# Fuck the leftist purists **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 30, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485 "2026-05-30T00:40:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/81 "2026-05-31T15:40:01Z")
Not just happily letting them continue, but actively and enthusiastically supporting them. trump is just louder about his enthusiasm and imagines he’ll get a cut … the biggest cut. They could have throttled it back, but chose not to. This is a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/82 "2026-05-31T15:40:42Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > when the Democrats choose a milquetoast centrist white man like Gavin Newsom What universe do you live in? Newsom is not a “milquetoast centrist” although I suppose he is a “white man”. He’s doing a much better job fighting Republicans than the slopulist left is doing. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/83 "2026-05-31T15:41:48Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Tell that to the “non-committed” inadvertent Trump supporters. Happy to. Plenty of people voted fascist, actively or passively. But that’s where we are, fascism: yes or no. “I’m not sure” or “the lesser of two evils has led to a Democratic Party that isn’t cleaning it’s own house of misconduct” means “yes I’d like some fascism please” ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/84 "2026-05-31T15:47:48Z")
Is it really “worse” under trump though? It’s hard to tell 'cause he’s up to so much bullshit Palestine has slipped below the fold so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/85 "2026-05-31T15:48:30Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Newsom is not a “milquetoast centrist” I’d say he’s the dictionary definition of your standard middle of the road democratic candidate who needed to say progressive things when he ran in a progressive state and now is saying centrist things as he wants to be POTUS. But sure feel free to substitute with Prischker(sp?) or some other centrist white man. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/86 "2026-05-31T15:53:25Z")
Ah cool Babale, you’re here. You can respond in the thread about the Iran war. I’m sure you’re not the sort to run away when everything you said was false, and has led to misery, inside and outside of Iran. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/87 "2026-05-31T16:09:17Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > It was abundantly clear to anyone with a brain in the last election that there were two choices. Fascism and not Fascism. Ha ha. Americans are so cute. No. There was a choice between Open-Frothing-Fascism and Fascism-In-Sheep’s-Clothing. America is a fascist country and has been for decades, regardless of which party is in charge. You idiots are shooting the messenger if you blame any actual leftists for wanting you to see that. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/88 "2026-05-31T16:41:17Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > There was a choice between Open-Frothing-Fascism and Fascism-In-She. Andep’s-Clothing. This is a pro fascist position. If you take this attitude to elections in your country you will also end up with fascist regime, and it will be your fault, it will be the fascism you asked for. Just like it was for the Americans who said this in 2016 and 2024 ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/89 "2026-05-31T16:49:30Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > > [@griffin1977](#): > > > > Fine you are ok with fascists then. I’m not. Fuck them. > > Yeah and fuck you, you fucking moron. > > Has the thought occurred to you that YOU (and people like you) are the problem? Hear fucking hear. > [@Mangetout](#): > > Nine people on a bus: > > - Three vote to drive over a cliff. > - Two vote to get ice cream. > - Four don’t bother to vote. More like: - Four vote to drive over a cliff, and also a line full of schoolchildren tied up along the route - Three vote to get ice cream, but unfortunately they’ll have to drive over the same schoolchildren to get there (and two of these voters protest they feel just awful about what a terrible choice it is they have to make, while the third seems oddly silent about this prospect and is in fact the one who has been nominated to take over as bus driver if they win) - Two are appalled that this is the choice they have to make, and feel compelled to withhold their support for either candidate. One is sobbing uncontrollably because they happen to know or know someone who knows one or more of the schoolchildren (or maybe they just have a school-aged child of their own?), the other is trying to find something they might be able to use as a weapon in a vane attempt to gain control over the bus and stop the whole fucking mess from unfolding. Some days, I hope this last voter (sorry, _nonvoter_) finds something. Something sharp. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/90 "2026-05-31T16:54:31Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I’d say he’s the dictionary definition of your standard middle of the road democratic candidate who needed to say progressive things when he ran in a progressive state and now is saying centrist things as he wants to be POTUS. Yeah, that’s delusional. Newsom isn’t saying “centrist things”. Newsom doesn’t always take _the single most extreme left position available_, but that’s not the same as being _centrist_. For example, calling Newsom a “centrist” on Trans Rights is incredibly stupid. He has pushed more legislation to protect trans people than any other governor. His position is to the left of the vast majority of both the electorate and of politicians. Yet somehow he’s painted as a “centrist” because he doesn’t take the fringe position that being trans might impact performance in sports? That’s idiotic. That’s not a “centrist” position. