Some Democrats tacking left before possible 2016 White House runs; liberals vs neoliberals in the De - Polidicks

[quote]WASHINGTON — While the Republican Party grapples with a center-right divide after its election losses last fall, Democrats may be setting up a center vs. left battle for the 2016 election to succeed President Barack Obama. Two of the potential candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley –[B] are methodically positioning themselves to be the favorites of the party’s liberal wing.[/B] Both were early advocates of same-sex marriage. They pushed some of the nation’s toughest gun-control laws, and they’ve championed other causes the left has long embraced. Both face enormous hurdles. Most obvious are the juggernauts that would be created instantly should former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Vice President Joe Biden enter the race. Clinton, whose supporters already are laying the groundwork for a run, and Biden, who’s also positioning himself in key early-voting states, have long, friendly histories with the left, giving them space to emphasize more centrist views on some subjects. O’Malley and Cuomo, on the other hand, must show they have the passion, and the track records, that the liberals will demand. [B]Going too far left, though, risks becoming the Democrats’ version of 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. He got national attention by governing Massachusetts from the center-right. To win the nomination, however, he had to turn sharply right, a move that badly wounded him in the November election.[/B] The O’Malley and Cuomo camps won’t talk about presidential ambitions, let alone strategies. “Gov. O’Malley’s focus has always been on results, not political posturing,” said Lis Smith, adviser to O’Malley’s political action committee. “He’s also never shied away from making tough decisions to cut spending, reform the state’s pension system and address Maryland’s transportation problems.” Regarding Cuomo, veteran independent New York Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf cited the governor’s battles with public-sector unions in this time of tight budgets. “He can pick up some people who are conservative on some issues and people who are liberal on others,” Sheinkopf said. So far, he’s picking up mostly liberals. In January 2012, 21 percent of New Yorkers regarded Cuomo as liberal and 57 percent said he was moderate, according to a Marist Institute for Public Opinion survey. Last month, 35 percent called him liberal, while 37 percent branded him moderate. [/quote] [url]http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/04/17/188806/some-democrats-tacking-left-before.html[/url]

Cuomo won't get the nomination, He's in so much trouble for cursing out con-ed after sandy then doing nothing like the fines, and investigations upon con-ed like he promised us.

If the Republicans play another far-right candidate, and the Democrats play a far-left candidate, this could be a really interesting election.

Are we [i]seriously[/i] talking about this shit already?

[QUOTE=.Isak.;40322779]If the Republicans play another far-right candidate, and the Democrats play a far-left candidate, this could be a really interesting election.[/QUOTE] Romney wasn't that far-right in terms of American politics.

All I want is someone who is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-gun rights, pro-environment, pro-drug regulation, and pro-national healthcare. After that the entire Senate and Congress can go back to gimping and gridlocking each other for all I care.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;40322823]All I want is someone who is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-gun rights, pro-environment, pro-drug regulation, and pro-national healthcare. After that the entire Senate and Congress can go back to gimping and gridlocking each other for all I care.[/QUOTE] Our best chance for that is a libertarian, unfortunately it doesn't seem like the republicans are going to field one as a candidate any time soon :C

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;40322823]All I want is someone who is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-gun rights, pro-environment, pro-drug regulation, and pro-national healthcare. After that the entire Senate and Congress can go back to gimping and gridlocking each other for all I care.[/QUOTE] Anybody you get with all of that may not be pro gun rights but, seeing how we are doing now on that, gun control will never happen in this country anyway. I'd love to see a real Leftist presence in America. It is a shame we do not have a proper Socialist Party. American Politics has a huge hole in its Left side, with Democrats pretending to be the Left while being the Center, and Republicans pretending to be the Right when they are Far-Right. [editline]17th April 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=BFG9000;40322851]Our best chance for that is a libertarian, unfortunately it doesn't seem like the republicans are going to field one as a candidate any time soon :C[/QUOTE] Libertarians would not want national healthcare though, and would not like environmental regulations.

[QUOTE=BFG9000;40322851]Our best chance for that is a libertarian, unfortunately it doesn't seem like the republicans are going to field one as a candidate any time soon :C[/QUOTE] If libertarians are the only pro-gun option here, I'll just consider the restriction of gun rights collateral. No thanks.

not sure how I feel about O'Malley being a potential candidate. he's about 50/50 with things I agree on.

[QUOTE=person11;40322864] Libertarians would not want national healthcare though, and would not like environmental regulations.[/QUOTE] also would not like drug regulation actually for that matter most of Facepunch is probably going to disagree with you on that one

[QUOTE=BFG9000;40322851]Our best chance for that is a libertarian, unfortunately it doesn't seem like the republicans are going to field one as a candidate any time soon :C[/QUOTE] Very short list of things Libertarians are not famous for: 1. Gaining more than 10% of the vote.

you could pretty safely lower that number to 3

[QUOTE=Venezuelan;40323079]you could pretty safely lower that number to 3[/QUOTE] It's especially difficult when most of your voting base consists of an old Russian woman, her cult of personality, rugged survivalists in rural Montana hoarding weaponry, pseudoeconomists, magicians, and bitcoin advocates.

Would be interesting if American politics had some left instead of centre-right vs. right.

