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Bill Kristol announcement: (Original Post) Kingofalldems May 15 OP
Will wonders never cease? greatauntoftriplets May 15 #1
Pigs fly today BlueWaveNeverEnd May 16 #19
I guess that's one big Tent then!! Ars Longa May 16 #102
What the hell?.................... Lovie777 May 15 #2
Hope that SOB is in prison soon chicoescuela May 15 #3
A major problem is that the Israeli opposition is so fractured DavidDvorkin May 15 #4
Post removed Post removed May 16 #34
What does this have to do with Bill Kristol? yardwork May 16 #89
Did you post this because Kristol is Jewish? yardwork May 16 #97
Sod Off Kristol...",,Kristol is credited with launching Palin's career." irisblue May 15 #5
I seem to have missed his apology for all the shitty things FoxNewsSucks May 15 #6
and he's still saying them but just "constructive criticism" mountain grammy May 16 #91
What? Ya don't like comedy. Alcohol fueled, hockey mom was the funniest thing to come along in years. m 3Hotdogs May 16 #16
Her qualifications for VP: "I can see Russia from my house." (SNL made it her kitchen). CTyankee May 16 #61
Welcome to the big tent.... reACTIONary May 15 #7
Bill Kristol is just like Charlie Sykes. Dr. T May 15 #8
Just another rat jumping a sinking ship. wnylib May 16 #78
Your Antifa membership card is in the mail, Bill. LudwigPastorius May 15 #9
Holy fuck swong19104 May 15 #10
Good. betsuni May 15 #11
"former Republicans know that the problem is Republicans and don't waste time nitpicking Democrats." Wiz Imp May 16 #14
Yes, I like your important point.. and just Cha May 16 #20
Hard agree. ShazzieB May 16 #94
Hey, anybody here remember the Clinton health care plan? He helped niyad May 15 #12
Yep. He and those of his ilk Susan Calvin May 16 #55
Yes, but maybe focus on the WHY he says he's now a Democrat RandomNumbers May 16 #66
I blame him for getting us to this point ... aggiesal May 15 #13
30-40 years too late and a lifetime of damage he helped create JHB May 16 #15
It's beginning to look as though not fooled May 16 #31
That's symptomatic of all Repuglicans. Dr. T May 16 #49
And/or if he starts to advocate for policies he once tried to kill. cab67 May 16 #90
Uhm WOW ... live love laugh May 16 #17
It's Never Too Late. Welcome to the Cha May 16 #18
Let him prove his worth before giving him welcomes JHB May 16 #24
Oh sorry... I'm welcoming him now. Cha May 16 #28
Love ya Cha, but our points of view diverge on this JHB May 16 #36
Backatcha, JHB. As Zambero pointed out Cha May 16 #37
I agree. If he "relapses" we can always kick him out... CTyankee May 16 #64
Also: enough of these defections can create an avalanche in the GOP nt lostnfound May 17 #110
Look! We need all the help we can get. broiles May 16 #58
I don't know why people are upset. He's not running for office, has no influence on the party and policy. betsuni May 16 #62
Right? People can change .. look at Cha May 16 #104
Full circle. Dem, Rep, Ind, Dem phxjurist May 16 #21
Kristol was a never-Trumper from the get-go Zambero May 16 #22
Mahalo, Zambero! Cha May 16 #29
And he was only a Republican on the whole wars for freedom bs JI7 May 16 #32
I repeat. The Clinton Health Care program. PNAC. And those just off niyad May 16 #77
And he was only a Republican on the whole wars for freedom bs JI7 May 16 #33
i read his articles in my local newspaper, and you're right. JohnnyRingo May 16 #48
THIS orangecrush May 16 #67
Not me Cirsium May 16 #23
Kristol never supported Trump or MAGA. Random Boomer May 16 #65
OK Cirsium May 16 #79
You're reading way too much into my comment Random Boomer May 18 #116
He is not a liberal, he just realizes what a mess we are in these days. Pompoy May 16 #25
He has always opposed Trump. He was never MAGA JI7 May 16 #30
*sigh*....... RockRaven May 16 #26
Perhaps... tavernier May 16 #57
I'll believe it when Trump delivers him plutonium pizzas. usonian May 16 #27
Look at that makeup! calimary May 16 #103
