Thread by @pleasesaveour

🤔After her victory in 2018 AOC encouraged progressives to follow in her footsteps and run for Congress with the backing of the LW group Justice Democrats even if it meant taking on powerful incumbents. She's not doing that now.

politico.com/news/2020/03/3…

AOC reluctance marks a break with the outsider tactics of the activist left represented by groups like Justice Democrats. This election cycle, the org is trying to boot not just conserv Dems but also some lib Dems and to replace them with members who are more left-wing.

Honestly I believe it's because she understands now is not the time.

Ocasio-Cortez’s shift coincides with turnover among top aides in her congressional office — replacing some outspoken radicals with more traditional political professionals

Now is not the time for a revolution

Some progressives have ? whether Sanders should have softened his anti-estab rhetoric and tried to build bridges with mainstream Dems who voted for Clinton in 2016 rather than betting big on turning out disaffected and first-time voters

AOC’s endorsement moves are not a fluke but part of a larger change over the past months. After her disruptive, burn-it-down early months in Congress, Ocasio-Cortez, who colleagues say is often conflict-averse in person, has increasingly been trying to work more within the system

The changes have divided her supporters, with some lamenting she's been co-opted in short order by the system — and others asserting she's offering the left a more viable path toward sustained power

Gone are her plans for a “corporate-free” caucus modeled on the uncompromising tactics of the conserv Freedom Caucus

Over the past few wks she has chided Sanders supporters for harassment and delivered critiques of Sanders and some of his allies for being too “conflict-based”

“The Dem Party is the party of coalitions, not a cult,” said James Carville. “I’ve observed her. I think she’s really talented, that she’s really smart. Maybe she is — I don’t speak for her — coming to the conclusion that she wants to be part of the coalition.”

"There are some people on the left who thought that their views represented a strong majority, and the primary process has shown that voters diverged, that Sanders is winning a minority and smaller minority than he had four years ago,”

Excellent @AOC!

Instead of supporting Justice Democrats' full slate of incumbent challengers, Ocasio-Cortez launched her own PAC earlier this year that's been more focused on electing progressives in Republican-held or open seats.

So, this is exactly what I've been fighting with progressives about. I am thrilled that @AOC has realized how to be team player. You get more done, than constantly screaming at everyone who isn't a progressive. She is a force, that if used right will be able to do anything.

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