New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is hustling to win over left-wing critics who say the progressive leader cares too much about mainstream approval and is too cozy with senior Democrats.
Between the lines: If Ocasio-Cortez's diplomacy is successful, it could be more difficult for any potential 2028 presidential candidate to run to her left — but moderate Democrats argue it also could make it tougher for her to win a general election.
Despite her recent efforts, some loud voices on the left — including people who have worked closely with her — have gotten under her skin by continuing to question her progressive bona fides.
Zoom in: In recent weeks, Ocasio-Cortez has tried to repair her relationship with Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Many members of the group opposed her support for giving Israel defensive weapons, including the Iron Dome missile system, during the war in Gaza — which she has called a "genocide."
In July 2024, national DSA leaders withdrew their endorsement of her for the elections that year, arguing that she'd conflated "anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions," which the group considered a "deep betrayal."
The intrigue: AOC also has had a fraught relationship with some progressives who helped launch her political career.
Her first chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, co-founded Justice Democrats, a group that helped Ocasio-Cortez with her insurgent House campaign in 2018. Chakrabarti is running for Congress in former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's district in San Francisco, but Ocasio-Cortez pointedly hasn't endorsed him in the June 2 primary.
She's indicated she believes that some of her early allies on the left have taken too much credit for her upset House victory eight years ago, and she's distanced herself from them over the years, people familiar with the dynamic told Axios.
Ok. I think this statement accurately outlines the extent of your misunderstanding. I'm not "carrying water for a genocidal president". I'm trying to explain to you how the Constitution works, because you seem to be one of those people who thinks the president has, or should have, unlimited power to just wave a magic wand around, and spontaneously create whole Federal programs or agencies instantly and without Congressional oversight.
As for his actions with Israel...I do not agree with any of his decisions there. I do however, still understand that in order to do anything about it...Congress would need to change the laws. That's how it works. If Congress has given the president the power to do something, and you don't like what they're doing with that power...Congress needs to change things. The same thing goes for what the president can't do.
This entire premise...that the president simultaneously has too much power for the things you don't want, while also not having enough power to do all the things you do want, is utterly ridiculous. It shows that you do not even understand the fundamental problem with your own worldview.
The same thing that will fix the "Israel problem" will also make it harder to fix everything else you think the president should have the unilateral authority to do. Congress needs to restrict the president's authority to do things without their approval...right? That's exactly what stops any president from fulfilling all their campaign promises.
You are blaming the wrong person. The president shouldn't have that much power. That's why things are the way they are. If you want someone to blame for ALL of this...blame Congress. They are the ones who are actually responsible for everything you're complaining about. And if you want things to change...stop focusing on what the president is doing or not doing...and start voting in the midterm elections instead. You need to flip Congress if you want anything to change. The president should never have the power to do what you're asking for.
He ignored the law to sell weapons for genocide, but was unwilling to do so to help US citizens. And it comes down to what he wanted to do.
And so is Trump, right now. And so will the next guy.
Nothing is going to change unless we address the source of the problem, instead of just complaining about the symptoms.
Nothing is going to change if everyone pretends that the symptoms go away when a democrat is in office.
Oh. So, you really didn't understand anything I said, huh?
I'm not buying that the president is only useless when he's not selling weapons to your favorite person for your favorite activity.
Yeah. You really don't understand what I've been saying. Whatever, buddy. Stay ignorant. I don't care.