Custone

That was the first impression that power-wielding Democratic centrists made on me. The party’s come a long way since then. Biden and Harris treated progressives well. Yet, since Trump’s re-election, a lot of Dems talk about keeping power in centrist hands. Just like the bad old days. 9/9

We’d been steamrollered. All the convention delegates were shocked. Most Rainbow Coalition delegates walked out. Bedside visiting rights would have to wait till the 21st century. The party’s base, whose caucus attendance had made us delegates, lost much of the wind from our sails. 8/9

The convention opened with a statement. By 15 minutes afterward, people with gavels had changed the convention rules. Delegates would no longer be allowed either to propose or to vote on platform planks. Some committee would choose which proposals would reach the state convention. 7/9

The 1988 Travis County Democratic Convention was held in the Exposition & Heritage Center, known then for livestock shows and rodeos; it wouldn’t become an ice hockey venue for another 5 or 6 years. We got there before the convention started. It was packed. 6/9

In 1988, when AIDS killed over 10,000 Americans, bedside visits were restricted, by many hospitals, to close relatives and spouses. Before same-sex marriage, this kept many people apart from their life partners when they needed partnership most. Our plank meant to change that. 5/9

County conventions could propose “planks” that the state convention might add to the state party’s platform. Jackson’s delegates had planks a majority of all delegates were clearly ready to approve. The big one was the hospital bedside plank. 4/9

At the precinct I found almost all every candidate’s delegates were actually progressives, differing mainly on how much progress the Texas electorate might accept. Though Jackson would not be the nominee, his county convention delegates planned to make a difference. 3/9

After 2 terms of Reagan, I felt Jackson had unlocked the future. Texas in 1988 had a hybrid process, combining a primary with precinct caucuses that sent delegates to county conventions. Showing up at my caucus made me a Jesse Jackson delegate to my county convention. 2/9

After my move to Texas, the next presidential election was 1988. Longshot Democratic candidate Jesse Jackson made a brilliant move. Civil rights activists were his core team. He invited anti-nuclear-warriors, greens, gays, and progressives to join up, forming a “Rainbow Coalition.” 1/9

In the context of whether Dem leadership should always go to centrists, the mistrust earned by *some* centrists is a lot more relevant than than my complaints about Republicans who, although far worse, are not seeking to lead the Dem caucus.

The progessive base voters are not the ones who made Texas one of the worst on trans rights. Republicans did that.

Voting for Crockett in the primary, and the Democrat in the general, is a brilliant idea.

Manchin is a perfect example of someone 100x better than a Republican who *still* would have been a damaging choice to lead the caucus.

As would I.

I’m not complaining about “the” Democrats.

I fully agree that Republicans are the ones legislating to persecute trans people.

A centrist Dem, if trustworthy, might be the best caucus leader. The same applies to a progressive or a classical liberal … if trustworthy.

Centrism is no guarantee.

Not all Democrats. Not even all centrist Democrats. Just some of them.

Texas.

TX Dem Colin Allred Responds To Anti-Trans Ads With Dogwhistle: "I Do Not Support Boys In Girls Sports" The ad responds to anti-trans attack ads levied by Ted Cruz against his candidacy.

The evil done by Republicans is not an argument for bashing our own base, nor for shutting progressives out of party leadership.

Fact: Some centrists have given us reason to doubt their commitment on vital issues.

What on Earth could that have to do with who should lead the caucus?

The question that started this was whether centrist Dems should always prevail over progressives. Some centrist Dems have been willing to entertain some restrictions against trans people. I find that relevant.

I get that.

I agree, but I don’t believe that always favoring centrists, let alone bashing the progressive base, leads to maximum Democratic wins at the ballot box.

Claiming I don’t know these things is BS. The evil done by Republicans is not an argument for bashing progressives.

TX Dem Colin Allred Responds To Anti-Trans Ads With Dogwhistle: "I Do Not Support Boys In Girls Sports" The ad responds to anti-trans attack ads levied by Ted Cruz against his candidacy.

Voting GOP in the general would be exactly wrong.

Yet I doubt the commitment of some Dems to protecting trans people from persecution. What have trans people done? Chosen a medically approved and highly successful treatment for dysphoria. Why, then, ban them from anything? Where does that lead?

I note that your comment, the one that flipped me into anger, has been deleted. Interesting approach, to conceal your part in turning things nasty.

After I voted for Colin Allred he went anti-trans. I’ve heard that rhetoric from other centrists too. And a lot of the slams against progressives that I hear from fellow Dems have the same taint.

That wasn’t the fucking context. If the Dem running for office wants to sacrifice my flesh and blood because bashing trans people seems popular then a different Dem needs to win the damn primary.

I hope you can hear me. I don’t claim to know who’s best to lead. But people who matter to me are trans; I perceive their lives to be in extreme danger; any Dems who seem willing to sacrifice their lives will not get my vote. That isn’t about faction. It’s about flesh and blood.

Uniting caucuses has to be inclusive. Telling progressives or centrists or liberals to get lost could be counter-productive.

I've never apologized for being white, but white people like JD Vance are making me start to reconsider this position.