At our County convention I had two members of permanent caucuses, when pressed for their opposition to Progressive Caucus, claim that PCs ‘values do not align with their caucus values’ whatever those are. That is the conveniently wrong metric; they align with TDPs overall mission which is all that matters. PC brings added diversity to a hidebound, chronically out of touch (until recently) leadership and a still entrenched roster of political hobbyists who have had their way overseeing decades of defeat.
Michelle is exactly right: this is about power. Add control and silencing loyal opposition and bold diversity. It’s what David Hogg confronted with Ken Martin and the crew of Dead-Enders at the still confused and nearly irrelevant DNC.
Good post! The political hobbyist take is correct, in my opinion. I acknowledge that many of these people have been toiling in the wilderness for years all by themselves. But, being a new precinct chair and volunteer, I observe there can be a clubby, exclusionary vibe from these old-timers which I call the "PTA mom" mindset - being very officious about trivialities and lording it over newbies. I imagine that at the state level, people operating this way without push back could get drunk on power.
As a State Party we have to burst their bubble. Because if we do not, they will just keep rolling the way they are. They live in their heads, mistaking their personal priorities (usually being dominant in the social realm) for the organization's goals. They also have internalized, without being aware of it, the belief that Democrats can't win in Texas. So they might as well just run their little club.
As you state, as long as a caucus aligns with the party's overall values, it is entitled to a voice in the party.
I have heard from a person who studies these things that if you show up to participate in the Republican Party, you are welcomed and given community and a mentor. The opposite of this PTA mom mentality. Why is the self-professed "accepting" party not more welcoming? That clinging-to-their-status business is a death knell, and the denial of a seat at the table to progressives is just one of the poisons. Gah!
Well, to be fair, Democrats haven’t had a lot of participation in the last thirty years. It is very different for the Republicans who probably had a plethora of volunteers and resources. The paradox is the individual Republicans may be very nice, but their party is not welcoming. In fact it just gave the world a very public demonstration of their ability to be overtly hostile to Muslims.
It is the clinging to their status business that is a death knell. The good news is we have so many new people fired up a nd involved right now, I sincerely doubt the “clingers” will prevail. 💙🤞
At our County convention I had two members of permanent caucuses, when pressed for their opposition to Progressive Caucus, claim that PCs ‘values do not align with their caucus values’ whatever those are. That is the conveniently wrong metric; they align with TDPs overall mission which is all that matters. PC brings added diversity to a hidebound, chronically out of touch (until recently) leadership and a still entrenched roster of political hobbyists who have had their way overseeing decades of defeat.
Michelle is exactly right: this is about power. Add control and silencing loyal opposition and bold diversity. It’s what David Hogg confronted with Ken Martin and the crew of Dead-Enders at the still confused and nearly irrelevant DNC.
Don’t DNC my TDP.
100% and I’m stealing that. “Don’t DNC my TDP.”
My name is Gregg Watling and I endorse this theft.
I rarely laugh comically (usually sardonic) in political environments but you provided a moment of levity. Thanks.
Good post! The political hobbyist take is correct, in my opinion. I acknowledge that many of these people have been toiling in the wilderness for years all by themselves. But, being a new precinct chair and volunteer, I observe there can be a clubby, exclusionary vibe from these old-timers which I call the "PTA mom" mindset - being very officious about trivialities and lording it over newbies. I imagine that at the state level, people operating this way without push back could get drunk on power.
As a State Party we have to burst their bubble. Because if we do not, they will just keep rolling the way they are. They live in their heads, mistaking their personal priorities (usually being dominant in the social realm) for the organization's goals. They also have internalized, without being aware of it, the belief that Democrats can't win in Texas. So they might as well just run their little club.
As you state, as long as a caucus aligns with the party's overall values, it is entitled to a voice in the party.
I have heard from a person who studies these things that if you show up to participate in the Republican Party, you are welcomed and given community and a mentor. The opposite of this PTA mom mentality. Why is the self-professed "accepting" party not more welcoming? That clinging-to-their-status business is a death knell, and the denial of a seat at the table to progressives is just one of the poisons. Gah!
Well, to be fair, Democrats haven’t had a lot of participation in the last thirty years. It is very different for the Republicans who probably had a plethora of volunteers and resources. The paradox is the individual Republicans may be very nice, but their party is not welcoming. In fact it just gave the world a very public demonstration of their ability to be overtly hostile to Muslims.
It is the clinging to their status business that is a death knell. The good news is we have so many new people fired up a nd involved right now, I sincerely doubt the “clingers” will prevail. 💙🤞
Michelle, what does it mean “not to adopt”? I ask because you stated “Precinct Chairs appointed by CEC?”
BCDP does this. So does that mean we don’t have to anymore?
Reading this makes me wish I was at the Convention to tell people to vote for Rule 1015. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Did not adopt.
Got It. ☺️ Thank you!
Glad you said no on the Precict chairs that one had me worried.
Thank you, Michelle. Just shared on bsky. I can't believe the old guard & it's REALLY annoying!!! Thank you for all the invaluable information.
Is this article behind a paywall?
No. It shouldn't be.