He doesn't care. Because his cult doesn't care. It might, in fact, be a fetish with them, like a golden calf. usonian May 16 #108
As any reasonable AMERICAN would now be, who has two brain cells Jack Valentino May 16 #35
This is what has to happen for the Republican party to be no more. Buddyzbuddy May 16 #38
He was "independent" from 2021 to yesterday. He was registered niyad May 16 #83
This message was self-deleted by its author Buddyzbuddy May 16 #39
Mr PNAC himself, aye? Ruby the Liberal May 16 #40
And are you pro-choice? milestogo May 16 #41
I'm seeing some signs that he now is Renew Deal May 16 #43
This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m May 16 #45
I'm not commenting on the rightness or wrongness of it Renew Deal May 16 #46
Wow. Not sure I expected that. Renew Deal May 16 #42
Neoconservative Neoliberal Soul_of_Wit May 16 #75
Limited govt, pro freedom, no mention of climate change jfz9580m May 16 #44
It's weird to judge when you don't know the answer. Renew Deal May 16 #47
Good ol' Bloody Kristal... fuck off. BradBo May 16 #50
If Bill Kristol had any honor he would go out to his garage and start his car and let it run without Botany May 16 #51
+1 leftstreet May 16 #56
All the things he said Democrats were against mountain grammy May 16 #93
We need all the support we can get BillJoeBobBeauregard May 16 #52
Is the Democratic tent that "big"? kentuck May 16 #53
Ha! Hell Hath Almost Frozen Over. Joinfortmill May 16 #54
Well, At Least He Didn't Equivocate And Turn "Independent." ColoringFool May 16 #59
He was listed as independent from 2021 to yesterday. niyad May 16 #82
Fine. But Today Is Today, Is It Not? Meanwhile, We Heap Praise On Liz Cheney.... ColoringFool May 16 #96
This message was self-deleted by its author niyad May 16 #98
Today does not exist in a vacuum, and I have a fairly decent, and niyad May 16 #99
Weren't you going... czarjak May 16 #60
If Franklin Roosevelt could work with Joesph Stalin... NNadir May 16 #63
Wow! City Lights May 16 #68
The World Turned Upside Down obamanut2012 May 16 #69
In the words of Elaine, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE.......Ok, if this is true.......Hell HAS FROZRN OVER. a kennedy May 16 #70
Democrat now? Belief? 3825-87867 May 16 #71
Regarding Government, Democrats believe Glaisne May 16 #72
The world turned upside down. Tommy Carcetti May 16 #73
They're ice skating in hell right now. SergeStorms May 16 #74
Ugh. After helping to wreck democracy, now he's sorry? yardwork May 16 #76
Call me skeptical of anything Mr. PNAC says. Ritabert May 16 #80
The Democratic Party is now the conservative party Soul_of_Wit May 16 #81
. MorbidButterflyTat May 16 #84
I don't give a shit. I guarantee Kristal would never support the democratic policies I want in the Dem platform. Nanjeanne May 16 #85
Like "pro-choice", "pro-19A", etc., etc., niyad May 16 #87
Not sure what policies are considered "etc. etc." As I said I want more than those 3 policies he already mentioned. Nanjeanne May 16 #109
Would Democrats support those policies? Renew Deal May 17 #113
kick Dawson Leery May 16 #86
It takes alliances in politics sometimes, doesn't mean I trust him beyond the alliance themaguffin May 16 #88
Democrats are advocates of limited government. J_William_Ryan May 16 #92
Kristol may say that, but what really has happened is his party can no longer legitimately call themselves GoodRaisin May 16 #106
Smarmy weasel. ZZenith May 16 #95
Forgive me if I am highly skeptical. mwmisses4289 May 16 #100
To paraphrase The Politics Bar MurrayDelph May 16 #101
Perhaps this portends a political realignment of Deminpenn May 16 #105
Isn't Bill Kristol always wrong? Festivito May 16 #107
Historically the neocons started out as dems... WarGamer May 17 #111
What does he mean? "so just-for today" or "so starting today" QueerDuck May 17 #112
I've become a regular listener of Bill Kristol. Which initially felt SO WRONG. Maru Kitteh May 17 #114
I believe nuance is needed here TVguyCards May 17 #115

