Democrats either fear Trump or just give him what he wants anyway. The only time they seem to get their blood pressure up at ALL any more is when a DSA candidate is running to their left.
“Democratic elites should join the grassroots in fighting the real adversary—the brutal, violent, white-nationalist deportation campaign now tearing this country apart."
Face it: an individual's real terror about the price of gas or their sixpack far outweighs the fate of those who fall prey to ICE. The time to sing kumbaya from the moral high ground is not now.
Adrian, this post is powerful and on the mark. The Democratic Partyy, I fear, is still very much in its post election paralysis.
Perusal to say nothing of close reading (if you think you have the backbone to stomach it) of Democratic pacs or even "the authorities" raising money reveals the paucity of their take on what will persuade Dems to give. Even supposedly enlightened journalists are making jokes about Trump and Blanche et al instead of baldly, insistently addressing how huge the stakes are. In the same vein, in my appalled condition, is the error of making so much about by your own colleagues depending on framing their analysis on the "takes" believing very much can be learned about the state of the political nation by heeding to the 'blind leading the blind' of the thinly considered thoughts rendered in the 'carefully-thought-through' (NOT!!!) comments of three-time 'ballot casters for Trump.' (Seriously???)
One need only undertake analysis of Democrats' total failure to articulate a bold analysis of what is at stake (and has been since January 20, 2025) with the coming midterms, what the steely grasp Trump continues to have on both the House and Senate reveals, and what the consequences of insufficient successes of November's coming election will mean. The idea that America's future depends on the words of groups betraying to all unclear thinking or thoughtful analysis is, I fear, our self-administered coup de grace. It makes me cringe.
Refrain from using the word "abolish" when discussing ICE would be a good start. Dems need to find a more appropriate word and not "defund" either. Those words make people clench as they associate those words with doing away with border management completely same way it turned people off when we were saying "defund" the police. Words matter. Mayor Pete does a really good job of using the right verbiage to help people understand your point of spending money for management versus having to house and "care" for anyone of brown or black skin color grabbed to meet Nosferatu Miller's quota. Quotas are a way for Repugnicans to justify expenses....it is a money machine as well.
Highlighting ICE cruelty, lawlessness and wasteful abusive spending of taxpayer dollars (e.g. detention center concentration camps) is not a gamble but rather a sure winner backed by popular support. The only gamble now would be anything which MAGA could characterize as "open border" policy and wield like a cudgel even when the characterization is false. Highlighting stories about abuses and cruelty to U.S. citizens and resident immigrants does not conflict with wanting a secure border.
The individual, family and group stories that Adrian and others bring to light are powerful and should be used against any Republican running for office. Republicans own the abuses, cruelties, wasteful spending and lies of Trump, Miller, Homan et al. and should pay for that complicity.
Establishment Democrats don’t act, they calculate, issue statements, and operate out of fear. Republicans are not afraid to engage in brown shirt street fighting, with a solid 35 to 40% backing, they rarely attack even the most fascist elements of their party. They smile and watch as the James Carville’s and Rahm’s of the party denounce the more progressive elements of the party. Don’t make trouble say the Schumer’s and Jeffries. Let Ken Martin run the DNC.
I wish I knew less about the collapse of many Western democracies in the interval between the two world wars (how lucky we were that US voters elected FDR at a moment when our own democracy could have gone either way; although it begins to look as though our luck has run out).
Ignorance is bliss. If I knew less about the political dynamic at play here I would be less afraid.
As in the 1920s and 1930s, parties of the center-left and left seem at times more interested in going to war with each other than in becoming a united front against a well-funded, effective authoritarian movement.
Centrists scutter away from great issues like scared rabbits while progressives dig in and refuse to compromise even though they surely must know that compromise is the fuel that powers democracy. (On the topic of compromise: the Roberts Court exists purely because Ralph Nader refused to bend or compromise. He found a way to express his contempt for Al Gore that resonates to this day).
Democratic candidates could easily find ways to take coherent stands on matters of policy. It's not hard to stand FOR sensible immigration policies while standing AGAINST state violence committed by masked vigilantes; to stand FOR core human values, to welcome newcomers to our land while standing AGAINST violations of the law, whether committed by drug-smugglers or ICE agents.
