[RE]

A little Ray of Sunshine in the otherwise bleak political picture. 

Of course, he hasn't won yet.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/24/mamdanis-victory-would-signal-seismic-shift-in-national-politics-and-test-for-national-socialist-movement-00419686


Mamdani's victory would signal seismic shift in national politics and test for socialist movement

His website

[RE]

Wall St's gonna get a SOCIALIST Mayor!     Trumpolini's gonna go on the warpath for sure with the Big Apple.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg6yg7x467o

Left-wing Democrat stuns former governor in NY mayor primary

RE

[K-Dog]

What's up, y'all?

As you all know, Zoran had a massive victory yesterday to win the New York City Democratic primary for mayor. There's still a chance that Cuomo could try to rat him by hopping in as an independent, but the fact that Zoran won in the first round is huge—incredible, really.

I said this on my show: only one out of 32 polls had him winning in the first round. I didn't see any other polls that had him winning—just one from Public Policy Polling. All the others had him down, some by as much as eight or ten points. Nobody expected him to be ahead in the first round.

When we were live-streaming the show, we were setting up scenarios like, "Okay, if Cuomo is above six, it's probably going to be difficult for Zoran to overcome. If it's more like three or four, Zoran's down." But we never thought, "Zoran's going to win the first round."

I was also prepared for them not even starting to count the ranked-choice votes until July 1st, so I thought, "There's no way we'll know tonight." But now, he's not only won—he's probably going to increase his margin of victory, too. Definitely.

Brad Lander, who came in third, got about 11%. Zoran's campaign told us that 80 to 90% of Lander's voters ranked Zoran second. Did he end up winning by eight over Cuomo in the first round? Did that hold? Oh my god, it's just a bloodbath.

The takeaway? The old guard of the Democratic Party is running on fumes. Andrew Cuomo is a huge name in Democratic politics—despite his 50,000 scandals and taking Trump billionaire money—and it was viewed as a sure thing, like a "Cheney-type deal." But it just didn't happen. Instead, you have a young Muslim immigrant, a democratic socialist who supports Palestinians, just crushing it.

He's even said he'd arrest Netanyahu if he showed up in New York—based. That's got to be a litmus test for the Democratic Party now because, hey, it works. And it's glorious that in the U.S. city with the largest Jewish population, they thought they could run this antisemitism smear campaign, pouring in tens of millions of dollars, and it didn't work.

I'd love to see the numbers, but I wouldn't be surprised if Zoran actually won Jewish voters. All their tricks—their stereotyping of Jewish people, assuming every Jewish person's top priority must be Israel policy—completely obliterated. And that's so glorious.

I grew up in Nyack, New York, just above the city, in a very Jewish area. A lot of my friends are Jewish—my buddy Henry's Jewish—and they're fully American. Their main issue isn't Israel; they care about cost of living, childcare, and free buses. When Zoran says "freeze the rent," they're like, "Yeah, freeze the rent!"

Zoran had Jewish people working on his campaign, many Jewish supporters. Brad Lander, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in NYC, endorsed him. This caricature that all Jewish people are fully committed to the genocide in Gaza? That's bigoted and utterly disgusting.

This is important because other candidates will see that Zoran—a guy who supports BDS, calls it a genocide, and doubled down when attacked—could do this in New York City. It sends a message: the Democratic base is there. You don't need to be afraid of voters calling out this horror.

Somebody last night said, "I'm waiting for that first Trump tweet about Zoran." And today, he delivered. It's hilarious—let me read it:

"It's finally happened. The Democrats have crossed the line. Zoran Mandani, a 100% communist lunatic, has just won the primary and is on his way to becoming mayor. We've had radical lefties before, but this is getting ridiculous. He looks terrible, his voice is grating, he's not very smart. He's got AOC plus three—the Squad—all backing him. Even our 'great Palestinian Senator' Crying Chuck Schumer is groveling over him."

I wish that were the case! The envy just oozes out of this post. One upside of lefties winning is that it baits the right into showing how insane they are. They don't know how to handle principled lefties, so they just sputter, "Oh, you're ugly!" Meanwhile, the consensus is that Zoran's a good-looking dude.