Lovie777

(23,816 posts)
2. What the hell?....................
Fri May 15, 2026, 10:46 PM
May 15

I saw a poll about Bibi, it's amazing that his approval is at 38%, basically the same as shithole. In Israel, Bibi's party is in trouble.

DavidDvorkin

(20,694 posts)
4. A major problem is that the Israeli opposition is so fractured
Fri May 15, 2026, 10:56 PM
May 15

A strong, unified party would be in a good position to take over after the upcoming election.

Response to Lovie777 (Reply #2)

yardwork

(69,697 posts)
97. Did you post this because Kristol is Jewish?
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:44 PM
May 16

You've been asked why you posted this comment in a thread about Bill Kristol announcing that he's now a Democrat.

Thirteen other DUers so far gave this post a big thumbs up so they seem to know what you're getting at here.

Please enlighten the rest of us.

FoxNewsSucks

(11,954 posts)
6. I seem to have missed his apology for all the shitty things
Fri May 15, 2026, 11:10 PM
May 15

he said about Dems previously, and I didn't see his acknowledgement that he was wrong.

So if he helps us, great. But like MTG, I'll believe they're sincere when they show sorrow and contrition for what they have done.

mountain grammy

(29,250 posts)
91. and he's still saying them but just "constructive criticism"
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:01 PM
May 16

Of course he has advice, but enough already. Still, I'm glad to see him turn away from republicans.

3Hotdogs

(15,577 posts)
16. What? Ya don't like comedy. Alcohol fueled, hockey mom was the funniest thing to come along in years. m
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:16 AM
May 16

--- gave the. Republican Party a good, hard bite in the ass.

CTyankee

(68,515 posts)
61. Her qualifications for VP: "I can see Russia from my house." (SNL made it her kitchen).
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:21 AM
May 16

Dr. T

(731 posts)
8. Bill Kristol is just like Charlie Sykes.
Fri May 15, 2026, 11:20 PM
May 15

He helped create the fertile conditions from which Dimwit Donnie emerged. He helped create the monster that he now disavows.

F**k Bill Kristol. Choke on it, bitch.

LudwigPastorius

(15,049 posts)
9. Your Antifa membership card is in the mail, Bill.
Fri May 15, 2026, 11:21 PM
May 15

When you receive it, sign it and keep it in a safe place.

betsuni

(29,324 posts)
11. Good.
Fri May 15, 2026, 11:32 PM
May 15

I like The Bulwark, watch it all the time, because former Republicans know that the problem is Republicans and don't waste time nitpicking Democrats.

Supported and voted for Democrats in the last two elections and never lies about Democrats supposedly ignoring the working class and being bribed by billionaires and oligarchs -- that shit doesn't come from Never Trumpers who actually want and work for Republicans to lose.

Wiz Imp

(10,497 posts)
14. "former Republicans know that the problem is Republicans and don't waste time nitpicking Democrats."
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:10 AM
May 16

Excellent point and very true!

Cha

(320,824 posts)
20. Yes, I like your important point.. and just
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:24 AM
May 16

who does lie about Dems "not supporting the working class"?

Yeah, I wonder.

