The left is split between a majority that makes defeating Trump their priority, and a small, but vocal minority that makes defeating Clinton their priority, in the mistaken belief that a third party candidate can win. Although I am a pragmatist, rather than an idealist, I agree with my more idealistic friends on almost every issue. Here’s an excerpt from an editorial that points out an area where we can work together.
…The frightening, violent bigotry Trump has conjured could swallow a lot of people before it consumes itself. Even if he loses, angry Trumpistas would still roam freely, with access to automatic weapons and heavy machinery.
I’m more excited about protesting President Clinton La Segunda than being governed by her. Under George W. Bush, were there any national progressive policy victories? The mass movements of the Bush years sought to stop bad things like the Iraq War and the Sensenbrenner immigration bill. Mass movements of the Barack Obama years — Occupy, Black Lives Matter, climate change, dreamers — had the luxury to advocate systemic change and did indeed win some policy. That’s not lesser, it’s not evil at all.
First-term Obama and Clinton El Primero enthusiastically marginalized progressives. They wanted to be pushed to the right but not the left. Progressives fell for it and demobilized. Let’s not do that this time.
I’m not loyal to Democrats, but I’d be a lot more impressed by the Green Party if they had anything at all to show for the last 16 years — the last time we had the exact same conversation.
Berners who want to keep pushing Bernie Sanders’ agenda can focus on down-ticket races, especially the Senate. The Senate has the sole power to confirm appointments and approve treaties. This would be enough to, for example, stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership, ratify a major climate change treaty, showcase progressive policies in cabinet confirmation hearings and confirm judges. Sanders Democrats and progressive independents could successfully elect and hold senators to these goals, if we got our act together, which we probably won’t.
The Democrats need to net at least four extra seats to flip the Senate, which is more attainable than 30 seats to win Congress. Republicans have 24 Senate seats up, and Democrats only 10. States with competitive Senate races are also swing states for the presidential races, so using Trump to drag Republican senators down is a twofer.
The closest Senate races are in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The only current Democratic seat that looks vulnerable is the race to replace the retiring boringest [sic] Senator from Nevada: Harry Reid. On the upside, there’s the chance to topple John McCain and Marco Rubio, which would be so fun. Five of the Democratic candidates invited Bernie to campaign with them because they, for example, share his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership… [emphasis added]
From <San Francisco Chronicle>
Every election, I find myself repeating myself. We need to be building the movement the day after the election, but it seems that every year, most progressives return to working on favorite issues and expend no effort on movement building. Can you imagine where we might be, if Bernie had started to organize in May of 2013 instead of May of 2015?
For now, the next President will be Clinton or Trump. That won’t change. But at least we can agree to elect as many down ballot progressives as we can, and when we are better organized, the White House will not be out of reach.
17 Responses to “Win a Progressive Senate”
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Just for grins, let's look at the candidates in those ten swing states:
Arizona – Ann Kirkpatrick vs. John McCain
Florida – The primary hasn't been held yet – the Dems are Alan Grayson and Patrick Murphy – the Repubs Marco Rubio and Carlos Beruff it seems.
Illinois – Tammy Duckworth vs. Mark Kirk
Missouri – Jason Kander vs. Roy Blunt
Nevada – Catherine Cortez Masto vs. Joe Heck (Reid is retiring)
New Hampshire – Maggie Hassan vs. Kelly Ayotte
North Carolina – Deborah Ross vs. Richard Burr (There is also a Libertarian running)
Ohio – Ted Strickland vs Rob Portman
Pennsylvania – Katie McGinty vs. Pat Toomey
Wisconsin – Russ Feingold vs. Ron Johnson
Anyone who can see their way to helping a Democrat win one or more of these elections will be doing a service to the entire nation, not just the state it's in.
Daily Kos has setup two secure ActBlue donation links – one to "Upgrade the Senate"
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/upgradethesenate2016
… And one to "Take Back the House"
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dkhouse2016?refcode=fs20160807trumptriage
Of course you can dig deeper to donate directly to a campaign.of your choosing – this is just an easy way to be effective, but NOT specific.
Excellent links! Thank you!
Thank you both!!
I wonder what can get done for the people if we could get just a few of Joanne's examples….say Feingold, Grayson, and Duckworth to name the three I am most optimistic about……..
Still a big believer the reason the ACA is not stronger ie single payor wasn't the repugs as much as the blue dogs who voted for it, but wouldn't support it until it was weakened
I agree Feingold and Duckworth are the best shots, followed by Hassan, Strickland, and Kirkpatrick. I'm sorry but I have to doubt Grayson will make the ballot. Too much of his support right now is from Repugs who think he will be easier to beat than Murphy, rightly or wrongly. To this native-Californian-transplanted-Coloradan, Florida is strange.
To this native New Yorker, living in New Jersey (talk about strange!), with a connections to Florida…Florida is beyond strange, kind of Twilight Zone!
I agree with JD. As much as I love Alan, he's carrying too much baggage from financial scandals,
Thanks, Tom for this.
Well. We have work cut out for us! The down ballot vote is essential to bring CHANGE! Oh, how I Wish we could flip OK! But, that is a bridge too far, I suppose. I would love to see OK back to the Dem side!
Sad to say, Kentucky seems ready to elect Rand again. Jim Gray is the Progressive Democratic mayor of Lexington Ky who has done wonders for that city while he has been in office. But, he is pro choice, openly gay, cares about the poor, even though he comes from a wealthy family, and doesn't fit the Faux news choices. I could cry.
I have cousins living in Kentucky, will ask them about Jim Gray. They are progressives.
Kentucky is not considered a swing state (no news to Edie), but in a year this strange, anything might happen. I wish Jim luck. Because the state is not considered swing, he will not be included in Nameless' links.
"For now, the next President will be Clinton or Trump. That won’t change. But at least we can agree to elect as many down ballot progressives as we can, and when we are better organized, the White House will not be out of reach." — AMEN!!!!
VOTE BLUE ALL DOWN THE LINE!!!
I expect that the White House is currently WITHIN reach, but we do need to bring more blue to congress!!!
I meant for a canditate like Bernie to occupy the White House.
Thanks all! Hugs!!