Democrats trying to unseat each other III

[Loren Pechtel]

Meh. When you have a two party system, and one party goes batshit nutso crazy insane, the folks who "traditionally" support that party have to choose between switching to the other party, or going crazy.

Many of them (all of the smart ones) will switch parties.

Doing so will inevitably push their new party's policies towards those of their old party.

This shouldn't be a problem in the US, where the far right wing party is being abandoned by billionaires in favour of the right wing party.

I am surprised it's taken them so long. If I had a billion dollars, I would nevertheless have bailed out of support for the Republicans as soon as Trump won the GOP nomination.

Batshit.

Nutso.

Crazy.

Insane.

WTF else are they waiting for, a written invitation??

I think the exodus is being delayed because they consider the Republican pro-business policies sufficiently valuable to support them despite being batshit. Most of what the Republicans are doing won't hurt them too much.

 

[lpetrich]

Progressive state governments continue to deliver.

New laws make Minnesota a 'refuge' for abortion, gender-affirming care

The governor also signed a long-sought measure to ban conversion therapy, the discredited practice of trying to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The proposal will prohibit the practice on minors and vulnerable adults.

"It's been 10 years we've been fighting for this; it feels good," said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, who led the push for the proposal at the Capitol. "It's about making sure those who follow us live in a better world."

Inslee signs laws to protect reproductive health and gender-affirming care | by Governor Jay Inslee | Washington State Governor's Office | Apr, 2023 | Medium

Today Gov. Jay Inslee signed five bills that will protect access to a common abortion medication; enhance data privacy for people who share their health information with third party apps; protect Washington patients and providers who may face legal threats from other states; protect providers’ licenses; and eliminate out-of-pocket costs to make abortion access more equitable.

“The right of choice is an issue of freedom,” Inslee said. “Health care must remain the providence of individual Washingtonians. These laws will keep the tentacles of oppressive and overreaching states out of Washington.”

Assault weapons now banned in WA after bill signing Tuesday | The Olympian

“These weapons of war have no reason other than mass murder. Their only purpose is to kill humans as rapidly as possible in large numbers,” Inslee said. “And I will say this–AR15s should not be idolized, they should be prohibited and that’s what we’re doing today.”

 

[lpetrich]

How Minnesota is becoming a laboratory in progressive policy - "State Democrats won back control of the Legislature in 2022, and they're using that power to achieve long-sought policy goals of the left."

Noting the Democrats' gaining trifectas last year in Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota, and the Republicans not gaining any. MN D's have done a lot:

• Free school lunches
• Supporting abortion rights
• Restoration of voting rights to prisoners who have completed their sentences
• Support of green-energy goals, like all-renewable generation of electricity in 2040

They are working on

• Increasing school funding
• Restricting gun access: background checks, red-flag law
• Legalizing recreational marijuana
• Increasing paid family leave to 12 weeks
• Providing legal refuge for trans youths
• Automatic voter registration, pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, curtailing of dark money in local and state races

This will make MN a destination for abortion tourism from nearby states, like ND, SD, IA, and WI.

Comparing Minnesota to Michigan — another state where Democrats have regained a trifecta — Moe said the Minnesota agenda has been “more far-reaching than any other states that have Democratic trifectas right now.”

“They’ve identified all the right issues, every single one, where they need to move,” she said. “And then they moved on them.”

Conversely, politics watchers have noted that trifectas can also go too far. A "real live experiment" in Kansas of untethered conservative economic policy, put in place 10 years ago by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and his GOP-controlled Legislature, created a deficit so spectacular that the state was left with major doubts over whether it could fund the basic elements of public education and other essential services.

The consequences of those policies still linger in Kansas and have armed Democrats — who won the governorship in 2018 and kept it last year even though Republican voters outnumbered them nearly 2 to 1 — with years of resonant criticism and messaging.

Then about King Ron of Florida.

Democrats are more hopeful about Minnesota, with many of them pointing out that the highest-profile policy items — abortion rights and gun safety — enjoy vast support in public polling in the state and nationally.

“It’s not overreach to protect reproductive rights. It’s not overreach to do those things," said Walz, the governor.

Operatives in the state nevertheless warned that the wave of enthusiasm could still fall apart if implementation doesn’t go smoothly.

