Polling using the word “liberal” is pretty pointless. Leftists and centrists have completely different opposing definitions of what it means, and most Americans don’t have a clue.
Polling on specific issues or particular politicians is the only way to get an accurate picture, and Americans, especially Democrats, are far more left than they self identity.
Polling using the word “liberal” is pretty pointless. Leftists and centrists have completely different opposing definitions of what it means, and most Americans don’t have a clue.
That would seem much more to point towards polling using the word ‘liberal’ being more useful than trying to apply leftist definitions, since most Americans don’t have a clue about the distinction.
Polling on specific issues or particular politicians is the only way to get an accurate picture, and Americans, especially Democrats, are far more left than they self identity.
Funny that polling on specific issues and particular politicians rarely if ever translates into actual voting patterns, even in ballot initiatives. Almost like “Do you like GOOD THING?” gets positive responses until someone points out, rightly or wrongly, that there are other effects, like universal healthcare requiring minor tax rises.
Likewise, having a positive view of a politician is not the same as voting for them, or Bernie wouldn’t have lost two fucking primaries due to the more left-leaning of the two parties rejecting him by double-digit percentages in favor of neoliberal ghouls.
“THE COUNTRY IS SECRETLY LEFT-WING” is just as blinkered and fucking idiotic as “THE SILENT MAJORITY IS WITH US” from the GOP.
That would seem much more to point towards polling using the word ‘liberal’ being more useful than trying to apply leftist definitions
Who’s trying to apply leftist definitions? There is nothing in any definition of “liberal” that aligns it with leftism. It gets misused constantly in multiple ways, not to mention being confused with neoliberalism.
Funny that polling on specific issues and particular politicians rarely if ever translates into actual voting patterns
Tell that to Andrew Cuomo, or Joe Crowley.
even in ballot initiatives
Not true. Republicans (and some Democrats) are working hard at removing ballot initiatives because they work so well for the left.
Bernie wouldn’t have lost two fucking primaries due to the more left-leaning of the two parties rejecting him by double-digit percentages
Why would you assume Bernie being left is why he lost? Clinton had way more large money donations than Bernie, and she had corporate media in her pocket. Bernie wasn’t even making a serious run until he started doing far better than he thought he would. Half way through he completely reorganized his campaign to be a real candidate instead of an issue candidate. The fact that he was able to make that a race against someone with Hillary’s name recognition and the party blessing shows just how powerful left messaging can be.
The issue against Biden wasn’t that left politics was unpopular, it was that left politics was perceived to be unpopular. The number one issue for Democratic voters in 2020 was beating Trump. Voters thought a centrist candidate had a better chance, even though Bernie and Biden pulled almost identically against Trump. The media kept pounding on the electability argument against Bernie, and it stuck. Polling on the candidates showed voters preferred Bernie’s policies, but they didn’t know if he could win.
Polling using the word “liberal” is pretty pointless. Leftists and centrists have completely different opposing definitions of what it means, and most Americans don’t have a clue.
Polling on specific issues or particular politicians is the only way to get an accurate picture, and Americans, especially Democrats, are far more left than they self identity.
That would seem much more to point towards polling using the word ‘liberal’ being more useful than trying to apply leftist definitions, since most Americans don’t have a clue about the distinction.
Funny that polling on specific issues and particular politicians rarely if ever translates into actual voting patterns, even in ballot initiatives. Almost like “Do you like GOOD THING?” gets positive responses until someone points out, rightly or wrongly, that there are other effects, like universal healthcare requiring minor tax rises.
Likewise, having a positive view of a politician is not the same as voting for them, or Bernie wouldn’t have lost two fucking primaries due to the more left-leaning of the two parties rejecting him by double-digit percentages in favor of neoliberal ghouls.
“THE COUNTRY IS SECRETLY LEFT-WING” is just as blinkered and fucking idiotic as “THE SILENT MAJORITY IS WITH US” from the GOP.
Who’s trying to apply leftist definitions? There is nothing in any definition of “liberal” that aligns it with leftism. It gets misused constantly in multiple ways, not to mention being confused with neoliberalism.
Tell that to Andrew Cuomo, or Joe Crowley.
Not true. Republicans (and some Democrats) are working hard at removing ballot initiatives because they work so well for the left.
Why would you assume Bernie being left is why he lost? Clinton had way more large money donations than Bernie, and she had corporate media in her pocket. Bernie wasn’t even making a serious run until he started doing far better than he thought he would. Half way through he completely reorganized his campaign to be a real candidate instead of an issue candidate. The fact that he was able to make that a race against someone with Hillary’s name recognition and the party blessing shows just how powerful left messaging can be.
The issue against Biden wasn’t that left politics was unpopular, it was that left politics was perceived to be unpopular. The number one issue for Democratic voters in 2020 was beating Trump. Voters thought a centrist candidate had a better chance, even though Bernie and Biden pulled almost identically against Trump. The media kept pounding on the electability argument against Bernie, and it stuck. Polling on the candidates showed voters preferred Bernie’s policies, but they didn’t know if he could win.
Oh, fuck you, that’s not at all what I said.