Fox News put up graphics about his "terrible socialist plans"—free childcare, $30 minimum wage by 2030, free packages for newborn babies. Oh, the horror! But when you run on popular ideas, you bait them into looking ridiculous. Free buses had 80% support in NYC—that's not radical, it's mainstream.

They tried digging up old tweets about defunding the police, but his campaign was laser-focused on affordability. Concrete policies like rent freezes and free childcare resonated, so the attacks didn't land.

The meltdown has been glorious. CNBC is freaking out. Democratic leadership doesn't know what to do. Jim Cramer actually said, "He's trying to give working people a chance," and someone chimed in, "What about giving rich people a chance?" Oh my god—the narcissism!

Then Laura Loomer, Charlie Kirk, and Steven Miller went full Islamophobic. Kirk compared Zoran to 9/11, as if a Muslim mayor is somehow tied to al-Qaeda. Meanwhile, Trump's making deals with actual former al-Qaeda guys. The hypocrisy is staggering.

Miller pushed the "great replacement" theory, claiming Zoran won because of illegal immigrants. But Zoran's coalition was multiethnic, multiracial—working and middle-class people coming together in solidarity. If only white people voted, Zoran would've won by more. Miller's lies are a direct threat to his racist worldview.

It's like Obama all over again—his existence baited the right into exposing their bigotry. Now, they're calling Zoran a terrorist. Some group even said, "Jews must evacuate New York." Someone replied, "You first," and they said, "We're in Israel." I promise you, Jews are safer in NYC than in Israel right now, thanks to Netanyahu's policies.

Zoran's rise is mind-blowing. He started at 0%, and the first thing that put him on the map was that viral video where he asked New Yorkers why they voted the way they did. His content game was top-notch, his message laser-focused.

He's got the X-factor—charisma, quick on his feet. When Colbert asked him about antisemitism, he handled it masterfully, validating concerns while standing firm on Palestinian rights. At the debate, when asked what foreign country he'd visit first, he said, "I'm staying in New York." Genius.

Now, some Democrats are falling in line. Bill Clinton, who endorsed Cuomo, sent a congratulatory message. Hakeem Jeffries and Schumer are meeting with him—carefully calibrated, but they know they can't stop this.

The old guard is collapsing—literally. Schumer was hospitalized for dehydration. Meanwhile, Zoran's out here like, "Let's go!" The contrast is stark.

The Democratic base has broken from its leadership. In 2020, they could herd voters to Biden, but not anymore. Now, it's AOC, Bernie, and Zoran leading the charge. The media landscape has shifted, too—independent outlets are growing while cable news declines.

So there you go, y'all. Trump's melting down, the right's exposing their insanity, and Zoran's victory is a watershed moment. It's glorious.

[RE]

I'm waiting for Trumpolini to deport him to El Salvador.

RE

[RE]

How long before Trumpolini tries to deport Zohran?  What's the over-under?

Don't mess with the Zohran!

Trump's Threat to Jail Foes Darkens, Prompting Epic Retort from Zohran

https://newrepublic.com/article/197565/trump-threat-jail-foes-darkens-prompting-epic-retort-zohran

RE

[RE]

Cost them votes? Maybe they should consider that socialism would GAIN votes.  Perhaps people are finally fed up enough with being butt fucked by capitalist mythology they WANT a real choice for socialism out of the Demodope party instead of getting multicultural capitalism?

Of course, should he win doubtless Trumpolini will invade NYC and have him arrested as a threaat to "national security".

Civil War creeps closer by the day.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/01/democrats-fret-the-zohran-mamdani-effect-will-cost-them-next-year-00531906

Democrats fret the Zohran Mamdani effect will cost them next year

RE

[K-Dog]

Cost them votes? Maybe they should consider that socialism would GAIN votes.  Perhaps people are finally fed up enough with being butt fucked by capitalist mythology they WANT a real choice for socialism out of the Demodope party instead of getting multicultural capitalism?

Multicultural capitalism indeed you've got it right! That is what American socialism has become.

Large cities are full of small political parties, reading groups, and the like. Many of these "third-party" groups have socialist in their name. An example might be the "Podunk Revolutionary Socialists," and you can swap "Podunk" with Anchorage, Seattle, Chicago, or wherever you like. Seattle, for instance, has the "Freedom Socialist Party," which is focused almost exclusively on women's rights. It also has the "Seattle Revolutionary Socialists," whose primary concern is LGBTQ+ issues, especially trans rights, and little else.

