It's all they have.

Expect a LOT of yapping about communism over the next few months, reaching a crescendo in the days before the election.

Expect to see an uptick in efforts to divide Democrats, too.

I've seen a few suspicious posts.

and he clearly means to incentivize our self deportation.

We're playing a dangerous game with 2028 if we continue to celebrate a "Democratic Socialist" label.
As I say EVERY time; look at why 2024 was lost; the Biden voters who switched or stayed home.; The Independents. WHY did they pick Trump?
Responding to those answers will win 2028. Ignoring them gives us President Rubio.

Attaching "socialist" to "Democratic" is an unnecessary risk. It's a huge turnoff to a wide swath of voters. Promote the policies that help everyday, non-billionaire people, whether those policies lean socialist or not, without the toxic label.

If we need something spicy to appeal to younger voters, find another term. (What is wrong with "progressive" anyway?)

Note that I said "progressive" - but without quotes in my subject line - and "for the most part".

Some people on the internet are trying to brand some radical policies as "progressive". This is not helpful, if we are going to take our country back. And why I usually refer to those policies and their pushers as "progressives", not progressives.

Anyone confused about the difference between "radical" and "progressive" should set politics aside for a moment and consult a dictionary.

Also to be clear, I don't object to using "Democratic socialist" in local contexts where it works. Just keep it local and don't try to nationalize it.

anyone who’s against progress isn’t worth my time.

Last edited Sat Jul 4, 2026, 01:52 PM - Edit history (1)

democratic socialist policies that are also the same.

In that case, "democratic socialist" is just replacing "progressive" as a way to identify as anti-establishment (the establishment being the Democratic Party, although "centrist" is replacing "establishment" ), in order to label Democrats as having no progressive economic policies, same as Republicans. This is why they keeping insisting Democratic policies aren't Democratic policies and say they want change. Easy to say you want change when you have no idea what actual policies are.

It's confusing. Hard to know if people are using the terms correctly or using the revised anti-Democratic versions.

The core tenant being a safe, stable, healthy economy with opportunities and equality under the law for everyone.
It's not Paradise, but at least there's a stable floor that no one should fall from - unless they're inclined to jump.


And we all know there's those folks who don't believe in a fair society or safety nets for others who just can't keep up or have problems that keep them down.

Please. We lost 2024 because the Dem brand was about as energetic as a camp fire in a monsoon. If we continue the mealymouthed bullshit (centrism), we'll get the same. People want real change. We can provide that. But not if we continue the same failed, boring, out of touch Dem politics of the last couple decades.

Here's some of the things centrists accomplished:

Under Carter: 3. Department of Energy and Energy Policy
In response to the 1970s energy crisis, Carter created the Department of Energy to centralize and address energy-related challenges. His administration implemented policies encouraging energy conservation and the development of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Carter also pushed for the development of fuel-efficient technologies and issued tax incentives for energy-saving measures, laying the groundwork for future advancements in energy independence.
4. Environmental Protection
Carter’s commitment to environmental conservation was evident in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. This legislation protected over 100 million acres of Alaskan wilderness by designating new national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.

It remains one of the largest land conservation efforts in U.S. history. Carter also expanded other environmental programs and supported measures to limit pollution and protect endangered species.
8. Urban Policy Initiatives
Carter introduced programs to support urban development, focusing on improving public transportation, affordable housing, and job creation in economically struggling cities.

His administration worked to reduce poverty and unemployment in urban areas, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. These efforts demonstrated Carter’s commitment to addressing domestic challenges alongside his foreign policy achievements.

