With 11 x 10⁶ people showing up for No Kings protests (as reported by 50150) how can Democrats worry about messaging???? Democrats can portray themselves as the party of honesty, of compassion, and ethics. "All" they have to do is get rid of insider trading in Congress, have constant town halls hearing from/communicating with, constituents, promoting ethics in policing (no face masks!! only constitutional, compassionate arrests), purging old fascistic laws from the books, codifying "norms" in the executive branch and finding bipartisan ways of reforming Congress so that, after 40/50 years, it becomes functional again.
Will Selber wrote "imagine how bad the problem will be when more than half the country thinks the military is politically and culturally hostile to them." This week, that ship has sailed!
Constant lawlessness with no consequences, a Felon at the helm granted immunity by SCOTUS, a fire hose of constant lying polluting the consciousness of the citizenry and the absurd justification of the B-B-Bill pretty much defines the malfeasance of evil. It was never going to be a fair fight but the Dems still play softball. Expecting cucumber sandwiches and polite debate were they? History has shown blood usually flows in such civil affairs, right? Jan. 6 was a warmup game.
"Colorado Rep. Jason Crow said that there was a perception that the Democratic party was “weak” in part because of its tendency to overthink certain issues and not pick fights when it matters."
Perception is reality. It's seems simple to me. Newsom has already done the heavy lifting. A more eloquent "what he said!" would do. What's there to think about?
Also, I thought I made a suggestion somewhere (I can't find it now) about a jourlanist doing an investigation Into Trump and all his henchpeople. Have they ever hired undocumented workers? Wouldn't that be a hoot?
This truly should not be difficult for the Democrats. Polling shows that more Americans are against Trumps implementation of his immigration policy and also against the BBB. Democrat voters in particular are extremely against these things. So in order to restore Dem voter confidence and at the same time “inform” the nation as to the illegality of Trumps actions all Dem Senators and Representatives need to do is make really strong statements to that effect.
The BBB is a disaster for middle class Americans. It focuses on even more tax cuts for the wealthy while making huge cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other programs American citizens depend on for survival. The Bill is terrible for Americans and it is also financially unsustainable. It will increase this country’s deficit by TRILLIONS of dollars, make life more difficult for hard working Americans all while ensuring that the most wealthy and corporations grow even richer.
The Immigration policy being executed by the Trump Administration is not what Americans voted for. Trump promised to deport illegal residents who were guilty of crimes. CRIMINALS.
Instead ICE agents in masks are arresting any person who appears to be of Latino descent.Mothers Fathers Pastors Factory Workers and even Children are being snatched off the streets of America, arrested at schools and work places and even from Immigration Centers and hospitals. They are being held in detention camps without charge or due process and they are being deported to high security, brutal prisons in foreign countries. AND,
to make matters worse when American citizens choose to exercise their 1st Ammendment Right and protest this horrific treatment of their neighbors and coworkers the Trump Administration used the protests as an excuse to deploy 2000 members of the National Guard into Los Angeles against the wishes of the city’s mayor and of the Governor of California……
Easy. To borrow a line from Nike, the Democrat lawmakers need to “JUST DO IT”!
This is no time for dithering. LA is not a drill; the Constitution is under attack. The Democrats need a unified message to counter the unlawful and unconstitutional actions by the Trump regime. The fight against the Big Bullshit Bill should be fought on a parallel track. The DNC needs to attack on legacy media, as well as social media
It really does not matter what the Demopublicans think about impeachment since they are not able to convince any Repulicrats to join them. By the time they figure it out the T. Rump criminal enterprise will be on to the next big thing. Nothing to see here, move along.
I'm ok with the Democratic (and other opposition) leadership and grassroots response as it continues to evolve and adapt to circumstances which literally change every day. L.A. is *both* tyranny and a distraction from Trump's other tyranny and failures, and merits being treated as both.
