It seems like the Democratic Party is starting to realize that it has a grassroots problem. This is a significant change from March.

However, that doesn't mean they want to change anything to address their grassroots problem.

More importantly, if money talks (and it does), it appears that the grassroots have decided to simply work around the corrupt establishment.



Both the DNC show and its organizing program are attempts to connect with a fired-up and somewhat alienated grassroots base that has largely put its energy and money into other organizations. The DNC wants to bring into the fold ahead of the midterms and 2020 presidential race some elements of The Resistance that want nothing to do with the party organization, partly based on what is perceived as the DNC's shabby, finger-on-the-scale treatment of Senator Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

A sign of the problem: Last month, the DNC posted its worst April fundraising haul in eight years, even as other Democratic committees and left-leaning groups raked in cash at unprecedented rates.

The grassroots is saying that it abhors the GOP, but they wouldn't trust the DNC with a wooden nickle.





About half (51%) of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party, while 45% have a favorable view. In January, slightly more had a favorable than unfavorable view (51% favorable to 45% unfavorable).



It is obvious that the alienation of the grassroots really kicked in with last year's primaries, but the further alienation since the general election is just as significant.

So it's important to look at what the Democratic establishment has done, or not done, since November.

For starters, what has not been done is anyone losing their jobs, i.e. accountability, for failure.

Secondly, is the efforts to make sure that the progressive base doesn't take over leadership positions that can modify the party agenda.

Then there is the behind the scenes moves for 2020 Democratic candidates. Read this and see if you can tell a pattern emerging.

After Trump’s victory, the Democratic Party made it clear that they would look to their billionaire donors for guidance in how to oppose him. Several Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, attended a closed door conference with Democratic donors shortly after the election. Another closed-door retreat for Democratic leaders and billionaire donors occurred during Trump’s inauguration weekend. During it, the DNC chair candidates participated in a forum to win over the party’s donors. In Florida, Democratic officials made billionaire donor Stephen Bittel chair of the Florida Democratic Party, despite facing stark opposition from every other candidate running for the position.

Hmmm. That B-word keeps popping up.

You might expect it to effect Democratic policies, but you probably don't realize how far it has gone.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been floated as a potential 2020 presidential candidate. A Super PAC called Disrupt for America was recently created to entice the billionaire to run for president. His announcement that he would be visiting all 50 states this year incited speculation he was testing the waters for a future political run. Several other billionaires have been included on lists speculating who will run against Trump in 2020. Guesses include Oprah Winfrey, Mark Cuban, Tom Steyer, Sheryl Sandberg and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. Steyer has also been considered a possible candidate to run for governor of California in 2018, and billionaire J.B. Pritzker was cited as a possible candidate for governor of Illinois in 2018. The executive director of the Democratic Governor’s Association told Politico in December 2016, “There seems to be a feeling that we need to look beyond the normal folks we always look to, the normal types.” In other words, Democrats will cut out the middle man and elect wealthy donors themselves. Mainstream media outlets and Democratic officials entertaining the viability of these billionaires making serious contentions for the presidency and other elected offices signals how much neoliberalism has degraded the Democratic Party and democracy in the United States.

I wonder where that "feeling" is coming from?

Possibly a warm feeling from a pocket full of dirty money, right next to his groin.