Democratic Socialist Scores Upset in New York Primary

[lpetrich]

It’s a shame that we’re relying on 28 year old Latina waitresses to do all the work of saving us by PZ Myers, noting Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ousts Joe Crowley in New York stunner, CNN projects - CNNPolitics

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Latina running her first campaign, ousted 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district on Tuesday, CNN projects, in the most shocking upset of a rollicking political season.

An activist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Ocasio-Cortez won over voters in the minority-majority district with a ruthlessly efficient grassroots bid, even as Crowley -- the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House -- outraised her by a 10-to-1 margin.

This was in New York State's 14th Congressional District, NW Queens and E Bronx in New York City. Ocasio 2018 is her website.

4 major lessons from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's titanic upset in New York - CNNPolitics:
1. The Democratic base is sick of the establishment -- like Hillary Clinton
2. Politics punishes people who get ahead of themselves -- Rep. Crowley seemed a bit too eager to become the top Democrat in the House
3. House Democrats need some younger blood -- the three top Democrats are old: Nancy Pelosi (78), Steny Hoyer (79) and Jim Clyburn (77) -- Crowley (56) was young in comparison
4. Women rule -- female Democratic candidates can win

First, this: "Remarkable: after tonight, Dems have nominated women in 73/150 (49%) of '18 House races (excluding Dem incumbents). On GOP side, just 18/112 (16%)."
Then, this: "UPDATE: so far in 2018 Dem House primaries featuring at least one woman, one man & no incumbent, women have been the top vote-getters in 66/93 cases (71%). On GOP side, just 9/26 (35%). Never seen anything like it."

Here's the platform that helped Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez win in NYC - Business Insider

PZ Myers also showed a copy of her platform:

• Medicare for All -- medicine, vision, dental & mental health care
• Universal Jobs Guarantee -- serve our communities with living wages
• Fully Funded Public Schools & Universities -- plus taxing Wall Street to support tuition-free public universities and trade schools
• Paid Family & Sick Leave -- giving everyone the right to choose care
• Housing as a Human Right -- safe, secure, habitable, & affordable homes
• Justice System Reform -- end the War on Drugs, demilitarize our police and abolish for-profit incarceration
• Immigration Justice -- protect DREAMers & TPS recipients, simplify the paths to citizenship and abolish ICE
• Infrastructural Overhaul -- invest in 100% renewable green industry
• Clean Campaign Finance -- ending the corrupting influence of corporate finance in public elections
• An Economy of Peace -- that supports are veterans and actively values all humanity

PZ continues:

While they’re absorbing that agenda, could they also add support for labor unions to that list? And reproductive health? That thing is just the start.

Back to BI, AOC wants to cancel all student debt and she wants a Federal Jobs Guarantee with a $15 minimum wage.

She says she wants to extend tax benefits to working- and middle-class homeowners, expand the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, provide housing for the homeless, and permanently fund the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

...
She also supports legalizing marijuana at the federal level, releasing individuals sentenced for nonviolent drug offenses, ending cash bail, and "automatic, independent" investigations when people are killed by law enforcement officials.

 

[lpetrich]

Conway says Ocasio-Cortez now the face of the Democratic Party - Business Insider
Kellyanne Conway:

"I think every Democratic candidate out there could be asked now... 'Do you agree or disagree with the new face of the Democratic Party that we should abolish [ICE] altogether, the brave men and women who are trying to process these claims and in many ways protect children who may be smuggled by people who aren't related to them?''" Conway said.

She also said Ocasio-Cortez, "like many Democrats," is for "abortion on demand."

Let's hope that AOC provides cover for many Democrats to move leftward. They could brag about how moderate they are even as they do so.

 

[fromderinside]

Wow. a Socialist won in NY CITY. Texicans must be soooo scared. The world has been flipped on its , uh, feet. Mustn't miss the opportunity to poke fun at those holding anti-business in sentiment, those poor sweater on shoulder people who haven't yet left the 1980s. Thinking one has scored a victory when someone not conservative upsets the new frozen in place humanists must be, well, mildly pleasant.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

It’s a shame that we’re relying on 28 year old Latina waitresses to do all the work of saving us by PZ Myers, noting Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ousts Joe Crowley in New York stunner, CNN projects - CNNPolitics

This was in New York State's 14th Congressional District, NW Queens and E Bronx in New York City. Ocasio 2018 is her website.

