I have never believed that Democratic leadership is controlled opposition. It's conspiratorial; there are other available explanations. That said, I don't know what they'd be doing differently if they were. - ThreadSky

ositanwanevu.bsky.social • 12 days ago

I have never believed that Democratic leadership is controlled opposition. It's conspiratorial; there are other available explanations. That said, I don't know what they'd be doing differently if they were.

Reposted from Chris Hayes

The institutional Democratic Party is guided by an almost pathological level of conflict avoidance in almost every direction. “What can we do to make the least number of people mad?” is just a bankrupt way to operate.

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idiokratie.bsky.social•12 days ago

Jan 6 pardon Thread: https://bsky.app/profile/idiokratie.bsky.social/post/3ldif6udwrc2f
Justice is coming meme Thread: https://bsky.app/profile/idiokratie.bsky.social/post/3ldjca3h27s2w
Cheneyfication of the Democratic Party Thread: https://bsky.app/profile/idiokratie.bsky.social/post/3levl6en3ez2v

matatoeslasagna.bsky.social•12 days ago

They're a million years old, rich, and don't fear their base.

At least (2) of those need to change

captfamous.bsky.social•11 days ago

It's a natural result of the system; if you want a bunch of spineless weasels, set up a system that rewards spineless weaselry and those will be your survivors.

ballydunn.bsky.social•10 days ago

It's quite simple, really.
1. Find some principles.
2. Find the voters who will support them.
3. Act on them.

ieatmoonsand.bsky.social•11 days ago

They are what they do.

nomadameye.bsky.social•12 days ago

At the end of the day the Dems are a party of capital, just like the republicans, so they can't be a viable opposition party. It explains why even when in power there's no substantial change

skeet.best•12 days ago

symbo1ics.bsky.social•12 days ago

Heer, have more Beer

https://bsky.app/profile/symbo1ics.bsky.social/post/3lkbmzoli5c2i

chaoskilledthed.bsky.social•12 days ago

They're really between a rock and a hard place, passing that bill is insane, and a government shut down that never ends is the libertarian dream. Who will push back against doge if everyone is on furlough... Dems outsmarted by the stupidest people on earth, again.

insipidtwaddle.bsky.social•12 days ago

It'd reflect better on Schumer if he was in league with the GOP, frankly. At least he'd be competent in that scenario.

rationalpear.bsky.social•12 days ago

it’s not a conspiracy if it’s true. @sarahkendzior.bsky.social writer of “they knew”. both parties in on it.

dragoonscene.bsky.social•12 days ago

Rich people (donor) politics run the gamut from socially liberal-fiscally conservative on the Democratic side to socially conservative-fiscally conservative on the Republican side and that’s the range of responses we’re seeing to Trump.

mako69.bsky.social•12 days ago

At some point, whether its intentional or conspiratorial, it is functionally and materially identical.

And at a certain point, you gotta be aware of and hold agency for your actions. Ignorance and stupidity only goes so far after so many people keep yelling/telling you what you're doing

surpluscornbread.bsky.social•12 days ago

I think you're right about the conspiracism of the controlled opposition idea AND that functionally there's little difference right now. But what actually explains the Democrats is important to keep in mind for their future actions.

surpluscornbread.bsky.social•12 days ago

Key to this is the Republican party as an institution is ideology driven, the Democratic party as an institution is not. It is simply the "Not Republican" brand.

This was not always true, the Democratic party had ideology prior to Bill Clinton (you could argue prior to Jimmy Carter really).

surpluscornbread.bsky.social•12 days ago

That ideology was social liberalism, which I'm holding as distinct from social democracy for being more hawkish and anti-communist than a typical soc dem. FDR was the only social democratic president.

Social liberalism died when it alienated it's left with Vietnam and it's right with Civil Rights.

surpluscornbread.bsky.social•12 days ago

So the only way to challenge the increasingly popular conservative movement was to obsessively chase the median voter. And the median voter is a fickle creature when detached from a prevailing ideology. So that meant Dem leadership needed to have no ideology.

And this attracted new types of leaders

surpluscornbread.bsky.social•12 days ago

These leaders came from the same backgrounds and had the same class interests as Republican leaders. But for whatever reason, disagreement on a specific issue, not having an opening ready, not appealing to the right church leaders, couldn't hope to become Republican politicians. So they went blue.

surpluscornbread.bsky.social•12 days ago

This is part of the explanation of the obsession with bi-partisanship. Many Democratic leaders would honestly love if they could just work with Republicans to make the rich (aka themselves) richer. But because fate stuck them with the Not Republican electorate they have to fight some.

two.knocks.co•12 days ago

controlled opposition or junior partners in empire, who's to say

shaniaviram.bsky.social•11 days ago

That exactly means that it has the wrong ppl running it. They are simply not competent for the task

unclecaviar.bsky.social•12 days ago

You and Chris both going to keep doing this for the next 4 years?

sixfortyfive.bsky.social•12 days ago

"The purpose of a system is what it does."

catharsis23.bsky.social•12 days ago

I wouldn't be shocked if at least one of the D consultant groups is completely bought

chadmasterclass.bsky.social•12 days ago

The explanation is Israel, and it is a generations-spanning historically evil conspiracy. There's no other word for it.

comradeisobel.bsky.social•12 days ago

It's really not conspiratorial. It fits the facts rather perfectly.

bestbeehave.bsky.social•12 days ago

Party that tries not make anyone mad has 20% approval rating. Much lower than Trump who lives on making people mad and is a shit person.

thegreatphilouza.bsky.social•12 days ago

The only question is whether they realize they’re controlled opposition or if they would dispute that. But that’s what they are

gallen89.bsky.social•12 days ago

I agree. But a loyal opposition, in the way we think about it in competitive authoritarian regimes, doesn't necessarily need to be controlled. It just has to have a commitment to the system even when the system is being actively weaponized against competition. That seems more the case here.

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