“Implementing this stuff is now the challenge, and lawmakers must be involved in that part of all of this, as well,” said Blodgett, the strategist who worked as a campaign manager for Wellstone and was the state campaign director for both of President Barack Obama’s elections.

"But if they can pull that off, I think, when it's all said and done, this really has the potential to be seen as a huge success story," he said, "specifically among the progressive ranks of the party.

 

[bilby]

Noting the Democrats' gaining trifectas last year in Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota, and the Republicans not gaining any.

Do they have plans to win any states that don't start with "M"?

I was thinking they could maybe start gradually with New Mexico. Then I thought... nm.

 

[lpetrich]

Helen Gym on Twitter: "This Sunday, join me, @BernieSanders, @AOC, and local leaders + musical guests to rally for the city we all deserve — one where our young people are educated, our workers are protected, and our communities are safe.
RSVP: (links)" / Twitter
with some nice hand-drawn lettering with a 60's sort of vibe.

From Endorsements - Helen Gym for Mayor -- Bernie Sanders, AOC, Ayanna Pressley, Pramila Jayapal, Jamaal Bowman, Andy Kim, Greg Casar, Boston mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, among others -- and orgs like the Working Families Party, the Sunrise Movement, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and several labor unions.

AOC Endorses Helen Gym for Philadelphia Mayor - April 30 - "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the third member of the Squad to make the endorsement, jumped into the race days after well-funded attack ads against Gym began to air."

In a statement to The Intercept, Gym’s campaign manager Brendan McPhillips said, “While other candidates have the political machine and dark money donors in their corner, we have the people, and that’s how we’re going to win this race: by talking to everyday Philadelphians about the safe, vibrant, thriving city we all deserve.”

She is one of 9 Democratic candidates for Mayor of Philadelphia. The city has no runoff system, and whoever wins the primary is very likely to win the general election.

Gym’s campaign manager, McPhillips, and her supporters on Twitter speculated that the source of the ads was Jeff Yass, a billionaire megadonor to Republicans and moderate Democrats. The political action committee for a group largely funded by Yass sent out controversial mailers last year attacking several progressive candidates for the state legislature. He is the sole funder of a new federal PAC launched to fight progressives.

Yass also funds a far-right Israeli think tank that has been instrumental in ongoing efforts to weaken the country’s judiciary. While he has become more active in national politics in recent years, Yass has long been an influential figure in state and local politics through the Commonwealth Foundation and its network of affiliated groups, which advocates for taking Pennsylvania policy “back to its roots” through cutting funding for public schools and other social services.

Moderate PAC Goes After Democrats with GOP Donor’s Money - "The Moderate PAC, created to go after progressive primary challengers, received all its money from one source: Republican megadonor Jeffrey Yass."

 

[lpetrich]

The first public nonpartisan poll in the race, published on Friday, showed 20 percent of voters undecided and the five top candidates in a statistical tie. Former Philadelphia Controller Rebecca Rhynhart led the pack, followed by former city council majority leader Cherelle Parker, Gym, former city council member Allan Domb, and Jeff Brown, a grocery store magnate.

Several internal polls leaked in recent weeks have shown Gym in second or third place. Rhynhart is largely seen as the frontrunner and has support from the city’s Democratic machine, including former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and former Philadelphia Mayors John Street and Michael Nutter.

Of all the candidates, Gym has the most robust door-knocking program.

Her campaigners expect to knock on some 300,000 doors by Election day.

Gym has won support from progressives thanks to her time as an advocate for working class families, both as a public school teacher and city council member. She’s worked to block school privatization, strengthen school water safety standards, and end school disciplinary practices for kindergartners.

...
Gym has suffered a handful of missteps along the way. Her critics point to her husband’s history as a pharmaceutical executive in the 2019 vote on new regulations. ...

...
Those are valid critiques, Inquirer columnist Will Bunch wrote on Friday. But they don’t take away from the fact that Gym’s platform is the most progressive in the race by far.

“One truism about politics is that a lot of times you can gauge a candidate by the enemies they make,” Bunch said. “The Chamber of Commerce crowd and their handmaidens aren’t fighting Gym because of her mistakes, but because of the things she gets right.”

The election is the upcoming Tuesday, May 16.

