Except that was the whole idea with the Justice Democrats, that got AOC elected in the first place. Remember when she protested outside of Pelosi’s office? Seen any of that lately? Remember when she cried on the House floor? That strategy hasn’t worked. As soon as AOC got in, she got eaten by the party. I think advocates of the “take over the Dem party” strategy underestimate the enormous institutional pressure party members come under when they enter that bubble.
This is exactly right. I don’t think AOC has compromised as much as we think she has, but the institutional power is very real. I remember what things were like in 2016 too. They fought against Bernie’s influence at every step, and colluded to get their favorite candidate elected.
All we have to do is look at the most recent Third Way strategy document to understand. The right wing Democrats (“centrists”) would rather lose to Donald Trump with Harris than win with Sanders or any halfway progressive. It’s just a huge obstacle and if we do try to fix the party, we need to dislodge ALL of the entrenched right wing elements.
I know and agree with your points, but the time wasn’t ripe then. There are always people ahead of the curve and AOC is one. When she got there the Dem machine was still too powerful and too early to change it but now things have changed. People are now demanding that the old guard Dems either stand up and fight or get out and make room. AOC will be a leader in that.
The last election was a mortal wound to the old Dem party–not dead yet but dying and its infrastructure is there and ready to be taken over and appropriated for a new purpose.
Remember the TEA party is how the right started their movement. It took several election cycles but eventually every old guard Repub either joined them or got kicked out. They won because they had a significant movement of regular people behind them and then a charasmatic leader appeared and took the lead. That needs to happen on the left.
Except that was the whole idea with the Justice Democrats, that got AOC elected in the first place. Remember when she protested outside of Pelosi’s office? Seen any of that lately? Remember when she cried on the House floor? That strategy hasn’t worked. As soon as AOC got in, she got eaten by the party. I think advocates of the “take over the Dem party” strategy underestimate the enormous institutional pressure party members come under when they enter that bubble.
This is exactly right. I don’t think AOC has compromised as much as we think she has, but the institutional power is very real. I remember what things were like in 2016 too. They fought against Bernie’s influence at every step, and colluded to get their favorite candidate elected.
All we have to do is look at the most recent Third Way strategy document to understand. The right wing Democrats (“centrists”) would rather lose to Donald Trump with Harris than win with Sanders or any halfway progressive. It’s just a huge obstacle and if we do try to fix the party, we need to dislodge ALL of the entrenched right wing elements.
I know and agree with your points, but the time wasn’t ripe then. There are always people ahead of the curve and AOC is one. When she got there the Dem machine was still too powerful and too early to change it but now things have changed. People are now demanding that the old guard Dems either stand up and fight or get out and make room. AOC will be a leader in that.
The last election was a mortal wound to the old Dem party–not dead yet but dying and its infrastructure is there and ready to be taken over and appropriated for a new purpose.
Remember the TEA party is how the right started their movement. It took several election cycles but eventually every old guard Repub either joined them or got kicked out. They won because they had a significant movement of regular people behind them and then a charasmatic leader appeared and took the lead. That needs to happen on the left.