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senseandsensibility

(24,205 posts)
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:59 PM Apr 2025

Confession from Cory Booker today

Part of his 22 hour and counting speech: "I confess that I have been imperfect. I confess that I've been inadequate to the moment. I confess that the Democratic Party has made terrible mistakes that gave a lane to this demagogue. I confess we all must look in the mirror and say 'we will do better.' "


Self-reflection and critique of the party as a whole is not disloyalty. I see a change here. I hope it's contagious.

52 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Confession from Cory Booker today (Original Post) senseandsensibility Apr 2025 OP
"the Democratic Party has made terrible mistakes" SharonClark Apr 2025 #1
I have to admit senseandsensibility Apr 2025 #2
Not prosecuting TSF while we had the chance was terrible. milestogo Apr 2025 #7
So was "looking forward, not back" and letting BushCheneyCo skate FoxNewsSucks Apr 2025 #22
I don't understand why they don't learn this. Dark n Stormy Knight Apr 2025 #47
I know. FoxNewsSucks Apr 2025 #52
Not a bad adjective. lees1975 Apr 2025 #43
Its not a matter of comparison quakerboy Apr 2025 #45
I agree with a lot of your points senseandsensibility Apr 2025 #46
Sleep deprivation orangecrush Apr 2025 #6
He's not the only Dem coming out & saying we made mistakes SunImp Apr 2025 #14
Agree. I don't get why some folks writerJT Apr 2025 #26
I was up at 2AM True Blue American Apr 2025 #35
Cool! orangecrush Apr 2025 #36
GOOD one, orangecrush! calimary Apr 2025 #49
Thanks orangecrush Apr 2025 #50
Of course the Republicans are worse Cirsium Apr 2025 #13
Do R's make mistakes? I think they act with intent. The actions may be clearly wrong to us but not to them Iris Apr 2025 #34
What do we attribute denialism and censorship to? Renew Deal Apr 2025 #42
Yes, I think that was quite an overstatement PatSeg Apr 2025 #48
Was the mistake not fighting back hard enough? Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #3
IMO senseandsensibility Apr 2025 #4
Will the critics ever be satisfied? wryter2000 Apr 2025 #10
The critics will only be silenced if we win the war being waged against us. Irish_Dem Apr 2025 #12
Personally, I'd be willing to be mostly silent if I even saw the effort Bluetus Apr 2025 #27
Booker was strategic with his time Random Boomer Apr 2025 #32
Booker had perfect timing! True Blue American Apr 2025 #38
That's the thing about critics. They live to criticize. TomSlick Apr 2025 #16
I admire anyone willing to do BlueKota Apr 2025 #20
Newsome is saying the exact opposite BlueKota Apr 2025 #18
Because the answer lies to the LEFT of "centrist" "moderate" FoxNewsSucks Apr 2025 #23
IMHO too BlueKota Apr 2025 #17
Bravo orangecrush Apr 2025 #5
Self reflection.is fine wryter2000 Apr 2025 #8
Contagious but not wallowing... lame54 Apr 2025 #9
Guy's a damn HERO! Joinfortmill Apr 2025 #11
We made mistakes by trusting the Republicans to be patriots. tavernier Apr 2025 #15
Yes. And that is a possibly fatal mistake. Bluetus Apr 2025 #25
I'm so proud of that guy! God bless you, Cory Booker! patphil Apr 2025 #19
Booker was freaking amazing. I think it was fine and true he said this. LymphocyteLover Apr 2025 #21
That's exactly what we need to hear Bluetus Apr 2025 #24
I hope the looking in the mirror that the rest of the party does includes the RockRaven Apr 2025 #28
Cory Booker is my Democratic Party HERO Today--- Jack Valentino Apr 2025 #29
I confess.... TRUMP DID IT Blue Owl Apr 2025 #30
The biggest mistake was not locking tRump up ecstatic Apr 2025 #31
A perfect time to admit mistakes, and imply that we are determined to learn from them DFW Apr 2025 #33
Beautifully put! In other words, "The buck stop here." Compare that to Rump's "The buck stops HERE--in my pocket!" LaMouffette Apr 2025 #37
What do we need to change? True Blue American Apr 2025 #39
A mantra I live by.... Happy Hoosier Apr 2025 #40
Well, that's certainly the way of the donald. calimary Apr 2025 #44
I hope Chuck Schumer +9 paid attention. Emile Apr 2025 #41
oh my god...he admitted stillcool Apr 2025 #51

SharonClark

(10,497 posts)
1. "the Democratic Party has made terrible mistakes"
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 05:05 PM
Apr 2025

In light of what the Republican Party has done the last 20-30 years, I hope we can attribute Booker’s statement to sleep deprivation.

senseandsensibility

(24,205 posts)
2. I have to admit
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 05:07 PM
Apr 2025

that I wish he'd left out "terrible". Whatever mistakes we've made pale in comparison to the R's.

