• Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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      3 months ago

      And even if they’re allowed, they should be treated by Democrats like a donation from the Kochs. They’re a billionaire funded pro-Republican group. Anyone who works with them should be shunned.

    • alvvayson@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      3 months ago

      Agreed, but also: if I were in their district (Bush or Bowman), I might even consider voting Republican out of spite.

      Yes, AIPAC is to blame, but Democrats also need to grow a spine against AIPAC. They can’t just take progressive voters for granted.

      • usernamesAreTricky@lemmy.ml
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        3 months ago

        Voting for republican as a protest only pushes things further to the right. It absolutely does not signal that you want to push the other way

        • alvvayson@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          3 months ago

          If the Democratic congressional candidate underperforms the Democratic presidential candidate, it definitely sends a signal.

          Obviously, it only “sends a signal” if progressives say what they’re gonna do.

          But it has a double whammy: Dems get a 2 vote difference when you switch.

          • usernamesAreTricky@lemmy.ml
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            3 months ago

            It definitely sends a signal, just the complete opposite one that protesting that way intends. Republicans getting more votes will be seen as a signal that the republican candidate was more popular and outperforming. It encourages people running there to act more like that republican

            Mind you that the republicans are certainly going to have an even worse take on gaza

            Edit: futher, a party looking at a primary moving the right followed by higher republican margins from a protest vote signals that the district as a whole might be moving to right

            Edit2: to really hit the point, protest votes for republicans appear identical to full support of republicans. There is no “why I voted” short section at the ballot box, only number of votes

            • alvvayson@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              3 months ago

              You have to look at the bigger picture, not the short term issue.

              If progressives want to be taken seriously, and if Americans want AIPAC out of politics, then there have to be consequences.

              If Latimer and Bell hold on to the seat, corporate and AIPAC Democrats only learn that they can take progressives for granted.

              If they lose their seat, they learn that they need progressive support to win.

              Yeah, two years of a republican rep will suck. But it’s only two years.

              • usernamesAreTricky@lemmy.ml
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                3 months ago

                This is missing what I am saying: Protest votes for republicans appear identical to fullthroated support for republicans. There is no “why I voted” short answer on the ballot

                All it does is signal support the (also AIPAC backed) republicans

                It will not be seen as a consequence of not choosing a progressive

                If a republican wins there, you are absolutely not going to see progressive run in that seat. You will see more and more “centrists” run. The long term picture is worse

                • alvvayson@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                  3 months ago

                  I don’t think you understand how politics and elections work.

                  If people on the flanks give their voting power to “Blue (or Red) no matter who”, you end up with the Clintons and Bushes of the world. Parties have no incentive to actually do anything for their flanks.

                  When people on the flanks leverage their voting power effectively, you get MAGA and Justice Democrats.

                  Anyway, hope you learned something today. Otherwise, hope you have a nice day.

                  • TallonMetroid@lemmy.world
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                    3 months ago

                    Let me get this straight. Are you seriously claiming that the MAGA crowd seized control of the GOP by protest voting for Democrats in the general elections?

                  • ysjet@lemmy.world
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                    3 months ago

                    Ok, so basically what you’re saying is that you want democrats to vote red because.yiu also vote red. Glad we cleared that up. Go away.

                  • revelrous@sopuli.xyz
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                    3 months ago

                    What you are describing happens in primaries.

                    If you vote in the general for an R, oddly enough, politicians think you support the R ticket. Way to kneecap progressives guy.

        • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
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          3 months ago

          Protest abstentions are better, but also simply too dangerous when Congress is more or less split 50/50. We’re yet again being held hostage by an inherently corrupt election process.

      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        That’s a stupid fucking idea. “I don’t like the pizza toppings you ordered, so I’m going to punch myself in the testicles. That will show you.”