Reich's take on Democrat's centrist positions
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Mamdani managed to win a primary in deep-blue NYC but let’s all remember he was running against Handsy McGrandmaKiller.
Right now we need to figure out how to take Senate seats in North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Alaska, and Texas.
These pieces from the left-wing of the Democratic Party simply seem to ignore this question. Not because they’re unaware of the importance of the senate, but because the messages and strategies they find most emotionally satisfying won’t generate a Senate majority, so they prefer not to think about how to get there.
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He also couldn’t be more wrong about Clinton. Clinton was perceived as a moderate to conservative democrat at the time he ran. He was the candidate of the DLC which was formed after three consecutive losses by candidates perceived as too far left. He ran on ‘ending welfare as we know it’, putting more cops on the streets, and free trade. And he is the one who gave us the phrase ‘sister Soulja moment’ by publicly distancing himself from more radical elements of the party.
Clinton also handily won a second term after putting the country on a path towards a balanced budget and eventually firing Reich.
Woodward wrote a whole book about how team Rubin beat team Reich in setting the agenda for his presidency.
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He gave China MFN status which was a gamble he ultimately lost and will probably be his main legacy over time.
I don’t think it was unreasonable to assume 30 years ago that that would result in a more open China that was integrated into the community of nations in a non-belligerent way. Of course it didn’t turn out that way.
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A few points to add to the discussion.
I don't know why Reich says some of things he says, but I do not think "raising taxes on the wealthy, cutting them for the middle class, and establishing universal health care" are particularly centrist ideas, and Clinton was strong on those policy ideas. I would rather call Bill Clinton flexible rather than centrist because I don't think he was an "-ist" type of leader.
Clinton also lost both houses of Congress only two years into his term, which surely forced some change of course.
And clearly, the landscape in 2025 is not what it was in the '90s. The Democrats are in disarray and can hardly afford to lose their base. There's no point in having a party which stands for certain principles if those principles have to be abandoned to win an election. IMO, The Dems need to get specific again (like Clinton) and have to show they are not beholden to the moneyed class.
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Speaking of Mamdani, seems like he’s motivated by more than just ‘affordability’.
I’m not exactly sure what the Dems path to national electability is but it probably isn’t implementation of this meme:
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Speaking of Mamdani, seems like he’s motivated by more than just ‘affordability’.
I’m not exactly sure what the Dems path to national electability is but it probably isn’t implementation of this meme:
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That's not the full story. Mamdani had said he would phase out teacher nominations for kindergarten children. And it's nothing new, DeBlasio had the same idea. They would (as far as it seems) continue with 3rd grade. The Gifted program is still based on a lottery system. The need from certain quarters of the political spectrum to tear down Mamdani is desperate.
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner for New York City mayor, has announced his plan to phase out the city’s gifted and talented program for kindergarteners, reviving a proposal first floated under Mayor de Blasio. The program, which enrolls fewer than 5 percent of students in kindergarten, has long been criticized for deepening segregation and limiting opportunities instead of expanding them. Mamdani has tied this change to a broader vision that includes free universal child care and expanded early education, positioning it as a way to build a more equitable school system.
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If you read the NYT piece he’s ending for next years kindergartners as a way to end the program while grandfathering the existing enrollees. Same as deBlasio. Re the third grade entry point he seems to be on both sides of that issue.
DeBlasio also wanted to end the specialized high school system but so far Mamdani hasn’t touched that.
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Speaking of Mamdani, seems like he’s motivated by more than just ‘affordability’.
I’m not exactly sure what the Dems path to national electability is but it probably isn’t implementation of this meme:
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Kindergarten is pretty early for TAG programs. And I say this as a parent who had a kid in NYC TAG kindergarten, 30 years ago. It was great, but not all kids have access enrichment programs before kindergarten, and testing before kindergarten just reinforces the strong bias towards money.