Unfortunately, the way the U.S. election system is set up leads to an inevitable two-party system. The only time you'll ever see a third party gain steam is when there's a serious social issue that neither party is addressing. Otherwise, we're gridlocked in the two-party system.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40323203]It's especially difficult when most of your voting base consists of an old Russian woman, her cult of personality, rugged survivalists in rural Montana hoarding weaponry, pseudoeconomists, magicians, and bitcoin advocates.[/QUOTE] Montana does actually have a fairly sizeable Libertarian presence, but it's not just "rugged survivalists". It seems to be anyone, I don't know why they're attracted to here. They never make much of a fuss though and honestly it's pretty good that they have a voice here. Like Idaho we have very few controls and restrictions from state legislature, unlike Oregon and it's "you can't pump your own gas".

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40323203]It's especially difficult when most of your voting base consists of an old Russian woman, her cult of personality, rugged survivalists in rural Montana hoarding weaponry, pseudoeconomists, magicians, and bitcoin advocates.[/QUOTE] you forgot highschool and college teenagers who wants to seem deep & intellectual for their peers, same people who may or may not wear fedoras

[QUOTE=.Isak.;40323223]Unfortunately, the way the U.S. election system is set up leads to an inevitable two-party system. The only time you'll ever see a third party gain steam is when there's a serious social issue that neither party is addressing. Otherwise, we're gridlocked in the two-party system.[/QUOTE] Parties turned into people who agree with certain matters to just two groups who fight each other at every chance they get. Democrats and Republicans even at a local here here in my city refuse to support each other in anything even if the candidate is great. It's all games of supporting or moving the party agenda. If i do ever register a party, and I probably will end up at one point I'd never be a biggot like the rest, I gladly have republican and democrat friends and will always support there campaigns not because of there party but the fact they are good people to represent others. We don't need a third party, We need good people who stop treating parties like sides on a war.

[QUOTE=person11;40322864]I'd love to see a real Leftist presence in America. It is a shame we do not have a proper Socialist Party. American Politics has a huge hole in its Left side, with Democrats pretending to be the Left while being the Center, and Republicans pretending to be the Right when they are Far-Right.[editline]17th April 2013[/editline][/QUOTE] Nah, Socialism is in the absolute fringe in America, even moreso than libertarians. In fact, I think the only people I've met who have called themselves socialists are few pissed off high school kids. That being said, seeing as the Democrats are becoming the party of the center, there may be room for a more labor-oriented left party.

[QUOTE=Derubermensch;40323490]Nah, Socialism is in the absolute fringe in America, even moreso than libertarians. In fact, I think the only people I've met who have called themselves socialists are few pissed off high school kids. That being said, seeing as the Democrats are becoming the party of the center, there may be room for a more labor-oriented left party.[/QUOTE] Polls and surveys show that Americans typically favor socialist policies when they aren't called socialism.

[QUOTE=CubeManv2;40323476]Parties turned into people who agree with certain matters to just two groups who fight each other at every chance they get. Democrats and Republicans even at a local here here in my city refuse to support each other in anything even if the candidate is great. It's all games of supporting or moving the party agenda. If i do ever register a party, and I probably will end up at one point I'd never be a biggot like the rest, I gladly have republican and democrat friends and will always support there campaigns not because of there party but the fact they are good people to represent others. We don't need a third party, We need good people who stop treating parties like sides on a war.[/QUOTE] It has turned into "I CANT LIKE WHAT YOU LIKE".

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;40322823]All I want is someone who is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-gun rights, pro-environment, pro-drug regulation, and pro-national healthcare. After that the entire Senate and Congress can go back to gimping and gridlocking each other for all I care.[/QUOTE] I totally agree with this. Who would be the closest to this? The Green Party? How about from the Democrats? Is there someone who believes in these issues that wouldn't put our civil liberties at risk or give themselves up to corporate interest? Also, according to wikipedia, neoliberalism seems to be more of a libertarian ideology favoring deregulation, privatization, for austerity, etc. Not sure how any democrat is a neoliberal based on that definition.

Ugh, a far-left vs far-right would be terrible. I'm pretty much in the middle, more liberal on social issues and environmental issues, and more conservative on economic issues

I'd like to see a proper party that's centrist on economics and liberal on social and cultural issues.

[QUOTE=Smug Bastard;40325557]I'd like to see a proper party that's centrist on economics and liberal on social and cultural issues.[/QUOTE] So... Democrats?

[QUOTE=person11;40325832]So... Democrats?[/QUOTE] Dems are still fairly divided on gun control and the war on drugs.

But neither side of that debate could be truly labeled as in the Left. Democrats are 99% Centrist.

Honestly swerving "left" as a Democrat is basically just being a Statist with slight socialistic tendencies. Actual political enfranchisement , anti-militarism, and equalization of the socioeconomic classes- which if you ask me are the biggest issues our country have to face- is not being pursued in any appreciable way by even the most left-leaning members of the Democrats. Where's a decent non Laissez-faire Libertarian party when we need it? Basically just a party that used tax money for the sole purpose of supporting and enfranchising it's citizens, but without sticking it's freedom-dong into their personal lives.

[QUOTE=Tureis;40322817]Romney wasn't that far-right in terms of American politics.[/QUOTE] The problem with Romney was that he shifted his position at every venue. You couldn't trust him because he wouldn't explain his policies, and if he did, it changed from day to day as much as his shirt.