I'm also glad to see Gavin Newsom joining the already strong leadership voices of Chris Murphy, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Jason Crow and others in the party as well as the strong voices in the mediasphere including here at The Bulwark. I'm glad to see and participate in the grassroots opposition, especially the upcoming No Kings counter-programming this Saturday, which applies both to current events as well as ever-mounting past atrocities and failures.
Since Pelosi stepped aside, we have not had a strong single focal point. Jeffries does not seem to be the person to give a loud and forceful rebuttal to any of Trump's many transgressions, let alone each and every one of them. We do have some eloquent and powerful voices but seemingly no coordinated effort. Perhaps the Dems could contract with the Bulwark's talented staff to write the communication pieces for them to sing from one courageous hymnal. I am sick of receiving multiple messages a day from the National Party, the Maryland Party and many individual lawmakers for donations. Show me that the Party is alive and competent to meet this moment in history and I will gladly open my pocketbook. I am a 75 year old who wrote to Ken Martin asking him to keep David Hogg in his co-chair role. I never received a reply and now we know that David Hogg left the position. No wonder young people have disconnected from our party!
This reporting encapsulates the infuriating fecklessness of Democratic leadership, which lacks the ability to simultaneously walk and chew gum. What's happening in LA is not a distraction; it's the main event. As with all fascist regimes, the centerpiece of the Trump agenda is the destruction of democracy. In common with other fascist regimes, the Trump regime instrumentalizes bigotry against marginalized groups to undermine civil liberties in furtherance of this goal. As Gov. Newsom has pointed out, what's happening in LA will spread throughout the country. The Gestapo tactics being employed by ICE and the array of other federal law enforcement agencies assisting it will not stay confined to the migrant community. The politicization of the military, another tactic of fascist regimes, is accelerating, and we all know where that will lead. With a few notable exceptions, the Democratic Party has shown itself incapable of meeting the fascist threat. Clearly, nothing or no one will save us except ourselves. I've been a registered Democrat since becoming eligible to vote in 1969. I'm changing my registration to Unaffiliated. This is a meaningless gesture to anyone but me, but perhaps if other Dems take the same step, the party will notice, though it's an open question whether it will do so in a timely fashion.
The Democrats prove over and over that they are unable to learn new things.
That David Hogg was pilloried and now has to step down from his DNC role because he had the unmitigated gall to suggest that old, ineffective representatives should be primaried to make room for younger candidates is just the latest concrete example.
So far as I can tell the leadership seem to be only leaders within Congress; as in, their focus is on actions that are taking place within the Congress. Why can’t any elected Democrat, who cares deeply about an issue or problem taking place outside of Congress take the lead? Are they restricted to their own districts? Why can’t the Los Angeles House Representatives and the California State Senators take the lead on this?
People want passion, charisma, fighting spirit and, like it or not, performance. The substantive message is at some level important, but delivery is more important. Surely, the last 10 years have taught us this if nothing else.
Rather than fretting about a lack of a unified message, we should be despairing about the absence of compelling leaders. Schumer and Jeffries are ineffectual regardless of whether their messages are fine tuned and coordinated. They lack any ability to move people, particularly those people who are not already firmly in the Democratic camp.
Bernie appeals widely due to his passion, consistency, energy, and willingness to fight for what he believes in. Being a "democratic socialist" doesn't prevent him from drawing more crowds than any other Democratic member of Congress. He oozes credibility and genuine concern for American citizens, and at age 83 he appears to be as sharp as ever. He is surely not the future, but he sets an example to modeled.
Leadership must change, otherwise these boring "Dems in disarray" pieces will just keep coming.
I’m a long lifelong Democrat since JFK, now age 85. I’m sick of the Democratic Party fumbling and bumbling, and being unable or unwilling to take strong liberal to progressive stands.
I respect people like Elizabeth Warren, Adam Schiff, Cory Booker, AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Chris Murphy, and Bernie Sanders—who is not a Democrat. You can have the rest of the wishy washy, establishment, corporate Democratic Party.
