Is there something at DU that we need to come to terms with?

[Pale Blue Dot]

For months here on DU the story has been Dean vs. Clark. Sure, there were several supporters of other candidates, but I think it's fair to say that the majority were either for Dean or Clark. So much so that many of us, myself included, thought that that was the story of this Democratic primary. After all, this is Democratic Underground. We're a cross-section of the Democratic party in America, right?

Well, hold on a minute.

Dean is no longer the front-runner. Clark is emerging as an afterthought. And it turns out that we do not seem to represent the thoughts of the majority of Democrats.

I'm not saying that this is a good thing or a bad thing. But I have been struggling with what, if anything, to make of this. How does it effect us in the General election? Where does that leave us with the issues that we hold near and dear? Are we going to have a voice, a role, outside of this website?

I am just throwing thoughts out there. Please feel free to add to them or to tell me, politely, that I'm full of crap. :-)

[pmbryant]

1. Remember that Iowa and NH don't represent majority of Dems either

This battle is a long way from being over.

--Peter

[Maddy McCall]

6. THANK YOU PETER!

After the battle has moved to the South and the Southwest, I will take up this discussion. Right now, finn, your observation that Clark is an afterthought is seriously flawed.

[Pale Blue Dot]

8. I'll except that for now. nt

[goobergunch]

26. As a Pennsylvanian, I thank you for that. (n/t)

[PVnRT]

2. DU is a subset of Democrats

No more, no less. I think that, for the most part, we tend more to the left than most Democrats, and that's reflected in how the race is perceived aroundhere.

[Renew Deal]

3. It matched up with the polls.

Just about every state and national poll was Dean-Clark. We were right in line with that. It has mellowed since last week and I et it will more this week. In 2 weeks, there will probably only be a couple guys left.

[Toucano]

4. I think that DU

is more radical, rather than a cross section.

As such, it reflects those who want a change from business as usual. Dean and Clark both reflect that sentiment more than some other candidates do.

Plus, DU is internet based and I think Clark and Dean both have used the internet well.

[PVnRT]

16. Don't forget

the prevailing anti-Iraq war sentiment around here, which caused many to gravitate towards those two in the first place.

[Pale Blue Dot]

18. Agreed. I just want to know why "mainstream" Americans

don't share that issue, and what can we do about it?

[Woodstock]

23. True, most of us are tired of "business as usual"

Thats sums it up perfectly.

I'll back someone besides Clark & Dean, but I sure wish it would be them.

[Indiana Democrat]

5. "We're a cross-section of the Democratic party in America, right?"

No...Not even close.

But that's OK, this place is LOTS more fun than the "Democratic Party".

[not systems]

7. I think many here are thinking ahead...

the whole primary is longer than IA and NH.

I think Dean can do well in the big state primary and
Clark will do well in the south.

Kerry has proved he has the moves for the northern small
states now let see what happens next.

My guess Clark and Dean will rise and DU will not seem
that out of touch.

[Jacobin]

9. Didn't Clinton lose Iowa and NH in the first primary?

The "fat lady" hasn't sung.

I'm not reconciled to learning to love Kerry just yet.

[Pale Blue Dot]

12. Yes, he did, but

2 DIFFERENT candidates won those 2 primaries that year. I think that may turn out to be a major difference this time.

[fabius]

10. We're a cross-section of "Internet Democrats"

not of all Democrats.

The more traditional Democrats are to some degree going for the more traditional candidates.

Apparently.

From what I've seen Dean and Clark were energized, supported, and in Clark's case "drafted" by the "netroots"; the others were not.

I think a lot of older voters are still nervous about candidates that promise real, fundamental change.

[Pale Blue Dot]

14. How do we take that power, that message,

to all Democrats in the future? Is it even possible?

[Bonobo]

11. Why did you assume we are a cross section of Democrats?

We all have something in common other than the fact that we are Democrats.
We all apparently like posting on message boards and reading what other people say?
Digital 'voyeurs' perhaps? Sorry, but you opened the can of worms...

[Pale Blue Dot]

13. Don't apologize!

It's a good point, and it's helping me rethink this a little.

[jus_the_facts]

15. Pardon me Sir....but....you ARE full o'crap!

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[Pale Blue Dot]

17. I blow a rasberry in your general direction!

Sorry, Amber, I'm feeling all serious tonight. Maybe I should go into the Lounge until the feeling passes.

:loveya:

[jus_the_facts]

20. Awww.....s'aight....I just can't get serious about all this.....

.....for if I did I may end up like I did during the selection....havin' a major breakdown....I refuse to allow m'self to let my passion for the process affect me as deeply as it did before...so I'm just takin' it all in stride this time....just gotta wait and see! :hug: :* :loveya:

[legin]

25. I think that is very smart of you jus_the_facts

Politics may look like a 100 metres sprint but it is actually a Marthon stamina event, and I have been caught by that once before too.
:-)

[spooky3]

19. Good questions.

Neither of the 2 states (IA & NH) has a large urban area. People tend to be more liberal there.

It is REALLY early.

That said, though, no offense intended to their supporters, but I don't think that Kucinich, Sharpton, or Lieberman will do well enough in the remaining primaries to compete. DUers are more liberal than Democrats in general and than the US population. But that does not mean that DUers are wrong to support them. In the case of Lieberman, I just don't think he has a clear or appealing enough message to beat the other Democrats, and then * in the GE, either here or in the general electorate. So I think we are more in synch with everyone else re: Lieberman.

[legin]

21. maybe because we have been doing this for 2 years

we now have to sit back and watch the rest of the voting public work through the same processes that we have worked through over this time.

I'm not that convinced about this idea though, people must have been reading the same news-articles as us.

This idea is from '10 days that Shook the World' by John Reed.

In essence and with the usual legin degree of accuracy:
The book takes place in St. Petersburg which the political centre of Russia.

There have just been elections in St. Petersburg and a centre-right group are in power.

There is then a sort of political dialogue of actions and ideas which ends up with the bolsheviks in power.

At the end of the book there is general election of all Russia which then puts the same centre-right people back into power again.

So the Bolsheviks who couldn't be bothered to go through the same inevitable process nationally as they have been through already once in St. Petersburg, just close down the Constitional Assembly, as I think it was called, and probably damn right too, bloody electorate. ;-)

Although the book is written by a bolshevik so it might be a little biased.

If you havn't read '10 Days that Shook the World' it's a good idea to read it because there is a lot of then in now with the war issue and things. It's a bit of a pig to read writting style wise though.

[Woodstock]

22. I think most of us here want a STRONG voice against Bush

Strong, loud, fearless.

And that's what many of us found in Clark & Dean.

We want a candidate who will have nothing to hold him back from a full frontal assault on Bush.

[populistmom]

24. Wait until California, New York, the Northwest and the upper midwest

Dean will be back....with the delegates, baby. It ain't over yet.
The south will be between Clark and Edwards.

As for cross section, I think we're a bit left of the cross section, after all, nowhere near 9% of us have got Joementum.