A closer look at the numbers: Bad for 47, good for us.

[pat_k]

7. Absolutely.

Pushing our leaders to do better -- and being unhappy with the national party for having abandoned so much of the nation for so long -- is not a reflection of people "swinging" to the dark side.

Sadly though, I think too many of us are falling into the trap of putting more energy in heaping accusations and anger on our Democratic electeds and party leaders than on pushing them to do better. That sort of "circular firing squad" mentality sows cynicism that immobilizes and keeps people home. It is something we need to resist, however upset we may be.

The thing is, the Democratic Party always does better when there are a heck of a lot of people in it saying and dong things I disagree with (and when there are others out there disagreeing with me).

Our job is to find the common values and make progress where we can. And advocate for our points of view. The idea that the diverse coalition of people affiliated with the party is somehow made stronger by trying to turn it into a monolith by kicking out those who are doing things we think are asinine is itself asinine. And the idea that there is some magic Democratic Party agenda that will be all things to all people is similarly off base. Yes. It would be great if more of the leaders in our party got on some sort of same page on the "vision thing." And on the opposition side of things, I don't know why they can't seem to come to a consensus on a list of the most egregious acts committed by the 47 regime and issue a joint "We Object" statement signed by every member of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate -- that would be a truly powerful thing.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Bottom line. You are spot on.