Under Clinton: Longest economic expansion in American history
The President's strategy of fiscal discipline, open foreign markets and investments in the American people helped create the conditions for a record 115 months of economic expansion. Our economy has grown at an average of 4 percent per year since 1993.
More than 22 million new jobs
More than 22 million jobs were created in less than eight years -- the most ever under a single administration, and more than were created in the previous twelve years.
Highest homeownership in American history
A strong economy and fiscal discipline kept interest rates low, making it possible for more families to buy homes. The homeownership rate increased from 64.2 percent in 1992 to 67. 7 percent, the highest rate ever.
Lowest unemployment in 30 years
Unemployment dropped from more than 7 percent in 1993 to just 4.0 percent in November 2000. Unemployment for African Americans and Hispanics fell to the lowest rates on record, and the rate for women is the lowest in more than 40 years.
Raised education standards, increased school choice, and doubled education and training investment
Since 1992, reading and math scores have increased for 4th, 8th, and 12th graders, math SAT scores are at a 30-year high, the number of charter schools has grown from 1 to more than 2,000, forty-nine states have put in place standards in core subjects and federal investment in education and training has doubled.
Largest expansion of college opportunity since the GI Bill
President Clinton and Vice President Gore have nearly doubled financial aid for students by increasing Pell Grants to the largest award ever, expanding Federal Work-Study to allow 1 million students to work their way through college, and by creating new tax credits and scholarships such as Lifetime Learning tax credits and the HOPE scholarship. At the same time, taxpayers have saved $18 billion due to the decline in student loan defaults, increased collections and savings from the direct student loan program.
Connected 95 percent of schools to the Internet
President Clinton and Vice President Gore's new commitment to education technology, including the E-Rate and a 3,000 percent increase in educational technology funding, increased the percentage of schools connected to the Internet from 35 percent in 1994 to 95 percent in 1999.
Lowest crime rate in 26 years
Because of President Clinton's comprehensive anti-crime strategy of tough penalties, more police, and smart prevention, as well as common sense gun safety laws, the overall crime rate declined for 8 consecutive years, the longest continuous drop on record, and is at the lowest level since 1973.
100,000 more police for our streets
As part of the 1994 Crime Bill, President Clinton enacted a new initiative to fund 100,000 community police officers. To date more than 11,000 law enforcement agencies have received COPS funding.
Enacted most sweeping gun safety legislation in a generation
Since the President signed the Brady bill in 1993, more than 600,000 felons, fugitives, and other prohibited persons have been stopped from buying guns. Gun crime has declined 40 percent since 1992.
Family and Medical Leave Act for 20 million Americans
To help parents succeed at work and at home, President Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act in 1993. Over 20 million Americans have taken unpaid leave to care for a newborn child or sick family member.
Smallest welfare rolls in 32 years
The President pledged to end welfare as we know it and signed landmark bipartisan welfare reform legislation in 1996. Since then, caseloads have been cut in half, to the lowest level since 1968, and millions of parents have joined the workforce. People on welfare today are five times more likely to be working than in 1992.
Higher incomes at all levels
After falling by nearly $2,000 between 1988 and 1992, the median family's income rose by $6,338, after adjusting for inflation, since 1993. African American family income increased even more, rising by nearly $7,000 since 1993. After years of stagnant income growth among average and lower income families, all income brackets experienced double-digit growth since 1993. The bottom 20 percent saw the largest income growth at 16.3 percent.
Lowest poverty rate in 20 years
Since Congress passed President Clinton's Economic Plan in 1993, the poverty rate declined from 15.1 percent to 11.8 percent last year — the largest six-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years. There are now 7 million fewer people in poverty than in 1993. The child poverty rate declined more than 25 percent, the poverty rates for single mothers, African Americans and the elderly have dropped to their lowest levels on record, and Hispanic poverty dropped to its lowest level since 1979.
Lowest teen birth rate in 60 years
In his 1995 State of the Union Address, President Clinton challenged Americans to join together in a national campaign against teen pregnancy. The birth rate for teens aged 15-19 declined every year of the Clinton Presidency, from 60.7 per 1,000 teens in 1992 to a record low of 49.6 in 1999.
Lowest infant mortality rate in American history
The Clinton Administration expanded efforts to provide mothers and newborn children with health care. Today, a record high 82 percent of all mothers receive prenatal care. The infant mortality rate has dropped from 8.5 deaths per 1,000 in 1992 to 7.2 deaths per 1,000 in 1998, the lowest rate ever recorded.
Deactivated more than 1,700 nuclear warheads from the former Soviet Union
Efforts of the Clinton-Gore Administration led to the dismantling of more than 1,700 nuclear warheads, 300 launchers and 425 land and submarine based missiles from the former Soviet Union.
Protected millions of acres of American land
President Clinton has protected more land in the lower 48 states than any other president. He has protected 5 new national parks, designated 11 new national monuments and expanded two others and proposed protections for 60 million acres of roadless areas in America's national forests.
Paid off $360 billion of the national debt
Between 1998-2000, the national debt was reduced by $363 billion — the largest three-year debt pay-down in American history. We are now on track to pay off the entire debt by 2009.
Converted the largest budget deficit in American history to the largest surplus
Thanks in large part to the 1993 Deficit Reduction Act, the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, and President Clinton's call to save the surplus for debt reduction, Social Security, and Medicare solvency, America has put its fiscal house in order. The deficit was $290 billion in 1993 and expected to grow to $455 billion by this year. Instead, we have a projected surplus of $237 billion.
Lowest government spending in three decades
Under President Clinton federal government spending as a share of the economy has decreased from 22.2 percent in 1992 to a projected 18.5 percent in 2000, the lowest since 1966.
Lowest federal income tax burden in 35 years
President Clinton enacted targeted tax cuts such as the Earned Income Tax Credit expansion, $500 child tax credit, and the HOPE Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits. Federal income taxes as a percentage of income for the typical American family have dropped to their lowest level in 35 years.
More families own stock than ever before
The number of families owning stock in the United States increased by 40 percent since 1992.
Most diverse cabinet in American history
The President has appointed more African Americans, women and Hispanics to the Cabinet than any other President in history. He appointed the first female Attorney General, the first female Secretary of State and the first Asian American cabinet secretary ever.

