General Discussion

BeyondGeography

(41,133 posts)

34. We lose because we don't loudly and clearly differentiate ourselves from Republicans

Sun Jan 15, 2017, 09:10 AM

Jan 2017

Votes like Booker's, to the extent it was driven more by the need to appease campaign contributors rather than sincere policy considerations, don't help. They aren't fatal; voters understand that politicians aren't saints, but they feed cynicism.

Booker's taking a lot of flack because he wants to be the nominee in 2020. That's healthy. People also remember when the Obama campaign made Bain Capital an issue in 2012, Booker initially stood up for Bain. Booker was also among the last Dems to get on board with the Iran nuclear agreement. He needs to understand that people are watching. I have no problem with him getting his butt kicked on this. It will make him a better nominee if he's the guy in 2020 if his own positions becomes less muddled.

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The Booker bashing is why we lose. [View all] joshcryer Jan 2017 OP

It's not bashing to point out when Booker sells out his constituents doxyluv13 Jan 2017 #1

Do you have any idea how many of his constituents in NJ are part pnwmom Jan 2017 #3

Uh, I said they are the states biggest industries so of course I know. doxyluv13 Jan 2017 #8

We don't have Big Pharma here in WA but our Senators voted against it, too, pnwmom Jan 2017 #12

Yeah, it's all theater. joshcryer Jan 2017 #47

Could you share a link about adulterated drugs being found by postal inspectors in Seattle? suffragette Jan 2017 #131

Here. I remembered it from when it happened, but this is a current article. pnwmom Jan 2017 #132

The sad fact is our agencies may be influenced azmom Jan 2017 #138

The fact is that Canada does not regulate or check drugs that flow through pnwmom Jan 2017 #145

Is it your contention that the 46 Senators azmom Jan 2017 #148

Yes. I don't think they would have deliberately put people at risk, pnwmom Jan 2017 #150

Canada has problems too. Who you gonna trust? Jim Beard Jan 2017 #158

Well, I would trust that their own drugs are produced safely, to standards. pnwmom Jan 2017 #161

US drugs are made in Haiti. I found 50 gallon drums of Gabapentin Jim Beard Jan 2017 #164

You found an internet site that claimed to send Gabapentin. pnwmom Jan 2017 #171

Yes, it was at one time through "Alibaba Group" that is as big as Walmart. Jim Beard Jan 2017 #172

i've wondered where the ideal balance between supporting principles and fulfilling the wishes of dionysus Jan 2017 #69

You are so correct. BunkieBandit Jan 2017 #71

If you're talking about Booker HarmonyRockets Jan 2017 #141

Senators voting to benefit Businesses located in their home state is what they are sent there to do JI7 Jan 2017 #4

That's the Corporatist (fka Republican) Position doxyluv13 Jan 2017 #9

voters want politicians to keep businesses in their state JI7 Jan 2017 #10

Big Pharam isn't leaving NJ if we get cheaper Rx thru Canada. aikoaiko Jan 2017 #110

People who work at corporations are voters, too. nt pnwmom Jan 2017 #13

Yes, wasn't Bernie a big supporter of the F35? n/t seaglass Jan 2017 #23

And no one should fault Sanders for that. joshcryer Jan 2017 #25

I'm not faulting. It is again with Bernie and some of his supporters - do as I say not as I do. seaglass Jan 2017 #28

It's pure psychological manipulation and we fall for it. joshcryer Jan 2017 #30

And it is not mutually exclusive with the treestar Jan 2017 #192

You know where all his big pharma donations come from? joshcryer Jan 2017 #24

Nope, you do not need big money HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #26

Obama banned big money from the DNC for 8 years. joshcryer Jan 2017 #48

I agree with a lot of what you say on this... Blanks Jan 2017 #49

His explaination is worse, for me. joshcryer Jan 2017 #51

Nod to big pharma? HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #60

Got the votes for that? joshcryer Jan 2017 #61

A vote of conscience? HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #63

I spend about $200 on prescriptions a month and will for the rest of my life HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #58

