Long live team liberal democracy. I’m a life-long Democrat, a donor, and there is no daylight between me and The Bulwark. I support Ukraine, border control, civic order, free markets (suitably regulated and with a functioning safety net), gay rights, and choice. I’m ambivalent about trans issues and affirmative action and homelessness. W…
Long live team liberal democracy. I’m a life-long Democrat, a donor, and there is no daylight between me and The Bulwark. I support Ukraine, border control, civic order, free markets (suitably regulated and with a functioning safety net), gay rights, and choice. I’m ambivalent about trans issues and affirmative action and homelessness. What I want to say is, come on in, the water’s fine. There’s plenty of ideological breathing room for Never Trumpers in the Democratic Party. There’s a huge core of centrist Democrats who, like you, are committed to common decency and common sense. Welcome!
Updated through the 2000s, I hear strong shades of "Henry 'Scoop' Jackson Democrat" in that. Minus some unfortunate blind spots, there's strong traditions from the middle part of the 20th century if we'd care to reach back to pull some of that forward. For one thing, they weren't apologetic about their liberalism, were more confident, and used more accessible language.
I'm not sure how ambivalence about homelessness matches up with common decency and common sense, but I agree that the Democratic Party readily accommodates it.
Jonathan and E2, Decency and Sense -- the title of my Substack -- are my watchwords.
I am an active member of the Democratic Party -- a local party officeholder and the nominee of the party last cycle for a seat in my state legislature.
Notwithstanding all of that, I refrain from identifying myself as "a Democrat."
The best path forward is for more of us -- of whatever party or none at all -- to identify as small-d democrats and small-l liberals.
Partisan identity -- as affirmation fir oneself and denigration of the other -- is a major vector of our political and societal dysfunction.
Also, repeating the self-promotion of my standalone comment to JVL's essay, read my latest essay!
Long live team liberal democracy. I’m a life-long Democrat, a donor, and there is no daylight between me and The Bulwark. I support Ukraine, border control, civic order, free markets (suitably regulated and with a functioning safety net), gay rights, and choice. I’m ambivalent about trans issues and affirmative action and homelessness. What I want to say is, come on in, the water’s fine. There’s plenty of ideological breathing room for Never Trumpers in the Democratic Party. There’s a huge core of centrist Democrats who, like you, are committed to common decency and common sense. Welcome!
(Mostly) +1.
Updated through the 2000s, I hear strong shades of "Henry 'Scoop' Jackson Democrat" in that. Minus some unfortunate blind spots, there's strong traditions from the middle part of the 20th century if we'd care to reach back to pull some of that forward. For one thing, they weren't apologetic about their liberalism, were more confident, and used more accessible language.
I’m just not a joiner. But I agree that the D’s presently are the party most hospitable.
AMEN! Brother.
I'm not sure how ambivalence about homelessness matches up with common decency and common sense, but I agree that the Democratic Party readily accommodates it.
Jonathan and E2, Decency and Sense -- the title of my Substack -- are my watchwords.
I am an active member of the Democratic Party -- a local party officeholder and the nominee of the party last cycle for a seat in my state legislature.
Notwithstanding all of that, I refrain from identifying myself as "a Democrat."
The best path forward is for more of us -- of whatever party or none at all -- to identify as small-d democrats and small-l liberals.
Partisan identity -- as affirmation fir oneself and denigration of the other -- is a major vector of our political and societal dysfunction.
Also, repeating the self-promotion of my standalone comment to JVL's essay, read my latest essay!
https://decencyandsense.substack.com/p/advocate-and-argue-in-good-faith