Matt StollerVerified account

I worked on the Lieberman/Lamont primary in 2006, and the Donna Edwards primaries in 2006 and 2008. Dem voters just don't see ideology.

Keith Ellison did not run against Tom Perez on ideology. Even the head of the progressives in the House didn't see ideology as useful.

It's possible that the progressive side of the aisle is confused. It's also possible they realize they are a minority in the party.

Years ago, Moveon executive Ilya Sheyman got blown out in a primary by a neoliberal Democrat in a progressive district.

Since 2009 the track record of 'progressives' in primaries is bad. Democratic voters approve of Paul Krugman and Barack Obama, not populism.

And no one, except Bernie Sanders, was willing to make any other argument. Even Bernie was indirect about it. Dem voters just aren't there.

I also don't know if I'm a progressive anymore. After seeing incompetence among progressives for years, I just don't see substance there.

Progressives did not pay attention during the bank bailouts, foreclosures, or corporate consolidation. The space is just full of grifters.