I’m an honest to goodness old-school trade unionist / New Deal type, and don’t really identify with much of the Dem establishment (and parts of the counter-establishment) these days, but I definitely see some of the points my progressive friends are making. Dems, even if they lose, don’t seem to really fight on the way down. When FDR was being blocked he threatened to pack the SCOTUS until he got his way. Fuck yeah. We need more of that energy.

I do agree with my mainstream Dem friends that we have to vote strategically to keep the fascists out. That said, and even though I don’t agree with some of the more unrealistic late night dorm room bong-ripping idealism, I also don’t agree with the mainstream expectation that progressives need to roll over before the election even gets underway just because there is an anointed mainstream Dem candidate on the ballot. Fighting like hell through the primaries is the way you hold the Dem establishment accountable and keep the Overton window from drifting too far right. Because you know what? Activists on the far right are fightIng like hell the other direction, and they have been winning.

So shine on, you crazy progressive and radical diamonds. Hold the establishment accountable and push policy to the left. Want real socialism? Agitate for it. But if you lose in the primaries, have the grace to put on a disguise and show up on election day to make sure the vulnerable don’t get fucked any worse than than they already are.