It’s important to note that the Democratic Party today, IS NOT the Democratic Party of the Convention in Philly. I know most of you don’t see any change yet. But change has already begun. For those of us who are long time politicos, it’s becoming obvious that there is a struggle for the soul of the Party, both at the local and national levels. For good or bad, that struggle is very different now than what it would have been otherwise. Trump will be President, unless something completely different happens. That fact changes the calculations for us all.
We must recognize that many of those we considered adversaries, are now allies, against Trump and FOR change in the Party. This is nothing new, it’s happened before in my life time. But it may be new to you. Many of us are new. Many of us are old. Many of our friends are now on the outside by choice. Many will not come back unless they are convinced of change. Some of them will never be convinced no matter what happens.
However, our struggle continues. We are in #DemEnter, because we want to be the positive change in the Party. So be that change. And be open to collective action with those who you have disagreed with before.
The Party is fragmented right now. Many groups are frantically trying to organize and put their own stamp on the Party and what it stands for. No one group can now be called the establishment, because the establishment is just as fractured as the Party is. It was a mistake for us to think of the establishment as one big monolith. They were never as united as it appeared to us from the outside. The DNC is fractured into groups. the Party staff and Admin is fractured and many have left. Even the Hillary Campaign establishment is fractured and dissolving into many pieces.
Many of these groups are squabbling and vying to take over the Party. But no one group can take over the Party and make it viable again, locally or nationally. It will take all of us working together, for a common purpose, to win back all we have lost, in 8 years. That purpose is yet to be written in stone, much less the hearts of us Dems.
We have a chance to join together in #DemEnter, and be more than the many and various angry voices calling for change. We have the chance now to join together with other progressives, Hillary and Bernie supporters, to fundamentally change the destiny of our Party.
We have Keith Ellison, the strongest candidate for DNC Chair in our midst. We can do this. LET’S DO THIS!
Jim Lewis says
Thanks for submitting this article. I hope more of the #dementer group recognize the wisdom of your words.
Katie Tillman says
It will take time but we’ve already seen so many coming back. #NotmeUS #DemEnter #GetInvolved