With 11 x 10⁶ people showing up for No Kings protests (as reported by 50150) how can Democrats worry about messaging???? Democrats can portray themselves as the party of honesty, of compassion, and ethics. "All" they have to do is get rid of insider trading in Congress, have constant town halls hearing from/communicating with, constituents, promoting ethics in policing (no face masks!! only constitutional, compassionate arrests), purging old fascistic laws from the books, codifying "norms" in the executive branch and finding bipartisan ways of reforming Congress so that, after 40/50 years, it becomes functional again.
These guys are so insulated and focused on insider ball that they’ve become detached from their own voters.
Will Selber wrote "imagine how bad the problem will be when more than half the country thinks the military is politically and culturally hostile to them." This week, that ship has sailed!
Constant lawlessness with no consequences, a Felon at the helm granted immunity by SCOTUS, a fire hose of constant lying polluting the consciousness of the citizenry and the absurd justification of the B-B-Bill pretty much defines the malfeasance of evil. It was never going to be a fair fight but the Dems still play softball. Expecting cucumber sandwiches and polite debate were they? History has shown blood usually flows in such civil affairs, right? Jan. 6 was a warmup game.
If it isn’t obvious now it should be: Jeffries and Schumer need to go. New leadership is needed. And in a hurry. And I am a moderate Democrat.
"Colorado Rep. Jason Crow said that there was a perception that the Democratic party was “weak” in part because of its tendency to overthink certain issues and not pick fights when it matters."
Perception is reality. It's seems simple to me. Newsom has already done the heavy lifting. A more eloquent "what he said!" would do. What's there to think about?
Also, I thought I made a suggestion somewhere (I can't find it now) about a jourlanist doing an investigation Into Trump and all his henchpeople. Have they ever hired undocumented workers? Wouldn't that be a hoot?
This truly should not be difficult for the Democrats. Polling shows that more Americans are against Trumps implementation of his immigration policy and also against the BBB. Democrat voters in particular are extremely against these things. So in order to restore Dem voter confidence and at the same time “inform” the nation as to the illegality of Trumps actions all Dem Senators and Representatives need to do is make really strong statements to that effect.
The BBB is a disaster for middle class Americans. It focuses on even more tax cuts for the wealthy while making huge cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other programs American citizens depend on for survival. The Bill is terrible for Americans and it is also financially unsustainable. It will increase this country’s deficit by TRILLIONS of dollars, make life more difficult for hard working Americans all while ensuring that the most wealthy and corporations grow even richer.
The Immigration policy being executed by the Trump Administration is not what Americans voted for. Trump promised to deport illegal residents who were guilty of crimes. CRIMINALS.
Instead ICE agents in masks are arresting any person who appears to be of Latino descent.Mothers Fathers Pastors Factory Workers and even Children are being snatched off the streets of America, arrested at schools and work places and even from Immigration Centers and hospitals. They are being held in detention camps without charge or due process and they are being deported to high security, brutal prisons in foreign countries. AND,
to make matters worse when American citizens choose to exercise their 1st Ammendment Right and protest this horrific treatment of their neighbors and coworkers the Trump Administration used the protests as an excuse to deploy 2000 members of the National Guard into Los Angeles against the wishes of the city’s mayor and of the Governor of California……
Easy. To borrow a line from Nike, the Democrat lawmakers need to “JUST DO IT”!
This is no time for dithering. LA is not a drill; the Constitution is under attack. The Democrats need a unified message to counter the unlawful and unconstitutional actions by the Trump regime. The fight against the Big Bullshit Bill should be fought on a parallel track. The DNC needs to attack on legacy media, as well as social media
It really does not matter what the Demopublicans think about impeachment since they are not able to convince any Repulicrats to join them. By the time they figure it out the T. Rump criminal enterprise will be on to the next big thing. Nothing to see here, move along.
I'm ok with the Democratic (and other opposition) leadership and grassroots response as it continues to evolve and adapt to circumstances which literally change every day. L.A. is *both* tyranny and a distraction from Trump's other tyranny and failures, and merits being treated as both.
