BILLBOARD News Now
Big Tent
(Editor’s note: Robert Harris, a lifelong Democrat offers his view of the Democratic party following this week’s primary elections in New York. Harris through retired actively follows the political world.)
The best I can tell there are two Democratic Socialists currently serving in the US House. One is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York and the other is Rashida Talib from Michigan.
There have been a couple few others who liked to call themselves Democratic Socialists like Summer Lee of PA and Greg Casar of Texas. I am sure there have been others.
Also, I know of only the two New Yorkers who have run and won with a Democratic Socialist label behind their name. If these folks win in the fall, they will make up a party of four Members of Congress out of a 535 elected Members of the United States Congress. That is a James Bond like number; .007 percent.
I don’t think these four folks will either save or destroy America.
The rest of the Democratic Party, including it’s leadership needs to speak up and speak out about what America is. And, what the Democratic Party is. The way I see the Democratic Party, it is a broad and deep party. It is tent revival made up of men and women from all walks of life and all regions of the country gathering in service to community, county, state and nation.
The Party has an agenda. That list of issues is long and covers much ground. Democrats are for a more affordable, more even-handed society:
- better, more affordable and available housing for all in all communities (urban, suburban, exurban and rural)
- available and affordable health care and health insurance
- higher wages for the working class
- cheaper food prices
- better conditions (economic and otherwise) for farmers and ranchers and communities that support thempreserving SNAP and like nutrition program
- more opportunities for younger people entering the workplace
- cheaper and more available energy alternatives — not a dependence on outdated resourcesa clean and heathy environment
- immigration policies that do not punish people for wanting to come to America
- treating the rich and powerful with respect but demanding they put their fair share of wealth on the table toomight we call that the Epstein Class
- the rich must be held accountable as well as the rest of us
Democrats have already run or will run hundreds of candidates for office this primary season. So far, there have been two in New York win. I don’t personally know how many Democratic Socialists have run for office and run under the Democratic banner in their primary. The number that is important only two have won. Those folks are from New York City — a place unlike any other place in America. It is worshipped and loathed depending on who you are and what your believe. It is the center of commerce, investment and banking in the United States. There are 8.6 stories in the “Naked City .” And, two of these are getting all the attention of Republicans across the land.
Democrats can win and will win if they run conservatives/moderates in conservative areas, moderates in moderate areas and liberal/moderates in those more liberal areas. That is how Democrats became a big-tent party. Democrats must learn and practice respect when it comes to accepting others with differing political views.
Democrats need to be the polar opposite of these Trumpist Republicans. Democrats need not campaign against other Democrats because they hold differing views. Democrats need to let Democrats be Democrats, no matter where they are from. If Democrats run a liberal or progressive in a moderate or conservative area they are going to lose. What good is the Party doing by losing? What good is the party doing to achieve the agenda from above, if the Party is running candidates with no chance of winning.?
Let’s do two things. Let’s talk about how many Democrats ARE NOT Democratic Socialists. Then let’s talk about what the Trumpists have done to our government, to our norms and institutions, to our rights.
THE CHALLENGES FROM TWO DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ARE SIMPLE AND TINY COMPARED TO WHAT THIS REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY HAS DONE TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Think people!! This is a country of “We the People.” We the People can elected liberals or progressives in areas that are liberal and progressive. We the People can elect moderates (of either party) in areas that are neither dogmatically liberal or conservative. And, We the People can elect conservatives (also of either party) in areas that are conservative.
According to With Honor Action there are over 750 veterans running for federal office this year. This is nearly a 50 percent increase over the numbers of veterans who ran for office just two years ago.
Just under half of these 752 candidates have run or are running as Republicans. Thirty-five (35) percent are seeking office as Democrats and another 13 percent are running as Independents or a thirty-party.
Ninety-five (95) of these candidates are women.
This neither a Red wave or Blue wave, neither a Democratic wave or a Republican wave or a liberal wave or a conservative wave. It is a signal among those of us who have served our country in the military are looking for ways to continue to serve with honor and strength of character.
I think this speaks highly of who and what America is even in times where each day it gets more and more difficult to define America and our place in the world.
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
Political Tidbits
Editor’s note: For our new readers Political Tidbits is done periodically. Occasionally there may be one with a link for more details. BTW, any tips appreciated. Sent to [email protected]. An event (debate) in six days…may be the most important one since...
OOPS
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis used his veto pen to stab the state Legislature. For over two years legislative members took a risk to pass his “right wing” agenda. An agenda that was to advance his forthcoming presidential campaign. Turnouts he was a poor...
Turning Point
Americans are facing a serious challenge as election day gets closer. It is saving democracy. The path is laden with misinformation and propaganda. There are no guideposts. We are at a turning point in America’s history. Our democracy promotes fundamental...