4 major lessons from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's titanic upset in New York - CNNPolitics:
1. The Democratic base is sick of the establishment -- like Hillary Clinton
2. Politics punishes people who get ahead of themselves -- Rep. Crowley seemed a bit too eager to become the top Democrat in the House
3. House Democrats need some younger blood -- the three top Democrats are old: Nancy Pelosi (78), Steny Hoyer (79) and Jim Clyburn (77) -- Crowley (56) was young in comparison
4. Women rule -- female Democratic candidates can win

Woah there horsey!

Firstly, this is a +26 D district and shouldn't be mistaken as some sort of new watermark on acceptance of liberal policies in the US. She didn't win the general election in a +10 R district!
Secondly, establishment Democrats have won most of the primaries.

For fuck sakes, Trump is going to kill any chance of moderating SCOTUS... and people are still looking at a result like in NYC as some sort of new liberal hope. When the Democrats last had a good majority in the House, it required a couple dozen plus conservative blue dogs to do it. And that was before the gerrymandering. People must be very weary too look to deep into this NYC primary.

 

[Underseer]

We have to stop calling them establishment Democrats and start calling them what they are: conservative Democrats.

- - - Updated - - -

Wow. a Socialist won in NY CITY. Texicans must be soooo scared. The world has been flipped on its , uh, feet. Mustn't miss the opportunity to poke fun at those holding anti-business in sentiment, those poor sweater on shoulder people who haven't yet left the 1980s. Thinking one has scored a victory when someone not conservative upsets the new frozen in place humanists must be, well, mildly pleasant.

Right. She's a full blown socialist who wants to make all profits and corporations illegal, just like FDR did. Remember when FDR got rid of capitalism and made all profits and corporations illegal?

She also wants to create "re-education camps" just like in that Hollywood movie in which a bunch of scrappy jocks repelled a Soviet invasion by screaming the name of their football mascot.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The point is, she isn't winning in purple districts. These strong districts is where we should be attempting to get real liberals in the House.

 

[Horatio Parker]

Crowley is a machine politician who had the seat handed to him 20 years ago. Nose to the grindstone rather than charisma.

Ocasio-Cortez' degree is in economics.

 

[Terrell]

The point is, she isn't winning in purple districts. These strong districts is where we should be attempting to get real liberals in the House.

Exactly.

That's how the very left leaning people get voices in legislatures, and some say in the agenda. More people who are very liberal should do the same. You're still going to have to work with party members you disagree with, but you'll at least have some voice in decisions.

 

[Derec]

It’s a shame that we’re relying on 28 year old Latina waitresses to do all the work of saving us by PZ Myers,

Saving us? How will an extremist "save" us? She will contribute to even more polarization in Congress.
Seriously, Dems seem to be doing what Republicans have done with the Tea Party. They primaried more moderate incumbents with extremists, but with so few congressional districts being competitive, these extremists still win.

1. The Democratic base is sick of the establishment -- like Hillary Clinton

From the frying pan into the fire ...

2. Politics punishes people who get ahead of themselves -- Rep. Crowley seemed a bit too eager to become the top Democrat in the House

And by primarying leadership contenders because they are not left-wing enough you make Congressional Dems weaker.

3. House Democrats need some younger blood -- the three top Democrats are old: Nancy Pelosi (78), Steny Hoyer (79) and Jim Clyburn (77) -- Crowley (56) was young in comparison

They do. But 50s is prime age for leadership. Rejuvenation of the Democratic Party leadership is hindered if you get rid of quinquagenarians and keep the septuagenarians (like Hoyer and Pelosi) and octogenarians (like Diane Feinstein and Maxine Waters). Speaking of generations, I think we should skip right past Millennials and go from Gen-Xers straight to Postmillennials.

4. Women rule -- female Democratic candidates can win

You'd think she was the first Democratic woman elected to Congress (note she hasn't even been elected yet) ever with a statement like this.

[*]Medicare for All -- medicine, vision, dental & mental health care

Congress with solid Dem majorities in both chambers barely passed ACA aka Obamacare, and could not do it without a lot of horsetrading. M4A is a nonstarter.

[*]Universal Jobs Guarantee -- serve our communities with living wages

Jobs guarantee? That sounds like something from the old socialist block. The "jobs guarantee" can be summed up in the old Soviet joke "we pretend to work and they pretend to pay us".

[*]Fully Funded Public Schools & Universities -- plus taxing Wall Street to support tuition-free public universities and trade schools

Would be nice, but very expensive. Maybe focus on doing something about increasing tuitions.

[*]Paid Family & Sick Leave -- giving everyone the right to choose care

Expensive, but less of a pipe dream than her other points.

[*]Housing as a Human Right -- safe, secure, habitable, & affordable homes

Federal government as the landlord?

[*]Justice System Reform -- end the War on Drugs, demilitarize our police and abolish for-profit incarceration

I could agree with most of this except "demilitarize the police". Such demands are basically about taking away riot control equipment from police.