Under Obama: 1. Affordable Care Act (ACA) – “Obamacare”
The Affordable Care Act, often referred to as “Obamacare,” was a transformative piece of legislation aimed at overhauling the U.S.
healthcare system.
2. Economic Recovery
When Obama took office in 2009, the United States was in the midst of the Great Recession, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

His administration passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion stimulus package that funded infrastructure projects, extended unemployment benefits, and provided tax cuts.

The stimulus helped stabilize the economy, leading to a recovery that saw job growth, a declining unemployment rate, and a rebound in GDP by the end of his presidency.

3. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
In response to the financial crisis of 2008, Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act into law in 2010. This legislation aimed to prevent future economic crises by increasing regulation of the financial sector.
Barack Obama was the first sitting president to publicly support same-sex marriage. His administration championed LGBTQ+ rights, and in 2015, the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized marriage equality nationwide.

This historic ruling ensured that same-sex couples had the right to marry and receive equal treatment under the law, marking a major step forward for civil rights in the United States.

6. Paris Climate Agreement



It expanded healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, provided subsidies to low- and middle-income families, and made Medicaid expansion possible in participating states.
Key provisions included preventing insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26. By the end of Obama’s presidency, the ACA had significantly reduced the uninsured rate and made healthcare more accessible and affordable for millions.
As part of his commitment to addressing climate change, Obama played a key role in securing the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. Nearly 200 countries pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and take action to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement represented a significant global effort to combat climate change, with the United States taking a leadership role under Obama’s administration.
8. Auto Industry Rescue
During the Great Recession, the American auto industry faced potential collapse. Obama’s administration provided financial assistance to General Motors and Chrysler through a controversial bailout program.

The intervention saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, stabilized the auto industry, and eventually led to a resurgence in U.S. car manufacturing. By the end of Obama’s presidency, the auto industry was profitable again and had repaid much of the bailout money.

9. Advancing Renewable Energy
Obama prioritized clean energy initiatives and invested heavily in renewable energy during his presidency. Through programs like the Recovery Act, his administration funded research and development for solar and wind power, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles.

10. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
In 2012, Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provided temporary protection from deportation for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, often referred to as “Dreamers.”

Under Biden: 10. Passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to increase investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport and national broadband internet, as well as waterways and energy systems.

2. Helped get more than 500 million life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans through the American Rescue Plan.

3. Stopped a 30-year streak of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that created enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole and provided funds for youth mental health.