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/91 "2026-05-31T16:58:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But how many of them sat out because they were “leftist purists”? A nonzero number, I’m sure, but is there any reason to think the number was significant? The main bit of evidence to support that hypothesis is that they come out to vote against an incumbent Republican, but stay home when it would mean voting for the continuation of a non-pure Democratic administration. It’s only when the Democratic incumbent has very high personal charisma (Bill Clinton and Obama) that the effect can be overcome. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/92 "2026-05-31T17:00:10Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Yeah and fuck you, you fucking moron. > > Has the thought occurred to you that YOU (and people like you) are the problem? Oh my bad. Yes, on consideration you are right not liking my country to be ruled by fascists was a mistake. I apologize unreservedly and will endeavor to more pro fascist like you in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/93 "2026-05-31T17:06:48Z")
Didn’t you get the memo? It’s the people who think that you _shouldn’t_ support the fascist by the way that you vote who are the _real_ fascists. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/94 "2026-05-31T17:50:30Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Oh my bad. Yes, on consideration you are right not liking my country to be ruled by fascists was a mistake. I apologize unreservedly and will endeavor to more pro fascist like you in the future. For fuck’s sake. The issue isn’t you being against fascism. It’s that you are using the term “fascist” to refer to those who disagree with you, and you somehow think attacking people will in any way get them to side with you. There is not a single fascist in this thread. Hell, most of the people in this thread agree with you that progressives and leftists should have voted for Kamala Harris. But even those who don’t are not disagreeing on ideology but on tactics. This indiscriminate use of the term fascist is exactly part of the problem. It was misused so often in the past that, when it finally came to the US, “fascist” was just seen as an insult to many. **And the most common cry of those who refused to vote for Harris is that both parties are fascist.** So, while your anger is understandable, it isn’t helpful. The OP at least was just venting. You are actively alienating people. You are letting your righteous indignance get in the way of doing anything to solve the issue that is upsetting you. It won’t work for leftists, and it won’t work for you. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/95 "2026-05-31T18:36:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I can understand blue voters in places like Massachusetts or Alabama not bothering to vote. I don’t. I mean, what if 45% of the electorate voted Democrat and 6% stayed home because they didn’t think that the Democrats can win? They’d have been the difference between a win and a loss. It’s just petulant and childish to stay home on election day, regardless of how you feel. And so is the attitude that you’re not represented because your chosen party didn’t get elected. That’s such a profound misunderstanding of how the system works. You’re represented, just not by the person you would have chosen. > [@bobot](#): > > All of the people _that you know_ who voted for the psychopath, they’re at fault here. And do “you” welcome these people into your life, and treat them as though they merely have a different political opinion? This kind of attitude doesn’t help either. The Republicans and right aren’t going anywhere, and painting them with such a broad brush just deepens the divide rather than closing it and healing our nation. They WILL win elections in the future. Don’t know which ones, but they will definitely win, just like the Democrats will win at some point. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Poke me when AOC and the The Squad get power. Till then dems can fuck off. Who will you vote for? That’s the thing- if you don’t vote for the Democratic party, no matter how awful they are (I am not a fan either) you’re basically giving a vote to the Republicans by acting childish about this. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/96 "2026-05-31T18:47:19Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > It’s only when the Democratic incumbent has very high personal charisma (Bill Clinton and Obama) that the effect can be overcome. The leftist purists I know don’t like Obama and they despise Clinton. Charisma won’t overcome the baggage that goes with neoliberalism. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/97 "2026-05-31T19:39:45Z")
