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
What’s up with .ml users attacking people like Bernie, AOC, and Mamdani so often?
They’re leftier-than-thou, for one. For two, any solution that doesn’t completely rewrite the rules of society and production is just fascism lite. For three, I’m not saying they’re a hub of russian disinfo, I’m just saying what they argue for - whether practically or rhetorically - is almost always in line with russia’s interests. Although that is purely coincidental, I’m sure.
Because they don’t want successful leftists proving that socialism and democracy can go hand-in-hand. They want to have their ill-conceived revolution and fuck all what happens after it so long as it results in the complete breakdown of the fabric of society. They imagine themselves as the authoritarian dictators in what comes after, even though it could just as easily be anyone else.
I’ve asked them what their plan is for replacing industry, supply chains, transportation, maintenance, and all those other things after their “revolution” and they’ve basically cussed me out and said “What the fuck does any of that matter? Why are you even thinking about that or bringing it up?”
All they want is chaos and destruction. They’re petulant children who want to get their way and are willing to break other people’s things if they don’t.
ad hominem.
Criticism isn’t “attacking”.
Oh yea, and all those quotes you put there, was because we pressured these people with criticism.
My guy, you are literally entrenched in the comments building a narrative contradictory to Bernie’s actual stance. You aren’t criticizing, you are attacking.
Why ml’s continue to attack the only hope of progressive leadership in the US is a mystery to me.
I think the word Zionist is too nebulous for me to want to debate here but he’s still one of the most critical reps in congress of Israel. No chance he gets primaried. Your views are an extreme minority.
deleted by creator
He previously cheered on Israel, criticized Gaza, defended the bombing of Palestinians, and refused to acknowledge the genocide. How is that nebulous?
My reply here: https://lemmy.ml/post/49472329/26470085
Because it’s used in multiple contradictory ways. Sometimes it means anyone who defends the idea of Israel existing in any form or who criticizes Hamas or other pro-Palestinian factions. Sometimes it’s taken to mean belief in a Jewish ethnostate where Palestinians are to be expelled or even exterminated. And some people try to make it mean both at the same time to smear their ideological opponents. This is a fact of the way the word is used and one person’s statements or actions don’t really change that.
He is super old. I guess if that’s your argument maybe. If he doesn’t retire he may see a challenger if he becomes incapable of fulfilling his duties any longer.
Hopefully he will start promoting a successor before that time.
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.
You’re from lemmy.ml- it’s the tankie center of Lemmy. Of course you’ll get called a tankie.
Sensitive fucking babies.
This is why the left always eats itself.
Constantly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
And yet we’re seeing a surge of support for Socialism across the country. We’re seeing progressive policies passing in places that Trump even won in. DSA membership is surging like never before. More and more people are sympathizing and on board with the destruction of Capitalism and billionaires.
Sanders is just one man. We have a mass movement on our hands.
Just wait until actual candidates start winning the primaries and leftists have a chance to purity test them and decide not to vote as usual.
I’ll take the anti-zionist, anti-genocide, anti-imperialist purity test any day of the week.
Thankfully, the road to Socialism isn’t through popular vote. Know your history. ;-)
It can be.
Peaceful movements move mountains.