The DNC's Main Goal Is to Block Principled Progressives and Systemic Reform
The DNC's Main Goal Is to Block Principled Progressives and Systemic Reform
Mission Accomplished!
I wrote the article below back in January, and I think it still holds true. Back then, I predicted the DNC wouldn’t let Joe Biden debate with Trump. “Too risky,” I said. At least I was right about that. Biden is hearing loud calls from his own party to step aside after his disastrous debate performance, but so far he’s insisting he’ll remain in the race, never mind the polls and his dimming prospects for victory.
The DNC may stick with Biden because the party elites only lose if a progressive reformer within the party somehow emerges from the turmoil. That simply can’t be allowed to happen. The DNC would much rather lose to Trump than win with a principled progressive committed to systemic reform.
That is why the DNC wouldn’t let RFK Jr. run within the Democratic Party. Whatever else RFK Jr. is, he’s nowhere near as tractable as Biden or Kamala Harris.
Biden may yet be removed because of another disastrous performance, but assuming he avoids risks and limits his appearances to scripted and teleprompted events, he may yet survive to be defeated in November. After which the DNC will swing into anti-Trump mode, raising scads of millions as the “loyal” opposition to “madman” Trump. It’s a good gig if you can get it, I guess.
Whether Biden Wins or Loses, the DNC Has Already Won
W.J. Astore [January 2024]
My Response to a Friend Who Thinks Biden Will Win
A friend of mine thinks Joe Biden has a strong chance of winning reelection in November. He thinks the economy will continue to get better and that Donald Trump may yet be convicted of, well, something. I am far more skeptical about Biden’s chances of victory this fall. Here’s what I wrote to him this morning:
You’re betting on an improving economy and the conviction of Trump as the catalysts for another Biden win. To me, economic growth is very uneven, with an “improving” economy measured mainly by the performance of Wall Street. Few benefits are trickling down to the working classes. Meanwhile, we don’t know if Trump will be convicted of anything; also, I don’t think a conviction that’s seen as politically motivated will hurt Trump. If anything, depending on the conviction and its seriousness, it could even help him.
The largest bloc of voters are those Americans who don’t vote. You have to give people a reason to get off their duffs and vote for you. For Obama, it was “hope” and “change” and idealism. Biden won in 2020 because of the pandemic and Trump’s incompetent leadership. In 2024, Biden is increasingly “Genocide Joe” for youth and progressives; he’s taking his own base for granted, thinking that people will opt for him over Trump because the latter is too divisive.
But what may happen is that Democrats and Independents just stay home, or vote third party, while Trump loyalists show up at the polls.
We can bookmark this conversation if you wish and come back to it this November. We are, after all, trying to predict the future. My guess is that Biden loses; you’re guessing he’s going to win. We’ll see.
I also believe that if Trump wins, the DNC will blame the voters rather than the weakness of the Biden/Harris ticket. I’m sure Putin will also be blamed, as will any 3rd-party candidates like Stein or RFK Jr. The DNC will then fundraise off of fear of Trump. No matter what, the DNC will win. What counts as a “loss” for the DNC is allowing a progressive to run.
It’s some “democracy” we live in when voters are shamed for voting for someone other than Joe Biden. (The Trumpers, of course, are universally dismissed as irredeemable deplorables.) So I know I will be shamed for not voting for Joe (or the Don) this November.
As Yoda the Jedi Master said: “Difficult to see. Always in motion the future.” I just don’t see a lot of enthusiasm for Biden. I see Biden as a figurehead of Neo-liberal economic policies at home and Neo-conservative war policies abroad. Otherwise known as Dickensian conditions for the working classes here and lots of bombs and artillery shells falling on “foreign” peoples of color.
Meanwhile, I doubt the DNC will allow Biden to appear in any presidential debates. Too risky. Biden will largely “campaign” by reading from teleprompters at carefully staged appearances.
Biden, to state the obvious, is not in his prime. If reelected, he’ll be 82 and will serve until he’s 86. Voters have legitimate concerns about his health and his endurance. Meanwhile, his vice president, Kamala Harris, isn’t popular and lends little credibility to the ticket. It doesn’t bode well.
I already had four years of Trump; they were more than enough for me. I’ve had three years of Biden and they’ve been more than enough. Yet the RNC and DNC want to offer me a Trump/Biden rematch, and I just can’t stomach it.
I guess I just hate democracy.
i’m curious, Bill: What do You think the RNC’s Main Goal is?
In any event, given that that is the DNC’s Main Goal, then why haven’t Principled Progressives of America formed their own political party so as to give Americans that choice for Systemic Reform come election time?
Is at least part of the problem that a significant number of Americans disagree with and, in some cases, categorically reject the principles, policy proposals, and promises of Progressivism? Which may explain why there are no “Progressives” in Washington, eh?
At this point, a number of congressional representatives and senators have publicly called for Biden to step down. DC politics is blood sport. There's no way they walk this back - if you revolt against the king, you have to succeed. There will be reprisals for them and others if Biden retains power - no matter what the MSM reports.
In the end, it will be the big money donors who decide - sorry Joe, that's the way it is.