Category Archives: Democrat

1. Sen. Sinema's switch to Independent will not impact Democrats' control of the chamber, representatives say  CNBC
2. Kyrsten Sinema Says She Will Leave the Democratic Party to Become Independent  The New York Times
3. Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema leaves Democratic Party, registers as an independent  NPR
4. Kyrsten Sinema's decision to leave Democratic Party won't have immediate consequences  The Washington Post
5. Sanders calls Sinema corporate Democrat who sabotaged legislation  The Hill
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Sen. Sinema's switch to Independent will not impact Democrats' control of the chamber, representatives say - CNBC

'People are fed up': As NC Democrats reflect on election missteps, a party shake-up is underway  WRAL News

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'People are fed up': As NC Democrats reflect on election missteps, a party shake-up is underway - WRAL News

Currently, there are two major political parties that dominate American politics: the Democratic party and the Republican party. A Democrat identifies with the centrist-to-left wing ideals of the Democratic party, while a Republican identifies with the centrist-to-right wing ideals of the Republican party. While an individual voter may not agree with every position taken by his or her chosen political party, a Democrat tends to believe in a progressive social agenda, workers' rights, diplomacy over military action, and a clear separation between church and state.

Members of the Democratic party may identify themselves as politically or socially conservative, moderate or liberal. Historically, the party has appealed to academics and professionals with progressive to liberal leanings, although there is a faction of so-called "Blue Dog" Democrats who espouse political conservatism while endorsing socially progressive programs. Many of these conservatives are from Southern states that have recently moved to the political right.

The Democratic party has also aligned itself with the plight of minority populations and the economically challenged. Members generally believe that the federal and state governments have an obligation to provide essential services for citizens in need, as well as legal recognition and protection for oppressed or poorly represented minority groups. Social Security, public welfare, and food stamp programs are the direct result of Democratic presidencies.

A Democrat may also strongly support the needs and rights of workers over the demands of management. Establishing a federal minimum wage was accomplished during Democratic president Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, for example. Many labor unions gained strength during this party's administrations as well. The Civil Right Act of 1965 was enacted during Democratic president Lyndon B. Johnson's time in office. Democratic president Bill Clinton also signed a law allowing workers to take unpaid leaves of absence during times of family need.

Many people who consider themselves part of this group also support the idea of universal health care for all citizens, a concept that led to the development of Medicaid and Medicare. A woman's right to choices about her own reproductive health is also a platform for the Democratic party, which was tested most notably during the Supreme Court case Roe vs Wade. The controversial right to seek out a legal abortion continues to be a source of strong disagreement between the Democratic and Republican parties. Another divisive issue is the use of capital punishment, with many Democrats believe should be abolished entirely, or at least severely restricted.

A member of the Democratic party is free to form his or her own opinion on the party's general political stances or candidates, as is a member of the Republican party. The national parties, however, do hold primaries and caucuses to determine the political candidates who best represent the ideals of the parties as a whole. A registered Democrat votes for the candidate who best represent his or her own political viewpoint, and the winners become the official candidates of the party.

Some politically active Democratic party members may become delegates to the national convention or even receive appointments to higher office if a Democratic candidate wins the election. He or she can also assist with grassroots lobbying efforts or work on a favored candidate's election campaign.

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What is a Democrat? (with pictures) - Historical Index

1. This is the late message some Democrats believe could make a difference in close elections  CNN
2. Democrats Prepare for Loss of Congress as Voters Break Late to GOP  Bloomberg
3. Democrats agonize about 2022 election, facing 'political gravity' in final stretch  NBC News
4. Democrats scramble into defensive posture in final stage of midterms  The Washington Post
5. Why Democrats don't need to panic before the midterms  The Michigan Daily
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This is the late message some Democrats believe could make a difference in close elections - CNN

Dylan Roberts in his words: The Democrat running for a seat in Senate District 8 promises to focus on living affordability, the environment and rural health care  Sky-Hi News

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Dylan Roberts in his words: The Democrat running for a seat in Senate District 8 promises to focus on living affordability, the environment and rural...

1. POLITICO Playbook: Where Democrats can find some good news - POLITICO  POLITICO
2. Democrats Feared Red October Arrives Before the Midterms  The New York Times
3. Analysis | The growing warning signs for Democrats in 2022  The Washington Post
4. Without an Economic Message, Democrats Will Never Close the Deal  The Nation
5. Democrats should not feel good about the midterms  Mississippi Valley Publishing
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POLITICO Playbook: Where Democrats can find some good news - POLITICO - POLITICO

Kill the babies to curb inflation? Democrats are the real abortion extremists  Washington Examiner

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Kill the babies to curb inflation? Democrats are the real abortion extremists - Washington Examiner

One of the first things that most pundits will tell you about Thursdays January 6 committee broadcast the first since August, and probably the last before the November midterms is that the committees subpoena of Donald Trump wont go anywhere.

