Justice Democrats Will Continue to Move the Democratic Party to the Left

The 2018 midterm elections were fruitful for Justice Democrats as they gained many seats in the House, and, thus, some clout within the party. The party was not happy with some of these gains. This has been most visible by the squabbles Nancy Pelosi has had with the progressive wing of the party. She had to concede limiting the time she would hold the position of Speaker of the House in order to get the support of the Justice Democrats. She has lashed out against most of the progressive agenda. There is obvious tension between her as the leader of the establishment wing of the party and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez who has emerged as one of the primary faces of the progressive faction.

Tulsi Gives Party Its Final Notice: 2020 Will Be Handled Differently

When the news broke that Tulsi Gabbard had filed a $50 million lawsuit for defamation against Hillary Clinton, some of the first comments I read were from Hillary apologists who were cockeyed-sure that what they had heard about Tulsi Gabbard was true. There were even people who thought that this was the moment the party had been waiting for: they could prove what they were saying about Tulsi Gabbard was true!

However, it all died down by later that day. No one was sure what to chirp in the comments by then because they weren't getting any direction from the 'party elite' who were implicated in Representative Gabbard's complaint. 

The Big Question for Democrats: Who Do You Love?

It took me by surprise the first time that someone argued the logic of supporting people in both the establishment and the progressive wings of the party. It doesn't surprise me any longer. Now it concerns me.

As we approach the primaries, Democrats are scattered among the many candidates, and for many different reasons. It can all be so confusing. 

Let's clear it up a bit by answering some questions about the two factions in the Democratic party.

Attacks on Tulsi Gabbard's Character are Deplorable Acts of Desperation

Tulsi Gabbard resigned her vice-chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 2016. She said it was unethical to serve in that capacity and to not be neutral in the nomination process. Her endorsement of Bernie Sanders accompanied her resignation. She instantly became a hero to those who saw the process was slanted toward Hillary Clinton. There was a lot of tension between her and the rest of the committee who worked hard to promote one candidate over the other despite the enthusiasm people were showing for the opposition candidate.

That tension has carried on over the years since Hillary Clinton's humiliating defeat to Trump. The establishment of the Democratic party has never forgiven Tulsi for her display of ethics when things like that are, to them, obviously the reason those who said they would never vote for Hillary didn't vote for Hillary. They cannot seem to accept that the people did what they said they would do. Tulsi endorsed Clinton when she became the nominee. 

Hillary Clinton lost the election. No one lost it for her, and certainly not Bernie Sanders or Tulsi Gabbard.

Obama's Bad Advice

Barack Obama warned voters last week to not go too far left in the next election. He warned those who listen to him to think about how programs like Medicare for All will diminish the chances for votes for the nominee from disgruntled centrists. 

Sometimes I wonder if Obama actually takes a look at what is going on in the party, or if he just reads the cue cards that he is handed with the money he gets for making the appearance. If the party goes after the people who might vote for either the Republican or the Democrat, then they are making the same mistake in 2020 that they made in 2016, and it will postpone the inevitable takeover of the party until 2022 and 2024.