Paul Begala with the bold strategy - Democrats have "bad followers" (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

It's Daily Wire so there very likely could be more to the story. But this seems sub optimal.

Begala: "I think the problem for the Democrats right now is not that they have bad leaders. They have bad followers, okay?”

https://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1483194036521422852?s=20

CNN contributor and Democratic strategist Paul Begala appeared to slam the Democrats’ base during a CNN segment on Monday, saying that the party had “bad followers.”

Begala made the remarks in response to comments from Arndrea Waters King, daughter-in-law to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who suggested to Politico that Biden was not putting the “same power and passion” behind voting rights that he did in getting the infrastructure bill passed.

“Do you think that’s fair criticism?” CNN anchor Poppy Harlow asked. “Did President Biden put more effort into getting infrastructure passed, for example?”

“Well, he got infrastructure passed and that’s a good thing because success can breed success,” Begala responded. “He is putting the full force of the presidency behind it. I think the problem for the Democrats right now is not that they have bad leaders. They have bad followers, okay?”

Do you think it's up to us as Democrats to do better? 

 

[The Commish]

In my view, it's telling he uses the word "followers".  Saying outloud the quiet parts that a majority of politicians are thinking to themselves.  It should be rather obvious that the GOP definitely has better followers than the Dems.

 

[RCon]

Tough to tell from the part you quoted whether he's referring to Manchin and Sinema or the Democratic/liberal base.

I think the comments about voting rights / infra bill are a bit silly as directed to Biden.  The reality is Biden will sign whatever Pelosi and Schumer can get passed.  Getting it passed is more on those two than it is on Biden.

 

[glvsav37]

id love to know what he said right after that. is there a link to the longer clip? 

 

[massraider]

Do think it's up to us as Democrats to do better? 

What's that now?

 

[John123]

Right up there with Maxine Waters saying Manchin and Simena don't care about black people.  The party is imploding under Biden.

 

[Boston]

IMO the dems are tacking further left and their leaders are going there with them and in many cases leading the charge...so I guess the question I have (which is not explained) is what does he mean by "bad followers"...does he mean that they don't fall in line with the leadership or that they are going too far left?

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

It's Daily Wire so there very likely could be more to the story. But this seems sub optimal.

Begala: "I think the problem for the Democrats right now is not that they have bad leaders. They have bad followers, okay?”

Do think it's up to us as Democrats to do better? 

No, he's got it backwards as Paul Begala often does. It's up to the politicians to do better. People who voted did their job. Now go do yours.

Also, I voted for Biden but I am not a Biden "follower". I don't follow any man, woman or party dogmatically. That's a big problem in the country, IMO.

Signing up for a "team" and then never critically questioning them? Nope. This isn't sports. (Actually, I'm not averse to questioning my sports teams either). 

 

[sho nuff]

IMO the dems are tacking further left and their leaders are going there with them and in many cases leading the charge...so I guess the question I have (which is not explained) is what does he mean by "bad followers"...does he mean that they don't fall in line with the leadership or that they are going too far left?

In which ways are they going further left?  I see this posted often...but not sure I agree.  I think the country is also moving further left on many social issues from where they were in the past...is the party moving left, or are the people?

 

[Boston]

In which ways are they going further left?  I see this posted often...but not sure I agree.  I think the country is also moving further left on many social issues from where they were in the past...is the party moving left, or are the people?

Oh, I don't know...maybe something like having a "democratic socialist" finish second in the past two primaries would be a good place to start.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

The Democrats are just now realizing that their base is increasingly unhinged and taking over the party.  In other words, they're where the GOP was in 2014 or so.

 

[James Daulton]

No doubt the democrats are a mess right now.  From the fractured followers to the fractured leadership to the "not very smart" folks in leadership.

Going to get wiped out 2022 and deservedly so.

Getting behind someone not Biden/Kamila will tell a large part of the 2024 as I think the economy will be in decent shape and Covid's gotta be under better control by then...right...

 

[Stealthycat]

In my view, it's telling he uses the word "followers".  Saying outloud the quiet parts that a majority of politicians are thinking to themselves.  It should be rather obvious that the GOP definitely has better followers than the Dems.

please define better and bad in your opinion 

 

[KarmaPolice]

The Democrats are just now realizing that their base is increasingly unhinged and taking over the party.  In other words, they're where the GOP was in 2014 or so.

For me, this is a good thing.   What the next step should be is to have a fracture in both parties and get more options for the people.   Not holding my breath that it happens, but that's my hope after seeing the in-fighting in the two parties.  