I'm also glad to see Gavin Newsom joining the already strong leadership voices of Chris Murphy, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Jason Crow and others in the party as well as the strong voices in the mediasphere including here at The Bulwark. I'm glad to see and participate in the grassroots opposition, especially the upcoming No Kings counter-programming this Saturday, which applies both to current events as well as ever-mounting past atrocities and failures.
Since Pelosi stepped aside, we have not had a strong single focal point. Jeffries does not seem to be the person to give a loud and forceful rebuttal to any of Trump's many transgressions, let alone each and every one of them. We do have some eloquent and powerful voices but seemingly no coordinated effort. Perhaps the Dems could contract with the Bulwark's talented staff to write the communication pieces for them to sing from one courageous hymnal. I am sick of receiving multiple messages a day from the National Party, the Maryland Party and many individual lawmakers for donations. Show me that the Party is alive and competent to meet this moment in history and I will gladly open my pocketbook. I am a 75 year old who wrote to Ken Martin asking him to keep David Hogg in his co-chair role. I never received a reply and now we know that David Hogg left the position. No wonder young people have disconnected from our party!
See all y'all on Flag Day for the NO KINGS Rally.
This reporting encapsulates the infuriating fecklessness of Democratic leadership, which lacks the ability to simultaneously walk and chew gum. What's happening in LA is not a distraction; it's the main event. As with all fascist regimes, the centerpiece of the Trump agenda is the destruction of democracy. In common with other fascist regimes, the Trump regime instrumentalizes bigotry against marginalized groups to undermine civil liberties in furtherance of this goal. As Gov. Newsom has pointed out, what's happening in LA will spread throughout the country. The Gestapo tactics being employed by ICE and the array of other federal law enforcement agencies assisting it will not stay confined to the migrant community. The politicization of the military, another tactic of fascist regimes, is accelerating, and we all know where that will lead. With a few notable exceptions, the Democratic Party has shown itself incapable of meeting the fascist threat. Clearly, nothing or no one will save us except ourselves. I've been a registered Democrat since becoming eligible to vote in 1969. I'm changing my registration to Unaffiliated. This is a meaningless gesture to anyone but me, but perhaps if other Dems take the same step, the party will notice, though it's an open question whether it will do so in a timely fashion.
The Democrats prove over and over that they are unable to learn new things.
That David Hogg was pilloried and now has to step down from his DNC role because he had the unmitigated gall to suggest that old, ineffective representatives should be primaried to make room for younger candidates is just the latest concrete example.
So far as I can tell the leadership seem to be only leaders within Congress; as in, their focus is on actions that are taking place within the Congress. Why can’t any elected Democrat, who cares deeply about an issue or problem taking place outside of Congress take the lead? Are they restricted to their own districts? Why can’t the Los Angeles House Representatives and the California State Senators take the lead on this?
People want passion, charisma, fighting spirit and, like it or not, performance. The substantive message is at some level important, but delivery is more important. Surely, the last 10 years have taught us this if nothing else.
Rather than fretting about a lack of a unified message, we should be despairing about the absence of compelling leaders. Schumer and Jeffries are ineffectual regardless of whether their messages are fine tuned and coordinated. They lack any ability to move people, particularly those people who are not already firmly in the Democratic camp.
Bernie appeals widely due to his passion, consistency, energy, and willingness to fight for what he believes in. Being a "democratic socialist" doesn't prevent him from drawing more crowds than any other Democratic member of Congress. He oozes credibility and genuine concern for American citizens, and at age 83 he appears to be as sharp as ever. He is surely not the future, but he sets an example to modeled.
Leadership must change, otherwise these boring "Dems in disarray" pieces will just keep coming.
I’m a long lifelong Democrat since JFK, now age 85. I’m sick of the Democratic Party fumbling and bumbling, and being unable or unwilling to take strong liberal to progressive stands.
I respect people like Elizabeth Warren, Adam Schiff, Cory Booker, AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Chris Murphy, and Bernie Sanders—who is not a Democrat. You can have the rest of the wishy washy, establishment, corporate Democratic Party.
—Phil Johnson