Rather than rehabilitate the conflict between HRC and Bernie supporters, perhaps we can move forward with real change at the “grassroots” and not worry less about candidates’ speaking fees to elite audiences and more about fears made real: a new HUAC, ending all US environmental agreements, stupid MIC expenditures, etc.
Can the Democratic party move forward without the status quo structures like the superdelegate system to something more “representative” and the calling for overturning Citizens United while rationalizing corporate money.
Can there be a commitment to a 50-state strategy without disavowing the concurrent need to attend to a swing-state marginalist strategy for electoral college votes. And can the party organize around (or not) around anti-gerrymandering and dissolving the Electoral College.
"I'm short, I'm Jewish and I'm a liberal" (1999, in response to a reporter's question about why he might have a difficult time winning the presidency)
"I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic party." (During his 2000 presidential exploratory campaign.)
Hillary did about as well as Obama among progressives. She won them 84%-10% while Obama won 86%-11%.
And liberals actually made up a slightly bigger percentage of the electorate (26%) this election than last (25)%.
Labor Secretary Tom Perez is considering the DNC Chair post, according to a source familiar with his thinking, as is former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, South Carolina Party Chair Jaime Harrison, New Hampshire Chair Ray Buckley, Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, and former DNC Chair Howard Dean.
"The DNC must clean house," MoveOn.org executive director Ilya Sheyman said in a statement expressing support for Keith Ellison. "At the same time, the DNC must connect with the grassroots of the party base that wants the party to reject corporate influence and advance an inclusive, progressive agenda."
Progressive Change Campaign Committee also gave some support the idea of Ellison, with co-founder Stephanie Taylor calling him "one of many good people who could lead the DNC in a new and more winning direction."
"The Democratic establishment had their chance with this election. It's time for new leadership of the Democratic Party — younger, more diverse, and more ideological — that is hungry to do things differently, like leading a movement instead of dragging people to the polls," Taylor said in a statement.