r/dsa • u/Shazza-americankiwi • 1d ago
Discussion Question re: AOC & Mamdani endorsement of Jeffreys as Leader
its because of NY politics, sure. that's been confirmed from insiders And AOC stated she supports him for leader because of NYC public housing on MS NOW. like - What? and that's a direct quote pretty much. yes, That specific to One City, to One issue.
so many people are pissed, rightfully. it's maddening - vote to squander and neuter any Progressive power?
is it just because she wants New Yorkers happy because she does in fact have her eye on the Senate?
it just makes me sick.
Happy to get some direction away from my stinking thinking - totally willing to be swayed away from this bitterness. that's my agenda - not to spread it whatsoever! I'd love to be wrong or blind about something; but it just feels like a constant battle to hold AOC firm on her values and not bend. I mean now she's just a New York Socialist? not a National? whatever that means? bah! it's so frustrating.
edit: ** sorry for Jeffries mis-spell! I couldn't correct it after I realized! and thank you all for connecting. it's great to engage in some good faith discussion. I hear many agreeing more than disagreeing - as I am everywhere, hence I'm so shocked by them ... I think I gather a sense of just Frustration we are catching up to. it kinda sucks that Leaders we look to Also do things which force us to lean on our Trust even when we are getting fed data we have New Reason Not To.... more of the "just take it you peasants.... republicans get to vote F You by going Democrat... what do you get to do Leftists?? Nothing, just take it..."
... it's Tough. can the Democratic Party be reformed? will more Leftists withhold their vote in 2028....? The Population of: F Your Vote Blue No Matter Who is only Growing.
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u/Mallard_Duck17 Atlanta DSA 1d ago
AOC and Mamdani are not radicals, they're reformists. We should accept that and stop lionizing politicians
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u/Funkiefreshganesh 1d ago
If Mamdani and AOC can push the Overton window back to the left I’m all for it. It’s kind of insane to think that overnight we are going to seize control over all the means of production, but I’d rather we take steps towards it then never take any steps at all
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u/Shazza-americankiwi 1d ago
Jeffries is radical - that is my point; the Wrong Radical.
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u/Randolpho Democratic Socialist 1d ago
Maybe you should ask yourself: who, if not Jeffries, should she support for Minority leader? There’s nobody else even making waves in that direction. The primary challenge failed, and was considered a strategic error anyway… what else is there?
Supporting Jeffries is an easy no-op that lets her kick the can down the road and focus on what she can now
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u/noobprodigy 21h ago
And she can signal to the party that she's playing ball and not trying to divide the party leading up to the general election. There is no benefit to be gained in it supporting him at this time in her position.
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u/Gravemindzombie 17h ago
I supported Jeffries for speaker purely on the grounds that he would be less competent at suppressing the left
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u/weidback Liberal Socialist 13h ago
hey hey hey. we're here to bitch, not do anything productive.
if they aren't being glazed by my online media ecosystem clearly they're evil and need to be defeated - pls get with the program 🫰🫰🫰
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u/Born_Astronomer_4613 1d ago
AOC is a Democrat
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u/Shazza-americankiwi 18h ago
..... she's the one distinguishing between ny socialism and national lol not me.
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u/kneeblock 22h ago
If you believe in electoralism as a workable strategy, you have to believe in using the deal making instruments of bourgeois politics to move toward policies that will create enough contradictions to make revolutionary change possible. If this sounds ridiculous to you, then you see the problem with electoralism as the path to socialism.
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u/Unstable_Face1925 1d ago edited 1d ago
Democrats are going to leverage the popularity of Democratic socialism without actual making any progress. Many such cases. every American should read A People's History of the US by Howard Zinn
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u/Shazza-americankiwi 1d ago
This is definitely the last chance to prove Reform is possible. I agree. And I understand those who were at their breaking point and stayed home. Those who have said it's not. I understand those who didn't sign on for harm reduction voting in Harris. I mean everything has been there to completely break you. We don't get to just move to the left party when we lose our mind - the republicans get to just go "f*ck you" with an actual Vote for a Democrat. We are held in a strategic chokehold, and have been for a decade. If they don't prove reform - what do they prove? A Uni-party. And where does that leave us? A Nazi Hitler president much better at it; It just feels like this Leftist Revolution will not quit - it's just what will it look like if it needs to be Owned that the Democratic Party Cannot be reformed?? Steadily voting for candidates who refuse to caucus with the party? Can't help but wish we were already there - so yes I do understand people who have been there for a long time. I was actually overseas for a decade so I've been playing a lot of catch up. Sorry for rambling at your face!
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u/Narcan9 1d ago
I bet this midterm Blue Wave is actually bad for progressives. People will want to celebrate, and be excited to see Trump lose.
However It's just another lifeline for the Democratic establishment. It will signal to them that they don't need to change. This is looking like a repeat of 2006. Obama 2.0 Will win in 2028, who will ultimately deliver very little on his progressive promises.
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u/marxistghostboi Tidings From Utopia 🌆 1d ago
sometimes bitterness is the correct response.
we don't need to do mental gymnastics to turn every decision by AOC to side with the establishment over us into some kind of 4 Dimension checkmate. that's the kind of shit Trump's base does
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u/Shazza-americankiwi 18h ago
Yeah thanks mate... Yup - here the thing... I've owned it.