Sure, there were other notable moments in Thursdays hearing. The committee presented a thorough summary of their findings, seemingly aiming to remind voters ahead of the midterms of the depth of Donald Trumps commitment to his plan to overthrow our democracy in the service of his own ego.

It bolstered its long-established findings with new evidence: we heard, for the first time, testimony from multiple sources who said that Trump acknowledged privately that he knew he had lost the election.

We discovered, for the first time, that both the Secret Service and the FBI had much greater and much earlier knowledge of the plan to attack the Capitol than had previously been acknowledged (a revelation that calls those agencies actions on that day into question).

We saw, for the first time, footage of the Democratic congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in hiding from the mob, secured in an off-site location while the looters raged and defecated through the Capitol, calling the Department of Justice and governors of the nearby states in an attempt to get some of the police and militarys help to clear the crowd that was not coming from the Trump administration.

All of this was newly specific and remarkable, even if it wasnt exactly new information. But the real event of the hearings was the subpoena vote. The committee leaked the news strategically, just before the broadcast, with the push notifications from various news outlets alighting on phone screens across America, reminding voters to tune in.

The committee made much of their decision to subpoena Trump, performing a roll-call vote on camera (unanimously aye) and emphasizing throughout Wednesdays hearing that he was the primary instigator and designer of the violent and cockamamie attempt to overturn the 2020 election by force.

Just before the climactic vote, the committee played a montage of members of the Trump inner circle John Eastman, the fringe law professor who became Trumps legal guru in a series of failed attempts to undo his election loss; Roger Stone, the Republican operative and self-described dirty trickster with ties to both the Trump administration and the violent far-right militias that led the Capitol violence all taking the fifth in depositions with the committee, and refusing to provide vital information.

The idea of this montage was to justify the subpoena of Trump himself. Look, the committee seemed to be saying to the American people, his friends wont talk, so we need to go after the big guy. But the fifth amendment wasnt just a justification, it was also a prediction: of course, Trump isnt going to talk either.

Its this reality that Trump probably wont testify, that he will issue a series of legal challenges, lies, or, at best, non-answers that shed little light on his actions that day that gets jumped on by members of the political commentariat who like to prove their own seriousness by pointing out all the ways that the Democrats can never accomplish anything. The January 6 panel moves to subpoena Trump, an aggressive move that will likely be futile, was the headline in the New York Times, a phrasing that almost suggested contempt for the attempt to embark on a fact-finding exercise at all. Some people are so determined not to come off as naive that they adopt a withering cynicism, or even a kind of learned helplessness and unfortunately, a lot of those people work in political media, or for the Democratic party.

But the vote to subpoena Trump, and the willingness to embark on the legal and political fights that will ensue, suggests that congressional Democrats may have a little fighting spirit in them yet. After a halting start to the Biden administration, in which it looked, for a while, as if the Democrats agenda would be hamstrung by the intransigence of Senator Joe Manchin, the party has had a remarkable series of wins over the past few months especially, it should be noted, since the supreme courts disastrous reversal of Roe v Wade in June angered women voters across the political spectrum and galvanized enthusiasm in the Democratic base.

With this wind of popular outrage at their backs, the Democrats were able to pass the deceptively named Inflation Reduction Act really an infrastructure and climate bill and to muster support for Bidens student debt relief and mass federal marijuana pardon. But the January 6 committee hearings have been one of the feathers in the Democrats cap, and it is one of the rare achievements that the House Democratic caucus has made not as assistants and handmaids to the administrations agenda, but on their own.

This independence and risk-taking in going after Trump may be a sign of a congressional Democratic party that is shaking off its old habits of learned helplessness and beginning to feel more confident in a political landscape that is less about procedural victories like, say, whether Trump will ever actually sit down for a deposition with the January 6 committee or not and more about public demonstrations of commitment and confidence.

According to a new book, the House committee that took the bold step of issuing a subpoena to Donald Trump, for instance, is very different from the group of House impeachment managers who made the gun-shy and timorous decision not to call witnesses in the January 6 impeachment trial under pressure from a Biden White House that wanted to move on.

The January 6 committee hearings have been, altogether, a much bolder affair than the impeachment, much more cognizant of their audience - the American public - much better at communicating with them, and much more willing to state facts plainly. Maybe Trump will never testify. But subpoenaing him is still the right thing to do. The stakes are high, and when it comes to Donald Trump, the Democrats finally seem to realize that accountability is more important than risk aversion.

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The vote to subpoena Trump shows Democrats have found their fighting spirit - The Guardian US

This is an opinion column.

