The Observation Deck

From the thread entitled, "Democratic Club Votes To Back..." at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13528:

Amy Martin wrote:interesting that this morning, I rode in with a member of the Democratic Club who guarantees a Summer victory in November . .. she said the "true" democrats are behind him

I'm curious.

What is the definition of a "True Democrat" in Lakewood?

Matthew John Markling wrote:From the thread entitled, "Democratic Club Votes To Back..." at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13528:

Amy Martin wrote:interesting that this morning, I rode in with a member of the Democratic Club who guarantees a Summer victory in November . .. she said the "true" democrats are behind him

I'm curious.

What is the definition of a "True Democrat" in Lakewood?

Matt

You are closer to a true democrat than most in Lakewood.

But that also depends if you are speaking of the Lakewood Democratic Club or Lakewood
Democrats. They are not the same which is why real Democrats stay away in droves
leaving behind openings for Republicans and Independents roll in and take it over.

We were laughing that Lakewood once one of the strongest Republican strongholds in the
region fell out of favor, through scandal and strange circumstances. Also those that run
Lakewood Democrats started signing on to Republican run ops in the city, in an effort to
get that warm fuzzy feeling they loved. Soon the lines were blurred and looking at last
night's turnout, the Lakewood Dems might as well be the Lakewood Independents.

Last night was once again the proof what the payoff is for good democrats. Go to years and
years of meetings, live the ideal of the Democrats, back education, health care for all,
equality and a slightly progressive life, and Lakewood Democratic Club will pick a Republican
over you every time, because they feel deep inside The Democrat is not electable in
their little minds, but their friend the Republican is.

Odd? Everywhere but here?

.

A "true Democrat" believes in equality, fairness, education, and their fellow citizens.

I wouldn't mind Summers if he actually represented Democratic values.
Dems have always welcomed "refugees" from the GOP...whose national brand has become increasingly tied to bigotry and anti-intellectualism.

However, Summers hospital plan is the epitome of worst elements of GOP history:

*His whole "Government should be run like a business" philosophy comes straight from Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover, the men who brought us the Great Depression. Later GOP "businessmen" include George W. Bush and our current star, Mr. Donald J. Trump.

*The whole plan is built on corporatization and privatization, which runs completely counter to traditional Democratic values. FDR (and his GOP cousin) made their legacy by FIGHTING corporate power, not serving it.

*The secrecy is absolutely Nixonian. It also reminds me of Dick Cheney's unrecorded, undocumented "Energy Policy" meeting with the heads of the oil industry.

*The marginalization of opposition ("vocal minority", "emotional") is right from the Roger Ailes playbook. Remember how the Iraq War protesters got "Dixie Chicked" and were treated as traitors? Freedom Fries, anyone?

*The shabby treatment of Hospital employees is in line with GOP philosophy, which has historically opposed workers' rights.

Republicans that bring positive GOP traits are welcome in the Democratic Party.
These traits include Lincoln's vision and intelligence, Teddy Roosevelt's passion for the underdog, Ike's leadership, and Reagan's optimism and communication.
Summers brings none of these -- in fact he brings the complete opposite -- to the party.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Lakewood once one of the strongest Republican strongholds in the
region fell out of favor, through scandal and strange circumstances.

There's nothing "strange" about the fact that Lakewood abandoned the GOP label.
It was not due to scandal....Harbarger was able to win in 1991 despite Sinagra's tire sale.

The Democratic brand took over because the national GOP became increasingly tied to intolerance, anti-intellectualism, and religious fanaticism.

Back in the 1980s and early 1990s the GOP had lots of national and statewide figures that Lakewood could identify with. Reagan was a happy optimist. Guys like Bush 41, Voinovich, Bob Dole and Jack Kemp all seemed intelligent and reasonable, even if you disagreed with them.
Fox News did not exist, and Rush Limbaugh was still a new novelty.

The Clinton Impeachment marked a shift toward radicalizing the GOP, and it hasn't stopped since.
Each election cycle creates a new batch of cartoonish characters that perfectly fit the racist, sexist, intolerant, anti-intellectual, bible-thumping stereotype. Even one current GOP candidate called the GOP "The Stupid Party" in 2013...right before he started pandering to its base.

Lakewood republicans simply cannot overcome the stigma of the Louis Gohmerts, Donald Trumps, Caribou Barbies, and Michele Bachmanns of the world.

Demro was the last openly GOP figure to win, and it was 12 years ago for a ward seat. I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Michael Deneen wrote:The Democratic brand took over because the national GOP became increasingly tied to intolerance, anti-intellectualism, and religious fanaticism

The democrat brand "took over" Lakewood because republicans left the city and democrats came in. It is just part of the urban sprawl. Republicans have no problem winning in outer suburbs.

Ryan Salo wrote:The democrat brand "took over" Lakewood because republicans left the city and democrats came in. It is just part of the urban sprawl. Republicans have no problem winning in outer suburbs.

Republicans started leaving because too many minorities were moving in. (Same pattern that happened to the big cities a generation earlier).
Anyone who denies that "white flight" exists is in denial.

This creates the downward spiral...the national GOP targets those outer suburban/rural voters by spewing more bigotry (Fox News, talk radio, etc). This results in "red" outer suburbs and rural areas. Democrats have little or no chance of winning local races in these areas.

That bigotry further offends urban/inner ring suburban voters, thereby making them more "blue". These "Blue" voters in the cities enjoy mocking Fox News and Rush via Daily Show and Colbert. They associate the entire GOP brand with the nonsense they see on the fringe.

The tolerant Republicans that remain in urban/inner ring areas are stained by that national GOP brand, making them unelectable in most local races.

I guess a "true" democrat in Lakewood is all for:

-electing a former republican to the office of mayor
-selling out to corporate interests, public interests be damned
-trading 1100 jobs for 100 (what a deal!)
-back room deals, hidden from public knowledge
-paying $500k to consultants who tell you whatever you want to hear
-putting the wants of the few over the needs of the many

If that truly is the case, count me out!