How the DLC destroyed the Democratic party

[Mr.Phips]

Ever since the DLC took control of the Democratic party in 1992, everything went downhill for the party.  In 1992, Democrats had 269 House seats, 57 Senate seats, 28 governorships. and 4300 state legislative seats.  Since 1992, Democrats have lost 76 House seats, four Senate seats, eight governorships and almost 1000 state legislative seats. 

Yes, there was a brief comeback for Democrats in 2006 when the DLC was pushed out of the way, but in 2010, when Obama and the DLC took back control of the party, the long descent downward resumed.

My advice to the Democrats:  Stop listening to idiots like Lanny Davis, Al From, Mark Penn.  They are destroying the Democratic party. 

[freepcrusher]

that's a hasty generalization and you know it. Most of that number is declining in areas with large scots-irish populations. Most of those seats were going to be lost the next time a democrat was president and therefore an accident waiting to happen.

[bgwah]

What if we purposely lose the elections in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and then try to win in 2020? will the party be revived?

[Free Palestine]

Good thing that institution of Moderate Heroism is dead.

[greenforest32]

DLC = Blue Dogs = New Democrats

a.k.a

neoliberal 1%ers

It started way before 1992

[Brittain33]

You might as well argue that the spread of cell phone technology destroyed the Democratic party. Or the "Real World" series. Or the decline of hair spray sales.

[Mechaman]

You might as well argue that the spread of cell phone technology destroyed the Democratic party. Or the "Real World" series. Or the decline of hair spray sales.

This.

Most Americans don't know, and I suspect didn't even know back then, who the hell the DLC were.  Hell, I didn't know until 2008 that such an organization even existed.  I knew about the Blue Dogs, but the DLC?

I seriously think people gave that organization too much credit.

Bill Clinton was elected President, as was Obama, because he was more exciting to the American public than his opponent.  Not because a few very random intellectuals who I have to look up on wikipedia said he should.

[Mechaman]

Good thing that institution of Moderate Heroism is dead.

Which isn't to say that Moderate Herosim is dead.  In fact it's still alive and kicking.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

DLC = Blue Dogs = New Democrats

a.k.a

neoliberal 1%ers

It started way before 1992

So everyone that isn't a straight up liberal or to the left thereof is a "neo-liberal" who favors the rich automatically?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What if we purposely lose the elections in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and then try to win in 2020? will the party be revived?

Aren't you being a little hasty by suggesting 2020 as the date for actually winning an election? I would say 2030 at least, maybe even 2040.

[Username MechaRFK]

DLC = Blue Dogs = New Democrats
 

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-10/news/mn-161_1_eugene-mccarthy

[greenforest32]

DLC = Blue Dogs = New Democrats
 

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-10/news/mn-161_1_eugene-mccarthy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrats

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/30/us/politics/30dems.html

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[Snowstalker Mk. II]

If Democrats returned to New Deal policies, we'd gain back the South and Midwest. I'd be willing to sacrifice Palm Beach and Beverly Hills for that.

[freepcrusher]

If Democrats returned to New Deal policies, we'd gain back the South and Midwest. I'd be willing to sacrifice Palm Beach and Beverly Hills for that.

i wouldn't. I don't any judas iscariots back in my party that will stab us in the back. Remember that many of the people opposed to busing were democrats.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Better than being controlled by rich bankers and not standing up to neoliberalism and free trade.

Busing didn't even work. If anything, it pushed the idea that a black student needs to be around whites to learn properly. Ending racism should come through educational programs, not through mixing up school districts.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The Blue Dogs have quite a record of either switching to the Republican party or getting defeated. I think all of their founding members became turncoats. Definitely useless garbage.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

If Democrats returned to New Deal policies, we'd gain back the South and Midwest. I'd be willing to sacrifice Palm Beach and Beverly Hills for that.

If the Democrats want to gain back the Deep South and Midwest, the party would have to adopt more populist ideas and embrace social conservatism again.  New Deal policies are still supported by mainstream Democrats today, but the New Democrats only want to push for fiscal responsibility in carrying out these policies.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I don't necessarily think we'd have to embrace social conservatism. The Religious Right is already losing its grip on the Republican party, with social moderates and libertarians gaining traction. Though social issues will still be a factor, by the 2020's they'll be much less important, and Democrats taking back at least Missouri and West Virginia by that point isn't out of the question.

[Industigy]

What if we purposely lose the elections in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and then try to win in 2020? will the party be revived?

~.~

[Napoleon]

Social issues aren't going anywhere, Snowstalker.

[Oakvale]

This is tangentially related, but I hope RogueBeaver pops into his thread to share his interesting analysis of Robert Kennedy as the original "New Democrat". I'm not sure I agree with him a hundred percent, but he makes a rather persuasive case.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Social issues aren't going anywhere, Snowstalker.

Thanks for bumping this. Also, I'll agree on abortion, but within 20 years nobody will care about gay rights.

[Napoleon]

Social issues aren't going anywhere, Snowstalker.

Thanks for bumping this. Also, I'll agree on abortion, but within 20 years nobody will care about gay rights.

You sure about that?

Even if gay rights goes away through a combination of greater social acceptance and political equality, new causes will come about. The fundamental differences between environmentalists and redistributionists will have to reach a breaking point eventually.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

There's more interlocking than you'd think; labor has been willing to support environmental legislation at times. Most of the "redistributionists" care about the environment and reducing at least foreign fossil fuels, but not to the core extent as the social liberals do.

Out of curiosity, Napoleon, do you have any opinions on where that split between the two groups would go?

[The Mikado]

...Obama is not and never was a member of the DLC, and I'm pretty sure the organization itself went defunct like 5 years ago.