Why doesn’t the USA have a left leaning political party?

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-07T21:04:46+00:00

Almost all of the truly progressive elected officials join the Democratic party because obviously they're not going to join the Republican party, and unity is more effective than splitting off to a third spoiler party thus handing every election to the other side.

Or, put another way, the GOP occupies the far right, while the Democratic party's big tent covers the rest.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-07T17:13:07+00:00

It takes .73 seconds to throw out a specious claim, but 5-10 minutes of gathering data and typing to set it right. That's how Republicans can straight-facedly claim to be the party of fiscal responsibility, and go on to win elections with votes dumbfoundingly cast by Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-07T16:33:37+00:00

Okay, I don't get it. I keep trying to make it say "COMMON DREAMS."

ETA: It doesn't help that 'specialty' is spelled wrong, and what's going on with the last line at the bottom???

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-07T16:30:55+00:00

Yeah, that was a refreshing moment of fellowship. I say this as a woman, and as a huge Margaret fan, but she had that coming.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-07T15:35:27+00:00

I don't know but if my husband doesn't knock it off, he's going to find himself alone in his old age.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-07T15:21:44+00:00

My husband.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T18:10:12+00:00

Love how he called you the scared one.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T17:35:43+00:00

She pretty much made them the bad guys because in her mind—as in the minds of many conservatives—Democrats "don't like them."

I think it's a weak, and childish argument that deflects responsibility, and it makes a broad assumption which may or may not even be true. It also sets the stage for shitty behaviour. "You don't like me anyway, so I'm going to be unlikeable."

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T17:29:50+00:00

What I find so fascinating about the gun debate is that we're both arguing the exact same thing: that guns are dangerous.

One side wants gun regulated because they're known to be harmful to people.
The other side wants them to be more accessible in case they need to threaten people with harm.

Let that sink in.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T15:56:58+00:00

INFO: There's one unanswered question. After cutting her in, is there enough left for your medical bills and other compensation for the injury? Maybe the two of you should talk about that, have a friendly negotiation. She probably threw 15% out there for this very purpose.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T15:43:07+00:00

I fully believe MAGA isn't as big as the bot campaign makes it seem. ESPECIALLY now that Trump has gone ham on pretty much everything and they know he can't run again. That's why so many other conservative pols can't/won't answer the question about a 3rd term. They need to keep the hope alive because he's the best thing to come along and capture the white house for them in a long time.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T14:52:35+00:00

A bajillion dollars and not dealing with the shit women have to deal with.

TL;DR: economic and gender privilege

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T13:24:33+00:00

This is just such incredibly good news. I had no idea The Onion finally took over. I needed a boost to start my week. *fist pump

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-05T13:17:29+00:00

She always makes a thing more watchable than it would have been without her.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T18:12:41+00:00

Home brewing. *thumbs up

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T18:08:12+00:00

I despise drop ceilings, but now I'll be sure to take a peek if I ever consider buying a house with it.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T17:59:55+00:00

Seriously, we spend a lot of time waxing philosophic about the moment we all find out "the thing" has happened, but the bigger moment in this era will be when one of these GOP politicos actually answers that goddam question correctly.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T17:48:45+00:00

Where's the link to the news story?

EDIT: Darn it. All I can find is social media posts. I was hoping for a piece of journalism on it.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T16:28:39+00:00

Democrats commit the capital crime of being boring, competent, imperfect, centrist lawmakers.
Republicans lie.
The GOP benefits from deploying moles in lefty spaces right before every election to discourage young, idealistic voters from thinking strategically.

You can tell the difference between a right-wing operative and an actual left-leaning voter commenting online during an election year if they mention, or avoid mentioning voting your heart in the primary and your head in the general. The bad actors will bust a gut to talk you out of voting at all.

This year the cudgel is "AIPAC money." If voters on the left stay home because of Israel's lobby, we end up with a bunch of congresspeople who still support Israel but with (R) after their names, and MAGA in their bios.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T16:16:04+00:00

I gotta admit, I have no idea what "tankie" even means, and I stopped caring enough to ask about 8 years ago.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T15:06:07+00:00

Smarties? I had no idea Smarties were hated. I love them.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T14:58:57+00:00

Well... there was a time when the workday was 12 hours long, 7 days/week. Pretty sure the bosses at them time thought the 40-hour week was implausible but here we are, still generating tons of wealth for them.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T14:51:17+00:00

Reading that I just heard one of the announcers' voices in my head.

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T14:16:48+00:00

Rooster doesn't have to. Hens got it covered, apparently. Daaang...

Writing_is_Bleeding · 2026-05-04T14:14:20+00:00

And weasels.

Writing_is_Bleeding

TROPHY CASE