Mahalo, betsuni

ShazzieB

(22,924 posts)
94. Hard agree.
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:33 PM
May 16

I like the Bulwark, too. They are working as hard as anyone to expose Trump's uinfitness. I say more power to them!

niyad

(134,162 posts)
12. Hey, anybody here remember the Clinton health care plan? He helped
Fri May 15, 2026, 11:39 PM
May 15

stop it. PNAC?? He created it.

What has he done, or is planning to do, to make amends for the havoc he helped create?

Susan Calvin

(2,472 posts)
55. Yep. He and those of his ilk
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:39 AM
May 16

Appear to think they can just jump right in as if nothing happened. I'm with the person up thread who said vote blue and leave it at that, bud.

RandomNumbers

(19,267 posts)
66. Yes, but maybe focus on the WHY he says he's now a Democrat
Sat May 16, 2026, 11:24 AM
May 16

We don't have to give a shit about him as a person, given his history.

Note that all the reasons he says he switched to be a Democrat, are reasons the Rethug / MAGAT party give as things Democrats don't support.

Kristol's declaration should be thrown in the faces of those Rethugs and MAGATs.

And as long as he votes Blue and writes in support of Democrats ... it may not repay all his past harm ... but I'll take every step forward he makes and be glad for it.

aggiesal

(10,924 posts)
13. I blame him for getting us to this point ...
Fri May 15, 2026, 11:44 PM
May 15

He was an architect to this mess during GW McIdiot's time & anti-O'bama during his administration.
Not going to get any pity from me.

JHB

(38,348 posts)
15. 30-40 years too late and a lifetime of damage he helped create
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:11 AM
May 16

He's one of the many right-wingers/"conservatives" who built the road to Trump, he brings no one with him, and by calling himself our name he diminishes us.

If he's willing to make phone calls to voters or send postcards, fine. But his opinion on anything weightier than the best fishing spot in his favorite stream is worthless.

I'll change my opinion if he provides dirt on people, telling what skeletons are in whose closets, and where bodies are buried. Otherwise he's just grifting for a new income stream.

not fooled

(6,779 posts)
31. It's beginning to look as though
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:10 AM
May 16

none of these former (perhaps) assh*les thought through to the logical conclusion of what their actions and policies would create.

Dr. T

(731 posts)
49. That's symptomatic of all Repuglicans.
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:22 AM
May 16

Knee-jerk reactions rarely produce the desired result but they always go with it anyway. They don't possess the ability to think three steps ahead so they f**k around and find out later.

Cha

(320,824 posts)
18. It's Never Too Late. Welcome to the
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:18 AM
May 16

Actual Democratic Freedom Party, Bill Kristol..

Thank You!

JHB

(38,348 posts)
24. Let him prove his worth before giving him welcomes
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:53 AM
May 16

He's akin to Liz Cheney: embracing him is more likely to cost us votes than gain any.

Cha

(320,824 posts)
28. Oh sorry... I'm welcoming him now.
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:01 AM
May 16

I've read his call-outs to fascists for a while now.

JHB

(38,348 posts)
36. Love ya Cha, but our points of view diverge on this
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:21 AM
May 16

As far as I'm concerned, the only way he can reverse the damage he's spent his entire adult life contributing to is to pony up with dirt on his once-fellow Republicans and to go all-out in destroying careers. To get off the fence and expose things that will make his old friends hate him. It's not as if he was a peripheral figure--he was a major conservative political operator (and publisher of right-wing political media) for decades. The people who made up his old income stream won't have him, so he needs a new one. Will the number of voters his switch brings to the Democrats fill a school bus? And will his advertising himself as Democrat cost us more?

He's poisonous and self-serving, and needs to hand over tangible benefits before getting kudos for serving himself.

Cha

(320,824 posts)
37. Backatcha, JHB. As Zambero pointed out
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:49 AM
May 16

Kristol has always been a Never trumper.

And, I believe people can evolve over time.

I'm not going to turn away sincere people from our party.

There should be many others wanting to do the same thing, with or without mgaphones.