 

[The Commish]

The Democrats are just now realizing that their base is increasingly unhinged and taking over the party.  In other words, they're where the GOP was in 2014 or so.

Right....they've been on the exact same path (just different points) for a long time.  The question becomes, do the Dems learn from what happened to the GOP back then and adjust or do they just allow what happened to the GOP happen to them?

 

[The Commish]

For me, this is a good thing.   What the next step should be is to have a fracture in both parties and get more options for the people.   Not holding my breath that it happens, but that's my hope after seeing the in-fighting in the two parties.  

As I said to IK, this is ONLY a good thing if they adjust and learn from what happened to the GOP.  If they don't, we are all left with the "sides" arguing with each other completely unaware they are two "sides" same coin.  The rest of us will have no options in either party.

 

[KarmaPolice]

As I said to IK, this is ONLY a good thing if they adjust and learn from what happened to the GOP.  If they don't, we are all left with the "sides" arguing with each other completely unaware they are two "sides" same coin.  The rest of us will have no options in either party.

Very fair point.  The downside is we just have still 2 parties, but even they are too busy #####ing at each other to attempt to get stuff done, which would probably be even worse for the country.  

 

[Sand]

He might as well go the whole way and start labeling them deplorables.

 

[Joe Bryant]

id love to know what he said right after that. is there a link to the longer clip? 

I agree. I looked and didn't see one.

I do think it's interesting in I bet lots of political leaders (on both sides) at least privately agree they need the base to help them. It's an odd balance. 

 

[Cheen]

They are both equally bad, perfect for, and deserve each other 

 

[squistion]

I agree. I looked and didn't see one.

I do think it's interesting in I bet lots of political leaders (on both sides) at least privately agree they need the base to help them. It's an odd balance. 

Some more detail from Mediaite to what was said after that:

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/paul-begala-says-democratic-party-has-bad-followers/

“Well, he got infrastructure passed and that’s a good thing because success can breed success,” Begala said. “He is putting the full force of the presidency behind it. I think the problem for the Democrats right now is not that they have bad leaders. They have bad followers, ok?”

The former aide to Bill Clinton recounted an essay he’d read by activist and former politician Andrew Young, who had detailed the hard work he and others put into mobilizing support for civil rights legislation in the 1960s.

Begala recalled how Young explained that he and King met with President Lyndon Johnson and urged him to pass a voting rights bill. Johnson explained he had spent all of his political capital on passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

King told Young that the way to get Johnson to move on voting rights was to “go get the president some power” by mobilizing people in churches, universities, labor unions, and other organizations, Begala said.

Speaking about the present day, Begala said, “Those of us who want to save voting rights – we need to get to work. I do think Biden is putting everything behind this, but he needs better followers. He needs all of us in the game as well.”

Watch above via CNN.

 

[The Commish]

please define better and bad in your opinion 

I don't have opinions on definitions.  I leave that to those who don't want to have honest discussion.  I use standard definitions found in any dictionary.

BETTER:

adjective, comparative of good, with best as superlative.

of superior quality or excellence:a better coat; a better speech.

morally superior; more virtuous:They are no better than thieves.

of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable:a better time for action.

larger; greater:the better part of a lifetime.

improved in health; healthier than before.

completely recovered in health.

adverb, comparative of well, with best as superlative.

in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner:to behave better.

to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly:He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.

more:I walked better than a mile to town.

verb (used with object)

to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve:to better one's grades;to better the lot of the suburban commuter.

to improve upon; surpass; exceed:We have bettered last year's production record.

Cards. to raise (a previous bid).

BAD:
 

adjective, worse, worstSlang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.

not good in any manner or degree.

having a wicked or evil character; morally reprehensible:There is no such thing as a bad boy.

of poor or inferior quality; defective; deficient:a bad diamond; a bad spark plug.

inadequate or below standard; not satisfactory for use:bad heating; Living conditions in some areas are very bad.

inaccurate, incorrect, or faulty:a bad guess.

invalid, unsound, or false:a bad insurance claim; bad judgment.

causing or liable to cause sickness or ill health; injurious or harmful:Too much sugar is bad for your teeth.

suffering from sickness, ill health, pain, or injury; sick; ill:He felt bad from eating the green apples.

not healthy or in good physical condition; diseased, decayed, or physically weakened:A bad heart kept him out of the army.

tainted, spoiled, or rotten, especially to the point of being inedible:The meat is bad because you left it out of the refrigerator too long.

having a disastrous or detrimental effect, result, or tendency; unfavorable:The drought is bad for the farmers. His sloppy appearance made a bad impression.