The Drugs are safe. This is all political bullshit. Nt azmom Jan 2017 #144

Exactly! bagelsforbreakfast Jan 2017 #182

+1,000,000! GreenPartyVoter Jan 2017 #99

Yup, it sure is. n/t pnwmom Jan 2017 #2

K&R betsuni Jan 2017 #5

No. The Booker vote is why we lose. Sienna86 Jan 2017 #6

the majority of voters in his state voted for Booker JI7 Jan 2017 #11

I know. How do the voters feel about his vote? Sienna86 Jan 2017 #17

I don't know, I wonder how they'd feel if he kept being shit on? joshcryer Jan 2017 #32

What's the point? HarmonyRockets Jan 2017 #143

Well poor people are not going to get treestar Jan 2017 #194

Post removed Post removed Jan 2017 #20

When Booker introduces his legislation in reconcillation... joshcryer Jan 2017 #33

Would that be before of after pigs fly? bagelsforbreakfast Jan 2017 #183

I'm sorry, but that is a terribly uninformed attitude. yardwork Jan 2017 #54

Are you serious? mcar Jan 2017 #89

the people in NJ want someone who protects their interests treestar Jan 2017 #193

Amen, joshcryer. It's this kind of thing that makes DU suck -- and makes me despair of the Dem Party Hekate Jan 2017 #7

+1 betsuni Jan 2017 #14

I have a friend who lives in PA, he says his district is so gerrymandered that even if the candidate secondwind Jan 2017 #19

That doesn't make any sense. Ace Rothstein Jan 2017 #95

This was the Senate, not the House crazycatlady Jan 2017 #139

+1 treestar Jan 2017 #195

Maybe the problem is also a strength. tecelote Jan 2017 #15

+1, its not even purism !!! its always a slanted bash of the, more Russian shit from LPC members !!! uponit7771 Jan 2017 #16

If that is Booker's reason for voting against Bernie's bill... chwaliszewski Jan 2017 #18

Or perhaps a better bill Stellar Jan 2017 #22

It weakened the ACA OKNancy Jan 2017 #65

Bullshit melman Jan 2017 #21

The ACA got fucking REPEALED. joshcryer Jan 2017 #27

If it is a bullshit vote HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #38

You can get something out of it. joshcryer Jan 2017 #41

I'm right there with you Josh. The stupid fucking losers are taking us down with them. yardwork Jan 2017 #82

No, a Democrat voting like a Republican is why we lose. Vinca Jan 2017 #29

Tell that to Feingold. joshcryer Jan 2017 #31

If Booker becomes more Bernie and less Manchin, he'll have a good chance of being in play in 2020. Vinca Jan 2017 #35

Like I said, this is why we lose. joshcryer Jan 2017 #36

The point is, it has the appearance that big pharma is more important to Booker than Vinca Jan 2017 #88

He won't be in play in 2020 crazycatlady Jan 2017 #140

We lose because we don't loudly and clearly differentiate ourselves from Republicans BeyondGeography Jan 2017 #34

Booker is a party leader so this is orcrastrated to tear him down a notch or two. joshcryer Jan 2017 #37

People have trust issues with Booker; it's not just about this vote BeyondGeography Jan 2017 #50

This is why this country is fucked. yardwork Jan 2017 #87

Politics 101: You don't pick a losing position when it's avoidable. randome Jan 2017 #39

Losing position in what way? He certainly lost in the eyes of many Dems. Fast Walker 52 Jan 2017 #42

He's not stupid so I have no doubt he made the political calculations on how to use his losing vote. randome Jan 2017 #44

He knew it was a bad vote, optically. joshcryer Jan 2017 #46

And we may never know what gentlemans agreements were made. joshcryer Jan 2017 #43

Judging ANYONE on the basis of one vote is pointless. Booker is not stupid. randome Jan 2017 #45

I know you are a thoughtful DU'er, therefore I am posting this link re: WYDEN Amendment KittyWampus Jan 2017 #74

Thanks for posting that very important link. nt oasis Jan 2017 #108

excellent article NewJeffCT Jan 2017 #117

It's always more complex than the soundbites we get here. randome Jan 2017 #120

Thank you for this. It's to the point that anything related to Sanders' has to be parsed R B Garr Jan 2017 #124

I agree... this is part of it Fast Walker 52 Jan 2017 #40

The measure apparently didn't include any safety standards at all. ismnotwasm Jan 2017 #52