We have a whole Nation to win over to Shut Down The Nazis.

betsuni

(29,324 posts)
62. I don't know why people are upset. He's not running for office, has no influence on the party and policy.
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:32 AM
May 16

Never Trumpers are working to elect Democrats now, right now. Meeting the moment. Standing up to Republicans. Fighting for democracy. Jeez, has everyone forgotten how to use people to accomplish a goal? The Democratic Party doesn't have to marry Bill Kristol.

Cha

(320,824 posts)
104. Right? People can change .. look at
Sat May 16, 2026, 06:30 PM
May 16

Graham Planter... So many are willing to forget his past.

Kristol was always a Never Trumper, and now he's a Democrat. We Do need all the help we can get.



Zambero

(10,031 posts)
22. Kristol was a never-Trumper from the get-go
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:37 AM
May 16

So I would tend to accept his credentials as a Democrat over someone like Fetterman, who seems to be moving in the opposite direction.

 

JI7

(93,908 posts)
32. And he was only a Republican on the whole wars for freedom bs
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:11 AM
May 16

He wasn't conservative on any other issue.

niyad

(134,162 posts)
77. I repeat. The Clinton Health Care program. PNAC. And those just off
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:47 PM
May 16

the top of my head.

 

JI7

(93,908 posts)
33. And he was only a Republican on the whole wars for freedom bs
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:11 AM
May 16

He wasn't conservative on any other issue.

JohnnyRingo

(21,014 posts)
48. i read his articles in my local newspaper, and you're right.
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:05 AM
May 16

I think he feels Trump is guiding the party into far right territory once reserved for White Nationalists, The Klan, and the religious fanatics.

Reagan is long dead to republicans.

Cirsium

(4,123 posts)
23. Not me
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:50 AM
May 16

I can understand the urge to flee a sinking ship, but I can't forget decades of bullshit from people like him, the nonsense from them that caused this catastrophe.

As soon as the ship is out of danger, they will all be right back to their old tricks. We have let them up easy too many times. Every time we "look forward" and forgive, they abuse us again. Not this time.

Random Boomer

(4,417 posts)
65. Kristol never supported Trump or MAGA.
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:43 AM
May 16

No matter how much I disagree with Kristol on so many issues, we both value the bedrock principles of this country back when it was a democracy: rule-of-law, checks and balances of power, and adherence to the constitution.

He's not "jumping ship" from the current administration. Kristol parted ways with the Republican party when Trump came to power and he's been a vocal critic of Trump & MAGA ever since.

The entire Bulwark team of ex-Republicans is working as hard as they can to counter Trump. Their voices reach an audience that is more resistant to Democratic messaging.

Cirsium

(4,123 posts)
79. OK
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:51 PM
May 16

We demand more of each other than we ask of these various conservatives, yet another example of how unlevel the playing field is. Hardly a day goes by without progressives getting bashed, but monstrous conservatives are welcomed into the tent on the slimmest of pretexts. He doesn't like Trump. Whoop dee doo.

The entire Bulwark team of conservatives is working as hard as they can to distance themselves from Trump. Their voices do not reach any audience that is resistant to Democratic messaging. Their voices reach an audience that is resistant to Trump's style of conservative messaging.

Random Boomer

(4,417 posts)
116. You're reading way too much into my comment
Mon May 18, 2026, 11:15 AM
May 18

You're attributing so many things I didn't say to what I posted.

Bill Kristol -- whatever he may say -- is not Democratic material. He's an old entitled white man who hasn't shed any of his Republican perspective even though he's left the Republican party. Maybe he's trying, but he routinely says things that make me want to throw things at my computer screen, and I avoid him most of the time to save myself the rage episode.

The same can't be said for other members of the Bulwark team. The events of the last 10 years have had a much more fundamental effect on them than just leaving the GOP. Like Nicole Wallace, they've re-evaluated their politics from the ground up and changed their perspective, not just the label they attach to themselves.

