Latest news with #AOC
New York Post
17 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Democrats made themselves toxic — now they're addicted to their own poison
A few Democratic officeholders, activists and pundits are finally coming to their senses that their brand is toxic to a majority of the American people. The Biden administration killed what was left of it in a number of ways. First, it serially lied to Americans about the cognitive decline and cancerous condition of President Joe Biden, both while in and after office. Advertisement Only when caught did the complicit media 'fess up that the Biden inner circle serially misled the American people about Biden's inability to fulfill the duties of the presidency. Second, left-wing politicos used Biden as a waxen effigy. His job was to pose as a 'moderate' cover to push through the most radical and unpopular agenda in the last half-century. Advertisement Only that way could 'Old Joe Biden from Scranton' and his backroom handlers ram down the throat of the American people unpopular policies that nearly wrecked the country. Third, without either a functional president or viable initiatives, the new hard-left Democrats sought to brand Donald Trump as 'Hitler' and half the country who supported him as 'fascists.' For nearly nine years, the Democrats launched one failed hoax after another on the American people: 'Russian collusion,' 'laptop disinformation,' and the lying so-called '51 intelligence authorities.' They proved quite willing to undermine the rule of law by manipulating the court system in efforts to destroy their bogeyman, Trump. Advertisement The people are finally tired of all the potty-mouthed Democrat videos, the congressional stunts and meltdowns, the pampered rich kids rioting on elite campuses, the knee-jerk obsessions with racial slurs, the firebombing of Tesla dealerships, the romanticization of left-wing political murderers — and always the adolescent tantrums over Trump. The Democrats had mostly given up on democracy some 13 years ago. That was the last time they transparently and democratically nominated Barack Obama a second time as their presidential candidate. Ever since, their nominations have been rigged. In 2020, party insiders — terrified of the left-wing crazy primary field — forced out all the leading contenders. Advertisement Then they coronated the debilitated but still supposedly useful moderate Biden as their COVID-era candidate. Biden bragged that he would pick his vice president on the basis of race and gender. What followed was the most bizarre campaign in history. Biden stayed put in his basement and outsourced his candidacy to the partisan media. Next, in 2024, they forced the now no longer useful Biden off the ticket, nullifying his 14 million primary voters. Then, without a vote, they rammed in inept Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee. As a failed candidate in 2020, she had never won a single delegate. Some in the party now concede it must roust out its radicals. But Democrats will not. AOC and her Squad, the unhinged Jasmine Crockets of the party, and the ossified socialist Bernie Bros would demonize any Democrat who offered a sane reboot. Advertisement A few fossils in the party may think they know how to save it. But they are terrified that the medicine would be considered far worse than the illness that prompted it. Would Democrats consider embracing measured and legal-only immigration? No — the crazy base would scream 'xenophobe!' A return to meritocracy and the Martin Luther King notion of race as incidental, not essential, to who we are? Advertisement That would be called 'racist.' Maybe reforms to fix failed schools with vouchers, school choice and charter schools? Again, 'racist!' How about developing gas and oil reserves and nuclear power to lower energy costs for the struggling middle class? Advertisement That would be condemned as 'destroying the planet.' Restore police forces, end critical race and legal theory, and deter criminals with tough sentencing? How about ceasing the whiny fixations with 'white privilege' and 'white rage?' Or quit seeing a 'white supremacist' under every bed? Advertisement Again and again, 'racist!' The left created DEI — the use of race to adjudicate every political issue. And like any addictive, toxic drug, they now can neither survive with DEI — nor without it. Victor Davis Hanson is a distinguished fellow of the Center for American Greatness.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
NYC's cyclist crime and more: Letters to the Editor — June 1, 2025