Unplugged
(Editors note: This appeared in The Washington Post “The Early 202” an analysis by Leight Ann Caldwell & Theodoric Meyer April 24th). Christie said Trump asked him in 2004 about whether a New Jersey politician sentenced to 27 months in prison would go to “real...
The Challenge
The democracy our Founders put in place is alive & well. Twelve citizens sitting as a jury confirmed that no one is above the law…not even a former President of the United States. The jury members followed the law and found Trump guilty. And at his...
Beholden
To share information with our readers requires a lot of reading. In the last week a theme was how Trump’s money problems are becoming a crisis. What’s going on makes him beholden to his wealthy friends. Just click the link below. https://wapo.st/3R26KxO USE THE TABS...
Yard Sale
Mar-a-Lago is having a yard sale. What for sale? Well, Oil Executives have policy goals for sale and homeowner Trump looked at the items on his front lawn…noticed the policy goals. He was in the mood to sell…not buy. And so, Trump told the executives if they could...
House Divided
One hundred and six years ago Abraham Lincoln delivered his “House Divided” speech. In today’s political environment it’s worth repeating that historic line “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Before researching this post… I thought of issues over the...
Warning
The Trump team plans to toss out traditional elements for winning elections. Nothing is more important than the ground game and having happy State party organizations…and the money to implement a strategy. RNC’s plan would not be implemented to have 12 regional and...
Alert
Today I want to alert you…the states are where the action is. This was driven by the U. S. Supreme Court by overturning Row v. Wade. They returned decision on abortion “to the people and their elected representatives.” There are over 7,000 members of state...
Political Tidbits
(Editor’s note: For our new readers Political Tidbits is done periodically. Occasionally there may be one with a link for more details. BTW, any tips appreciated & maybe sent to [email protected]). It’s time for Political Tidbits…on the eve on the...
Biden – Lincoln
(Editor’s note: Lanny Davis offers President Biden an idea published by the RealClear Wire. Davis served President’s Bill Clinton & George W. Bush.) Although President Joe Biden is a lifelong Democrat, his political career was long defined by bipartisan...
BILLBOARD Archives
It Worked!
Six months ago, Americans watched the most dysfunctional Congress I can recall. Republicans after becoming the majority party in the House of Representatives booted their speaker out of office. The fighting got so bad it was obvious a fix was needed. We wrote a...
Lessons
Learning about communism is about to get underway in Florida schools. This week Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill passed by the Republican controlled Legislature. Russia comes to mind when most people think about communism. Communism collapsed with the former...
Sex, Lies & Videotape
IF YOU WERE PREVIOULY READING THIS ARTICLE IN OUR NEWSLETTER SCROLL DOWN TO START READING. (Editor’s Note: We subscribe and read The Bulwark. It reports & analyses politics and culture in America. No partisan loyalties – no prejudices. The article below is the...
Not About Sex
(Editor’s note: Robert Reich wrote on Substack this morning.) Friends, Trump’s first criminal trial — the first criminal trial of a former president, ever — is scheduled to begin Monday. The 34-count business falsification case may be the only case against Trump to...
$$$
https://youtu.be/PIAXG_QcQNU?si=4rEQEq9mam5-xzpl (Editor's note: To enjoy the full impact of this post tap the video.) Billionaires are taking over Donald Trump’s campaign and will own him when it’s over. It appears former President Trump has forgotten who brought...
Don’t Stop!
Today we say thank you to the leadership and supporters of No Labels. Much hard work was done to gain ballot access in 21 states. Likely this was possible because polls have been telling us 70% of our fellow citizens prefer a presidential candidate other than...
Safe?
Floridians learned this week that the state’s constitution does not protect abortion rights. The conservative Florida Supreme Court ruled. When all else fails Floridians turn to their Constitution to make policy. Since the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022 pro abortion...
Political Tidbits
219 days until the 2024 election…get ready for the ride…expected to be the ugliest…political contests in recent memory. Speaking of bags…Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz…says Speaker Mike Johnson…is a mixed bag…BTW, Gaetz considering run for FL Governor in 2026. Is a goal of...
Unbelievable
Holy Week – from Palm Sunday to Easter. What a time to use it as a sales pitch! I can remember in church school learning about the events of that week. It started as a celebration, parade and the next day the cleansing of the Temple. This is the part that came back...
Fallen
Florida Republicans may not be a happy with Governor Ron DeSantis. He says his 2024 presidential campaign is “suspended” however DeSantis name appeared on the Florida presidential primary ballot yesterday. Out of 1,116,515 votes cast DeSantis could only muster...
Desperate
If you care about America, then you are concerned about our national security. With the 2024 presidential candidates reasonably settled a national security issue presents itself. Beginning in 1952 it has been the custom to provide classified intelligence briefing to...
WOW!
(Editor’s Note: Robert Harris writer of the post below has a keen political eye & understanding of Congress.) Biden Was Easy On The Eyes, Hard to Watch Katy Britt Last night was a memorable evening in the House chamber. President Biden entered swinging and he...