Pompoy

(270 posts)
25. He is not a liberal, he just realizes what a mess we are in these days.
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:57 AM
May 16

He understands that in order to survive this, we have to repudiate what MAGA is about. It's going to be a hard road.

usonian

(26,656 posts)
27. I'll believe it when Trump delivers him plutonium pizzas.
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:00 AM
May 16

Holding them close so that Iranians can't steal them.

calimary

(90,945 posts)
103. Look at that makeup!
Sat May 16, 2026, 05:18 PM
May 16

Does he REALLY think nobody notices the paint job? How come his ears are several shades whiter than the rest of his face?

usonian

(26,656 posts)
108. He doesn't care. Because his cult doesn't care. It might, in fact, be a fetish with them, like a golden calf.
Sat May 16, 2026, 07:48 PM
May 16

It emphasizes the "reality TV" aspect, because it's not real.
Fascist nations are built on unreality.

But the consequences are really real.

Jack Valentino

(5,259 posts)
35. As any reasonable AMERICAN would now be, who has two brain cells
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:19 AM
May 16

to rub together......




Welcome to the FIGHT, Bill !!!!
I look forward to what more you have to say about it !!!!

Buddyzbuddy

(2,930 posts)
38. This is what has to happen for the Republican party to be no more.
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:00 AM
May 16

He's not asking forgiveness and I'm not offering any. He's an intelligent person that recognizes a huge change is needed for this Country to heal. He's not switching parties to steal a political position. It's obvious he wants to influence policy from the inside. He could have just become Independent. But, he didn't choose easy. He knows the things he has said and done in the past will make the transition bumpy to say the least. I actually respect a person that knows they're lost and asks for directions. Actions speak louder than words. Let's watch and wait without allowing this to consume us. Also, maybe he knows where some of the bodies are buried.(not literally).

niyad

(134,162 posts)
83. He was "independent" from 2021 to yesterday. He was registered
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:04 PM
May 16

"r" for all of krasnov's first reign of terror.

Response to Kingofalldems (Original post)

Renew Deal

(85,401 posts)
43. I'm seeing some signs that he now is
Sat May 16, 2026, 08:17 AM
May 16

There’s a self-described “pro-life” magazine saying he’s flipped on abortion and LGBT issues.

FWIW, I don’t believe that you need to change on choice to be a Democrat.

Response to Renew Deal (Reply #43)

Renew Deal

(85,401 posts)
46. I'm not commenting on the rightness or wrongness of it
Sat May 16, 2026, 08:25 AM
May 16

And my first question was about his views on choice. But Democrats have always had an anti-choice wing but didn’t mind as long as they voted D in Congress. For a political talking head it matters much less.

Renew Deal

(85,401 posts)
42. Wow. Not sure I expected that.
Sat May 16, 2026, 08:08 AM
May 16

Is the Democratic Party the party for neo-cons or has Kristol had a change of heart?

I really can’t tell if this change is good or not. I don’t know if the party has gotten worse or he has gotten better. I think he’s enjoyed his time in the left wing sphere and wants to stick around. There’s a bunch of people like him on the Democrats side now and many of them are in the Bukwark wing. Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, possibly David Frum, and others. I like what some of them bring to the party but I will always be skeptical of Kristol.

Soul_of_Wit

(153 posts)
75. Neoconservative Neoliberal
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:42 PM
May 16

A neoconservative is just a neoliberal who also reserves the right (pun intended) to make "liberal" a curse word. I dare say that many a DUer has voted happily for a neoliberal.

 

jfz9580m

(17,910 posts)
44. Limited govt, pro freedom, no mention of climate change
Sat May 16, 2026, 08:20 AM
May 16

Let alone any other issue. Regulation - hell no.

That is okay. Its only the only home planet we have to trash the way we or rather you trash human brains and lives the world over.