 

[lpetrich]

Team AOC on Instagram: “We’ll be out today in Philadelphia rallying for @helengymphl for Mayor! @justine.grape”
With that nice announcement poster.

Helen Gym on Instagram: “I am honored…”

I am honored to stand with two of the most inspiring political leaders and fiercest fighters for working people.

The eyes of the nation are on Philadelphia because we are going to make history this Tuesday.

Thank you @BernieSanders and @AOC.

Helen Gym on Instagram: “Our vision invests…”

Our vision invests in people. Imagine a city with real community safety, fully funded schools, truly affordable housing, and vibrant public spaces.

It’s time we get the Philadelphia we deserve. Let’s fight for it tomorrow and for years to come.

With nice speeches from AOC and BS. "They've got money, but we've got the people", AOC says.

Team AOC on Instagram: “@aoc joined @berniesanders in a GOTV rally to make @helengymphl the next Mayor of Philadelphia! On Tuesday, May 16, vote Helen Gym!”

 

[lpetrich]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Let’s goooooo Philly #HelenForMayor" / Twitter
noting
Make the Road Action Votes for Helen Gym! on Twitter: "Huge line (and growing) in Philly, to join final GOTV rally for @HelenGymPHL, joined by @BernieSanders and @AOC! (vid link)" / Twitter

Bernie Sanders on Twitter: "LIVE from PHILADELPHIA: Join @aoc and me as we rally to make @HelenGymPHL – a true fighter for the working class – the next mayor of Philadelphia! (vid link)" / Twitter
(1h 6m)

Helen Gym on Twitter: "Everything must change. On Tuesday, vote for courage and transformation.
This is our moment to build a Philadelphia where public schools are strong, communities are safe, workers are protected, and young people have a future to believe in.
We get the city we fight for. (pix link)" / Twitter

 

[Derec]

From Endorsements - Helen Gym for Mayor -- Bernie Sanders, AOC, Ayanna Pressley, Pramila Jayapal, Jamaal Bowman, Andy Kim, Greg Casar, Boston mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, among others -- and orgs like the Working Families Party, the Sunrise Movement, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and several labor unions.

What a rogue's gallery of LWNJs! This endorsement list should be enough for people not to vote for her. But then again, Brandon "Defund" Johnson inexplicably won in Chiraq.

In a statement to The Intercept, Gym’s campaign manager Brendan McPhillips said, “While other candidates have the political machine and dark money donors in their corner, we have the people, and that’s how we’re going to win this race: by talking to everyday Philadelphians about the safe, vibrant, thriving city we all deserve.”

What he calls "the people" is just another machine. A machine does not stop being a machine just because it is on the left fringe.

She is one of 9 Democratic candidates for Mayor of Philadelphia. The city has no runoff system, and whoever wins the primary is very likely to win the general election.

So Philly will get a mayor that has not demonstrated broad support. What could go wrong?

Moderate PAC Goes After Democrats with GOP Donor’s Money - "The Moderate PAC, created to go after progressive primary challengers, received all its money from one source: Republican megadonor Jeffrey Yass."

Because only PACs by far left billionaires like Soros or Steyer are acceptable?

 

[Derec]

Her campaigners expect to knock on some 300,000 doors by Election day.

Two of her door knockers got into an armed argument resulting in a death.
Progressive Canvassing for Helen Gym Shot by Fellow Canvasser in Philly

and end school disciplinary practices for kindergartners.

No discipline for kindergartners no matter how they beave? That doesn't seem right.

Gym has suffered a handful of missteps along the way. Her critics point to her husband’s history as a pharmaceutical executive in the 2019 vote on new regulations.

She should have made a more woke choice for spouse.

Those are valid critiques, Inquirer columnist Will Bunch wrote on Friday. But they don’t take away from the fact that Gym’s platform is the most progressive in the race by far.

This should not be the reason to vote for her. Extremes are bad no matter whether on right or left.

“One truism about politics is that a lot of times you can gauge a candidate by the enemies they make,” Bunch said. “The Chamber of Commerce crowd and their handmaidens aren’t fighting Gym because of her mistakes, but because of the things she gets right.”

They fight her because she is too far left.

