Love the vampire analogy. Who will drive the stake into the hearts of these out of touch consultants? The Dem platform should be fairly easy. Advocate for the opposite of Trump’s “policies” “ Return to Sanity”
It not the consultants per se. Its the advocacy groups representing the crazy quilt of different identity groups who push agendas aimed at raising money rather than representing the people whose interests they claim to protect. The consultants move back and forth, taking jobs with the advocates when they aren't working on an election or (if the party wins, working in government.)
I vote Democrat! Period! The angst that is being poured out is undermining the democratic process.
Stop whining. Begin a step by step counter to Project 2025 to be ready for the next election. Go through it line by line and start developing executive orders for the Democratic party to be ready to roll out . Yes, forget the consultants. Begin planning.
An authenticity problem might best be solved by authentic people: new candidates for local, state and federal office who reflect the broad opposition to Donald Trump, and who advocate for things they know matter to their communities. Forget the consultants and the canned messaging studies.
We need to rid ourselves of career politicians. Ppl must convince them to do whats best for the country over their personal ambitions. We need term limits. Whats needed is fresh faces and ideas every few elections. Dare i say, candidates that dont need consulants in order to know the problems and challenges average americans face because they are those people. THAT is what representative govt is. Its not about age either, fresh doesnt necessarily mean young. Term limits would fix so many things.
People elected Trump in 2016 because they were "sick of career politicians" and he was an "outsider" who was going to "bring a fresh perspective and drain the swamp."
People are tired of career politicians because they no longer rep their constituents. They no longer rep them because of corruption theyve allowed, the above the law class that has grown sustantially during their time in office, and their inability to see that some things are more important than their own remaining in office. Not to mention the precedences that were set over the years giving a potus more power than they are supposed to have which happened because some refused to vote on certain bills in election years, so the potus had to do it.
Lastly, 2 things: that he even made it to be the candidate in 2016 happened because he was tired of watching everyone eat pie while he didnt get any. The pillaging we are seeing now is exactly what he came to do. Healthy democracies are not good targets for authoritarians. And, I didnt say or imply that fresh faces had to be outsiders, although i think that would be ok so long as they work in good faith.
I am not a political consultant but here is my pitch to the Democratic Party: food shelves. At least once per month, every Democratic Party or congressional district office hosts a free food shelf. Hand out canned goods and boxes of pasta and bags of rice. $850,000 of food will bring you a lot more goodwill than any political consultant’s advice. Every Democratic candidate or lawmaker must show up, help hand out food, listen to people.
Be normal and humble and helpful. Connecting with people over food is the opposite of AI and robots.
This is how churches, labor unions, and social clubs show up in community. The Democrats can do it, too.
The thing is, Biden aged out. Harris was not a great VP choice but we got stuck with her. And in the end, under really difficult circumstances it was a razor thin win for Trump. He is now busy mucking everything up, so really we only have to sensibly resist, tidy up the messaging, find a better, younger, more charismatic candidate, and the rest will take care of itself.
Sorry, Democratic consultants and the DNC are not just losing working class voters. Many of us who have retired from fairly good exec level or managerial level careers have been absolutely disgusted for YEARS!! Dissing Bernie, jamming Hillary down our throats (Jesus! we had to hold our noses to vote), and then handing us Biden (who arguably was a good guy, but ... GAZA! ) Why does no one talk about the damage that was done to democrats and the US across the world for sending bombs to destroy poor brown people - IN THEIR LAND????????? It's not just the working class - get that straight!
On Gaza, it was Hamas that triggered the whole mess. Biden could and should have handles our end better. Netenyahu is a disaster. But we should not let Hamas off the hook.
It has taken since the Reagan administration for Project 2025 to emerge and force change on the government and political landscape. Nothing even remotely like it exists in the Demopublican party. The long game still seems to be too little and too late. The mid-term elections will be interesting.
