winning no matter what, mostly because of his own obvious failings, and those of us who cannot accept the dem party status quo will both (a) vote for Trump (gotta stake the vampire) and (b) continue to express our problems with the dem party machine.

    It’s a normal thing when people have different points of view like that. It pretty much literally amounts to seeing things differently. But given that, IMO a progressive is going to read the marginalization of progressives…not a new thing with the dems…a certain way. We don’t see the dems as being just against Trump. They’re against both Trump and the progressives in their own party. If you don’t see that, that could be (a) because we’re wrong, or (b) you’re wrong and just tend not to see it. But more likely than just that, it just gets down to literally seeing things differently.

    #119565
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    That doesn’t even begin to address what I wrote.

    In terms of your response to Zooey, I get full well what he was saying. The dem party machine does a lot of things to marginalize (and sometimes even demonize) progressives. He and I don’t buy the party argument that shifting to right center means winning elections. You do, you see it as legit. That’s an impasse. Conflicting visions of the same thing.

    Meanwhile, your constantly re-stated worry is that Trump will win, and you want to tell progressives not to contribute to that. My own view is that Trump has no shot of winning no matter what, mostly because of his own obvious failings, and those of us who cannot accept the dem party status quo will both vote for Trump and continue to express our problems with the dem party machine.

    It’s a fair and honest thing when people have difference points of view like that. But given that, a progressive is going to read the marginalization of progressives…not a new thing with the dems…a certain way. We don’t see the dems as being just against Trump. They’re against both Trump and the progressives in their own party. If you don’t see that, that could be (a) because we’re wrong, or (b) you’re wrong and just tend not to see it. Or…that we just see the whole thing differently.

    #119566
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1295951897300480000/photo/1

    ==

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez@AOC
    So @NBCNews how are you going to fix the incredible amount of damage and misinformation that you are now responsible for?

    Because a 1:15am tweet to slip under the radar after blowing up a totally false and divisive narrative across networks isn’t it.

    NBC News@NBCNews
    Editor’s note and clarification:

    This tweet should have included more detail on the nominating process.

    We have deleted the tweet to prevent its further spread, but it can be seen here for the record.

    ==

    from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/live-blog/democratic-national-convention-live-updates-dnc-day-2-n1237094/ncrd1237209#liveBlogHeader

    Progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday nominated Bernie Sanders for president.Her appearance was a part of the procedure of the convention to give a nod to the person who came in second place in the delegate count, and she was asked to second Sanders’ nomination.

    She has previously endorsed Biden and she later congratulated Biden in an explanatory tweet.

    “In a time when millions of people in the United States are looking for deep systemic solutions to our crises of mass evictions, unemployment, and lack of health care, and espíritu del pueblo and out of a love for all people, I hereby second the nomination of Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont for president of the United States of America,” she said.

    #119567
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    ==

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez@AOC
    So @NBCNews how are you going to fix the incredible amount of damage and misinformation that you are now responsible for?

    Because a 1:15am tweet to slip under the radar after blowing up a totally false and divisive narrative across networks isn’t it.

    NBC News@NBCNews
    Editor’s note and clarification:

    This tweet should have included more detail on the nominating process.

    We have deleted the tweet to prevent its further spread, but it can be seen here for the record.

    ==

    from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/live-blog/democratic-national-convention-live-updates-dnc-day-2-n1237094/ncrd1237209#liveBlogHeader

    Progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday nominated Bernie Sanders for president.Her appearance was a part of the procedure of the convention to give a nod to the person who came in second place in the delegate count, and she was asked to second Sanders’ nomination.

    She has previously endorsed Biden and she later congratulated Biden in an explanatory tweet.

    “In a time when millions of people in the United States are looking for deep systemic solutions to our crises of mass evictions, unemployment, and lack of health care, and espíritu del pueblo and out of a love for all people, I hereby second the nomination of Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont for president of the United States of America,” she said.

    #119608
    Avatar photoBilly_T
    Participant

    Good article from Nathan “the hero” Robinson.

    https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/08/sometimes-the-chicken-kills-you-though

    A sidebar within the article will break your heart. It’s about the beyond obscene treatment of chickens, and by extension, pretty much all animals raised to be our food sources. Chickens as subject are introduced as a metaphor/(false) binary choice at the start of said article.

    An excerpt:

    We need to reject the view of politics embedded in Sedaris’ analogy. The reason I bring up salmonella is to point out that it’s not inherently a given that someone with a (D) after their name is the best choice. We have to examine the candidates carefully. Yes, the Republican Party in this country is so monstrous that there are almost no conceivable circumstances in which voting Republican is the better choice. But to refuse examine your own candidate, to ask even the most basic questions about “how are they cooked” and what they stand for, means that over time you’re probably going to end up being served worse and worse chicken, because the airline staff (DNC) realize they can get away with serving you something that’s extremely close to a plate of shit and you’ll still eat it.

    My colleague Briahna Joy Gray explains this more eloquently and less disgustingly in her “Defense of Litmus Tests.” Briahna points out that when we make it clear at the outset that we have few standards for our party’s candidate, and we will vote for them regardless of how much they depart from or even betray our values, we are preemptively surrendering the leverage that we need to use to get better candidates. One of the most absurd moments in the Democratic primary was when progressives were asked if they would support the Democratic candidate even if it was Michael Bloomberg, a racist, sexist, Republican billionaire who might arguably have actually been worse than Trump. But this is what you get if you make it clear that you’re willing to be pushed around, to sit silently and eat your poisoned chicken.

    Notice how passive the voter is in Sedaris’ analogy. They are strapped into their seat, and their only ability is to make a binary choice between two meals. Presumably, since this is supposed to represent an election, it is not possible to “not eat at all”—they’re going to get something, and if they remain undecided, the airline staff will force-feed them the plate of shit with tiny bits of broken glass. (Not even Spirit does that yet.) We do not participate in making the meal, we just have to accept what we are given.

    But we can’t accept that candidates are just going to be handed to us and that our role is to pick the least fecal one. There is no reason we cannot have good meals, but voters have to see themselves as active participants in the political process who get to make demands of their parties, who do not just have to accept a menu of options that has been pre-decided for them.

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