[*]Immigration Justice -- protect DREAMers & TPS recipients, simplify the paths to citizenship and abolish ICE

Abolish ICE? And just let illegals roam with no danger of deportation? What she wants is unchecked illegal migration into US. More Latino voters - better for her, right?

[*]Infrastructural Overhaul -- invest in 100% renewable green industry

A nice idea, but what is ignored is that it takes time. For the foreseeable future we will need oil and gas, which means we need that infrastructure as well. Occasional Cortez is against pipelines though. According to NY Times, she was one of the imbeciles who traveled 2000 miles to protest against the DAPL oil pipeline.

[*]Clean Campaign Finance -- ending the corrupting influence of corporate finance in public elections

Except that you would have to amend the constitution for that.

[*]An Economy of Peace -- that supports are veterans and actively values all humanity

What does that mean concretely?

Back to BI, AOC wants to cancel all student debt and she wants a Federal Jobs Guarantee with a $15 minimum wage.

Cancel all student debt? Why should taxpayers be on the hook to pay for somebody's $100,000 student debt to get an Art History degree from a private liberal arts college?
And $15 minimum wage? Many jobs are not worth $15/h.

She says she wants to extend tax benefits to working- and middle-class homeowners, expand the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, provide housing for the homeless, and permanently fund the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

I wonder how she proposes to pay for all that. I mean, she supposedly got a degree in economics and all.

She also supports legalizing marijuana at the federal level, releasing individuals sentenced for nonviolent drug offenses, ending cash bail, and "automatic, independent" investigations when people are killed by law enforcement officials.

Police shootings are already investigated. And most are so non-controversial that an outside investigation is not warranted. As to marijuana, I agree with it on principle, but am miffed so-called "progressives" do not likewise support legalized sex work.
I propose the following to the neo-hippies: I will support your access to weed if you support my access to pussy. Deal?

- - - Updated - - -

Ocasio-Cortez' degree is in economics.

Not that'd you'd notice given her proposals.

She is also taking the Palestinian side and is against Israel.

 

[lpetrich]

Fox News is freaking out over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory | Salon.com

Sean Hannity got worked up over her platform, showing a slide that stated

• Medicare for All
• Housing as a Human Right
• A Federal Jobs Guarantee
• Gun Control / Assault Weapons Ban
• Criminal Justice Reform, End Private Prisons
• Immigration Justice / Abolish ICE
• Solidarity with Puerto Rico
• Mobilizing against Climate Change
• Clean Campaign Finance
• Higher Education for All
• Women's Rights
• Support LGBTQIA+
• Support Seniors
• Curb Wall Street Gambling: Restore Glass Steagall

Although I myself consider some of her platform excessive or impractical, I think that it's good that she is running.

 

[Horatio Parker]

Fox News is freaking out over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory | Salon.com

Sean Hannity got worked up over her platform, showing a slide that stated

• Medicare for All
• Housing as a Human Right
• A Federal Jobs Guarantee
• Gun Control / Assault Weapons Ban
• Criminal Justice Reform, End Private Prisons
• Immigration Justice / Abolish ICE
• Solidarity with Puerto Rico
• Mobilizing against Climate Change
• Clean Campaign Finance
• Higher Education for All
• Women's Rights
• Support LGBTQIA+
• Support Seniors
• Curb Wall Street Gambling: Restore Glass Steagall

Although I myself consider some of her platform excessive or impractical, I think that it's good that she is running.

Which is excessive or impractical? Just curious....

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Fox News is freaking out over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory | Salon.com

Sean Hannity got worked up over her platform, showing a slide that stated

• Medicare for All
• Housing as a Human Right
• A Federal Jobs Guarantee
• Gun Control / Assault Weapons Ban
• Criminal Justice Reform, End Private Prisons
• Immigration Justice / Abolish ICE
• Solidarity with Puerto Rico
• Mobilizing against Climate Change
• Clean Campaign Finance
• Higher Education for All
• Women's Rights
• Support LGBTQIA+
• Support Seniors
• Curb Wall Street Gambling: Restore Glass Steagall

Although I myself consider some of her platform excessive or impractical, I think that it's good that she is running.

Which is excessive or impractical? Just curious....

My guess is Federal jobs guarantee and abolish ICE, and maybe the ever growing acronym... Seriously, however am I supposed to remember LGBTQIA?! If I enter it into Google, it's going to think I had a stroke!