The stupid part is that once it's added in it'll still pass. joshcryer Jan 2017 #56

Yup ismnotwasm Jan 2017 #62

huwhaheahahahahahah AllaN01Bear Jan 2017 #53

Wrong. The Booker sell out is why we lose. JNelson6563 Jan 2017 #55

Man, I thought we had a rule against Dem bashing. joshcryer Jan 2017 #57

Ok, aren't you "bashing" his critics? JNelson6563 Jan 2017 #66

I posted a thread. There was another Amendment that Booker voted "Yes" on. The Klobucher Amendment KittyWampus Jan 2017 #94

I will look into this further. JNelson6563 Jan 2017 #121

Criticism and bashing are not the same thing. Crunchy Frog Jan 2017 #101

I look back at the Clinton-Sanders war with profound regret. What a waste of energy. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #59

The bashing of Booker is a set-up OKNancy Jan 2017 #64

I just read the thread on Dailykos on this. I didn't know a Wyden Amendment existed. KittyWampus Jan 2017 #73

of course he is. He loves the attention OKNancy Jan 2017 #75

It doesn't take that much research to figure it out either ismnotwasm Jan 2017 #97

Wow, this really brings into focus his divisiveness that has been fostered all R B Garr Jan 2017 #123

People in this very thread are ignoring this information.. JHan Jan 2017 #129

We bitched about all those votes too.. I dont distinguish Booker from the other 13 CentralMass Jan 2017 #67

Just to add a little frosting to this thread OKNancy Jan 2017 #68

If that was Booker, or anyone except St. Bernard sitting pretty at third... kjones Jan 2017 #174

I think Booker is a "Harold Ford Democrat". Trust Buster Jan 2017 #70

Huh? Maybe you expand on that so no one gets the wrong idea. nt oasis Jan 2017 #109

Political opportunist. Has nothing to do with race. Trust Buster Jan 2017 #114

Thom Hartmann on Friday defended Booker saying that Corry probably Akamai Jan 2017 #72

Are the little guys of NJ really so aligned with big pharma? HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #76

they think that drugs are safe, all the time, mopinko Jan 2017 #100

There is no such thing as a safe drug HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #102

. ismnotwasm Jan 2017 #126

If it were just that vote then I'd be fine with him... vi5 Jan 2017 #77

Those two things, Wall Street and charter schools, are a good reason to be weary. demmiblue Jan 2017 #93

Same.... vi5 Jan 2017 #111

Booker was tone deaf to the mood of the party in making that vote. CanonRay Jan 2017 #78

OMG what a stupid inane thing to say! yardwork Jan 2017 #80

Dissent within the party must be encouraged. intheflow Jan 2017 #79

The word 'bashing' gets thrown around like candy on Halloween, it seems. n/t demmiblue Jan 2017 #85

Why was Booker singled out for special negative attention? n/t pnwmom Jan 2017 #96

Probably because he's being talked about for 2020. Crunchy Frog Jan 2017 #107

Yes, that could be why the Intercept singled him out in their piece. pnwmom Jan 2017 #112

I know NewJeffCT Jan 2017 #118

And the only other two I ever saw mentioned were women, pnwmom Jan 2017 #119

Because he took the most money, and has been being floated as possible 2020 contender. intheflow Jan 2017 #136

Booker-type voting is why we lose. truebluegreen Jan 2017 #81

Democrats believing hype originating in the libertarian Intercept pnwmom Jan 2017 #98

"the libertarian intercept" truebluegreen Jan 2017 #137

The Intercept has been pushing this anti-Booker meme. The story has been posted here. pnwmom Jan 2017 #146

Haven't read the Intercept on this issue, truebluegreen Jan 2017 #147

I live in one of the cities, Seattle, where the postal service has discovered pnwmom Jan 2017 #149

OK, I'll check it out and you may change my mind. truebluegreen Jan 2017 #151

If you read the article, you will see that Forbes isn't happy with DT pnwmom Jan 2017 #152

Before reading the article: truebluegreen Jan 2017 #155

Why do you think Big Pharma would cooperate in this plan? pnwmom Jan 2017 #156

"we should be negotiating our own drug prices with producers" truebluegreen Jan 2017 #160

