I would say that establishment politicians across the board are having a hard time coming across with a ring of authenticity. Bill Clinton, the prototypical modern centrist, sought the presidency at a time when the Third Way looked more like an authentic expression of Democratic centrism. Now it looks more like the failure of the Democratic establishment to develop winning alternatives to Trumpism and right-wing populism in general—just as people like Liz Cheney and Ron DeSantis represent a similar failure of the Republican establishment.
I have also been saying for a while that if the Democratic establishment is going to be portrayed by the right as an engine of left-wing radicalism no matter how much the establishment itself reaches for the center, there is an opening for authentic expressions of leftism inside the Democratic party. Real leftism cannot be worse for Democratic messaging than traditionally centrist positions that are merely portrayed as “far left” by the right. Especially if Democrats can then promise more high-spirited political and social engagements for more people than Republicans can.
I hope that the Mamdani campaign can succeed where Ocasio-Cortez did and Jamaal Bowman or Ilhan Omar did not: by inviting other constituencies to align with this developing left-wing coalition. Some observers on the right made fun of Ocasio-Cortez for advertising after the 2024 election that she wanted to hear from constituents who had voted for both her and Trump. In fact, this is the kind of outreach that makes enduring majorities. Unfortunately, even most newly elected outsiders never develop this talent like she did.
Eventually, for the betterment of all, politicians must find common ground with people who did not vote for them. We will not continue to have a country while “outlawing” the opposition in perpetuity.
I read a story a number of years ago on Cuomo He was once married to Kerry Kennedy One time they were all at Hyannis The Kennedys, of course, were drinking ( good Irish people) and singing Irish songs Cuomo was sitting there glumly and refused to sing an Italian song when asked
Another time one of the Kennedys had died and again they were at Hyannis They, of course, are famously closed to talking about death Of course Cuomo ran down the street and started giving a speech to the press
This would be the last guy you would want to take to a party
Not a political comment on Koch, but he knew how to have a good time
- Mamdani won in the only way a far left candidate can win anywhere: by benefitting from being in a field of multiple candidates with strong enough power bases to each get large portions of the vote, with none of them willing to back out and support another candidate. That's how DiBlasio won his primary.
- Mamdani isn't the first far-left candidate ever to win the NYC Democratic Party primary. Bill DiBlasio did, and became mayor.
- DiBlasio's support cratered once he was in office and had to make decisions that upset the Commies who were his base. He tried to go back and forth between his base and the general population and ended up not making anyone happy. The same thing will happen to Mamdami, unless so many people stay home in the fall that Sliwa gets elected instead.
The word 'unique' remains a wonderfully evocative and very usefully precise term for which there are no equally simple substitutes. I didn't expect someone who writes as well as you to misuse it to cover 'unusual'. I think that usage is pointless slang which adds nothing to English, in fact, it creates a void where there was clarity.
I would say that establishment politicians across the board are having a hard time coming across with a ring of authenticity. Bill Clinton, the prototypical modern centrist, sought the presidency at a time when the Third Way looked more like an authentic expression of Democratic centrism. Now it looks more like the failure of the Democratic establishment to develop winning alternatives to Trumpism and right-wing populism in general—just as people like Liz Cheney and Ron DeSantis represent a similar failure of the Republican establishment.
I have also been saying for a while that if the Democratic establishment is going to be portrayed by the right as an engine of left-wing radicalism no matter how much the establishment itself reaches for the center, there is an opening for authentic expressions of leftism inside the Democratic party. Real leftism cannot be worse for Democratic messaging than traditionally centrist positions that are merely portrayed as “far left” by the right. Especially if Democrats can then promise more high-spirited political and social engagements for more people than Republicans can.
I hope that the Mamdani campaign can succeed where Ocasio-Cortez did and Jamaal Bowman or Ilhan Omar did not: by inviting other constituencies to align with this developing left-wing coalition. Some observers on the right made fun of Ocasio-Cortez for advertising after the 2024 election that she wanted to hear from constituents who had voted for both her and Trump. In fact, this is the kind of outreach that makes enduring majorities. Unfortunately, even most newly elected outsiders never develop this talent like she did.
Eventually, for the betterment of all, politicians must find common ground with people who did not vote for them. We will not continue to have a country while “outlawing” the opposition in perpetuity.
First they call you a radical then they name an airport after you is a BANGER.
I read a story a number of years ago on Cuomo He was once married to Kerry Kennedy One time they were all at Hyannis The Kennedys, of course, were drinking ( good Irish people) and singing Irish songs Cuomo was sitting there glumly and refused to sing an Italian song when asked
Another time one of the Kennedys had died and again they were at Hyannis They, of course, are famously closed to talking about death Of course Cuomo ran down the street and started giving a speech to the press
This would be the last guy you would want to take to a party
Not a political comment on Koch, but he knew how to have a good time
Hugely illuminating. You knocked another out of the park for me.
Three points:
- Mamdani won in the only way a far left candidate can win anywhere: by benefitting from being in a field of multiple candidates with strong enough power bases to each get large portions of the vote, with none of them willing to back out and support another candidate. That's how DiBlasio won his primary.
- Mamdani isn't the first far-left candidate ever to win the NYC Democratic Party primary. Bill DiBlasio did, and became mayor.
- DiBlasio's support cratered once he was in office and had to make decisions that upset the Commies who were his base. He tried to go back and forth between his base and the general population and ended up not making anyone happy. The same thing will happen to Mamdami, unless so many people stay home in the fall that Sliwa gets elected instead.
Mamdani won because he focused on affordability
Just sharing: The Canary in the Coal Mine: Zohran Mamdani and his Push for Theocratic Socialism across America https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-zohran
AOC may be a one off but she is sincere and is an excellent communicator Her speech at the convention would rank is the top 5
She also gets it She is one of the left behinds and they relate to her
I like Bernie two but would probably never vote for them on a national level A lot of great ideas but how are they going to pay for them?
Excellent assessment, Gabe.🎈⭐️🎈
I love this!!! Stephen Colbert for President!!!!!
The word 'unique' remains a wonderfully evocative and very usefully precise term for which there are no equally simple substitutes. I didn't expect someone who writes as well as you to misuse it to cover 'unusual'. I think that usage is pointless slang which adds nothing to English, in fact, it creates a void where there was clarity.