 

[TSwizzle]

Medicare for All -- medicine, vision, dental & mental health care
Universal Jobs Guarantee -- serve our communities with living wages
Fully Funded Public Schools & Universities -- plus taxing Wall Street to support tuition-free public universities and trade schools
Paid Family & Sick Leave -- giving everyone the right to choose care
Housing as a Human Right -- safe, secure, habitable, & affordable homes
Justice System Reform -- end the War on Drugs, demilitarize our police and abolish for-profit incarceration
Immigration Justice -- protect DREAMers & TPS recipients, simplify the paths to citizenship and abolish ICE
Infrastructural Overhaul -- invest in 100% renewable green industry
Clean Campaign Finance -- ending the corrupting influence of corporate finance in public elections
An Economy of Peace -- that supports are veterans and actively values all humanity

Most of this is just bonkers. Who is going to pay for this ?

 

[lpetrich]

Here is what I consider excessive or impractical:

• Housing as a Human Right
• A Federal Jobs Guarantee
• Abolish ICE
• Higher Education for All

I'm also doubtful about Medicare for All. But most of the rest of her platform is fairly sensible, even if sometimes difficult to interpret. "Solidarity with Puerto Rico"? I'm not sure what that means, but I agree that Puerto Rico ought to be treated with the same respect as (say) Florida and Texas, something that the Trump Administration did not do after last year's hurricanes.

As to LGBTQIA+ it means:

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Transgender
• Genderqueer
• Intersex
• Asexual
• Other alternative sexualities and gender identities

 

[repoman]

You are at genius knowledge level lpetrich, this is gobbledygook to the masses.

 

[Underseer]

Here is what I consider excessive or impractical:

• Housing as a Human Right
• A Federal Jobs Guarantee
• Abolish ICE
• Higher Education for All

I'm also doubtful about Medicare for All. But most of the rest of her platform is fairly sensible, even if sometimes difficult to interpret. "Solidarity with Puerto Rico"? I'm not sure what that means, but I agree that Puerto Rico ought to be treated with the same respect as (say) Florida and Texas, something that the Trump Administration did not do after last year's hurricanes.

As to LGBTQIA+ it means:

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Transgender
• Genderqueer
• Intersex
• Asexual
• Other alternative sexualities and gender identities

OK, now what do you find impractical about any of that?

America used to offer free higher education to anyone who wanted it. State schools used to free to people from that state. If you wanted to pay more for a degree from a private school, that was an option.

Lots of other industrialized Western nations are able to provide free higher education to anyone who wants it. Denmark even pays Danes a salary to go to school so that they can afford to live.

More education leads to a better society. We all benefit. What about that is not worthwhile to you?

We had something akin to a federal jobs guarantee during the FDR era. That's part of the reason we were able to climb out of the Great Depression.

ICE is nothing more than a modern Gestapo.

Guaranteed housing should be a basic human right. What do you think is served by allowing a portion of the citizenry to live on the streets?

 

[Underseer]

You are at genius knowledge level lpetrich, this is gobbledygook to the masses.

Wow, he's a genius? Then he must be right!

 

[J842P]

Medicare for All -- medicine, vision, dental & mental health care
Universal Jobs Guarantee -- serve our communities with living wages
Fully Funded Public Schools & Universities -- plus taxing Wall Street to support tuition-free public universities and trade schools
Paid Family & Sick Leave -- giving everyone the right to choose care
Housing as a Human Right -- safe, secure, habitable, & affordable homes
Justice System Reform -- end the War on Drugs, demilitarize our police and abolish for-profit incarceration
Immigration Justice -- protect DREAMers & TPS recipients, simplify the paths to citizenship and abolish ICE
Infrastructural Overhaul -- invest in 100% renewable green industry
Clean Campaign Finance -- ending the corrupting influence of corporate finance in public elections
An Economy of Peace -- that supports are veterans and actively values all humanity

Most of this is just bonkers. Who is going to pay for this ?

For starters, you could repeal the Trump tax cut and *forgive all student debt in the United States*.

Leave out a war or two and you could pay for the rest. Easily.

But no, instead, let's just lock up non-violent criminals, give tax breaks to the already obscenely wealthy, and spend treasure and blood in some Quixotic attempt to be a 21st Century Roman Empire.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

In rich western countries, why shouldn't housing be a basic human right? Why should we let people freeze to death on the streets? It is really worth a bloated military budget when we could be housing the homeless?

 

[Underseer]

In rich western countries, why shouldn't housing be a basic human right? Why should we let people freeze to death on the streets? It is really worth a bloated military budget when we could be housing the homeless?

Because if poor people aren't made to live on the streets, who will the Christians feel superior to?



Ocasio wants to use Sean Hannity's rant as a political ad on Facebook.