OPINION:
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, lost her race to lead Democrats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee to 74-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly — thanks in no small part to 84-year-old Rep. Nancy Pelosi making calls from a hospital bed (“House Democrats push aside AOC in race for top committee spot,” web, Dec. 17).
Although Ms. Ocasio-Cortez came in as a radical, she has shown some mellowing out since she was first elected. I think there are two reasons for this: First, you don’t get very far fighting nearly everyone in the establishment, and second, perhaps with some added age and maturity she is realizing that some of her more radical ideas were not very realistic. It’s nice to dream, but let’s get real — you’re still on Earth and these are humans.
It’s clear that the “old” political left has got to go because it doesn’t work anymore, but what should the “new” left look like if “woke-progressive” is also going out of style (as it simply doesn’t appeal to the average American voter)? Ms. Ocasio-Cortez appears to possess the intelligence, passion and communication skills to be a great leader, but in what “costume” will she lead?
I think this recent defeat to the “old guy” is good for Ms. Ocasio-Cortez. It will force her to sit down and think things through — uncharacteristic for a progressive, but maybe she’s better than that.
ARTHUR SAGINIAN
Santa Clarita, California
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