FoxNewsSucks

(11,486 posts)
22. So was "looking forward, not back" and letting BushCheneyCo skate
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 08:17 PM
Apr 2025

from their crimes.

They laugh at our compassion and niceness. Then they exploit it to do worse.

Dark n Stormy Knight

(10,480 posts)
47. I don't understand why they don't learn this.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 02:40 PM
Apr 2025

Must be something specific I don't know or worse that they don't want us to know.

Fight for our country with everything you've got elected Democrats! Be creative! Be brave!

FoxNewsSucks

(11,486 posts)
52. I know.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 08:46 PM
Apr 2025

Especially those old enough to remember the 60's & 70's. I get not realizing what we were seeing at the time, but in hindsight it couldn't be more clear.

lees1975

(6,892 posts)
43. Not a bad adjective.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 11:02 AM
Apr 2025

We failed to get Trump to trial for insurrection for four years. That is a terrible mistake, any way you look at it.

I also think that when we had the chance to pack this damn court, we should have broken the filibuster in the senate and done it. That is the key to the passage of legislation and having it ruled constitutional that prevents criminals from running for office. It would have also prevented the ridiculous immunity ruling, and it would have saved Roe.

But we have a renegade in the White House because he was not, for four long years, ever held accountable for absconding with classified documents related to national security and was not held accountable for inciting an insurrection against the people of the United States. That's terrible.

quakerboy

(14,699 posts)
45. Its not a matter of comparison
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 12:59 PM
Apr 2025

If it is, we are lost. Being just enough better than the worst isn't what its about. Its about being the best we can be.

And looking at history.. There are plenty of folk alive, probably even a number here, who remember when (D) and Klan were largely overlapping. Most of us understand that times have changed and that it is radically not the same now, but that is still part of our history. The filibuster record that Booker was breaking.. was that of a Democrat trying to prevent the passage of civil rights. Democrats have done terrible things. We need to learn from those things, not ignore them.

senseandsensibility

(24,205 posts)
46. I agree with a lot of your points
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 01:47 PM
Apr 2025

But I guess my response would be that in that case, I wish he would have been specific about what was "terrible". Leaving it open like that just sets us up for people interpreting it through their own lens. And many will see it as confirming RW talking points, like the Dems are too politically correct, don't care about the working class, or whatever.

SunImp

(2,607 posts)
14. He's not the only Dem coming out & saying we made mistakes
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:48 PM
Apr 2025

I really admire their honesty instead of getting hysterical and going nuh uh nu uh Stop bashing Democrats

writerJT

(467 posts)
26. Agree. I don't get why some folks
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 09:29 PM
Apr 2025

insist on not being critical and introspective of our collective movement. Sometimes it almost sounds like blind loyalty. Whatever the case, it’s a recipe for sure disaster.

True Blue American

(18,579 posts)
35. I was up at 2AM
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:20 AM
Apr 2025

Decided to work. Accomplished a great deal. But then thought I am going to bed early.
Then came Cory. Knew I had to be in the pool at 6 AM. But could not sleep. Woke again at 2, there was Cory being interviewed by all the hosts on MSNBC.

I AM WAY OLDER THAN Cory but have a new fill of energy this morning. Then to read the Wall Street Journal headline, MAGA BACK LASH ARRIVES I AM FIRED UP,READY TO GO!🖐️🙏🏆

Cirsium

(3,303 posts)
13. Of course the Republicans are worse
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:39 PM
Apr 2025

Arsonists are worse than fire fighters. Nevertheless, when the fires are burning out of control, we look to ourselves, the fire fighters, to step up our game. Booker is stepping up his game and leading the way.

Job one for us is to stop from happening exactly what is in fact happening right now - an authoritarian takeover. Nothing else matters. There have been many squandered opportunities, much denial, many compromises and surrenders.

