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Political suicide *outside of the most liberal areas* which NYC happens to be. I’ve seen the Mamdani groundswell firsthand and had plenty of conversations around town that made me believe a win was possible here. HERE. In NYC. Not many other places.You claimed a week ago that the label “socialist” is political suicide. That it kills campaigns before they begin. That the merits never even get heard. But Mamdani wore that label openly. Ran on it. Embraced it. And still won a high-turnout, high-stakes race with the full weight of the political establishment against him.
And as for it being viable as-is in some local races, sure. Some. But republicans anywhere and everywhere will still point to the state and federal representatives and legislators who endorsed the “socialist,” and we all get saddled with it.
And calling each other comrades, no matter how infrequently or tongue-in-cheek, is the stupidest and most tone-deaf way to serve up red meat on a silver platter.
There’s simply no defending nor rehabilitating the term in a way that makes more sense than just finding a new label for the same ideological platform. It’s maddening that it persists, but another of many ways Dems just don’t understand messaging.
The sad reality of this moment is that nobody in his or her right mind would run for a major political office. We're lucky to have some really good masochists still out there, like Jeff Jackson, Adam Stein and (to be fair to my more progressive friends) AOC, but it's really, really hard to consider exposing oneself and one's family to the absolute shitstorm that is modern American politics.What a disaster of choices for New York and the Democratic Party. Mamdani will provide a wealth of material for the mouth breathers on the Right. And on the other side - imagine thinking, "Cuomo is our guy."
There were good candidates running for the Democratic nomination. We are in an era of celebrity and attention deficit. And so, if someone isn't a celebrity or can't stick their head above that fray - they aren't given adequate publicity. The press follows the public and the public follows the press and unless you go viral - you are sunk.The sad reality of this moment is that nobody in his or her right mind would run for a major political office. We're lucky to have some really good masochists still out there, like Jeff Jackson, Adam Stein and (to be fair to my more progressive friends) AOC, but it's really, really hard to consider exposing oneself and one's family to the absolute shitstorm that is modern American politics.
So let me get this straight: you think the Democrats’ problem is…too much visibility for a young, working-class-backed politician who actually won a contested race?
I’d vote for Jeff Jackson.Jeff Jackson could win if Cooper doesn’t run.
Welp, Paine has solved it everyone — simply push back and clarify! Why has nobody thought of that.If Republicans red-bait him, push back. If they twist his record, clarify it.
And that’s the issue. These type of candidates can’t win nationally. They can’t be competitive nationally. The Democrats have to be smart in their primaries. It’s like the lessons from right after Cheeto winning ate already forgotten and the party is now somehow interpreting it as “we were left enough.” It’s beyond frustrating.honestly, color me unconvinced that Dems in NYC are significantly farther to the left than Dems anywhere else. There are more of them than in other places, sure, but that doesn't say anything about that population's place within the left wing. I think Zohran has shown that he could win a Democratic primary anywhere, personally.
How much time have you spent in NYC? How would you know this?honestly, color me unconvinced that Dems in NYC are significantly farther to the left than Dems anywhere else. There are more of them than in other places, sure, but that doesn't say anything about that population's place within the left wing. I think Zohran has shown that he could win a Democratic primary anywhere, personally.
Don’t kid yourself. I live here and have had these conversations. Young people in NYC are very opposed to Israeli treatment of Palestinians, from Gaza bombings to settlements and occupation to you name it. It is currently THE motivating issue among that demographic here. Way more so than free buses. Even if some won’t say it out loud.Mamdani didn’t go viral because he danced on TikTok. He won because he organized. He had a message. A theory of change. And he didn’t talk down to people.
And yet Jeff Jackson shares down the line the priorities and policies of the people that you rail against on here.I’d vote for Jeff Jackson.
Was just in NYC over the last couple of weeks and the conversations I overheard about that race seemed to line up with what you're saying here. I'm not saying Paine is wrong about Mamdani, but I also agree that this primary was at least in part a referendum on Israel and Gaza.Don’t kid yourself. I live here and have had these conversations. Young people in NYC are very opposed to Israeli treatment of Palestinians, from Gaza bombings to settlements and occupation to you name it. It is currently THE motivating issue among that demographic here. Way more so than free buses. Even if some won’t say it out loud.
No matter how Mamdani has walked that line lately with his messaging, there is a tacit understanding by his voters (especially young voters) that he is of course with them on that. That, and his youth and charisma are what has them lining up behind him. Plus having such an easy narrative foil as Cuomo.
Sure he’s well organized which helped him pull in broader support and also did fine in the debates… but after the identity politics, the rest was paint by numbers to fill in his platform. Hardly revolutionary.
they can win nationally by doing what Zohran did and will now have to do going into the NYC general - expanding and energizing the Dem voter base with a strong, worker-forward, populist campaign, and then forcing the "Blue No Matter Who" crowd to put their money where their mouth has been and vote for a candidate to their left instead of outing themselves as hypocritical diet conservatives.And that’s the issue. These type of candidates can’t win nationally. They can’t be competitive nationally. The Democrats have to be smart in their primaries. It’s like the lessons from right after Cheeto winning ate already forgotten and the party is now somehow interpreting it as “we were left enough.” It’s beyond frustrating.
It doesn't prove anything of the sort. I mean, I guess if you literally adhere to "always", sure. But this is one episode, and let's break it down:It proves red-baiting doesn’t always work.