Stop cyclist crime The bikes are totally out of control in New York City today ('E-bike danger an e-emergency,' May 29). The bike lanes next to the curb are borderline unsafe. Bikers ride at extreme speeds using gasoline and electric motors, while being oblivious to pedestrians and any traffic laws whatsoever. How many times must one see them riding on the sidewalk? Or going the wrong way on a one-way street? Riding against traffic? Running full stop signs and red lights? Advertisement How many vehicular accidents have they caused and just kept going? How many pedestrians have they injured or killed with no consequences? They think they can do anything they want with zero consequences from the NYPD because elected officials protect them. Every type of bike should be licensed, registered and insured. Peter Janosik, Philadelphia, Pa. Trump's triumphs President Trump opened the Overton Window wide and let fresh air chase away the stale ideas of the left ('End of the Woke Road,' Rich Lowry, PostOpinion, May 28). Advertisement Democrats imposed pronouns, equity for 'oppressed' people regardless of personal effort, political favor based on skin color and — perhaps the foulest idea of all — intersectionality. The woke destroyed many schools, from elementary to universities, with mephitic ideas. They reduced heroes' statues to rubble, rewrote our history and tried to transform our country into Nazi Germany for Jews. No matter what others think of his presidency, Trump has engineered a great victory for America. Advertisement Paul Bloustein, Cincinnati, Ohio Not all migrants While I have no problem with sending violent criminal migrants back to Venezuela, I find it cold-hearted and foolish to now be sending back the exceptional ones ('Ire at ICE detain of migrant student,' May 28). Under a Biden-era entry program, this boy was legally here and on track to become a productive member of society. He was in high school, working part-time to help support his mother and siblings and showing up to his immigration hearings. The government changed the rules, and he is now locked up. The old bait-and-switch is for catching rats, and not all immigrants are rats. Advertisement Donathan Salkaln, Manhattan Democratic doom One of the great things about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez running against Sen. Chuck Schumer in a Democratic primary is that we can get rid of one of them ('Schu're in big trouble,' May 26). Schumer has become an increasingly pathetic political figure over the last few years. As a Jew, his silence over pro-Hamas activists threatening Jewish students at many levels is an embarrassing example of political cowardice. His 'we're moving forward' responses to questions about his role in covering up former President Joe Biden's mental capacity is insulting to the intelligence of Americans. If AOC wins, we're still stuck with an elitist phony whose concern for her constituents is a disgrace. Regardless, one is better than two. Robert DiNardo, Farmingdale Fugitive found You can run, but you can't hide (' 'Cop stomper,' busted,' May 28). The coward who beat up an NYPD officer was nabbed in Virginia. Will his mommy and family friend be charged with harboring a fugitive? The feds should give them a look. Advertisement Mike Lapinga, Staten Island Want to weigh in on today's stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@ Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard?
Can young Democrats threaten Nancy Pelosi and the old guard? Young Democrats launch primary challenges against senior incumbents in Congress, arguing that the party has an "inability to change" problem. Show Caption Hide Caption AOC sounds off after Schumer says he'll support Trump's funding bill Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn't hold back after Chuck Schumer said he would support the Republicans' stopgap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Fox - 32 Chicago Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she isn't fazed by a challenge from Saikat Chakrabarti. Chakrabarti is a former aide to Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and to Bernie Sanders. "For a lot of Democrats, new voices represent hope," said David Niven, associate professor of politics at the University of Cincinnati. 'No matter how old you are, you still got to run on your record…if you want to dance, you got to pay the fiddler," said Connecticut Democrat Rep. John Larson, 76. WASHINGTON − Thirty-nine-year-old Saikat Chakrabarti is looking to pull off a political earthquake: Oust California Democrat Nancy Pelosi in next year's primaries. The 85-year-old former House Speaker has been in Congress since 1987, almost as long as Chakrabarti's been alive. He's part of a movement of young progressives looking to knock off their Democratic elders in blue state primaries next year, arguing the veterans aren't doing enough to take the fight to President Donald Trump. His message: "People are fed up with the old guard." More: Elon Musk's rise and fall: From Trump's chainsaw-wielding sidekick to a swift exit Pelosi's not sweating But the old guard is unimpressed. Pelosi told USA TODAY she doesn't view Chakrabarti's challenge as serious. 'Not at all. Not even slightly,' she said. Chakrabarti, a tech millionaire, is making gerontocracy − rule by the aged − a big part of his campaign. He says he's building an insurgent base through Zoom calls with voters and regular TV appearances. Amid a storm of Trump-induced crises, Chakrabarti says, "The Democratic party has an inability-to-change problem." While political scientists say it will be tough to beat seasoned pols like Pelosi, the bids expose a growing divide as Chakrabarti and others seek a more publicly assertive party. In Georgia, 33-year-old Everton Blair is running to unseat twelve-term incumbent Rep. David Scott, 79. And Jake Ravok, 37, who was eight when his former boss, California Rep. Brad Sherman, 70, was first elected to Congress in 1996, launched a primary challenge in April. It's been a bumpy uprising. Related: Too old or very wise: U.S. leaders are among the world's oldest. Is it a problem? On April 16, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, 25, announced his support for young progressives challenging "out of touch, ineffective" incumbents, earning a rebuke from Democratic brass. 