"Better than the Republicans" is not sufficient.

Ther is absolutely nothing wrong with each and every one of us asking ourselves and each other what we could have done better or done differently to prevent this nightmare.

"Self-reflection and critique of the party as a whole is not disloyalty."

Iris

(16,830 posts)
34. Do R's make mistakes? I think they act with intent. The actions may be clearly wrong to us but not to them
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 06:55 AM
Apr 2025

PatSeg

(51,975 posts)
48. Yes, I think that was quite an overstatement
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 03:29 PM
Apr 2025

Like any political party, Democrats of course have made mistakes, but in recent years, I believe most of them have been far better than most could have hoped for.

My main criticism would be the times when they fought amongst themselves when there were serious threats from the opposition to address. I don't expect them to march lockstep with one another like republicans tend to do, but a little more loyalty and support for other Democrats would make a huge difference. Right now the problems with republicans, MAGATS, and the Trump administration far outweigh any problems within the party.

Irish_Dem

(79,410 posts)
3. Was the mistake not fighting back hard enough?
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 05:08 PM
Apr 2025

Letting ruthless sociopaths call all the shots?
While Dems played nice.

wryter2000

(47,940 posts)
10. Will the critics ever be satisfied?
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:20 PM
Apr 2025

Why not join up with Gavin Newsom if the Dems are so pathetic?

Irish_Dem

(79,410 posts)
12. The critics will only be silenced if we win the war being waged against us.
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:38 PM
Apr 2025

And we restore our democracy.

Bluetus

(2,198 posts)
27. Personally, I'd be willing to be mostly silent if I even saw the effort
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 09:29 PM
Apr 2025

I am ambivalent about how useful Booker's performance was, but dammit, it beats the hell out of just sitting around accepting everything Trump is doing without even the slightest objection from us.

We are in deep trouble. We are on the edge of losing our democracy. Those who think that is hyperbole (which seems to include many here and many in the Beltway) are letting the country down, IMHO. At this stage, the odds of saving the democracy are not very good. All I want is to see Dems -- not just Booker, Warren, Murphy, AOC and a few others -- ALL Dems entering the fight with a level of seriousness and passion that matches the moment. We have huge rallies coming up Saturday. This is a time for every Dem to follow Booker's lead and fight like hell.

Random Boomer

(4,377 posts)
32. Booker was strategic with his time
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 01:43 AM
Apr 2025

Everything he said is going in the Congressional record, and it was all about Trump and the terrible effect his policies are having on the American public. The sins of the GOP are now immortalized.

True Blue American

(18,579 posts)
38. Booker had perfect timing!
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:37 AM
Apr 2025

Schumer was off with his book considering what is happening now.
And I do not believe those million dollar checks.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-04-01/steve-kornacki-exits-msnbc-lands-new-deal-with-nbc-news-and-nbc-sports

Who cares. Steve was as boresome as an old shoe! I finished a chore when he came on.
Funny howp

TomSlick

(12,869 posts)
16. That's the thing about critics. They live to criticize.
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:59 PM
Apr 2025

I am grateful for honest reflection.

Sen. Booker is a hero.

BlueKota

(5,034 posts)
20. I admire anyone willing to do
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 07:29 PM
Apr 2025

whatever they can to stand up to try and stop the Magats and it seems like Senator Booker is trying to do that.

The only Democrats I have issues with are ones who are remaining silent, or the ones like Newsome who thinks we should be more understanding of the facists. Anyone who thinks that needs to go read books, and watch documentaries about the death camps like Aushcwitz, and what Hitler and Stalin did to terrorize innocent people. I will never believe their modern day counter parts have anything to offer that is positive for human kind.

BlueKota

(5,034 posts)
18. Newsome is saying the exact opposite
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 07:07 PM
Apr 2025

He thinks we should continue trying to placate Magats which in my opinion is what got us in this mess.

Democratic policies are better. They just need to stand up to the bullies instead of thinking they can appeal to their better side of their natures. Facists don't have a better side. If they did they wouldn't back tsf.

FoxNewsSucks

(11,486 posts)
23. Because the answer lies to the LEFT of "centrist" "moderate"
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 08:19 PM
Apr 2025

"conservadem" "establishment" etc. NOT with them.