Great article! I only hope Democratic Leadership (whoever they are) reads it and gives it a big "think"--then make changes. As a linguist, the SAM project brings me to tears of laughter and of cringe! Studying "syntax, language, and context" to speak authentically to any group is similar to reading the book "The 10 Steps to Being Spontaneous." No matter how nuanced this SAM might be, it will not solve the problem. Practicing grammar lessons and maybe facial gesturers to boot, will only result in more robotic programmed interactions. The answer is simple: Just go out and TALK to the people--and maybe listen to.
"AND Media—another acronymized project that stands for Achieve Narrative Dominance—is hoping to raise $45 million to fund influencer content that moves away from “the current didactic, hall monitor style of Democratic politics that turns off younger audiences.”"
Don’t Democratic problems start with lack of trust.
Democratic policies on abortion, marijuana, minimum wage, campaign spending, and voting rights win ballot measures in red and purple states. Before an R & D are associated with them, Democratic views on health care and economic fairness poll well too.
But many people don’t trust Democrats on issues, particularly the economic ones.
I don’t think changing the message or the policies can improve trust. Investing in Democrats on the ground (as opposed to just online) in rural areas and red states to be a positive voice in those communities and run in local elections would be a good start.
I'm tired and disgusted by the constant flood of messages from Dems for candidates in state races I cannot and will not donate to! This is a constant daily beg; I block them ALL. I can't and won't give any more money to Dems until the '26 midterms, and only then if they run viable candidates who will win back the Congress, which is braindead and on life support!. It's shameful that the only branch that seems to work is the Judiciary. Our 'representatives' and many senators are on life support and ready for the old age home, NOT doing our constitutionally mandated work! A rubber stamp and doormat for trump and his miserable minions.
Love the vampire analogy. Who will drive the stake into the hearts of these out of touch consultants? The Dem platform should be fairly easy. Advocate for the opposite of Trump’s “policies” “ Return to Sanity”
It not the consultants per se. Its the advocacy groups representing the crazy quilt of different identity groups who push agendas aimed at raising money rather than representing the people whose interests they claim to protect. The consultants move back and forth, taking jobs with the advocates when they aren't working on an election or (if the party wins, working in government.)
I vote Democrat! Period! The angst that is being poured out is undermining the democratic process.
Stop whining. Begin a step by step counter to Project 2025 to be ready for the next election. Go through it line by line and start developing executive orders for the Democratic party to be ready to roll out . Yes, forget the consultants. Begin planning.
An authenticity problem might best be solved by authentic people: new candidates for local, state and federal office who reflect the broad opposition to Donald Trump, and who advocate for things they know matter to their communities. Forget the consultants and the canned messaging studies.
We need to rid ourselves of career politicians. Ppl must convince them to do whats best for the country over their personal ambitions. We need term limits. Whats needed is fresh faces and ideas every few elections. Dare i say, candidates that dont need consulants in order to know the problems and challenges average americans face because they are those people. THAT is what representative govt is. Its not about age either, fresh doesnt necessarily mean young. Term limits would fix so many things.
People elected Trump in 2016 because they were "sick of career politicians" and he was an "outsider" who was going to "bring a fresh perspective and drain the swamp."
How'd that work out for us?
People are tired of career politicians because they no longer rep their constituents. They no longer rep them because of corruption theyve allowed, the above the law class that has grown sustantially during their time in office, and their inability to see that some things are more important than their own remaining in office. Not to mention the precedences that were set over the years giving a potus more power than they are supposed to have which happened because some refused to vote on certain bills in election years, so the potus had to do it.
Lastly, 2 things: that he even made it to be the candidate in 2016 happened because he was tired of watching everyone eat pie while he didnt get any. The pillaging we are seeing now is exactly what he came to do. Healthy democracies are not good targets for authoritarians. And, I didnt say or imply that fresh faces had to be outsiders, although i think that would be ok so long as they work in good faith.
