The democratic socialist Melat Kiros unseated the long-serving US representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s primary elections held on Tuesday, the latest in a string of high-profile victories for the party’s insurgent left.
The Associated Press reported that Kiros had defeated DeGette for the Democratic nomination in the deep-blue first congressional district centered on Denver. Kiros’s triumph came a week after New York voters unseated two Democratic congressional incumbents and replaced a third who was retiring with candidates who had campaigned on standing up to Israel amid accusations that it was carrying out a genocide in Gaza.
Bad time to be an incumbent.
You reckon Bernie Sanders’ seat is in danger? I don’t think the problem is incumbents so much as refusal to to give folks what they’re looking for in a representative.
No, the anti-incumbency wave is coming from progressives and (formerly) centrist Democrats who are tired of the status quo and lack of progress. Bernie is progressive enough that he will probably not be primaried, though if he was it would surely be for a younger similar progressive.
Yea but he’s a Zionist, which for many is a hardline right now. He’s also just … old. I like Bernie generally, but he’s barely left of center.
What the fuck are you smoking? Bernie Sanders has been one of thr first and loudest critics of Israel in the US government.
“I don’t know how you can have a permanent ceasefire with an organisation like Hamas which is dedicated to turmoil and chaos, and destroying the state of Israel" -Sanders. Yes, criticizing and demonizing the only organization actively fighting against this genocide…
“Israel has a right to defend itself” - Sanders.
“It is no longer good enough for us to be pro-Israel, I am pro-Israel…[Israel has] absolute right to live in peace and security”" - Sanders
Israel’s so-called rights are rooted in its colonial framework; Sanders’s attempt at equivalence between the colonised and the coloniser is evident even in the language used: the humanitarian versus the political.
“I think it is very important for everyone, but particularly for progressives, to acknowledge the enormous achievement of establishing a democratic homeland for the Jewish people after centuries of displacement and persecution,” -Sanders. This is literally Zionism.
Hundreds of his staffers had to beg him to call for ceasefire:
https://inthesetimes.com/article/bernie-sanders-former-staffers-palestine-gaza-israel-ceasefire
https://theintercept.com/2023/10/24/bernie-sanders-ceasefire-letter-israel/
https://truthout.org/articles/sanders-doubles-down-against-gaza-ceasefire-in-the-face-of-progressive-backlash/
https://www.commondreams.org/news/cease-fire-gaza
Sanders refuses to call it a genocide: https://x.com/SDGMasterglass/status/1758513912427725233
When an audience member interrupted him and asked if Palestinians “have a right to resist,” Sanders, incensed by the interruption, yelled back, “Shut up! You don’t have the microphone!”
Defending the bombing of Gaza
Nicely .ml’d
When discussing electoral politics, especially in America, I’d suggest adjusting your scale of where “the center” is. Also, Bernie may be a liberal zionist. But he also is promoting and endorsing people far to his left. That speaks volumes to what he wants to be built after he is gone.
I’m merely commenting why he may be a target of getting primaried. I’m DSA and a ML … Bernie has onboarded countless thousands to DSA and socialism in general. For that we can thank him. He has shifted his stance recently if I remember, but he’s been staunchly a zionist in the past.
My friend someone in DSA should know Bernie would never be primaried by a DSA candidate. A DSA candidate would be endorsed by Bernie when he decides to retire. He’s like 500 years old and the most liked politician in the country. If the DSA started talking shit publicly about Bernie; I would be more concerned that some CIA infiltrated it’s leadership. It would be the worst political move I could think of.
DSA has codified anti-zionism into its bylaws. There is also an expulsion process (restorative rather than punitive). We also have the ability to rescind endorsements of those who do not follow our anti-zionist or bds platform. The point is to avoid unyielding fealty to DSA members in perpetuity even if they do not abide by our platform.
Conveniently, Bernie has finally shifted his stance last year. I think you’re consistently missing my point. I don’t think Bernie is in any danger. I’m simply acknowledging the situation in which he would be, which isn’t that much of a stretch considering his past stances.
Plenty of DSA and other Socialists criticize Bernie. The reality is, he’s not that far left of center. That’s fine, DSA is big tent, and there’s plenty of room on the Dem ballot line for sort-of-left-of-center. I’ve acknowledged his role in onboarding countless people to DSA and Socialism. I’ve also laid out his shortcomings. What else do you want from me?
Do you think it’s a good move for DSA to primary Bernie Sanders? I hope not. Because that would be political suicide.
You’re having a completely different conversation my friend. I am talking about the reality that having a campaign “against Bernie” would be like shooting the momentum of the DSA in their own foot.
I’m not talking about whether he’s a liberal zionist or not. Or whether he took “too long”. I’m talking about good political moves and strategy to actually win. If you are listening to people in DSA seriously consider trying to primary Bernie you are likely talking to a CIA op.
DSA wants to actually TAKE POWER. If you’re analysis is not based on moves to make actual material change I don’t think you should call yourself an ML.
All I want from you: “yeah, DSA trying to primary Bernie would be a really bad idea and cause confusion within the voting population. I was just pointing to him as an example of how much our momentum has moved left”
Provide citations and sources, you’re tslking out of your ass, tankie.
https://lemmy.ml/post/49472329/26470958
Blocked for the tankie comment.
Sensitive fucking babies.
You’re from lemmy.ml- it’s the tankie center of Lemmy. Of course you’ll get called a tankie.