Look, I know people don’t like the Left. I get it, especially now. But hear me out.
For the last 3 years or maybe a bit more, I’ve been watching and learning about how horrid the Left is. And for the most part, Chris and the rest of you have been correct. There are a lot of people over there doing Stupid Things, without winning the stupid prizes that should go along with it. We’ve had riots and protests and shootings, and it’s like … meh.
But the last week? I’m finally seeing some positive, guys. You probably won’t see it for another year or two, because this is going to move very slowly. But I am actually seeing the thinking people remaining on the Left…. well, thinking.
I’ve always been very supportive of everything the Iranian and other Muslim women have done in order to bring about freedom for themselves. That really is the only way they’re going to get it, even though Trump and Israel are helping a bit. They have to grasp it and do it for themselves… and unlike some liberal women, they do understand that. There are women out there today burning their hijabs who were born under this regime and have been fighting it literally their entire lives. All my friends know I’m supportive of all women, but the Iranians in particular.
And when a handful of them started reposting stuff about how awful Trump was, I questioned them. I pointed out that the facts hadn’t changed since last year. That the regime had murdered 20,000 of their own people *for protesting*. And several other inconvenient facts that have LOTS to back them up.
And they stopped. They actually listened.
They began to realize that they can simultaneously dislike Trump (go for it… I still don’t like *everything* he does) and be happy that our military stepped in and helped the Iranian people. They can be concerned about how much it’s going to cost us, as a country, to help the Iranians, and still be glad the Iranians are being given the chance to rule their own G-D selves.
Someone made an offhand comment that I must be rooting for Fetterman to become a Republican, and I said no! I don’t want Fetterman to come over to the Right, because he’s not a Conservative. He’s a Liberal, a Democrat, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The fact that he’s a reasonable, responsible, thinking person is a GOOD thing. I want him to continue being a Liberal and a Democrat, and perhaps be a voice for change and reason. And they … thought about it.
So there are cracks, my friends. People are starting to think. They’re starting to look at the fact that they’ve been supporting the dictators while wanting Trump out, and how wrong that is.
Maybe so, and it would be good if the Democrats are shifting back to the middle. But I’m not so sure. It feels like Fedderman is an outlier, not a new trend. Bernie is still considered a serious Democrat, as is AOC. And terrorist supporters like Omar and Tlaib, and flaming racists like Crockett, are still considered good party members. Until that changes, I don’t think the shift can be considered real or significant.
biggest thing I see with “politics” is no matter how good it really is the liberals scream life sucks under the dictatorship of Trump.. the “news” is just like it was in 2016.. and republicans sit there like bumps on a log..
I have gotten well away from all of it and my life is much better..
No matter how well crafted the narrative is, sooner or later reality makes its way through the cracks.
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And, that is happening. Not fast enough in my mind, but it is happening. Senator Fetterman is one of the most public faces of that change, so is Bill Mahr. They do not have to change their ideals in order to say the party is wrong about something. That is resonating to a certain extent with the liberals out there. (I did not say leftists, liberals and leftists are two very different creatures.)
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Even the most ardent Democrat is acknowledging that the news is not an accurate representation of reality. When the story disappears within 72 hours, they are noticing.
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I am not terribly optimistic. There are too many “Squad” level Democrats in positions of power in the party. But, perhaps we can return to a time when the two parties were all working toward (arguably) the same goal. The methods chosen was the difference.
“…return to a time…” — but when was that, if ever? Not in 2020. Not in 1930. Not in 1916. Not in 1860. Perhaps in 1820?
https://www.vox.com/2015/4/23/8485443/polarization-congress-visualization
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It isn’t the best visual, but it will work for the purposes of illustrating what I mean. At one point, there was movement back and forth, and it wasn’t all that long ago. We can see it. I’m not blind; I don’t believe those were Utopian times or anything. But at least the two sides were working together.
Good graphic, and since I do not need more e-mails, I will not sign up for a Vox account to read what the graphics represent. Is it just members of congress, voting patterns, or support for programs? It does not change the point I attempted to make.
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My point was the Democrats and the Republicans generally had the same goal, the same reason for running for office. They want to make the country better, as a nation and for its residents. The big difference was how they thought that goal could be accomplished. Kennedy initiated the moonshot because we, as a nation, needed to beat Russia. FDR initiated way too many socialist programs because he really believed that would lift the US from the depression and get people working again. (turns out that may have extended the depression, but that is a discussion for another time.) Reagan built the military and pushed for advanced (Star Wars) weapons systems to destroy the USSR, whereas a Democrat President might have chosen to further disarm the US (Thanks Carter).
Yet, my statement stands. Both parties were working toward a greater USA.
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That similarity between the parties seems to have disappeared. One party wants to cut the US down, turn us into just another country among the pack. And, as I said in my response to pkoning, 0bama said the quiet part out loud. More than once. Give AOC and the squad a chance, and they will outright promote foreign interests above US ones any day of the week.
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That is the change I have seen over the last several decades. and that is why I said what I said.
Do not equate the actions/plans of a politician with the goal.
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There was a time when both major parties did have the same intent. The difference was how they thought that goal could be accomplished. Appeasement versus strength. Larger government versus individual choice. When a Democrat running for office said they wanted to make the USA a better place, they believed that their plan/approach was the correct path.
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These days… Well, I think 0bama said it best during a campaign speech. Paraphrasing: “Maybe it is time for the US to step aside and let someone else lead for a while.” There is no way to interpret that statement other than a vastly different goal than that of his Republican opponent. (Although, I am not sure McCain disagreed to stridently.)