BlueKota

(5,034 posts)
17. IMHO too
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 07:03 PM
Apr 2025

100 percent yes. It became completely obvious a long time ago that magats weren't going to play by the rules, and yet Democrats continued to insist we had too, and that we had to be bipartisan.

Look where that got us. More need to be spelling it out directly to the people. Cheers to all those Democrats hitting the road to make it clear that this isn't politics as usual, but a veritable fight for the safety of the world from deranged facists.

wryter2000

(47,940 posts)
8. Self reflection.is fine
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:17 PM
Apr 2025

Constant harping how disappointing the party out of power is is self-destructive.

Bluetus

(2,198 posts)
25. Yes. And that is a possibly fatal mistake.
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 09:22 PM
Apr 2025

Those who have made that mistake should not be leading us now.

Bluetus

(2,198 posts)
24. That's exactly what we need to hear
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 09:21 PM
Apr 2025

Nobody expects perfection. We all make mistakes. We must, however, learn from them. The biggest sin is to keep making those same mistakes year after year.

We must change, and change quickly. There is not much time left. And some of those changes cannot possibly happen with the current leadership. There are only a few national Democrats I suspect are really bad people, sold out beyond redemption. I think most are people who really love the country and want our democracy to succeed. But those who have presided over this long decline really must step aside now.

RockRaven

(18,628 posts)
28. I hope the looking in the mirror that the rest of the party does includes the
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 09:36 PM
Apr 2025

widespread realization/acceptance that "continued neoliberalism, but competent management" is going to be a losing strategy/argument in future elections just like it has been in many recent ones.

Jack Valentino

(4,261 posts)
29. Cory Booker is my Democratic Party HERO Today---
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 09:43 PM
Apr 2025

(joining AOC and Bernie Sanders and maybe some others that I can count on one hand)


YEAH, I hope it's contagious too!

ecstatic

(35,003 posts)
31. The biggest mistake was not locking tRump up
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 10:03 PM
Apr 2025

Sorry that's the one mistake that will be very hard for me to get past. One job!

DFW

(59,689 posts)
33. A perfect time to admit mistakes, and imply that we are determined to learn from them
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 02:56 AM
Apr 2025

The Republicans are making one disastrous mistake after another, and claiming they are operating with papal infallibility. In a time when the country is starting to realize its colossal mistake, and feel the effects of that disastrous mistake. nothing could present a better contrast.

The country did OK under Biden and the Democrats. We have jumped into a massive sink hole on top of a sewage treatment plant in just two months of solid Republican rule. It is exactly the right time to admit that we are fallible, because the Biden years will look ever better compared to the destructive Republicans, who conspicuously claim they are doing everything right. Cripple our education, health ministry, defense capability, foreign trade, and threaten to attack and annex other countries, two of whom are our closest allies? Fox Noise may be able to spin that for some people, but at some point, every starving man will eventually realize that he is hungry. Remember that Bush Lite couldn't remember one thing he had done wrong. Remember also, that the 2008 general election was one of the worst for the Republicans since FDR.

LaMouffette

(2,564 posts)
37. Beautifully put! In other words, "The buck stop here." Compare that to Rump's "The buck stops HERE--in my pocket!"
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:30 AM
Apr 2025

Rump will never utter a word of apology or remorse for the hellscape he has in the past and currently is creating here and around the world, including the people who have DIED as a consequence of his actions, from the pandemic deaths to the impending deaths of untold numbers of people here and abroad.

Thank you, Senator Booker, for showing us what a real president looks, speaks, and acts like!

True Blue American

(18,579 posts)
39. What do we need to change?
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:43 AM
Apr 2025

The corruption of the right, trying to change the past and take us back 100 years?
No, we need to keep speaking out like Cory and the Senate Democrats did last night!
The wind is changing, let it blow! Clean House!

Happy Hoosier

(9,385 posts)
40. A mantra I live by....
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 09:28 AM
Apr 2025

... as someone who has made SO MANY mistakes:

"You quality is not determined by never making mistakes, but rather how you respond when you DO make a mistake."

One thing the MAGAts can never do is admit they were wroing about anything. Ever.

calimary

(88,863 posts)
44. Well, that's certainly the way of the donald.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 12:20 PM
Apr 2025

Last edited Wed Apr 2, 2025, 01:41 PM - Edit history (1)

… the way that leads directly to Hell.

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