'This is probably the best opportunity for younger Democrats to run for Congress since the Watergate Babies overran the House in 1974,' said David Niven, associate professor of politics at the University of Cincinnati. "For a lot of Democrats, new voices represent hope." "Traditional voices represent defeat,' Niven said. A new generational tide Chakrabarti got his political start with Bernie Sanders in 2016 and was chief of staff to New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35. He launched his uphill campaign against Pelosi in February, arguing Democrats 'are not recognizing this political moment for what it is.' Progressives were furious in March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, voted to advance a Trump-approved spending bill. Some progressives were appalled as Democrats joined Republicans in voting for a transgender sports ban and the Laken Riley Act, which requires officials to detain undocumented immigrants accused of certain crimes. Rakov said his campaign is driven by the generational divide. 'I think not everything has to be a fight to the death, but there absolutely does need to be some fight in our leaders, and I think the voters are wanting to see that," he said. This old House There are currently 13 House members between 80 and 89, according to a January Pew Research Center survey, and 68 between 70 and 79. One Senator is older than 90, five are between 80 and 89, and 27 are between ages 70 and 79. Trump turns 79 on June 14. Joe Biden was 82 when he left office. Blair, who was chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Education in Georgia, said Democrats are missing opportunities to reach voters on Twitch, TikTok, gaming platforms and podcasts. 'I think we just keep it real. People don't necessarily want to hear the wonky principles of your policy agenda,' he said. 'They kind of want to hear that you feel the pain that they feel, and that you have a plan for it.' Running on a record Senior Democrats brushed off age concerns. Pelosi, a Bay Area powerhouse, is now serving her 20th term. She made history in 2007 as the first female House speaker − and frequently sparred with Trump during his first term. Sherman, who represents parts of Los Angeles County, typically gets at three to six primary challengers every year; some in their 30's like Rakov. 'If I'm ever beat, it's going to be somebody with a long record of active involvement in the community organizations of my district,' he said. 'But it's not going to be by somebody who just shows up in the district and says, 'I worked for Sherman back in 2017,'' he said of Rakov. Rakov said he lived in Texas, New York and Connecticut before moving to California earlier this year. But the insurgents cling to hope, recalling Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 upset over Rep. Joseph Crowley, a top House Democrat. Ocasio-Cortez, then 28, ousted Crowley by more than 10 percentage points. "Know your community. It's important to have the right message. It's important to have the right values," Ocasio-Cortez told USA TODAY when asked how young Democrats can win. Age not an issue The old guard isn't worried. 'No matter how old you are, you still got to run on your record…if you want to dance, you got to pay the fiddler," said Connecticut Democrat Rep. John Larson, 76. Larson was in the spotlight after freezing on the House floor in February due to a 'complex partial seizure' and suffering a brief pause at a press conference in April. He's been in Congress since 1999. Other elder Democracts include Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, 85, California Rep. Maxine Waters, 86 and Illinois Rep. Danny Davis, 83. Hogg announced in April that his group, Leaders We Deserve, would spend $20 million on young challengers in safe blue districts. But DNC chairman Ken Martin urged committee officers to stay neutral in primaries, giving Hogg an ultimatum: Resign from the committee or end his role in primary challenges. The DNC credentials committee later voted in favor of a May 12 resolution that recommended voiding Hogg's election as vice chair. Fighters vs folders Some have argued the biggest divide in the Democratic party isn't over age, but who's willing to pick a fight. 'It's about fighters versus folders,' said Texas Rep. Greg Casar, 35, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. 'You know, Lloyd been in Congress for 30 years. He is a fighter," Casar said of his fellow Lone Star Democrat. "Nobody accuses him of being a folder. Bernie got more energy than half the chamber combined.' People 'know we're not going to win every fight, but they need to see us taking every single fight on because Trump's rhetoric is hitting different," said Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who scored a major upset against a ten-term Democratic incumbent in 2018. 'We have to move differently. We have to match their energy. I'm not 25 and I feel that way,' Pressley, 51, said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Working Families Party picks Mamdani first in ranked-choice endorsements for NYC mayor
