On August 28 and 29, California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled two sweeping initiatives that together mark a sharp rightward turn in state policy and expose the Democratic Party’s deepening complicity in the destruction of democratic rights. As he portrays himself as a bulwark against President Trump, Newsom is in fact laying the foundation for a massive expansion of state power against the working class and the poor.
Under the guise of public safety and compassion, the Democratic governor has placed the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at the center of two major new enforcement regimes: a statewide “crime suppression” expansion and a “homeless encampment clearance” task force.
These measures are being marketed as alternatives to Trump’s deployments of federal forces into major U.S. cities, but in substance, they mirror their basic functions. Far from opposing the authoritarian measures emanating from Washington, Newsom’s actions mimic them, signaling a growing alignment between the Democratic Party and the Trump administration on the fundamental issue: the use of state repression to deal with the social crisis created by capitalism.
It will be interesting to see what comes out once the primary season starts after the '26 elections, but the #1 thing to note is you vote for whoever the Democratic candidate is in '28 unless you want to see Trump policies keep rolling on.
Newsom is not a Progressive, we get it. What everyone needs to get is the DNC will NEVER allow a Progressive candidate.
If you stomp your feet and cover your ears going “NOT VOTING! NOT VOTING!” all that will happen is the worst case scenario… Republican, Republican, Republican Republican Republican.
In a general election you have 2 choices: The Democrat or the Republican. Vote for who does the least damage.
100% this. Two things can be true. The candidates that democrats put up will always be flawed and against us in many ways. Yet people who consistently rail against the best viable option we have. Can still be tools of their enemies.
My big hope is that after all the unprecedentedness of the last presidential cycle. Everything will be much more normal. And people will behave more rationally. But I still want to part on one point. It isn’t a conscious, concerted effort on an individuals part. To be an asset or tool of their enemy. Russian etc election interference and misinformation is absolutely documented. They aren’t targeting just right wing conservatives.
AND you have Israeli interests targeting progressives.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/13/progressives-aipac-elections-threat-00173709
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/20/pro-israel-groups-gaza-us-elections
https://abcnews.go.com/538/pro-israel-groups-spent-big-oust-squad-members/story?id=113675889
Most definitely, unquestionably. Everyone is doing it to everyone else realistically and it needs to stop. But it won’t. So we need to be aware to avoid being manipulated as much as possible.
I’d be stoked to have Newsom as president today.
I’d be stoked to have anyone but the current President today. :)
I’m actually more scared of JD Vance being president than Trump.
Progressives always win the candidacy in the DNC, but if you want somebody MORE progressive than milktoast that’s easily accomplishable if only enough progressives voted in the primaries.