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Commentary: In an extreme world, Democrats need to move left
Chicago Tribune ^ | October 16, 2017 | by Leonard Pitts Jr.

Posted on 10/16/2017 1:51:04 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

I’ve been struggling with this question for a month.

A Democratic state legislator rose after a speech and asked me a simple thing: What should Democrats do now? What should their message be?

I had no idea how to answer that.

Indeed, as internecine fighting loudly fractures the GOP, Democrats quietly struggle with a civil war of their own. Largely shut out of power at the state and federal levels, the party is torn between pragmatists who want to chase Donald Trump’s voters with a centrist economic agenda and insurrectionists a la Bernie Sanders who want to move hard to the left. What should Democrats do?

As I said, I’ve been wrestling with that. And I finally have an answer.

The Democrats need to move left.

That conclusion does not come easily to me. I am, by nature, a centrist deeply suspicious of political extremes, which I consider Kryptonite to thoughtfulness. I remain convinced no ideology has a monopoly on good ideas. Moreover, I'm skeptical the agenda proffered by the likes of Sen. Sanders — free college? — is politically or economically do-able.

Say what you will about Trump: He was definitive, and did not lack for boldness in his appeal to white resentments and rage. What if Democrats were as bold and definitive as he, but for universal health care, sane immigration reform, a living wage, fixing the broken justice system, jobs training and day care for families on public assistance, addressing climate change and not blowing up the world in manhood-measuring contests with Asian dictators? What if they were pugnacious and uncompromising in the service of simple decency? Of inclusion and compassion? Of just treating people right?

If these days you must be an extremist, well ... there are worse things to be an extremist for.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democrats; journalism; marxism; socialism
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Leonard Pitts is a columnist for the Miami Herald.
1 posted on 10/16/2017 1:51:04 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer; beaversmom; 2ndDivisionVet

2 posted on 10/16/2017 1:52:10 PM PDT by KC_Lion (If you want on First Lady Melania's, Ivanka Trump's or Sarah Palin's Ping Lists, just let me know.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I don’t think this guy understands what being far left really means. He just talks about passion for Dem talking points, which have little to do with Dem policy outcomes.


3 posted on 10/16/2017 1:53:13 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine (White is the new Black.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

So, I guess Mr. Pitts wants to knock the left-leaning table THROUGH the floor?


4 posted on 10/16/2017 1:53:37 PM PDT by woweeitsme
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yes, please... go left young moron.


5 posted on 10/16/2017 1:53:46 PM PDT by samtheman (As an oil exporter, why would the Russians prefer Trump to Hillary? (Get it or be stupid.))
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
"What should their message be?"

How can they best portray themselves in a way they are not?
6 posted on 10/16/2017 1:53:56 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: KC_Lion

LOL!


7 posted on 10/16/2017 1:54:04 PM PDT by samtheman (As an oil exporter, why would the Russians prefer Trump to Hillary? (Get it or be stupid.))
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

There’s no farther left for the Democrats Party to go, is there?


8 posted on 10/16/2017 1:54:16 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
And completely lose everyone in flyover country? (shrug)
9 posted on 10/16/2017 1:54:30 PM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's Economic Cure)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Mass suicide would be a good start.


10 posted on 10/16/2017 1:54:45 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Paging Stu Pitts... Is anyone listening to Stu Pitt’s ideas?


11 posted on 10/16/2017 1:57:12 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Did Barack Obama denounce Communism and dictatorships when he visited Cuba as a puppet of the State?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
"Ideas have consequences." - Weaver.

America, under what Madison called a "benign" government influence, became a place of freedom, creativity, productivity, and plenty--enough to share with the world.

Other places, under the spell of these ideas of "socialism" and Utopia, have come and gone, or, if they exist, the are miserable places where tyrannical clowns squelch creativity among the citizens, destroy productivity, produce poverty and gloom, and look to other countries to sustain their people, while the leaders soak up all that the citizens produce.

Current example: Venezuela!

Yet, in America, the beneficiaries of the Founders' system of free people and limited government prattle on and on about how they're going to "fight" for the little people whose votes they covet!

Enough already!

12 posted on 10/16/2017 1:57:30 PM PDT by loveliberty2
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

>>The Democrats need to move left.<<

Hey dnc — PLEASE take this guy’s advice! 2016 was a fluke!!!!


13 posted on 10/16/2017 1:57:39 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (ALL records destroyed/faked, books rewritten, statues renamed, dates altered and more.../1984)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yes. Go full retard.


14 posted on 10/16/2017 1:57:58 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I read that as "Leonard Pitts is a communist for the Miami Herald."
15 posted on 10/16/2017 1:58:34 PM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
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To: kaehurowing

If they go as far Left as the Weather Underground, they’ll start killng tens of millions of Americans who can’t be politically indoctrinated in the ways of glorious Communism and bank robbery.


16 posted on 10/16/2017 1:59:45 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Did Barack Obama denounce Communism and dictatorships when he visited Cuba as a puppet of the State?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Dick Turban was just admonishing them not to let their communism show and this guy wants to let it all hang out.


17 posted on 10/16/2017 2:01:02 PM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents - Know Islam, No Peace -No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: AndyJackson

LOL


18 posted on 10/16/2017 2:01:52 PM PDT by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: a fool in paradise

Uh, tens of millions of us will be shooting at them like a rifle behind every blade of grass & such.

I guess ol’ Leonardo wants to go door to door confiscating guns. Now that’ll work.

;^)


19 posted on 10/16/2017 2:03:45 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The ,Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Here’s my take.

Honestly, it’s too late for Democrats. They sold their soul to identity politics long ago.

Democrats have been extraordinarily successful in importing leftist kooks and fringe groups into their Party. In the short term Democrats successfully cobbled together a coalition made up of Democrats, kooks, and the fringe left. The problem is, much like immigration, the kooks and the fringe left has taken over the Democrat Party. While they weren’t looking, Democrats got booted out of their own Party.

Clinton was the take-off trajectory of the Democrats until they completely changed trajectory with the radical Obama and then they sought to go even higher off the kook scale with Bernie and they’re never going back. It’s too late.

Democrats sold their soul and now the kook “immigrant” radicals are in full control of their Party.


20 posted on 10/16/2017 2:04:04 PM PDT by Obadiah
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