…in other threads I’ve long argued that the problem with not only the Dems, but with the (political) “left” at the moment is that they don’t stand for anything. That they let the Republicans and the focus groups and the consultant class set the agenda, and what they should do instead is just do what they think is right.
I just want to show you what that looks like. (for those that don’t want to click, it’s a Mamdani campaign video that is a full-throated defence of trans people)
The video centres the story of Sylvia Rivera: a transgender and gay liberation activist. The music playing in the background is “It’s Okay To Cry” by Sophie, a trans musician who passed away in 2021. He then lays out the actionable steps he will take to protect trans people.
As Katelyn Burns puts it:
"This is the line. It’s the line that got me to tear up as I was watching it. It was the line that FINALLY made me felt seen by a Democratic politician. This is the line that connects everything Democrats claim to fight for with trans rights. Trans issues aren’t this shameful thing that Democratic consultants suggest we hide from, it’s the same fight undocumented immigrants are fighting, or those who can’t access health care are fighting. Sometimes the undocumented immigrants and the people who can’t afford health care are also trans.
Political issues aren’t siloes, they’re all connected, and Mamdani recognizes that. Other Democrats need to see it too, and I hope they are paying attention."
Katelyn Burns had counted the number of times the Dems said the word “trans” at the last convention. They only said it once. In a single two-minute video Mamdani said more in defence of trans people than the entire convention.
I mean, if there’s one place where you can “afford” to take an explicit stand on this… ISTM that the NYC Dems had for a long time rested on that the inclusion was happening anyway but we don’t need to call attention to it (nationally because “they want to make hometown America like decadent New York” has been an effective scare tactic elsewhere; but ALSO locally because honestly there ARE a whole bunch of people in Staten and Queens who would rather not be asked to pretend they like it).
I would have stated the vision as LGBTQ+ positive or LGBTQ+ affirming city or something like that just to get away from the IMO by now overflogged “sanctuary” language, but sure, the times call for communicating that he’ll fight threats from DC.
I still don’t know all that much about Mamdani, but I just love the panicked look in the eyes of Cuomo when he realizes that being a careerist fat-cat lazy establishment Democrat isn’t going to save him in this election, and, if anything, will make him lose worse.
From outside, ISTM that what we’re seeing is this establishment in a terrified panic that (a) They’ll be rendered inconsequential and once they become powerless, (b) business investors (including their donors) will flee in terror from the “Socialist” into Trumpland, or at least into New Jersey; and oh, yeah, (c) Trump will launch a Maximum Punishment policy against the city - pull out every last cent of funding & every possible job or office rental, freeze every service, stop every joint effort, cut Amtrak routes; invade with half of ICE and two whole states’ NGs; expel the UN; require Times Square street performers ask tourists for proof of citizenship; demand Delmonico’s serve the NY Strip well-done with ketchup; etc.
I actually think the panic in the eyes of establishment Democrats at Mamdani is similar to the panic establishment Republicans felt when Trump surged ahead of them in the primaries, lo these many years ago. I think both are riding a wave of populism and disillusionment with “politics as usual”.
I’m hopeful that Mamdani does more to address that unhappiness, but it will be tough, especially with Trump (and others) gunning for him to fail.
TIL that Andrew Cuomo was the brother in law of Bobby Kennedy Jr for 15 years. I’m sure that won’t help him in any way. And that he helped form the Independent Democratic Conference, who were in a bipartisan coalition with the Senate Republican Conference in the New York State Senate.