I’m producing a podcast episode on the liberal–left split within the Democratic coalition. While much of the critique focuses on liberal failures, I’d like to include a substantive point about how segments of the Left have sometimes obstructed practical progress by over-obsessing about purity.
The goal is not to caricature internet rhetoric, but to identify a clear instance where an insistence on ideological purity over achievable outcomes weakened broader efforts. Suggestions for moments or movements that illustrate this dynamic are welcome!
Corbyn in the UK. His activist left base rejected compromise with Labour centrists and prioritized ideological purity. Led to internal divisions around antisemitism, Brexit, and party messaging, with critics of Corbyn denounced as traitors.
It wasn’t the endorsement, it was campaigning (no matter how limited) with a very recent “Democrats abort babies after birth for funsies” liar. Who was with the pussy grabber much longer than she was against him. And the freakout was from more than just leftists.
And anecdotal to be sure, but every leftist I know who “freaked out” about Cheney (and Biden’s defense of bombing hospitals for that matter) still voted for Harris.
This entire sequence shows signs of bait for left punching. Even if it wasn't a lot of folks sure responded like it was.
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed.
Signalling can be noticed by all audiences, not just your intended one. She sold herself as someone who is ok with Bush-Era Republicanism and the GOP overall (she said she would have a GOP cabinet member). The consequences of that signaling are as natural as her planned payoff.
hard to know if it had a practical effect...but cheney wasn't even pushing any conservative policies. she was just enthusiastically attacking donald trump, and Harris hoped that would give some Rs an excuse to vote for her.
a lot of ppl on the left acted like it was an all out betrayal, even though, again, there were no policy concessions (on the contrary, Cheney moved to being pro choice.)
As you said, the Cheney tour was less about policy and more about signaling. But WHAT she was signalling ("I am fine with 'normie' Republicans and in fact, and very similar to them'"), was a failed attempt to pull enough Rs that also turned off aa lot of people.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
They keep bringing it up, but they weren’t parading Cheney around to say “we’ll govern like her!” They were trying to signal to anti-Trump Republicans that Harris was an acceptable candidate.
That being said, regardless of the Left’s outrage, it turns out there weren’t any such voters out there.
Which people have been saying for ages. Pivoting to the center hasn't been a viable national presidential strategy since *maybe* 1992.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
The attacks on Warren by Sanders supporters in January 2020 is a good example. Right when he needed to be bringing people into his coalition to overcome Biden, they attacked his closest ally, likely ensuring that she stayed in the race while Biden got people to drop out and endorse him.
The irony being that if they were less sexist they would have realized that an old man making a mildly sexist remark isn't that big of deal. Instead they could only see sexism as card liberals try to use against them.
That's not whats going on here. Tankies aren't really about "ideological purity," they are campists that see the world in teams. Since the US is bad, enemies of the US must be good. Even if those enemies (China, Russia, Iran) are doing the same bad stuff the US is.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
Sure, but only a certain amount of nuance available in 300 character posts. Right now I'm probably going to analyze the 1968 election, as we can all agree that Kissinger was worse than whatever Humphrey would have done.
I get that, but this thread is discussing a different facet of inter-left tension. One that isn't exclusive to the liberal-left element. (Ask an Anarchist or Nkrumaist how they feel about Campists and you would get similar things to what's been said here.)
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed.
Unfortunately, this is wishful thinking bordering on the religious. Several Empires have collapsed for other reasons, several more haven't collapsed at all and many that DID collapse that way had a LOT of those wars before they kicked the bucket.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
It's also a passive framing, implying that Empires will self-destruct. Instead, we should focus on what resources we have available to undermine and divest from Empire. I get hoping and believing Empire X will have its Soviet Afghanistan moment but its no guarantee.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
The people within Iran's jurisdiction have a right to defend themselves from Israeli violence.
Governments (including Israel, Iran, the USA, etc) don't have rights, they are social technology that SHOULD be used for the common good.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
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Moreover, ICE must be destroyed.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
That being said, regardless of the Left’s outrage, it turns out there weren’t any such voters out there.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
just not enough.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.
Governments (including Israel, Iran, the USA, etc) don't have rights, they are social technology that SHOULD be used for the common good.
Moreover, ICE must be abolished.