114 Comments
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Dyann Berndt's avatar

No one on either side of the aisle wants the gravy train to end so unless and until we get new, younger members of Congress not a whole lot will change. The parties are just two sides of the same coin. That's why nobody in Congress or the White House is ever prosecuted. They're all afraid that they could be next. It's disgusting.

PG's avatar

This is demonstrably false. Both parties are NOT just two sides of the same coin.

Please cite where the Democrats have either used the courts or legislation to take AWAY rights from the American public. Like gay rights or abortion rights. You won't find any real examples (and I'm obviously talking about the past 25 years, not 100-150 years ago).

Please cite where the GOP has expanded health care coverage besides Medicare Part D, which was a sop to Big Pharma (that had Medicare cover prescriptions but forbid from using its purchasing power to negotiate buying them at lower prices). All we have is either nothing, or attempts to take AWAY health care coverage, along with some successful ones (like taking away the ACA subsidies).

Should I go on about taking away the power of African American voters?

This "both sides" thing is wrong and lazy. BTW, members of Congress and the White House HAVE been prosecuted, so that's false too. Stop meshing a minority of Democrats with nearly ALL of the GOP, based on the behavior you mentioned, and proclaiming that "both sides" are the same. They're not.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Exactly. And the gulf in their rankings on Progressive Punch shows that. The "both sides" claim isn't just wrong; it drives a lot of the apathy and disengagement that lets the Republicans run wild. After all, if "both sides" are just as bad, why bother? The attack on age is insulting too. There are plenty of great younger politicians in Congress: Chris Murphy, Joe Neguse, Melanie Stansbury, Lauren Underwood, LaMonica McIver, Summer Lee, Maxwell Frost, among others. And some of the greater, most aggressive progressive champions are older: Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Mazie Hirono.

Untrump's avatar

What a fantasy world it would be to just chuck out half of the Democrats that are old or not as progressive as people would like. As I would like. Here is a cold hard fact, you split the party,,, you get Trump/MAGA for years to come. Fight like hell for aggressive progressive changes, but don't fool yourself at the polls! We don't need an RFK Jr moment, we need a solid wall of Blue!

Untrump's avatar

More people should be talking about collaboration within the Democratic party! I am glad you voiced this opinion, even though I am not happy with Fetterman. But I think there is more harm in attacking within,,, at a time where so much at stake. Thanks Anastasia, differences yes, but solidarity two thumbs up!

Emma MacArthur-Warner's avatar

Yes! For people on Substack who promote coming together within the Democratic Party, I would highly recommend Simon Rosenberg (Hopium Chronicles) if you don’t subscribe to him already

Emma MacArthur-Warner's avatar

THANK YOU for this! Both-sidesism is running far too rampant. And frankly, it’s morally irresponsible to push the both-sides narrative right now, at a time when Republicans have turned to fascism and Democrats are fighting back—not quite well enough or hard enough on average, sure, but still fighting!

Joanne M Guild's avatar

So true and I'm 80 yrs, will be 81 in October. Need term limits and upper age limits. If they still want to serve their constituents, they can volunteer and go do good works.

LORI's avatar
May 9Edited

I have to agree with PG on this one. Stop with the false equivalencies, because it is an inaccurate narrative and contributes to discouraging unity during voting. You think Dems can hold any blame for what happened in Virginia? See. There's a difference.

Nancy Hamilton's avatar

Really, is ANYONE surprised?

Mel's avatar

Fetterman flipped a long time ago

Mel's avatar

Anastasia say what you please like I said he flipped a long time ago

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Except he didn't. He's annoying but check his voting record.

Tina's avatar

He sure did! 👍

Diana Feather's avatar

Yes indeed he did!

Dave from California's avatar

Fetterman likely got his TDS from his stroke. He's not the same guy he was before it. And MAGA humiliated him during his campaign because of his stroke and his subsequent psychiatric issues. Too bad, but the dude really should resign.

EBrian's avatar

Campaigning for and donating money to Fetterman is my biggest political mistake of my lifetime, and I am 57. He is so massively disappointing. I sent a letter to him and received only a form response. He’s terrible for our country and democracy. He’s already receiving money is my bet.

Nancy Johnston's avatar

Pretty sure we all know we can't trust Fetterman.

Shane Mitchell's avatar

He would probably like it.

Wanda Ross's avatar

Unfortunately I believe that Fetterman can be bought. It’s a shame but we will see which way the pendulum goes!🤔

Irene Ross's avatar

You took the words right out of my mouth. I don't put anything--at all--past Fetterman

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

But what are they purchasing? A guy whose voting record is radically leftwing compared to the average Republican. It makes me real sense. This guy is no Lincoln Chaffee.

Kim Yingling's avatar

🤬I want my Fetterman vote back. He betrayed us.

Pamela Fender's avatar

Never trust Fetterman. He's another Sinema and Manchin. We need to primary him in 2028.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

What makes this really weird is that if you look at Progressive Punch's ratings on their voting records, the gap between Fetterman (who has now officially fallen beneath Maggie Hassan as the Senate's most conservative Democrat — but not all that far behind) and Susie Concern, the Senate's most "liberal" Republican, is more than 60 points. The two parties aren't remotely close; Fetterman would be such an outlier in the GOP he'd be more danger to them than to Democrats.

Richard Haley's avatar

I can’t believe I gave this gentleman money. It wasn’t a lot but it came from my heart. He had neurological problems which he overcame. I thought that he would fight to keep his position. Instead i feel betrayed!

Karen Walker's avatar

I completely believe that. That is who Trump is.

Pamela Johnson's avatar

Thanks for this--much needed. Fetterman has been so, so disappointing.

LORI's avatar

John Fetterman is the Tulsi Gabbard of 2026.

Martin Harrison's avatar

He tried to package himself as a working-class "Everyman" who wears sweats everywhere to get elected...Knew that whole act was BS...🤣😂

Carol Calabrese's avatar

Why doesn't the PA Gov have a conversation with Fetterman and ask him to step down?

Fetterman's claim that having a stroke made him a conservative is bogus, he is no worse than Seimana