4. Made a $369 billion investment in climate change, the largest in American history, through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

5. Ended the longest war in American history by pulling the troops out of Afghanistan.

6. Provided $10,000 to $20,000 in college debt relief to Americans with loans who make under $125,000 a year.

7. Cut child poverty in half through the American Rescue Plan.

8. Capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act.

9. Passed the COVID-19 relief deal that provided payments of up to $1,400 to many struggling U.S. citizens while supporting renters and increasing unemployment benefits.

10. Achieved historically low unemployment rates after the pandemic caused them to skyrocket.

11. Imposed a 15% minimum corporate tax on some of the largest corporations in the country, ensuring that they pay their fair share,

15. Gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices through the Inflation Reduction Act while also reducing government health spending.

19. Reduced healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act by $800 a year as part of the American Rescue Plan.

2. Reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act through 2027.

And we would have done much more if Progressive had not made us lose the White House in 2000 and 2016,

And a blind regurgitation of past legislation doesn't prove your point. What is centrist is Clinton's Sec Treasury, Robert Rubin, and the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act Clinton signed. Both, particularly the later, led to the 2008 crash. No one went to jail for perpetuating perhaps the greatest financial fraud in American history except one poor sap, Kareem Serageldin. And now we have shadow banking which may prove even worse. Nice job, centrists. Plus, Dodd Frank was watered down the point of being ineffectual, by eliminating the bank tax to pay for it all, plus dropping the Volker Rule. See shadow banking and whole heap of other abuses.

The ACA originally had a public option. That got ditched as much due to milquetoast centrist Dems as Republicans. The final product was better than nothing, but it in no way addressed the structural problems in our healthcare system that have only gotten worse. By the way, Obama didn't run as a centrist. He ran to the left in 2008 with a message that resonated with Americans. That's how he won in places Dems haven't won since 2008. Since then, we've run on "Trump is a horrible person" and little else. No shit. What else have we got? A lot, but we don't advertise it much. Why is that? Afraid of being called "Commies" perhaps?

But history is just that. History. And past performance isn't necessarily indicative of future returns. Is the centrist Dem message catching fire with Americans right now? Perhaps you should ask Janet Mills about that. And feel free to continue the Gish Gallop / puke through your computer.

Those are actual accomplishments.

THe border probably being the biggest of them.

...

are a better alternative? If so, don't expect black women, an important Democratic Party pillar to turn out and vote. In all honesty, this block is still hurting after Harris lost.

Yea, expect the Republicans to hurl insults and scare monger. That's all they have. But do you expect them to fix anything they've broken up to this point? I think not. It's one thing to identify and complain about what's ailing this country, it's another thing to actually do something that fixes things. If DSs can fix problems on a state and local level then that 's all the better in demonstrating that what we have works.

In the end, Trump focused on problems of prices and inflation tacking it onto Biden & Harris. It's economic perception that will win or loose us the election, not name calling and fear mongering.

We can't do anything about new Laws to Stop the Fascists If we don't Win The Midterms.

There are moderates all over the country in swing districts fighting for their seats in Congress.

That is the Goal of those who want the PEDO without the enabling of the House and the Senate.

Trump manages to use both scare words - communist and socialist.

What is the difference between socialism and communism?

Socialism is a keyword/buzzword used to incite fear that the other party will control/ruin your personal economy/lifestyle.
.
Communism is a buzzword/keyword used to incite fear that the other party will ruin/control your personal lifestyle/economy.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Alas! The meanings are meaningless. The names are used purely as an emotional trigger.

Does anyone think Donald actually knows (or cares) the meanings and differences?

between communism and socialism, and much less between "socialism" and "Democratic Socialism".

Something liberal and progressive political strategists should keep in mind.

Didn't work and many Americans voted for a neo-nazi anyway. Given the struggles of regular Americans, I think you and others are putting too much emphasis on words that may not have the same effect they once did. This isn't 1980 after all. Millennial's and Gen Z's don't carry the cultural baggage you and I have that's wrapped around those words. Give them a vision that overrides those less meaningful words. That's what they want. The left of the party is trying to do exactly that. The rest seems stuck with the failed politics that got us into this mess.

Nazi is more appropriate.

for decades to scare people because everyone growing up in America over the last century was told that the ultimate evil is "Communism" (Red Scare).

