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Main » 2015 » January » 9 » A New Progressive Era? Meet The Liberals Fighting For Control Of The Democratic Party
10:15 PM
A New Progressive Era? Meet The Liberals Fighting For Control Of The Democratic Party

Just like the Grinch was shocked to hear that he hadn’t ruined Christmas by stealing all of the presents, Republicans seem livid that their midterm election victories haven’t given way to the broken spirit of the Democratic Party. Just the opposite, in fact. In a way, the midterms are being hailed by many in the progressive movement as a wake up call. After years of running to the center, the Democrats seem poised to finally turn left.

No serious discussion about a more liberal liberal party can take place without first mentioning the astonishing work Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has done. Her populist, anti-big business message resonates with everyone (I suspect even many conservatives) in the wake of the financial collapse. At a time when big banks and megacorporations were begging to be allowed to start doing the same risky business that led to trillions of dollars in losses before, Warren is the voice of reason. A lighthouse warning those same ships away from the craggy rocks.

Meanwhile, liberal outsiders are pushing at the Democrats to get their acts together. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is showing them what an unapolegetic liberal looks like. Watching interviews with him is like seeing the progressive Id take human form and say all the things that lesser Democrats wouldn’t dream of speaking out loud.

Here he is on CNN absolutely demolishing the kinds of right-wing talking points the show’s hosts try to slip in:

 

The “proud liberal” seems almost extinct in modern politics, and that’s an absolute embarrassment. After all, considering how incredibly successful President Obama’s first six years in office have been, the notion that the majority of Democrats running for office during the 2014 midterms would shy away from his record is baffling. It’s no surprise that almost all of the ones who tried to hide from the president ended up losing by wide margins. They may have appeased some moderate Republicans by not posing for a photo with the president, but forgot to give liberals any reason to come out to the polls on Election Day.

In a counter example, one Michigan politician bucked the trend and embraced Obama and defended his record. He won by a massive margin.

But if the Democratic ship is adrift, then there is opportunity to let someone else lead it. Somebody different. Progressives are hoping to seize just such an opportunity.

In a recent article by Sahil Kapur for Talking Points Memo, he notes how hard progressives have been fighting for a shot to get their voices heard:

Progressive advocates see the next two years through the prism of the coming 2016 race. They want Democrats to use their minority to lay down a sweeping populist agenda for the country ahead of the election, which could include breaking up the big banks, a major clean energy jobs bill or investments in education to let college students graduate debt free.

“Things like that will inspire people to vote,” [Progressive Change Campaign Committe co-founder Adam] Green said. “So the question is, what do we do in 2015 and 2016 toward that north star vision?”

Of course, despite the optimism, Democrats will have to struggle with an American voter who is at best apathetic towards politics in general and at worse, as we’ve seen in the midterms, bafflingly right-leaning.

But within that frustration there are signs that even the American public is warming up to the idea of a new Progressive Era. The ink is still drying on a new Gallup poll that found that an astonishing 24 percent of Americans say they identify as “liberal.” It’s a record high and one that further supports the notion that liberals are coming out from the shadows and seizing the spotlight. To use the vernacular of the times, liberals might just be “having a moment.” Now is the time for Democratic politicians to recognize it, and like their liberal forebearers, use it to make a lasting, positive change on the nation.

If the 20th century was about liberals making huge strides, only to see them whittled away in the closing decades under names like Reagan and Bush, perhaps the 21st century will watch the pendulum swing back the other way. A climb towards progress after a veritable dark ages. What a time to be alive.

Category: Politics | Views: 2010 | Added by: LIBertea | Rating: 0.0/0
Total comments: 2
2 OldBarn  
0 Spam
One can only hope, the invisible collective, the one we do not hear much from, with all its, nuance, if you will, gets sick and tired of all the crap that is, has been, year after fucking (can I say that, fucking?) year!

Peace!

1 Scorpone  
0
good article and excellent interview...thanks, LIB

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