I am not a political consultant but here is my pitch to the Democratic Party: food shelves. At least once per month, every Democratic Party or congressional district office hosts a free food shelf. Hand out canned goods and boxes of pasta and bags of rice. $850,000 of food will bring you a lot more goodwill than any political consultant’s advice. Every Democratic candidate or lawmaker must show up, help hand out food, listen to people.
Be normal and humble and helpful. Connecting with people over food is the opposite of AI and robots.
This is how churches, labor unions, and social clubs show up in community. The Democrats can do it, too.
The thing is, Biden aged out. Harris was not a great VP choice but we got stuck with her. And in the end, under really difficult circumstances it was a razor thin win for Trump. He is now busy mucking everything up, so really we only have to sensibly resist, tidy up the messaging, find a better, younger, more charismatic candidate, and the rest will take care of itself.
Sorry, Democratic consultants and the DNC are not just losing working class voters. Many of us who have retired from fairly good exec level or managerial level careers have been absolutely disgusted for YEARS!! Dissing Bernie, jamming Hillary down our throats (Jesus! we had to hold our noses to vote), and then handing us Biden (who arguably was a good guy, but ... GAZA! ) Why does no one talk about the damage that was done to democrats and the US across the world for sending bombs to destroy poor brown people - IN THEIR LAND????????? It's not just the working class - get that straight!
On Gaza, it was Hamas that triggered the whole mess. Biden could and should have handles our end better. Netenyahu is a disaster. But we should not let Hamas off the hook.
It has taken since the Reagan administration for Project 2025 to emerge and force change on the government and political landscape. Nothing even remotely like it exists in the Demopublican party. The long game still seems to be too little and too late. The mid-term elections will be interesting.
Great article! I only hope Democratic Leadership (whoever they are) reads it and gives it a big "think"--then make changes. As a linguist, the SAM project brings me to tears of laughter and of cringe! Studying "syntax, language, and context" to speak authentically to any group is similar to reading the book "The 10 Steps to Being Spontaneous." No matter how nuanced this SAM might be, it will not solve the problem. Practicing grammar lessons and maybe facial gesturers to boot, will only result in more robotic programmed interactions. The answer is simple: Just go out and TALK to the people--and maybe listen to.
Democrats: we need to fake authenticity more to do better with MAGA voters.
Not an actual quote but it could be with the Democrat's consultants.
"Project Bullhorn, another new initiative aimed at boosting influencers, is asking for $35 million to fund left-leaning creators on YouTube."
Thank God. Finally. We need parity with the influencers on the right. We're really losing the battle in this space.
"AND Media—another acronymized project that stands for Achieve Narrative Dominance—is hoping to raise $45 million to fund influencer content that moves away from “the current didactic, hall monitor style of Democratic politics that turns off younger audiences.”"
That sounds GREAT! I wish them luck.
Don’t Democratic problems start with lack of trust.
Democratic policies on abortion, marijuana, minimum wage, campaign spending, and voting rights win ballot measures in red and purple states. Before an R & D are associated with them, Democratic views on health care and economic fairness poll well too.
But many people don’t trust Democrats on issues, particularly the economic ones.
I don’t think changing the message or the policies can improve trust. Investing in Democrats on the ground (as opposed to just online) in rural areas and red states to be a positive voice in those communities and run in local elections would be a good start.
I honestly don't know why anyone is still listening to James Carville, or why the Bulwark is giving him a platform.
I'm tired and disgusted by the constant flood of messages from Dems for candidates in state races I cannot and will not donate to! This is a constant daily beg; I block them ALL. I can't and won't give any more money to Dems until the '26 midterms, and only then if they run viable candidates who will win back the Congress, which is braindead and on life support!. It's shameful that the only branch that seems to work is the Judiciary. Our 'representatives' and many senators are on life support and ready for the old age home, NOT doing our constitutionally mandated work! A rubber stamp and doormat for trump and his miserable minions.