> [@Cumberdale](#): > > As I sit here and read various forums on this site and on other sites, I can’t help but notice that one group is pretty much denied blame for the shit show that we are currently living. > > To all of you to the left of, say Liz Cheney, who just couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Clinton in 2016 and Harris in 2024, all of this is on YOU! Have to hand it to Republicans, they can play the long game. They put up with Bush 1, Dole, Romney, and then were blessed with their savior Bush 2, then their true lord and master, Trump. > > Of course, this could have been avoided if people on the right sighed and selected Clinton and Harris. Sure, we might not have universal health care, but we likely wouldn’t be in a war with Iran and a possible war with Cuba and not to mention my granddaughters having fewer rights than my mother and grandmother. > > So, I just want to say loud and clear, to those that consider themselves on the left, however you define it that say out or voted for candidates who had no fucking chance, _this_ is all your fault. And I know some of you will say, but…but…but… FUCK YOU. The reason we’re going back to the 1920s with women’s rights, voting rights etc is because of YOU. > > Yes, we all hate MAGA, but YOU are why they are currently in charge! > > And I’ll repeat, you are not getting enough blame, and I’ll do my best to make sure you get the blame you fucking deserve! There is a lot of blame to go around for why Trump is president. The root blame goes for the 77 million people who voted for him. The people who voted for him 3 times have really shown they have no morals other than white supremacy and christian nationalism. They’ll happily vote for a child molester as long as it means white people are superior to black people and men are superior to women. Going deeper, the true root of the blame for this goes to the GOP primary voters in 2016. 14 million people voted for Trump because the other candidates (cruz, rubio, kacish) split the opposition vote 3 ways. Those 14 million Trump primary voters in 2016 deserve the heaviest blame of all for anyone for this mess we are in. > **[2016 Republican Party presidential primaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries)** > > Mitt Romney > Donald Trump Having said that, Harris did get far fewer votes than Biden did in 2020 (75 million vs 81 million), but most of those lost 6 million votes were in safe blue states, not swing states. About ~2 million fewer people voted for Harris in 2024 vs Biden in 2020 (11 million vs 9 million). But that doesn’t mean anything, since Harris won the state anyway. Another 2 million in lost votes came from a handful of blue states too like NY, MA, NJ, IL. Harris didn’t lose 6 million votes in the swing states, she lost 6 million votes in solidly blue and solidly red states. Swing state votes were about the same. In swing states like MI, WI, PA, Harris only got 1-3% fewer votes than Biden, which isn’t unexpected for an incumbent. By comparison in safe blue states like CA or NY, she got 17% fewer votes than Biden. The leftist protest votes were strategic. I voted for Harris, but its important to point that out that the votes probably didn’t cost her the election. So for the most part, in the 2024 election, the leftist protests votes were in safe blue states, not swing states. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/98 "2026-05-31T19:56:12Z")
[Great post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/94) @BigT👏 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/99 "2026-05-31T19:59:26Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > For example, calling Newsom a “centrist” on Trans Rights is incredibly stupid. He has pushed more legislation to protect trans people than any other governor. Yes, he has. And, when he signed them, he got praise for it. But what does that actually mean? Do governors write legislation? Do they pass it? No, what it means is that the California legislature gave him more pro-trans bills to sign. It’s not nothing, but it’s clearly not a level playing field. What you have neglected to mention is that this claim about trans athletes was on his first podcast, where his first guest was Charlie Kirk. And his statement was directly agreeing with Charlie Kirk. In fact, he has had multiple anti-trans people on as guests. He’s not had a single trans guest. He has had multiple MAGA guests. That’s very much against the progressive paradigm of not platforming fascists. That’s very much a push towards the center, of trying to appeal to “both sides.” You also neglect to mention he has vetoed several pro-trans bills, mostly recently. These are bills that the legislature passed, thus presumably the will of Californians. They generally involve things related to trans healthcare, such as making it easier for trans health providers to be licensed in California. And then there’s the reports that he started discouraging the California legislatures from passing pro-trans legislation. From the actual legislators. These are not the actions of someone who is strong advocate for trans rights. He is clearly pulling back on this issue. That is a moderate position. He used to be this big pro-trans, pro-LGBT candidate. He has started to walk that back. To the point that he alone among Democratic presidential hopefuls has trans people saying “we will not vote for him.” Here is an article that gives a good idea of where the actual discourse is on this. > **[Erin Reed on Erin In The Morning](https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/why-transgender-people-are-not-feeling/comment/148958780)** > > I know a lot of mainline dems read my publication, so for those of you who are skeptical of my argument here because of my role as a transgender journalist, know that I \_endorsed\_ Kamala Harris for president. The critiques I levy against Newsom are... ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485/100 "2026-05-31T20:01:41Z")
We’re now at 100 posts and nearest I can tell this entire thread is tilting at a strawman. Aren’t we (leftists) better than this? Come up with some evidence to support your claim, fer cryin out loud. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-leftist-purists/1030485.md?page=6)