In a live radio segment, Huntsville radio host Dale Jackson asked me whether I could vote for Hershel Walker in spite of credible reports about his past relationships, personal behavior, and not-so-pro-life decisions. The question made me think. Is the worst Republican still better than a Democrat?

Walker is a hell of a running back, but his lack of character has proven a significant distraction in the Georgia Senate race. He is correct in claiming that Democrats hope to keep the conversation about his personal life instead of inflation, immigration, and fuel prices. On the other hand, its his behavior and choices enabling them to do just that.

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If a politician hasnt made a series of mistakes and learned from them, theyre not the best candidate to represent my family. I dont need to hold my elected representatives on a moral pedestal, but I shouldnt be constantly excusing poor choices and behavior either. Thankfully, most Republican politicians are within the range of normal. Their representation of Americans around the country is neither scandalous nor bizarre.

Then there are folks like Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar who made a weird anime video of himself killing a Democratic member of Congress. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has argued, Bill Gates wants you to eat this fake meat that grows in a peach tree dish so youll probably get a little zap inside your body thatll say No, dont eat a real cheeseburger, you need to eat the fake burger. Retiring Rep. Louie Ghomert notes, If youre a Republican, you cant even lie to Congress or lie to an FBI agent or theyre coming after you.

These are just a few of the eye-roll-inducing episodes from Republicans that leave conservatives either scratching their heads or explaining.

As a columnist who does a lot of talking, I understand that anyone can rhetorically fumble. Im fairly certain Ghomert understands that lying to Congress and the FBI is a crime. At some point, the cumulative impact of such behaviors and comments removes the common excuse of thats not what he/she meant.

Like Senator Mitch McConnell or not, hes a senator in the range of normal who has come to Walkers defense. The reason is clear: Walker is one more vote in the Republican column who would make McConnell majority leader once again. McConnells approach is pure power politics. If Republicans want to advance any sort of agenda, they need the votes in the Senate. Right now the best option to do that in Georgia is to support Walker.

Power politics rejects the view that the issues we care about might take more than one election to accomplish. Politics is a long-term game filled with people who have short-term memories. Republicans must build governing majorities that can both respond to voters immediate concerns and endure multiple election cycles. To do that, successful candidates need the disposition and capacity to navigate both Washington, D.C. and a media minefield.

Oddly, Jacksons question for me wasnt about whether I could vote for Walkers Democratic opponent. He knows Im not a Democrat. When it comes to Congress, I dont share the Democratic partys view of the government as a social and economic engineering tool. Quite the opposite, I see the governments purpose as maximizing individual liberty in the context of an ordered society. McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are much more aligned with my views than Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

That doesnt mean Ill always back the Republican candidates on the ballot in November.

Ive been asked a question similar to Jacksons when my vote was actually on the line. Failed Senate candidate Roy Moore didnt earn my vote. It wasnt all the allegations of misconduct that turned me away from his candidacy. Id seen from his judicial career that he didnt respect the rule of law when he didnt agree with the outcome. Friends and politicians pressured me by arguing Americas future rested on Moores electoral success.

It didnt.

Im quite happy with the Supreme Courts makeup in spite of former Senator Doug Joness brief tenure in office. The Affordable Care Act is gutted on a number of fronts. Moores vote wouldnt have made a difference in Americas fiscal trajectory because majorities of both parties borrow and spend with reckless abandon. Now, Sen. Tommy Tuberville is in office, and hes proven to be an effective, level-headed senator for the state.

I dont hold my nose and vote. Virtues such as honesty and humility matter to me. If a candidate like Walker can tell the truth, clear the air, and explain how hes changed, Id consider him. People make mistakes. Some of them are rough. On the other hand, Im not interested in an ongoing clown show excusing boorish behavior because Democrats use it as an electoral tool.

Asking whether the worst Republican is better than the best Democrat isnt a useful hypothetical. Its never actually on the ballot. Im just not voting for a creep who shares my policy views or an excellent candidate who doesnt.

Smith is a recovering political attorney with four boys, two dogs, and an extremely patient wife. He engages media, business, and policy through the Triptych Foundation and Triptych Media. Please direct outrage or agreement to csmith@al.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter.

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Cameron Smith: Is the worst Republican better than the best Democrat? - AL.com

Thursdays report showing that inflation jumped higher than expected in September and that prices remain at a 40-year high comes at a bad time for Democrats, who are battling to hang onto their Senate majority and are expected to lose control of the House.

Democratic senators had expressed hope throughout this year that inflation would begin to subside before the election, but the last inflation report released before Election Day shows that prices remain stubbornly high.

That has fueled voters dissatisfaction over the direction of the country and weighed down President Bidens approval rating, creating a stiff headwind for Democratic candidates heading into November.