 

[Derec]

Helen Gym on Instagram: “Our vision invests…”

Our vision invests in people. Imagine a city with real community safety, fully funded schools, truly affordable housing, and vibrant public spaces.

What does this mean concretely? What does "fully funded school" mean relative to current funding level per student? And where and how would the extra funds be spent? What does "truly affordable housing" mean? Rent controls?

It’s time we get the Philadelphia we deserve. Let’s fight for it tomorrow and for years to come.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
H.L. Mencken

With nice speeches from AOC and BS. "They've got money, but we've got the people", AOC says.

And with FPTP primary with no runoff, ~12% of primary goers might be enough in the crowded field.
Philly election system is perverse.

 

[Derec]

Helen Gym on Twitter: "Everything must change. On Tuesday, vote for courage and transformation.

Sounds extreme.

 

[lpetrich]

Team AOC on Instagram: “@aoc joined @berniesanders in a GOTV rally to make @helengymphl the next Mayor of Philadelphia! On Tuesday, May 16, vote Helen Gym!”
(the earlier one)
AOC talked about victories of progressives being dismissed as flukes, and then she noted the victories of progressives against billionaires in Los Angeles and Chicago.
and
Team AOC on Instagram: “Helen Gym will keep Philadelphia safe. She is not new to this. She is true to this. On Tuesday, vote @helengymphl!”
(another one)
(transcription in the text below)
and
Team AOC on Instagram: “Ahead of Philadelphia’s mayoral election…” -- several pictures

Ahead of Philadelphia’s mayoral election this Tuesday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders joined a rally for Helen Gym to get out the vote.

“We have been having a public debate around safety and investment in the United States of America and there are people that are trying to lead us to believe that militarized cities all across this country, that defund schools, that defund our public institutions are what keep us safe.

However, a growing grassroots movement has been bubbling and growing and blooming across the country that says there is a better way. A movement that says we keep us safe. A movement that says community keeps us safe.

A movement that says we keep us safe.
A movement that says community keeps us safe.
Schools keep us safe.
Healthcare for all keeps us safe
That loving the homeless keeps us safe.
That standing up and defending our Trans and LGBT siblings keeps us safe.

Helen Gym will keep this city safe.”
-AOC

@coreytorpie

AOC pronounced Helen Gym's last name with a hard g, like "Kim" with the initial consonant voiced. So this may be a variation of the common Korean last name "Kim". Given that HG is eastern Asian, that seems plausible.

 

[lpetrich]

From Endorsements - Helen Gym for Mayor -- Bernie Sanders, AOC, Ayanna Pressley, Pramila Jayapal, Jamaal Bowman, Andy Kim, Greg Casar, Boston mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, among others -- and orgs like the Working Families Party, the Sunrise Movement, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and several labor unions.

What a rogue's gallery of LWNJs! This endorsement list should be enough for people not to vote for her. But then again, Brandon "Defund" Johnson inexplicably won in Chiraq.

Derec, other people aren't you. Think about that.

She is one of 9 Democratic candidates for Mayor of Philadelphia. The city has no runoff system, and whoever wins the primary is very likely to win the general election.

So Philly will get a mayor that has not demonstrated broad support. What could go wrong?

And get such a mayor even if a candidate you like wins instead of HG. Think about that.

Moderate PAC Goes After Democrats with GOP Donor’s Money - "The Moderate PAC, created to go after progressive primary challengers, received all its money from one source: Republican megadonor Jeffrey Yass."

Because only PACs by far left billionaires like Soros or Steyer are acceptable?

"Far left billionaires"??? That seems like a contradiction in terms. What could possibly make them "far left"???

I don't like *any* oligarch dependence, not even dependence on oligarchs whom I find relatively good. That's why I like the rise of small-dollar-donation fundraising, fundraising that does not depend on support from oligarchs.

I remember AOC once being asked about what she would say if some oligarch who completely agreed with her was willing to fund her political career. I don't remember her response very well, but I think that she rejected that.

Those are valid critiques, Inquirer columnist Will Bunch wrote on Friday. But they don’t take away from the fact that Gym’s platform is the most progressive in the race by far.

This should not be the reason to vote for her. Extremes are bad no matter whether on right or left.

Whatever Derec considers extreme right.

