Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Democratic Primaries

Showing Original Post only (View all)
 

The Magistrate

(96,043 posts)
Sun Apr 5, 2020, 10:17 AM Apr 2020

The 'Identity Politics' Featured In Our Primary, Ladies And Gentlemen [View all]

One common phrase emerging from the comments of people supporting Sanders runs approximately thus 'bernie stands for liberal, progressive values.'

The usage is intriguing, and points like a searchlight to something people need to understand.

Both 'Bernie' and his most devoted supporters are more concerned with the identity they present, to themselves and to others, than anything else.

Even leaving aside the fact that most of those goals Sanders 'stands for' are general among Democratic voters and enjoy broad support among Democratic office-holders and Party officials, virtually no one, not even among Sanders' supporters, honestly thinks he can actually achieve them should he come to hold the highest office in the land. He is expected simply to stand up for them. No one really expects more of Sanders than that.

Expressions of support for Sanders are made as a marker of political orientation. Expressing support for Sanders says 'I'm not a moderate, I'm well to the left of most people', and as with most such things, serves to identify a 'cool' group separate from the general run of 'squares'. People doing this do not even particularly want to prevail, in the sense of being in the majority. It is axiomatic that a majority can never be 'cool', the feeling of being 'hip' and part of an 'in-crowd' depends on being outnumbered by the host of the unwashed and unenlightened. The point is not to achieve any political goal, to secure any discrete reform, it is simply to be sure one is perceived as a particular, and special, kind of person.

People who have a genuine interest in achieving the goals widespread among Democrats, the goals of all left and progressive and liberal persons in general, recognize readily Sanders is far too flawed as a politician, and as a personality, to make any progress towards their goals. They know Sanders has not achieved any measurable advance towards them in his long Congressional career. They know Sanders' claim to hold patents and copyrights on these goals is nonesense, because they know their own desires pre-date Sanders, and exist in their hearts and minds without the slightest reference to him or influence by him.

In short, while Sanders imagines himself to be the indispensable man, an overwhelming majority of Democratic voters are clear in their minds that Sanders is quite dispensable, and are determined to see him disposed of, as soon as possible.





"From Bernie’s perspective, dropping out of a race once you have no chance of winning is peculiar behavior that can only be explained by the work of a hidden hand. For most politicians, though, it is actually standard operating procedure. Only Sanders seems to think the normal thing to do once voters have made clear they don’t want to nominate you is to continue campaigning anyway."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I like to remind people that the root of the word "progressive" is "progress". Without that.... George II Apr 2020 #1
Thank you, George.. that's been exactly Cha Apr 2020 #34
Excellent...well done. Glad you made this an OP... Demsrule86 Apr 2020 #2
I second that! PatSeg Apr 2020 #9
Thank You, Ma'am, For Your Suggestion The Magistrate Apr 2020 #30
Thank you PatSeg Apr 2020 #32
Another straw man smashed by a Biden supporter /nt philly_bob Apr 2020 #3
instead of doing a drive by, why not refute the OP William769 Apr 2020 #5
It Will Never Do, Sir, Just To Chant The Name Of Various Fallacies At Me The Magistrate Apr 2020 #8
It is Sunday (I think) PatSeg Apr 2020 #11
The Biden/Clinton wing of the party is more identified with identity politics... philly_bob Apr 2020 #33
If That Is What You Think, Sir... The Magistrate Apr 2020 #35
This message was self-deleted by its author William769 Apr 2020 #4
I Cannot Disagree, Sir. MineralMan Apr 2020 #6
It's like how a lot of people got tattoos thinking it was hip and cool. betsuni Apr 2020 #7
I've talking those moving goalpost labels ismnotwasm Apr 2020 #10
Yes, very interesting PatSeg Apr 2020 #12
I think it was this ultimately ismnotwasm Apr 2020 #14
Mr. Biden, Ma'am, was About My Last Choice For An Acceptable Candidate The Magistrate Apr 2020 #15
Yeah, pretty much this ismnotwasm Apr 2020 #20
Yes PatSeg Apr 2020 #19
Good point ismnotwasm Apr 2020 #23
Yes, like this.... George II Apr 2020 #24
Heh! ismnotwasm Apr 2020 #25
It comes out too with the often-cited claim treestar Apr 2020 #13
It was an ugly surprise to have been called for jury service on this op. Mc Mike Apr 2020 #16
Unfortunately, Sir, It Does Not Surprise Me An Alert Was Pressed The Magistrate Apr 2020 #17
I think this is spot on. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2020 #18
Thank You, Ma'am The Magistrate Apr 2020 #36
You are broadbrushing all Sanders Supporters LostOne4Ever Apr 2020 #21
Then We Would Seem To Be In Substantial Agreement The Magistrate Apr 2020 #26
We are LostOne4Ever Apr 2020 #27
In 2016, Sanders supporters and the RW weaponized the term mcar Apr 2020 #22
That Was A Particularly Repellent One, Ma'am The Magistrate Apr 2020 #31
Summarizing what I just said in a similar thread BidenBacker Apr 2020 #28
Another Oldie but Goodie BidenBacker Apr 2020 #29
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»The 'Identity Politics' F...»Reply #0