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- cheaper and more available energy alternatives — not a dependence on outdated resourcesa clean and heathy environment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.
Unfinished Business
Congress is entering a difficult period. When they return on Monday they face a potential government shutdown, the Epstein files and confirmation of Trump nominees. Emotions are raw from last week’s events with personal & institutional security top of mind....
You Decide
(Editor’s note: New York Times columnist Ezra Klein Sunday wrote an Opinion piece “It’s Simple: Stop Enabling Trump’s Power Grab”. We considered posting it but due to the length decided otherwise. Since we have seen it mentioned in various newspapers, magazines...
Another Watergate?
Since the days of Watergate, political crises have been compared to it. The hard smart work by young reporters Woodward & Bernstein at the Washington Post ended the Presidency of Richard Nixon. It only started with a break-in of the Democratic National Committee...
Political Tidbits
(Editor’s Note: For our new readers Political Tidbits is done periodically. BTW, any tips appreciated. Send [email protected]) The story that can’t be killed…just ask the Donald…the Epstein’s teenagers…now adults…telling their story…at the Capitol this...
Recess Is Over
What do you expect tomorrow when Congress returns? If you said normal you are wrong. There is nothing “normal” about the 119th Congress. Speaker Johnson sent Members home days before the August recess. House Members were about to bring a resolution to the floor...
Unchecked Power
(Editor’s note: Axios has taken a hard look at President Trump’s pursuit of unchecked power. Axios’ Zachary Basu has produced an excellent piece. Such that we thought it worth sharing with our readers.) . President Trump is gradually testing, stretching and gutting...
Unusual Demand
Donald Trump made an unusual demand when he “ordered” Texas Governor Greg Abbott “find him” five new Republican Congressmen to be elected in 2026. To accomplish that congressional districts would have to be re-drawn – most unusual - in the middle of a 10-year census...
Alarming
President Trump wrote on Truth Social this morning that mail-in-voting must stop and voting machines are a total waste. Appears Trump is taking political advice from President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. The New York Times reports that he and President Putin...
Backyard Brawl
(Editor’s Note: As a native West Virginian, the editorial in today’s The Intelligencer, Wheeling News-Register caught my eye. Back home “backyard brawl” refers to West Virginia playing Pitt in football. The newspaper’s connecting that with the state’s economy...
Coming Soon
Congress is set to return September 2nd. If you thought, it had been anything but normal to this point…just wait. The House was so unmanageable Speaker Johnson sent Members away days before the summer recess was to begin. The Senate was “ordered” by President Trump...
Not Good
All eyes of the country are fixed on Texas but there is more happening in the political world. Not all of it is good. First, Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is demanding several states turn over their voter registration lists. State election officials fear the...
ICYM
A five-alarm fire tore through the economic establishment Friday after President Trump ousted the government's top labor statistician, accusing her — without evidence — of "rigging" a weak jobs report. Why it matters: It's just one glaring example from a week that...
BILLBOARD Archives
Florida’s Musical Chairs
Could the resignation or potential firing of U. S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have an impact in Florida? It’s possible. News reports say the White House is looking for a replacement. One will recall Governor DeSantis’ name was tossed about for Secretary of...
Democrats Must Play
Florida’s political world has turned its attention to the 2026 election. The prize is governorship. Will national Democrats pay attention to Florida? In the 2022 governor’s race national Democrats Ignored Florida. That was a significant factor in the outcome. The...
Behind the Curtain
(Editor’s note: Jim VandeHei & Mike Allen of Axios periodically write a column “Behind the Curtain. Below is the most recent…with interesting links.) President Trump, in terms of raw accomplishments, crushed his first six months in historic ways. Massive tax cuts....
Epstein Files
There is always a hunger for more information especially if you believe it is being kept from you. That was the case during the Cold War and is today with the Epstein files. Europe was divided by the iron curtain not only physically but intellectually. No combat...
Despite Misgivings
Did the Trump administration give Congress a test when sending a package of spending cuts in June? The rescissions package targeted foreign aid programs and public broadcasting. Despite misgivings Congress went along with the request. Does this mean Trump will...
MAGA-RIPPED
(Editor's note: David French an Opinion columnist, writing about law, culture, religion and armed Conflict. Below is his New Your Times column today "MAGA is Tearing Itself Apart over Jeffrey Epstein.) Last week President Trump’s Department of Justice delivered a...
Almost Forgotten
Almost forgotten with all the attention on Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is an Executive Order related to American Elections signed in March. It’s apparent upon reading that order he plans to make federal policy based on his views about electoral integrity. Why write...
Refreshing
Last evening it was refreshing to listen to patriotic music by the Boston Pops orchestra, seeing thousands of young & old gathered singing, waving flags and truly expressing their love for our country. The celebration ended with fireworks in New York and...
July 4, 1776
The Declaration of Independence IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,...
In Trouble
Rural America is in trouble. It got worse yesterday when the US Senate passed Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”. While listening to the hours of debate it was clear Trump had forgotten he won 60% of small town and rural voters in 2020, 63% in 2024. Why did he abandon...
“Ultimate Betrayal”
“Ultimate Betrayal” was the message the White House (Trump) sent to Republican Senators last night. This was before a procedural vote to begin consideration of the “Big Beautiful Bill”. It is well known Trump uses “fear” to get his way. This was at a time when it...
Distraction
The “Big Beautiful Bill” is moving forward in Congress despite the unexpected action President Trump took striking Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday. Americans should not be distracted by the continual war news and forget about the “Big Beautiful Bill”. No...