Not many Dems had a problem with Bernie or even AOC but since NYC (imo, the greatest city in the US) has elected several, now you would think it is the end times.

Nope, only if Democrats make it so...more than likely led by the DNC who views them as a threat.

For this old timer....we need party reform if we expect to win and part of that reform is to unite around the goal of winning at all costs.

If you are scaring the orange felon, you are doing something right.

with all red baiting.

The words just don't have the same effect across generations, or when average Americans are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. It's vision that matters. Not some dusty old words spewed by a demented old man yesterday.

Democrats won lots of off year elections, even in red areas, because the GOP wasn't motivated. Trump is using communism to motivate his base. And they don't know the difference between communism and democratic socialism.

Besides stopping him and investigating him and his cronies and hopefully putting them away for good,
Democratic Socialists will work to pass popular legislation like:

Medicare for all
Free or low college education
sensible gun control
popular environmental policies
affordable housing
taxing the rich
voting rights
Womens rights
Sensible immigration laws
Expand the supreme court.

and many many other things that Americans have wanted their government to do for many years.

Corporate Democrats are afraid of them too.

No more paddy cake between Ds&Rs
We want change!

and we are not going back either!!!!!

He's making then the boogeyman.

themselves as “Corporate Democrats” so that I can avoid supporting them.
Thanking you in advance.

and health care for Trump?

That's how the Democrats should frame Trump's Red scare tactic.

Not falling for it.

by calling them terrorists. Nash'nul sacurity, ya know? Why else do we have an FBI and a DHS?

like a good capitalist.

Normalized!

Democrats.

...and a lot Republicans admire him. They do not consider him a "communist".

The country is moving 'Left'. Good, I say.

Republicans have been red baiting for decades because it's worked. Trump has railed against immigrants for years. You're reading into it what you want to believe. He needs an "enemy" because otherwise he'd be at risk of having to take responsibility and losing his cult.

I wish a female reporter would ask him to define it on camera.

"What a dumb question"
"You're a stupid person"
"Who are you with? ... "Fake news"
"What a stupid corrupt reporter you are"
"Shut up piggy"

and it's time for dems to point this out. The Trump/GOP agenda is taken straight from Hitler's playbook, hatred of immigrasnt, superiority of white anglos, forcing women to breed against their will, hatred of LGBTQ+, government control of everything, no right to dissent or hold the government accountable and the list goes on.

Sounds like a braindead McCarthy.

authoritarianism.

How soon will Trump revive the House Un-American Activities Committee to provide him a list of known Communists to investigate? He's so clueless to not know this old trope makes him look foolish to think it has credibility in today's multi-media environment with many more ways to discredit it as the hackneyed Big Lie it was already judged by history to be. And it must be taken for granted that most people know by now his answer to the question, "Have you no decency?"

Not that Russia is a good practitioner of communism, but the rubes don't know the difference any more.

What he is trying to do is to scare voters.

But specifically Democratic voters. As is very evident in this thread as the majority in it immediately threw Democratic Socialist and progressives in general, straight under the bus and backed up and went forward twice.

are a populist reaction against Trump's far right-wing agenda and the power of the ultra rich oligarchs. We the People have decided, at the grass roots level, that in return for our hard work we deserve nice things too.

The 2026 and 2028 elections are going to be a major realignment of politics on the order of FDR and the New Deal.

....fighting imaginary communism with real fascism.

the current administration, the MAGA/Republican cult and the billionaire class.

Our Constitution, our Democracy and the American way of life has never since the Civil War faced a bigger threat to it's existence than now. The enemy/threat has infiltrated our government with the help of seditious, treasonous bastards and lazy ignorant non voters.

At this point to slow the growth of this disease and begin the long methodical eradication we must "VOTE BLUE, NO MATTER WHO" in November.

who are "corporate political slugs licking the boots of oligarchs and fascists"?

Care to name names, and give evidence?

delusional, project much DJT????? Take a look in the mirror, you are the greatest threat!!!!!

His biggest threat is economic populism, but it needs to be messaged carefully.

But I like women of color better for whom thedonald is most afraid of.

the heck does he have to be scared about other than death?

All tax dodgers fear paying their fair share.

What's to worry about, Donny?