When could we have done that? Here is the OP by Kittywampus pnwmom Jan 2017 #162

When we had the Presidency, truebluegreen Jan 2017 #163

I think they had their hands full trying to get a stimulus bill passed -- remember that? pnwmom Jan 2017 #165

I do remember that. Apparently you don't though, truebluegreen Jan 2017 #167

You don't remember enough. You don't remember that the reason we couldn't pnwmom Jan 2017 #169

BTW, don't you think "negotiating drug prices" truebluegreen Jan 2017 #168

It doesn't matter what I think. It all came down to Joe Lieberman's single vote pnwmom Jan 2017 #170

Nice source melman Jan 2017 #185

Try WHO, CNN, NBC, Consumer Reports, etc. pnwmom Jan 2017 #190

So? melman Jan 2017 #196

So? Feel free to discount that source, although the incident in Seattle DID happen, pnwmom Jan 2017 #197

K & Fking R JHan Jan 2017 #83

That is the problem.. coco22 Jan 2017 #84

Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good mcar Jan 2017 #86

Exactly my view on the Booker bashing nini Jan 2017 #90

Get rid of Booker b/c of his pharma vote, lose his voice defending John Lewis. baldguy Jan 2017 #91

I was proud to bash Joe Lieberman and be part of the team that tossed him out of the Democratic Larkspur Jan 2017 #92

No, it's not. It is a hopeful sign that we want to win! earthside Jan 2017 #103

We are in a war for our very democracy. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #104

He "voted with his constituents" except the ones who need prescriptions Bucky Jan 2017 #105

Booker should have voted FOR his constituents. immoderate Jan 2017 #106

Booker isn't our guy Horse with no Name Jan 2017 #113

Who's we? pintobean Jan 2017 #115

Even after the bullshit bashing has been debunked!?!? REALLY?!! How about we never give DEM uponit7771 Jan 2017 #116

Russian & GOP trolls are already at work ecstatic Jan 2017 #122

If we had a media worth a spit they would point this out. nt Rex Jan 2017 #125

Problem is SPIT is all they are worth... bagelsforbreakfast Jan 2017 #180

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2017 #127

Booker is a corporate fraud. democratisphere Jan 2017 #128

No we lose because too many Democrats are in the pocket for doc03 Jan 2017 #130

When 20 million people are about to lose health care, it is all the more important Ms. Toad Jan 2017 #133

We lose when Russians collude with Republicans. azmom Jan 2017 #134

No, sellout Republican-Lite quisling DLC/Third Way DINOs is why we lose. backscatter712 Jan 2017 #135

Our nominee will never be pure enough for some. dawg Jan 2017 #142

republicans back their candidates regardless of how bad they are Democrats do not. liberal N proud Jan 2017 #153

No, actually the Tea Party has forced Republicans way, way, way to the right and they keep winning. Quixote1818 Jan 2017 #184

Booker's vote is correct. apcalc Jan 2017 #154

верный bagelsforbreakfast Jan 2017 #181

It's NOT the left eating it's own as much as we have IGNORED the Pubs! We spend all our time napi21 Jan 2017 #157

This message was self-deleted by its author riderinthestorm Jan 2017 #159

It points out a difficulty that goes deeper than bashing. HassleCat Jan 2017 #166

Wait wut? I thought we hated Bernie for repping his constituents on the 2A Arazi Jan 2017 #173

When you vote to the right of Ted Cruz on an issue, you deserve all the criticism you get. jfern Jan 2017 #175

Cory Booker is bad on a whole bunch of issues, and should have lost to Rush Holt. DemocraticWing Jan 2017 #176

I bet you love Putin, too killbotfactory Jan 2017 #177

That post about RT is ridiculous Quixote1818 Jan 2017 #186

Agree, he sold out years ago Quixote1818 Jan 2017 #178

Bookers American Conservative Union rating: 2.67 out of 100. 9th most liberal Renew Deal Jan 2017 #187

All that score measure is how well he aligns with Democratic leadership. DemocraticWing Jan 2017 #189

What do you meant lost? bagelsforbreakfast Jan 2017 #179

Booker is why we would lose. coco22 Jan 2017 #188

Yes we have to quit assuming the worst treestar Jan 2017 #191