NEW YORK — The Working Families Party ranked state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani in the top slot for its mayoral primary slate Friday night, following hours of closed-door deliberations. The progressive organization picked City Comptroller Brad Lander second, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams third and state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos fourth and fifth in the hopes of defeating frontrunner Andrew Cuomo. 'The polls and fundraising numbers tell a clear story about who is best poised to defeat Cuomo — that candidate is Zohran,' New York WFP co-directors Ana María Archila and Jasmine Gripper said in a statement. The party endorsed four candidates in late March, but did not rank them. The idea at the time was to eventually coalesce behind the person best poised to beat the former governor. That pronouncement led to speculation before Friday's endorsement vote whether the party would only anoint one person or go with a ranked slate. Democratic voters can pick up to five candidates in ranked order ahead of the June 24 primary. While Mamdani has been polling second to Cuomo — with an Emerson College survey this week placing him within 9 points of the former governor in the final round — Lander has a long history with the organization. He has been a longtime WFP member and was aligned with the group on legislation he pursued during his time in the Council. With the progressive standard bearer's position solidified, eyes are now turning to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who carries significant heft in New York City Democratic primaries and has yet to endorse with under four weeks until voters head to the polls. 'The Working Families Party has fought for a more affordable New York for decades and I am honored to lead their slate as their first choice for mayor,' Mamdani said in a statement. Lander's camp, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the second-place nod. 'This is now a clear three-person race, and Brad is the only candidate with the bold progressive vision, the record and chops to actually get it done," spokesperson Dora Pekec said in a statement.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
James Carville Blasts AOC, Bernie and ‘Pronoun' Democrats
Democratic strategist James Carville torched Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in a new interview with The Daily Beast, branding them as unelectable and accusing them of dragging the party down with out-of-touch messaging. 'You know what they don't do? Win elections,' Carville declared of progressive candidates on The Daily Beast Podcast. 'All they do is impress other journalists. They never beat a Republican!' 'Every time that you see a Democrat that is out there screaming and pounding the podium, ask yourself: 'Have they ever beat a Republican?'' he said. (While not at the national level, Ocasio-Cortez has fended off Republican challengers in her district four times—despite millions of dollars spent to oust her. Sanders has also beaten his Republican opponents in past House and Senate races.) Carville slammed AOC and Sanders' 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, which has drawn large crowds across the country, as 'counterproductive,' arguing it plays into the image of the Democratic Party as 'old', 'coastal' and 'urban.' 'I've got a great idea,' he said sarcastically. 'Let's send an 83-year-old and a congresswoman from Queens out in the country.' Even using the word 'oligarchy'—meant to capture anti-Trump, anti-billionaire sentiments—is a misstep, according to the 80-year-old strategist behind Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign: '90 percent of people in the country have no idea what they're talking about.' 'And that's a problem with Democrats particularly,' he told host Joanna Coles. 'The more 'identity,' the more 'pronoun' you get, the more you try to use language that no one else uses.' Yet—much to Carville's dismay—AOC continues to dominate early conversations on who might emerge as the leader (and 2028 candidate) to lift the beaten-down Democratic Party out of its current unpopularity. 'There's a lot more to the Democratic Party than AOC and Bernie,' he said frustratedly, citing a number of his preferred figures. Coles noted that AOC and Sanders have something many other Democrats lack: name recognition. So looking ahead at the 2028 presidential election, Carville advocated for a 'mini convention'—scheduled closer to the 2026 midterms—for the public to better get to know a range of Democratic candidates. 'What we have to do is set up ourselves as the party that is simply trying to help people who are trying to make it,' he said. New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Follow our new feed on your favorite podcast platform at and subscribe on YouTube to watch full episodes.