Botany

(77,921 posts)
51. If Bill Kristol had any honor he would go out to his garage and start his car and let it run without
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:32 AM
May 16

Last edited Sat May 16, 2026, 12:33 PM - Edit history (2)

… opening any doors or windows. He and his PNAC shits brought us the Iraq war, ISIS, one
of the largest human refugee crises in history, and Dick Cheney became a billionaire off
the stolen oil and KBR’s no bid cost plus contracts with the Pentagon thanx to his “outsourcing”
deal he got down as Sec. of Defense.


Fuck that big tent shit. He is a despicable human being.

His Iraq war cost this 2 year old boy’s life. Alan Kurdi.



The Iraq war gave rise to ISIS after the Kristol, Cheney, and PNAC’s war broke up the Iraqi Army
and that got us ISIS which ran over Syria causing Alan Kurdi’s family to try to flee the fighting
and their small boat flipped and this young man drowned.

mountain grammy

(29,250 posts)
93. All the things he said Democrats were against
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:07 PM
May 16

and now he admits he was wrong.. that's him admitting he was wrong..

but I'm glad to see it and I'm here for it!

ColoringFool

(1,159 posts)
96. Fine. But Today Is Today, Is It Not? Meanwhile, We Heap Praise On Liz Cheney....
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:44 PM
May 16

And Adam Kinzinger, neither of whom has registered as a Democrat.

Response to ColoringFool (Reply #96)

niyad

(134,162 posts)
99. Today does not exist in a vacuum, and I have a fairly decent, and
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:01 PM
May 16

highly unregulated, memory. Also, I would kindly ask that you not include "me" in the "we" about "heaping praise" on republicans, former or otherwise.

NNadir

(38,605 posts)
63. If Franklin Roosevelt could work with Joesph Stalin...
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:38 AM
May 16

...I think we can embrace Bill Kristol.

The enemy of my enemy can (perhaps temporarily) be my friend.

a kennedy

(36,399 posts)
70. In the words of Elaine, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE.......Ok, if this is true.......Hell HAS FROZRN OVER.
Sat May 16, 2026, 11:34 AM
May 16

😳 😵‍💫 😳

3825-87867

(2,021 posts)
71. Democrat now? Belief?
Sat May 16, 2026, 11:58 AM
May 16

Only if there are live MSM Cameras on all channels actually watching his vote as it's cast!

Glaisne

(659 posts)
72. Regarding Government, Democrats believe
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:12 PM
May 16

that government can and should be a positive force for ordinary people. Government should provide a safety net for people to guard against unfortunate events, should provide retirement security, health care, protect our air, water, environment, guard against predatory companies and financial institutions, provide for the general welfare, and so on. Being for limited government means oligarchs and giant corporations take over and run everything. The irony being that oligarch government is not limited except for them, but rather intrusive and oppressive for the benefit of the oligarchs. Democrats believe in government that serves the people's interests not the interests of money, regardless of size.

Tommy Carcetti

(44,588 posts)
73. The world turned upside down.
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:13 PM
May 16

The things my 2003 self would not believe.

That and the son of Robert F. Kennedy being a bootlicker for fascists.

But hey, I'll take what we can get.

Always knew Trump was a piece of shit, though. Even before he turned political.

SergeStorms

(20,864 posts)
74. They're ice skating in hell right now.
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:33 PM
May 16

After all, Bill, you helped pave the way for that grifting scumbag to be in the White House.

Oh, and I don't trust you one iota. You'd turn your back on all of your "transformation" in a nanosecond if it meant you were closer to the reins of power. 🖕

Soul_of_Wit

(153 posts)
81. The Democratic Party is now the conservative party
Sat May 16, 2026, 12:54 PM
May 16

Democrats are now trying to preserve the small-L liberal gains of the past century. It is the radical right trying to undo the 250-year experiment that is America. Some of the never trumpers are realizing that the republic is threatened by their old political party.

Nanjeanne

(6,650 posts)
85. I don't give a shit. I guarantee Kristal would never support the democratic policies I want in the Dem platform.
Sat May 16, 2026, 01:31 PM
May 16

He has to got to add a lot more “Pros” to his resume to become a real Democrat.