 

[Derec]

AOC pronounced Helen Gym's last name with a hard g, like "Kim" with the initial consonant voiced. So this may be a variation of the common Korean last name "Kim". Given that HG is eastern Asian, that seems plausible.

IPA pronunciation at Gym's wikipedia page is /ˈɡɪm/, so that tracks.

 

[Derec]

Derec, other people aren't you. Think about that.

Of course. But I still find it baffling how so many people, given the problems Chicago has with violent crime, can elect an anti-police extremist as mayor. Lori Lightfoot was bad enough - her response to some gangbangers (including a 13 year old) randomly shooting at cars was to restrict police foot chases - but Brandon is certainly going to be far worse. More deferential to criminals, more hostile to police, more dismissive of regular citizens.

And get such a mayor even if a candidate you like wins instead of HG. Think about that.

True. No matter who wins, they are not going to have much of a mandate. Partisan primaries de facto deciding the general election is bad enough, not even requiring a majority in the primary makes it so much worse and even less democratically legitimate.

??? That seems like a contradiction in terms. What could possibly make them "far left"???

It isn't a contradiction. I had already mentioned two - George Soros (who just bought VICE News btw) and Tom Steyer.

I don't like *any* oligarch dependence, not even dependence on oligarchs whom I find relatively good. That's why I like the rise of small-dollar-donation fundraising, fundraising that does not depend on support from oligarchs.

Which has its own problems. Extremist firebrands on both sides, be it AOC or Summer Lee on one side or MTG or Lauren Boebert on the other, are often propped by a dedicated army of small donors.

Whatever Derec considers extreme right.

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Derec]

Seems Helen Gym is going down. Distant 3rd place with 65% of votes counted.
Election results

 

[lpetrich]

Derec, other people aren't you. Think about that.

Of course. But I still find it baffling how so many people, given the problems Chicago has with violent crime, can elect an anti-police extremist as mayor.

Because he doesn't think that police forces ought to be death squads?

??? That seems like a contradiction in terms. What could possibly make them "far left"???

It isn't a contradiction. I had already mentioned two - George Soros (who just bought VICE News btw) and Tom Steyer.

You haven't explained how a capitalist oligarch can be "far left".

I don't like *any* oligarch dependence, not even dependence on oligarchs whom I find relatively good. That's why I like the rise of small-dollar-donation fundraising, fundraising that does not depend on support from oligarchs.

Which has its own problems. Extremist firebrands on both sides, be it AOC or Summer Lee on one side or MTG or Lauren Boebert on the other, are often propped by a dedicated army of small donors.

So you'd prefer that politicians be paid lackeys of corrupt oligarchs?

Also, what is supposed to be so extreme about MTG or LB?

 

[lpetrich]

Philadelphia Mayor Primary Election 2023 Results and Precinct Map - The New York Times

At 90% counted, Cherelle Parker 32.7%, Rebecca Rhynhart 22.9%, Helen Gym 21.9%, 11.4%, 8.8%, 1.3%, 0.6%, 0.2%, 0.2%

CP and RR both have Democratic-establishment connections in the Philly area, but HG was not far behind the two.

 

[Derec]

Because he doesn't think that police forces ought to be death squads?

Death squads? How are police forces like CPD "death squads"?
Brandon is against police in general. He is pro-defunding:
Calls to defund the police no longer seem like such a radical idea
And he is even against Shot Spotter, technology that detects shots fired and alerts police so they can respond to them quickly.
Lightfoot administration quietly renewed ShotSpotter contract that Johnson has vowed to cancel
Of course, he sees gangbangers firing guns as his constiuency. Here he is comparing an officer killed in the line of duty (a black woman btw) with an armed gang banger.
Brandon Johnson compares Chicago cop's murder with death of armed teen shot by police
Chicagoans will rue the day they elected this pos.

You haven't explained how a capitalist oligarch can be "far left".

It seems contradictory, sure. And yet, people like George Soros are both extremely wealthy and also far left.
Or are you denying either of these facts?

So you'd prefer that politicians be paid lackeys of corrupt oligarchs?

I did not say that. Just that "small donors" are no panacea.

Also, what is supposed to be so extreme about MTG or LB?

Their positions. Especially MTG. Are you denying that too? Or just arguing for arguing sake?