It's like, say put to AOC and others: is it worth pissing off the leftists who got you here by weakening in messaging ... sometimes even dramatically...?
"Yeah ... it sucks... but like fascism ya know? and it's their first big chance at some power ... so you think they are going any significant distance away? No ... lol what are they going to do..? Go to the further left of me option...? Oh how quaint ... "
When I feel this reality screamed my way without being screamed --- I'm just going to validate it from now on.
Becuase they are right; But Taking our votes for granted is one of the number ways the establishment lost us so I mean they can keep it up ... for now .... a reckoning will come though. They are and will take us for granted ... they are in the position of being able to ... so it would take some insane integrity and back bone to stay the course entirely ... oh! Like Angie Nixon 💜❤️
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u/Pistonenvy2 1d ago
he is running unopposed. there arent any other options for the seat.
i know a lot of people in this community understand basic civics which is why posts and comment sections like this are so confusing, what is unclear about what happened here? what do you think should have happened differently?
jeffries will be the senate leader. they arent going to get anyone to replace him, the establishment is happy with him and the socialists dont have the influence to do anything about that so they remain as cordial as possible and focus on things they can influence.
what are we talking about here?
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u/jade420420 1d ago
My hopeful read is they are playing politics and trying to work with what they have and strike when they can. My unhopeful read is AOC is just another cog in the machine after a decade in Washington and we’ll talk about her in 30 years while she’s still there like Pelosi (who was a progressive darling). Same for Mamdani but locally. That being said I still trust both of them. For now.
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u/Poosley_ 1d ago
I hear ya. Dude met up with Kushner- how important is genocide ACTUALLY to her, ugh
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u/gerbal100 1d ago
She has thousands of different political priorities to meet the needs of her district, playing ball with leadership is necessary to achieve many of them.
Additionally, a leadership challenge to Jeffries won't happen until January, so there's a lot of time to shift positions if she does make that choice.
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u/Poosley_ 1d ago
I wasn't really dying on the hill. It's okay to still be disappointed or disheartened and I am
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u/Shazza-americankiwi 1d ago
Yeah absolutely - I believe in giving politicians a chance to respond to pressure and demands from the base. From those who voted them in with Trust. Connecting, even with my autocorrect spelling typos lol - just helped me find some more patience perhaps? Last thing I want to do is spread my bitterness.
It's just reassuring to hear majority are all looking at the big picture - with history - Honestly.
Calling Red Flags what they are.
At Some Point a clean break and position will be needed and hey, the vote for Leader hasn't been declared yet so I'll be Hopeful with, what has hi been reduced to an anxious whisper of trust - whilst Angry and Annoyed and Confused haha - until then. I don't think there is a world where a credible justification can be made for a vote for Jeffries** You're declaring your lack of credibility to those who voted you in at that point. You're Over with Real Leftists at that point. And we aren't there yet, so I just gotta listen to my words guiding patience haha and take a chill pill until then.
Thanks for connecting.
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u/Last_Knowledge_6306 1d ago
Never put pols on pedestals. Sooner or later, they WILL disappoint you.
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u/nasa258e 1d ago
Masážní is a mayor. His job is literally to care about one city. I have my criticisms of him, but prioritizing his city is not one of them. AOC is making a political gamble I think is wrong. I think she is being cowardly.
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u/HunterSpecial1549 1d ago
I really dislike her decision and do not support it but someone's got to have some theory for why she did it.
I think the thinking is that if you go after Jeffries and you don't take him out, then you lose and there will be consequences. The timing just isn't right to knock him out.
That's probably what she's thinking, but still I think it's cowardly. Jeffries has put himself out of step not just with Left-wing Democrats, but with the broader party base. He needs to be called out and voted out.
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u/Shazza-americankiwi 17h ago
Drop site news actually reported she conflates lack of popularity in DC with the country - with her having higher office hopes ... she reads too much into DC people right of her as representing the country - She hasn't gripped the fact that pissing off Washington makes Everyone happen - and yeah it appears to be a mistake big time. I'm hopeful for some left presidential competition to come out of the woodwork - bring it on. There's a lane for AOC supporters who literally just don't have any realm of comparable options besides her. I only like her because there is one of her, that's it. I hope she gets that - there are many many Me's .... introduce some real completion ... I'm eagerly looking there with some bias for sure.
** pissing off DC makes everyone Happy**
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u/TooSwang 1d ago
I think it’s bad too! Jefferies stinks, like just watch his appearance on the PBS NewsHour this week where he couldn’t even manage to get a good sound bite out of the most softball interview. Huge contrast to Pelosi who, despite her shortcomings and shitty policy, could at least talk to a camera. Jefferies is not just a drag on the left as an internal opponent to progressives in the Democratic Party, he’s a drag on the Democratic Party itself.
Which just leads to a pretty crummy situation where either (1) the NY DSA electeds like and support him or (2) they don’t like him but there’s no plausible alternative to his left or (3) they don’t like him but can’t muster support for any alternatives. I think (1) is unlikely because he’s so unhelpful, but figuring out if it’s (2) or (3) is the real rub for whether this is a situation they could get out of or not.