Much of the conversation in Washington in recent weeks has revolved around what impact the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which struck down abortion rights, or negative media coverage of former President Trump would have on the midterm election.

But the fact remains that voters view of the economy and inflation is negative, and thats not likely to change over the next three-and-a-half weeks.

I think its probably going to be a good day for Republicans. I just think the inflation numbers are too bad, said Ross K. Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University, of Election Day, which falls on Nov. 8.

Thats the number that all polls seem to say that voters are paying most attention to, he said of the inflation rate, which reached 8.2 percent last month compared to a year ago.

The consumer price index (CPI) jumped 0.4 percent in September, exceeding Dow Joness estimate of 0.3 percent.

Core CPI, a gauge closely watched by the Federal Reserve that excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased by 0.6 percent in September, bringing it 6.6 percent higher than a year ago.

Thursdays report immediately put Democrats on the defensive.

President Biden on Thursday acknowledged that inflation would be a major issue in next months election but insisted that his administration has done everything to solve the problem.

If Republicans win, inflations going to get worse. Its that simple, he told an audience in Los Angeles.

Democrats are working to bring down the cost of things they talk about around the kitchen table, from prescription drugs, to health insurance, to energy bills and so much more, said Biden, adding that voters would get to choose which party to lead the country in the election.

Republicans were quick to use the latest numbers to attack Bidens economic record.

Democrats runaway inflation continues to crush working families with no relief in sight, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in response to Thursdays inflation report.

He accused Democrats of failing to take inflation seriously when they took over the Senate in 2021 and making it worse by passing the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which was designed to further boost an economy that was already strong.

Republicans say the fiscal stimulus bill helped overheat the economy and ramp up inflation.

Democrats have produced staggering 13.5 percent inflation since January 2021. That was shortly before [Senate Majority Leader Charles] Schumer [D-N.Y.] said I do not think the dangers of inflation, at least in the near term, are very real and every Senate Democrat cast the tiebreaking vote for runaway reckless spending, McConnell said.

The Senate is divided 50-50, giving Democrats a razor-thin majority because of Vice President Harriss ability to cast tie-breaking votes.High inflation is bad news for Democrats trying to keep that majority.

An average of nine nationwide polls conducted between Sept. 6 and Oct. 11 showed that only 27 percent of respondents think the nation is moving in the right direction, while 67 percent think the country is on the wrong track, according to a compilation of the data by Real Clear Politics.

Its the biggest spread between percentage of Americans who think the country is moving in the right direction and those that think the opposite that has been measured immediately before any election going back to January of 2009, according to Real Clear Politics.

On Oct. 30, 2010, a few days before the 2010 midterm election, polls showed that 33 percent of Americans thought the country was on the right track and 61 percent thought it was on the wrong track. Republicans picked up six Senate seats and 63 House seats that year.

By comparison, 32 percent of Americans thought the country was on the right track and 61 percent thought it was on the wrong track two days after Election Day 2020, when Democrats ousted President Trump from office and went on win the Senate majority.

Democratic strategists acknowledge that Thursdays inflation report comes at a critical moment.

Steve Jarding, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the right track-wrong track question has been a barometer for gauging voter sentiment, which is why its probably not a real good day for Biden or the Democrats.

Jarding said in any other election year, he would say batten down the hatches because this is going to be a hell of storm thats going to take out a lot of Democrats. But he said there are extenuating circumstances that might help Democrats this November, such as the investigation of Trumps role in instigating the Jan. 6 attack.

He also cited the Supreme Courts decision in June striking down Roe v. Wade as an extraordinary event that could drive more Democrats to the polls.

If I see these numbers, it suggests Democrats are going to get creamed, Jarding said in response to the inflation number and the right track-wrong track spread, but he added that Democrats can take hope in the flaws of Senate Republican candidates such as Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and Herschel Walker in Georgia.

Baker, the political scientist, observed that the inflation report shows what voters are reminded of on a weekly or daily basis when they go to the gas station to fill up their car or the grocery store to fill up their cart.

Its very difficult to dodge it, he said. Americans are reminded of it on a daily basis. My wife yesterday said it cost her five dollars for a box of Reynolds Wrap. Thats absurd.

By contrast, the issue that Democrats want to keep in the spotlight, abortion rights, is beginning to fade from voters minds, Baker said.

If the Dobbs decision had been handed down nine weeks later than it was, it would have had some more effect, he said. People forget. They dont see abortions every day or women going to jail for having abortions in certain states.

What they see every day is [the price of] school-market merchandise that has gone sky high, gasoline prices that have gone through the roof and are going to go back through the roof. Its a depressing thing, he added.

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Inflation report is bad news for Democrats - The Hill