Democratic (Party) Direction

Man all those times I had to resist the donuts and water so I could stay pure

whenever possible I try to avoid sharing a sense of humor with Jen "Bernie is a (((Russian plant)))" Kirkman

The DNC didn't put up the barricade, though

But admittedly, it was a barricade that was a barricade, you're definitely right about that

People just use "pure" and "purist" online, right? IRL would present too great a risk of getting kicked up the ass.

(I do mean up and not in)

Yeah Kirkman is completely nuts. I don't know what that has to do with this. Connection her dumb conspiracy to anti-semitism is a stretch though.

But the crowd was welcomed and addressed by the DNC political director. The explanation that barricade was a building security measure for large crowds sounds reasonable (confirmed by Turner herself) and odd to distrust. And no literal welcome mat but they were given refreshments which should probably be seen as analogous to one maybe. Don't you think it's more likely that Turner was going to characterize this as adversarial vs DNC no matter what because that's her always being on brand?

A barricade is a barricade and it's sure as hell not a welcome mat.

barricades are often statutory requirements at places where there might be gatherings - the one in this picture is something you see in any 500+ capacity club, it's there to prevent people from getting crushed. it's up even when turnout is low. this doesn't even pass the smell-test, anybody who thinks THIS BARRICADE IS A HOSTILE GESTURE FROM THE DNC is being v silly.

I would love to see you try to kick my ass, whatever direction or preposition you want to run with, Michael Morbcock

I'm inclined to take Turner and her concerns seriously despite the (pretty standard among politicians) tendency towards hyperbole.

i would pay good money to see Tombot v. Morbz PPV

I'm inclined to take Turner and her concerns seriously despite the (pretty standard among politicians) tendency towards hyperbole.

I'm not, because what she's saying seems like nonsense.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumfights tbf

Yeah Kirkman is completely nuts. I don't know what that has to do with this. Connection her dumb conspiracy to anti-semitism is a stretch though.

She's one of many with donuts in her Twitter handle now. And I tend to assume the dumbest Sanders conspiracists are also anti-Semites, just makes life easier

What if neither Turner NOR Kirkman are worth listening to because none if their shit has anything useful to tell us about 2018+ ? What then?

sexist

(I'm kidding, btw)

one is the head of a major left org fighting for things probably everyone in this thread wants and the other is an insane comedian, maybe I wouldn't lump them together even if you don't like her

(I'm sorry for mentioning JK at all itt - brain pollution is bad for us all - but I first heard about this due to her bad tweets getting RT'd into my feed)

I suggest improving your feed to have less Jen Kirkman in it

I'm sorry for mentioning JK at all itt

yeah i was wondering why tf she came up

don't worry I already FP'd myself

I like Tombot IRL fwiw, I was not addressing him as an individual

(I'll leave M**dy's ass out of this)

Hey all IDGAF about Jen Kirkman as a person, comedian or political opiner but given that she's spoken extensively and honestly about her struggles w/mental illness can we avoid using "insane?" Thanks!

Also could you guys stop calling Trump's policies "absurd" because one time when I was six I drew a duck with springs for legs with crayons and my teacher called it 'ab***d' but with a really hurtful inflection and it still triggers me. Thx

I will keep that in mind Phil

meanwhile, re: Dems, small donations, and communication strategy

The Democratic Party should be completely freaked out that they're being crushed by Trump in small-dollar donations https://t.co/Xpta4RQUkQ pic.twitter.com/OkxYbFWAWW

— Michael Whitney (@michaelwhitney) August 10, 2017

Is there any chance that articles like this will nuance the perceived moral superiority of relying on small-dollar donations? Probably not.

You don't need to think small donations are superior (morally or strategically) to think that that's a really bad sign.

eh I'm not particularly worried that small donations are not currently flooding the DNC

was Trump the first time the candidate that raised the most money *didn't* win the presidential election?

x-post: I agree. I'm just not that surprised. So much of the right-wing echo chamber has been basically a grift based on offering empowering messages in exchange for cash.

Are you guys arguing for the Democrats to be the party of oligarchy?

Or that money doesn't matter anymore? IDGI...

Like Democrats need a reason to be completely freaked out amirite

Even if you don't care about the relative paucity of small donors (which...nevermind) you should at least care that their messaging is atrocious. (I roll with Marxists so I know terrible messaging when I see it.)

I agree w points about the language employed in emails but people tend to donate to individual candidates more than the party. Also DCCC out raised its GOP counterpart.

their messaging is atrocious

yeah what else is new

Seemed a relevant concern for the Democratic Party Direction thread.

messaging is always bad esp in this country u need an "outsider" running if u want to win. there are obviously brutal electoral and ideological challenges facing the democratic party atm but ppl were writing off the republicans this time last year that they could never win a national election again.

Even if you don't care about the relative paucity of small donors (which...nevermind) you should at least care that their messaging is atrocious. (I roll with Marxists so I know terrible messaging when I see it.)

― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), 11. august 2017 00:56 (thirty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I agree with that as well. And I think that the Dems, as with any leftist(ish) party, should preferably be as grassroots as possible. But I do feel a certain skepticism about small-donor contributions in general, because, as the article also says, it's actually really really hard to get it right, while it's comparably really easy to use as a grift.

(full disclosure: I rely partly on contributions to fund my own critical career, which might have something to do with my annoyance at what works and what doesn't. So feel free to take what I say with a grain of salt. This one time)

https://theoutline.com/post/2092/the-dnc-keeps-snubbing-the-left

I liked this

Telling ppl what they should care about is a better and better look the further left u go iirc

i have no fucking idea what that means, dmac, and it's possible you don't either

Twasnt for u but if it takes then no harm neither

ICYMI, Warren shoveled some dirt on Clintonism

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/08/14/elizabeth-warrens-advice-for-democrats-dont-fall-back-to-the-center/

nice

Aside from all the reasons it was terrible for its own sake, I'm concerned that Charlottesville will blunt efforts to swing the party to the left economically becuase "see, they're all just racists"

otm

huh?

^^ otm