This is a perfect example of the bone-headedness of substackers and podcasters who warn us of the dangers of going too far left, too progressive, too DEI, too democratic socialist or too social democratic: they mimic the Dem politicians who pulled out the out-dated play book and won't let anyone yank it out of their hands and toss it, looking to a new reality. The very essence of "frozen" and of sclerotic. They are still letting the ancient (1949) Republican cries of China Betrayed! Commies in the State Department! Socialist Professors! Queer teachers! Godless Democrats! Does it sound like I remember this stuff? I do. 85 at the end of the month. To quote Sondra: grow a pair.
It's just so galling that these people in politics are driven more by what will get them (re)elected than by doing what is fair, just, good and right...
This failure to act on an issue served up on a silver platter makes me wonder what this same party will do to unwind the damage Trump's regime has done and hold the criminals accountable, if the Party manages to get back into power. I'm pretty angry about what MAGA has done to my country but that anger will pale in comparison to the rage I will feel if Democrats fail to act when they have real power.
I think the elephant in the room is that they have used immigration enforcement and detention as a massive jobs program. DHS has intentionally targeted Democratic leaning districts and demographics in their construction and hiring. Unfortunately there's a significant portion of the electorate who just doesn't care about ICE overreach as long as, in some cases, the biggest employer in their town doesn't get defunded.
Thank you for highlighting the once-again spineless Democratic leaders who need to wake up and listen to their constituents’ rage on this issue. And for calling out some of our brave N.J. electeds – Senator Andy Kim, Reps. LaMonica McIver and Rob Fernandez. You need to include on this list Rep Analilia Meija, as she, like those you mentioned, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and have impact at Delaney Hall.
I’ve been assisting families visiting their incarcerated loved ones at DH for more than a year, I’ve seen for myself the pols who’re genuinely fighting back against this Administration’s deportation atrocities, and who isn’t.
Contrast the above with Senator Cory Booker and Gov Mikie Sherrill, who are big on hot air and photo ops but that’s about it.
I urge everyone to pay attention to what your politicians do, not just what they say.
Democrats either fear Trump or just give him what he wants anyway. The only time they seem to get their blood pressure up at ALL any more is when a DSA candidate is running to their left.
“Democratic elites should join the grassroots in fighting the real adversary—the brutal, violent, white-nationalist deportation campaign now tearing this country apart."
Face it: an individual's real terror about the price of gas or their sixpack far outweighs the fate of those who fall prey to ICE. The time to sing kumbaya from the moral high ground is not now.
Adrian, this post is powerful and on the mark. The Democratic Partyy, I fear, is still very much in its post election paralysis.
Perusal to say nothing of close reading (if you think you have the backbone to stomach it) of Democratic pacs or even "the authorities" raising money reveals the paucity of their take on what will persuade Dems to give. Even supposedly enlightened journalists are making jokes about Trump and Blanche et al instead of baldly, insistently addressing how huge the stakes are. In the same vein, in my appalled condition, is the error of making so much about by your own colleagues depending on framing their analysis on the "takes" believing very much can be learned about the state of the political nation by heeding to the 'blind leading the blind' of the thinly considered thoughts rendered in the 'carefully-thought-through' (NOT!!!) comments of three-time 'ballot casters for Trump.' (Seriously???)
One need only undertake analysis of Democrats' total failure to articulate a bold analysis of what is at stake (and has been since January 20, 2025) with the coming midterms, what the steely grasp Trump continues to have on both the House and Senate reveals, and what the consequences of insufficient successes of November's coming election will mean. The idea that America's future depends on the words of groups betraying to all unclear thinking or thoughtful analysis is, I fear, our self-administered coup de grace. It makes me cringe.
Refrain from using the word "abolish" when discussing ICE would be a good start. Dems need to find a more appropriate word and not "defund" either. Those words make people clench as they associate those words with doing away with border management completely same way it turned people off when we were saying "defund" the police. Words matter. Mayor Pete does a really good job of using the right verbiage to help people understand your point of spending money for management versus having to house and "care" for anyone of brown or black skin color grabbed to meet Nosferatu Miller's quota. Quotas are a way for Repugnicans to justify expenses....it is a money machine as well.