The Socialist Alternative and some parts of the DSA have a clearer focus, but they remain confused.

Workers are the cornerstone of any genuine socialist movement. Yet workers are not the focus in American bourgeois socialism, which is now the only kind of socialism most Americans recognize. Real socialism, rooted in class struggle, has been forgotten. The days when Americans knew what socialism actually is are long gone.

American bourgeois socialism is about individual rights and multicultural identity, where anything goes and nothing matters. The myth of the middle class diluted the appeal and understanding of socialism by creating a population invested in the capitalist system. Individual prosperity took precedence over collective class struggle which is now an abandoned notion. American socialists today are mostly petite bourgeois. And the petite bourgeois, in particular the American petite bourgeois, have always been fickle allies of the working class.

They support change when it suits them, but quickly abandon change when faced with personal hardship or the lure of individual gain. Many Americans call themselves socialists, yet they worship billionaires.

It's a shame, because America has a rich history of socialism.

[RE]

Multicultural capitalism indeed you've got it right!

I thought that was a pretty apt way to describe it.    If it ever gains traction, remember you heard it here first.

The reality is that on an economic level, there is no difference  between the Reps & Dems.  Both parties are captured by the moneyed class and the international banking cartel.  The only differences are in the social issues on race and gender relations.  The Dems consistently lose because their policies and platform there don't reflect how most people feel about these issues, and they don't address the true cause of discrimination, which are economic.  Until there is a true Democratic Socialist alternative that is national, you can't bring all the people unhappy with the status quo under one banner.

Hopefully, Zohran's success will be the beginning of such a national organization.

RE

[TDoS]

Hopefully, Zohran's success will be the beginning of such a national organization.
RE

So "success" is getting a Bachelors degree in studying ones ancestral heritage, worked in hip hop and counseled people in...housing (is that a realtor?)....before he began his political career ie Kissing babies, telling lies and making promises he can't keep and...became a Democratic nominee.....not ELECTED mind you...just a nominee. Like....prm queen in high school...except with more votes involved.

So....have social definitions of "success" changed since us...aging like wine senior citizens.....were younger?

[K-Dog]

Being nominated for mayor in NYC is not a 'success' why.  I have not done that, and neither have you.

[TDoS]

Being nominated for mayor in NYC is not a 'success' why.  I have not done that, and neither have you.

Well, because being elected is a popularity contest....as opposed to a "success" contest. Now, he has won another election, New York State Assembly? So he started off as like...a local prom queen popularity winner. Success? Knowing the qualities of a prom queen or two in high school....eh.

And true, neither of us have been nominated for Mayor. Neither of us were born in Uganda. Neither of us picked a college degree in our ancestral history as opposed to technical fields. Both of us had careers in our speciality.  Both of us did well financially in our careers, achieving signifcant net worth. I might call that a success.

If he had already won the election than that would be a political success. What does that mean though? That kissing babies, telling lies and making promises one can't keep though is something we should all aspire to? 

[K-Dog]

Marx said, one thing he knew for sure was that he is not a Marxist.  Jesus knew he was not a Christian too.  Jesus had different values.  Jesus died on a cross.  He did not wear one around his neck.

Chris Hedges says that he is not a Marxist.  When I heard that the first thing that went through my mind was -- "don't be so chickenshit" --, which instantly made no sense.  Chris takes risks.  Lots of them.  Listening to him more, I get it over my nonsense and agree.

Marx new to base his analysis in real material conditions, but he was an idealist in his own way.

The state can't wither away,  it must exist in an appropriate form of power, existing to restrain inappropriate bourgeois power.  Men like Donald Trump will always come along with their elite bourgeois perversions of state power.  They must be restrained.

If the state withers away, evil fills the vacuum.  This is what happened in America.  The state withered away by discarding its social function, transmuting itself into an arm of rich and powerful business interests shrinking to an elite core.  Now evil fills the vacuum.  The state is a tool of class rule, but it is also an essential protector against anarchy and individual predation.  Angry people forget this, and only see one side of the coin.  The very abuses of power that Marx sought to eliminate demands an enduring, organized political power.