CSPAN - Washington Journal Open Phones
Aired: 2024-12-18
Duration: 06:55

[00:00:00]  The buck.
[00:00:00]  To other bipartisan commissions to handle the budget.
[00:00:05]  Well, the ultimate bipartisan commission is the Congress of the United States, and there's no substitute for our doing our job.
[00:00:13]  We hold the purse strings.
[00:00:15]  That's a responsibility that can't be dodged, and it can't be doged.
[00:00:21]  The buck starts in the House of Representatives, and we have to take responsibility for that, and we're not.
[00:00:27]  So simply another CR kicking the can in a...
[00:00:30]  We invite Democrats only to call in and tell us what you think is the future of the Democratic Party.
[00:00:56]  Here's how you can let us know your thoughts by phone.
[00:00:58]  For the Eastern and Central time zones, 202 -748 -8000.
[00:01:02]  For the Mountain and Pacific time zones, 202 -748 -8001.
[00:01:07]  Democrats only, if you want to text us your thoughts about the future of your party, 202 -748 -8003 is how you do that.
[00:01:14]  You can also post on Facebook and on X.
[00:01:19]  It was about a month ago.
[00:01:21]  That the Pew Research did a poll of Democrats following the election, getting their thoughts on the future of the party and what it felt like at the time for them, saying that while 51 % of Democrats and Democratic -leaning independents say they are somewhat optimistic about the party's future,
[00:01:36]  49 % are pessimistic.
[00:01:37]  The share of Democrats who say they are pessimistic about their party's future is about 20 percentage points higher than it was after the 2022 midterm elections.
[00:01:46]  That's at 28%.
[00:01:47]  At the time, it yielded mixed results on this question for both parties.
[00:01:51]  It's about 10 points higher than after Hillary Clinton's presidential defeat to Mr. Trump in 2016.
[00:01:57]  Among Democrats, pessimism is more pronounced among adults under age 50.
[00:02:02]  That's at 55 % than among older people, 39%.
[00:02:05]  And liberal Democrats, 52 % of those at the time of this poll, are somewhat more pessimistic than conservative and moderate Democrats.
[00:02:13]  Weighing in at 46%.
[00:02:15]  That was about a month ago, following the election, the state of Democrats after the election, and what they thought about the future of the party.
[00:02:22]  It was the vice president yesterday speaking at a community college in Maryland, talking about not only the future, but amongst young people.
[00:02:31]  The New York Times tracks that speech, saying Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday suggested she did not intend to fade into the background after President -elect Donald Trump's November victory.
[00:02:41]  And used her first major post -election speech to urge young people to stay in the fight before an audience of students, activists, and recent graduates.
[00:02:49]  Ms. Harris called on the crowd to maintain their passion and resolve.
[00:02:53]  You can see that full speech on C -SPAN, but here's a portion from the vice president yesterday.
[00:02:58]  I ask you to remember that this struggle is not new.
[00:03:06]  It goes back nearly 250 years to Lexington and Concord.
[00:03:14]  Generation after generation, it has been driven by those who love history, cherish its ideals, and refuse to sit passive while our ideals are under assault.
[00:03:33]  And now this fight to keep the light of America's promise and to ensure it burns bright Well, this fight now, it continues with you.
[00:03:53]  You are its heirs.
[00:03:57]  We are its heirs.
[00:04:02]  So I'll end with this.
[00:04:04]  Get some rest over the holidays.
[00:04:08]  Spend time with the people you love.
[00:04:10]  You know, I believe family comes in many forms.
[00:04:13]  There's family by blood and there's family by love.
[00:04:17]  I urge you, then, after you have had some rest, In fact, I challenge you to come back ready.
[00:04:28]  Ready to chart our path to the future.
[00:04:33]  Chin up.
[00:04:35]  Shoulders back.
[00:04:38]  Forever impatient for change.
[00:04:42]  Again, the vice president from yesterday for Democrats only in this first half hour.
[00:04:47]  Again, what's the future of the Democratic Party in your opinion?
[00:04:49]  202 -748 -8000 for the Eastern and Central time zones.
[00:04:53]  202 -748 - We're good to go.
[00:05:20]  Um, then, uh, this is from John Cole saying, all our best people have left the party.
[00:05:25]  Tulsi, Manchin, etc.
[00:05:26]  We need to get rid of our party's platform of the regressive, quote, progressive agenda and start over.
[00:05:32]  We might not have a party at the rate we're in decline.
[00:05:35]  Uh, this is also from Diane on our Facebook page saying, young knowledgeable people are coming into their political selves with fresh ideas and new energy.
[00:05:44]  That will be the face of the Democratic Party.
[00:05:46]  Out with the old and in with the new.
[00:05:48]  It's the natural order of things.
[00:05:50]  Again, you can always post to our social sites and you can give us a call on the phone lines.
[00:05:54]  Let's hear from John in St. Louis, Missouri on the future of the Democratic Party for Democrats Only.
[00:05:59]  John, hello.
[00:06:01]  Hello.
[00:06:01]  I think that Democrats are going to be doing great because Donald Trump is committing the crime of the century still and Democrats are good.
[00:06:11]  Democrats have the right.
[00:06:14]  They work on the right.
[00:06:27]  Do you think after the last election, Democrats have to do things differently?
[00:06:46]  And we have to do better.
[00:06:48]  Okay.
[00:06:48]  John in St. Louis there.
[00:06:50]  This is Carolyn.
[00:06:52]  Carolyn in Ohio.
[00:06:53]  Future of the Democratic Party.
[00:06:55]  Carolyn, hello.