Highlighting ICE cruelty, lawlessness and wasteful abusive spending of taxpayer dollars (e.g. detention center concentration camps) is not a gamble but rather a sure winner backed by popular support. The only gamble now would be anything which MAGA could characterize as "open border" policy and wield like a cudgel even when the characterization is false. Highlighting stories about abuses and cruelty to U.S. citizens and resident immigrants does not conflict with wanting a secure border.
The individual, family and group stories that Adrian and others bring to light are powerful and should be used against any Republican running for office. Republicans own the abuses, cruelties, wasteful spending and lies of Trump, Miller, Homan et al. and should pay for that complicity.
Establishment Democrats don’t act, they calculate, issue statements, and operate out of fear. Republicans are not afraid to engage in brown shirt street fighting, with a solid 35 to 40% backing, they rarely attack even the most fascist elements of their party. They smile and watch as the James Carville’s and Rahm’s of the party denounce the more progressive elements of the party. Don’t make trouble say the Schumer’s and Jeffries. Let Ken Martin run the DNC.
ICE’s abhorrent actions under the Trump regime need to be part of campaigns and the general political debate.
I wish I knew less about the collapse of many Western democracies in the interval between the two world wars (how lucky we were that US voters elected FDR at a moment when our own democracy could have gone either way; although it begins to look as though our luck has run out).
Ignorance is bliss. If I knew less about the political dynamic at play here I would be less afraid.
As in the 1920s and 1930s, parties of the center-left and left seem at times more interested in going to war with each other than in becoming a united front against a well-funded, effective authoritarian movement.
Centrists scutter away from great issues like scared rabbits while progressives dig in and refuse to compromise even though they surely must know that compromise is the fuel that powers democracy. (On the topic of compromise: the Roberts Court exists purely because Ralph Nader refused to bend or compromise. He found a way to express his contempt for Al Gore that resonates to this day).
Democratic candidates could easily find ways to take coherent stands on matters of policy. It's not hard to stand FOR sensible immigration policies while standing AGAINST state violence committed by masked vigilantes; to stand FOR core human values, to welcome newcomers to our land while standing AGAINST violations of the law, whether committed by drug-smugglers or ICE agents.
This is a perfect example of the bone-headedness of substackers and podcasters who warn us of the dangers of going too far left, too progressive, too DEI, too democratic socialist or too social democratic: they mimic the Dem politicians who pulled out the out-dated play book and won't let anyone yank it out of their hands and toss it, looking to a new reality. The very essence of "frozen" and of sclerotic. They are still letting the ancient (1949) Republican cries of China Betrayed! Commies in the State Department! Socialist Professors! Queer teachers! Godless Democrats! Does it sound like I remember this stuff? I do. 85 at the end of the month. To quote Sondra: grow a pair.
It's just so galling that these people in politics are driven more by what will get them (re)elected than by doing what is fair, just, good and right...
This failure to act on an issue served up on a silver platter makes me wonder what this same party will do to unwind the damage Trump's regime has done and hold the criminals accountable, if the Party manages to get back into power. I'm pretty angry about what MAGA has done to my country but that anger will pale in comparison to the rage I will feel if Democrats fail to act when they have real power.
Yogi Berra spoke of the NY Mets, “Doesn’t anybody know how to play this game?” Same seems to saying about our Democrats.
Didn't he also say, "Don't just do something, stand there!"?
I think the elephant in the room is that they have used immigration enforcement and detention as a massive jobs program. DHS has intentionally targeted Democratic leaning districts and demographics in their construction and hiring. Unfortunately there's a significant portion of the electorate who just doesn't care about ICE overreach as long as, in some cases, the biggest employer in their town doesn't get defunded.
Dem leadership is always a day late and a dollar short on making decisions. Sigh.
Dems never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Thank you for highlighting the once-again spineless Democratic leaders who need to wake up and listen to their constituents’ rage on this issue. And for calling out some of our brave N.J. electeds – Senator Andy Kim, Reps. LaMonica McIver and Rob Fernandez. You need to include on this list Rep Analilia Meija, as she, like those you mentioned, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and have impact at Delaney Hall.
I’ve been assisting families visiting their incarcerated loved ones at DH for more than a year, I’ve seen for myself the pols who’re genuinely fighting back against this Administration’s deportation atrocities, and who isn’t.
Contrast the above with Senator Cory Booker and Gov Mikie Sherrill, who are big on hot air and photo ops but that’s about it.
I urge everyone to pay attention to what your politicians do, not just what they say.