Nanjeanne

(6,650 posts)
109. Not sure what policies are considered "etc. etc." As I said I want more than those 3 policies he already mentioned.
Sat May 16, 2026, 09:34 PM
May 16

It’s lovely that he hates Trump and isn’t happy with the Trump MAGA group. He made it so he should fight to get rid of it. But I guarantee he would choose any Kasich, Romney etc etc came along he’d be right there with them. Im quite sure he views Ronald Reagan as the model he’d like to follow. Not the Democrats that I contribute to. Before Trump 2.0 he was a strong voice of the conservative movement and traditional Republican policies. He championed limited government, free markets, "hawkish" foreign policy, and social conservatism. Not my kind of Democrat

You are free to welcome him in with your open arms. As you can read I said I don’t give a shit. Not YOU.

J_William_Ryan

(3,597 posts)
92. Democrats are advocates of limited government.
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:04 PM
May 16

What Republicans have always failed to understand is that limited government is far much more than just reckless, irresponsible tax cuts and deregulation.

GoodRaisin

(11,077 posts)
106. Kristol may say that, but what really has happened is his party can no longer legitimately call themselves
Sat May 16, 2026, 07:05 PM
May 16

Republicans. They do not support a republic form of government. They clearly support a fascist form of government.

Their party has changed, not Bill Kristol, and ideologically speaking he has no party to go to.

ZZenith

(4,476 posts)
95. Smarmy weasel.
Sat May 16, 2026, 02:37 PM
May 16

“I am thoroughly opposed to this awful mess in which I had a large part creating..”

MurrayDelph

(5,780 posts)
101. To paraphrase The Politics Bar
Sat May 16, 2026, 03:28 PM
May 16

You're welcome to ride the bus with us, for now, but you have to do some amend-making to prove you're legit before we let you near the controls.

Deminpenn

(17,598 posts)
105. Perhaps this portends a political realignment of
Sat May 16, 2026, 06:47 PM
May 16

The US from center-right to center-left. The new GOP would be the never-Trumpers, " Rockefeller" , Rs and conservative Dems. It would be more liberal and open-minded than it is now.

The new Dems would be much more progressive and in the FDR model of sweeping changes.

Most of MAGAs would throw in with the Libertarians and other fringe parties.

WarGamer

(18,878 posts)
111. Historically the neocons started out as dems...
Sun May 17, 2026, 01:08 AM
May 17

Not exactly a flex I'd be proud of, Bill!


Neoconservatism originated in the late 1960s and 1970s as a movement of disillusioned, anti-communist Democrats. Originally New Deal liberals, these intellectuals rejected the Democratic Party's leftward drift, the counterculture, and the non-interventionist foreign policy that emerged in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

Maru Kitteh

(32,025 posts)
114. I've become a regular listener of Bill Kristol. Which initially felt SO WRONG.
Sun May 17, 2026, 08:16 AM
May 17

I once recoiled at the sound of his voice. Now I actively listen to his take on latest developments. How strange this world is become.

TVguyCards

(19 posts)
115. I believe nuance is needed here
Sun May 17, 2026, 10:56 AM
May 17

Are we forgetting who these "Bullwark" people are? Are we so caught up in the politics of today that we forget the past? These "Bullwark" people are Obama-era Republicans, the very people who continually supported the "birth certificate conspiracy", gave rise not only to the The Party but to Trump himself along with the entirety of the MAGA movement. While some cheer for Bill Kristol joining our party, I for one do not because I remember all the pain, suffering, violence, and harm he and other Republicans did did to all of us. These are the Republicans who voted over 100 times to cut and gut the ACA, something many people rely on just to survive, literally.

Have these people ever shown any remorse for their past actions including leading us into the illegal Iran war? Meanwhile we scream about Fetterman being awful which he is but let's be honest, he looks like Harvey Milk compared to these Neocons.

Let's not forget who these people are and all of the damage they've done to us. Ever.

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