causing or characterized by discomfort, inconvenience, uneasiness, or annoyance; disagreeable; unpleasant:I had a bad flight to Chicago.

easily provoked to anger; irascible:a bad temper.

cross, irritable, or surly:If I don't have my morning coffee, I'm in a bad mood all day.

more uncomfortable, persistent, painful, or dangerous than usual; severe:a bad attack of asthma.

causing or resulting in disaster or severe damage or destruction:a bad flood.

regretful, contrite, dejected, or upset:He felt bad about having to leave the children all alone.

disobedient, naughty, or misbehaving:If you're bad at school, you'll go to bed without supper.

disreputable or dishonorable:He's getting a bad name from changing jobs so often.

displaying a lack of skill, talent, proficiency, or judgment:a bad painting; Bad drivers cause most of the accidents.

causing distress; unfortunate or unfavorable:I'm afraid I have bad news for you.

not suitable or appropriate; disadvantageous or dangerous:It was a bad day for fishing.

inclement; considered too stormy, hot, cold, etc.:We had a bad winter with a lot of snow.

disagreeable or offensive to the senses:a bad odor.

exhibiting a lack of artistic sensitivity:The room was decorated in bad taste.

not in keeping with a standard of behavior or conduct; coarse:bad manners.

(of a word, speech, or writing)

vulgar, obscene, or blasphemous:bad language.

not properly observing rules or customs of grammar, usage, spelling, etc.; incorrect:He speaks bad English.

unattractive, especially because of a lack of pleasing proportions:She has a bad figure.

(of the complexion) marred by defects; pockmarked or pimply; blemished:bad skin.

not profitable or worth the price paid:The land was a bad buy.

Commerce. deemed uncollectible or irrecoverable and treated as a loss:a bad debt.

ill-spent; wastedon't throw good money after bad money.

counterfeit; not genuine:There was a bad ten-dollar bill in with the change.

having the character of a villain; villainous:In the movies the good guys always beat the bad guys.

Sports. failing to land within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of a court; missing the mark; not well aimed.

Slang. outstandingly excellent; first-rate:He's a bad man on drums, and the fans love him.

noun

that which is bad:You have to take the bad with the good.

a bad condition, character, or quality:His health seemed to go from bad to worse.

 

[Steve Tasker]

In my view, it's telling he uses the word "followers".  Saying outloud the quiet parts that a majority of politicians are thinking to themselves.  It should be rather obvious that the GOP definitely has better followers than the Dems.

Let's just say it moved me......TO A BIGGER HOUSE

 

[Stealthycat]

I don't have opinions on definitions.  I leave that to those who don't want to have honest discussion.  I use standard definitions found in any dictionary.

BETTER:

BAD:
 

so you think GOP voters are better and DNC voters are bad ?

interesting -  and what a massive brush to paint with ........ and actually I don't disagree except calling some people bad because they vote Democrat

I think they're uneducated on what the Democratic party stands for and often vote party lines because they've been told something ....... but that doesn't make them bad 

 

[The Commish]

so you think GOP voters are better and DNC voters are bad ?

no....I said what I thought...clearly:

It should be rather obvious that the GOP definitely has better followers than the Dems.

Please stop trying to "interpret" (being as kind as possible here) what I'm saying.  I said exactly what I meant.

 

[Stealthycat]

no....I said what I thought...clearly:

Please stop trying to "interpret" (being as kind as possible here) what I'm saying.  I said exactly what I meant.

you are not clear at all

is better meaning more dedicated? better souls? better actions and words? better donation ? 

 

[The Commish]

you are not clear at all

is better meaning more dedicated? better souls? better actions and words? better donation ? 

what's the word right after better in my statement?  It's crystal clear.....right there in black/white.

Please put me on ignore.....you don't really care what any of us say much less mean.

ETA:  I know this will be asked and I'm not responding again so here you go:

follower

 noun

fol·low·er | \ ˈfä-lə-wər  \

Definition of follower

1a: one in the service of another : RETAINER

b: one that follows the opinions or teachings of another

c: one that imitates another

2archaic : one that chases

3: a sheet added to the first sheet of an indenture or other deed

4: a machine part that receives motion from another part

5: a spring-loaded plate at the bottom of a firearm's magazine that angles cartridges for proper insertion into the chamber

6: FAN, DEVOTEE

7: one who subscribes to a feed especially on social mediaHis account has thousands of followers.

 

[KarmaPolice]

what's the word right after better in my statement?  It's crystal clear.....right there in black/white.

Please put me on ignore.....you don't really care what any of us say much less mean.

ETA:  I know this will be asked and I'm not responding again so here you go:

ok, now what do you mean by "ignore"?