Catharsis-
- You go to OPM and yell at the top of your lungs, it's on TV
- You do a podcast, a video, a TV hit, a viral post
- You call for impeachment, investigations, lawsuits, etc
Do these actions make people happy? Some people.
Do they directly help solve a problem like an FBI purge? No.
- You go to OPM and yell at the top of your lungs, it's on TV
- You do a podcast, a video, a TV hit, a viral post
- You call for impeachment, investigations, lawsuits, etc
Do these actions make people happy? Some people.
Do they directly help solve a problem like an FBI purge? No.
Comments
Remember, folks just got done hearing nonstop, “shut up Uncle Joe is doing plenty to help you”
Yet here you are saying “calm down & Kiss GOP ring” 💍
Most people think of what Musk is doing in terms of "cutting future spending". That is not the worst case scenario.
https://youtu.be/aIJW8oj5hm0?si=Fd32AC2jnl7yNDoC
some on the left: where's the votes?
You do know the difference, right?
We have the power of public opinion on our side and you don't even try and start building narratives that people can follow!
- Create space for R's to oppose nominees
- Build pressure on R's to oppose Trump policies or flip on bills
- Strengthen Dems' '25 and '26 electoral response
- Buttress legal challenges to Trump actions
These actually help but rarely solve, and let's be real- you're already mad at me
2. Doesn't work
3. Assumes elections in '25 and '26
4. Doesn't work
Is this how anyone has concentrated and exercised power
Agree with this framework on the assumption there are free and fair elections in 26.
The point is: after moves like Elon's, that is not a safe assumption. There are infinite justifications to not hold, or "supervise", or whatever.
Now is the moment.
- be really nice to the Rs in the hopes they defy Trump
- hope voters enjoy it when Dems do nothing and reward them in '26 for it
- wait for other people to do lawsuits
Is that what passes for "effective" around here?
https://bsky.app/profile/wyden.senate.gov/post/3lh5ejpwncc23
"Strengthen electoral response" is like "leverage synergies" - corporate-speak that means absolutely nothing.
It's calling a spade a spade.
They are all terrorists.
The real solution is this: the Republicans have shown us effective strategy, steal their methods and treat them like they treat you
Also, has a single Dem in leadership publicly stated that this is the plan? Because from the outside it doesn’t look like there’s a plan at all.
Finally, Dem voters (cont.)
What evidence is there that ya’ll know what is effective and what’s not? Perhaps now might the time to try something new?
I am glad to return the favor.
- The Rs are never going to oppose Trump policies or flip on bills.
- Dems' '25 and '26 electoral response is not going to be strengthened by trying to appease Rs.
- Oppose his fucking nominees.
That's so greatly underappreciated. Like not quickly jumping in when members of the other party are disagreeing with each other is underappreciated, as @mcuban.bsky.social did here ⬇️
Flip on Trump? Yeah ok. Seems super likely. Cuz there's a great track record of them doing that.
You can't do anything to stop them with politics or money or limp-dick liberals
question:
How do you build pressure on Rs to oppose Trump’s policies?
How do you strengthen Dems’ ‘25 and ‘26 electoral response?
What is the theory of pressure and strengthening here?
Do these have any conflict with the first goal?
- isn’t political pressure contingent on building public support? What other kind of pressure is there?
- What are they doing to strengthen electoral responses?
- States are leading legal challenges but okay
But what a lot of people here miss is ways things that are inspiring/cathartic harm effectiveness, especially in the Senate. And I say this as a guy who talks a lot about how much I hate the Senate.
Without morale there is no “next battle.”
In additional, that data is a massive foreign intelligence target, getting fatter every day. Maybe going there with cameras would help a bit?
Dems vote for noms like Duffy, saying 'we're reasonable, but RFK/Tulsi are uniquely bad.' Does it raise odds they go down? Yes! And people are big mad
McConnell took the former approach with just 41 in his caucus. Obama was polling in the low 70s.
What effect did that have?
Diluted the ACA, and combined with a passionate base, they wrecked the D House majority.
That could be a probable outcome too, right?
Thanks.
"Dems vote for noms like Duffy, saying 'we're reasonable, but RFK/Tulsi are uniquely bad.' Does it raise odds they go down? Yes! And people are big mad"
Godspeed and forget the haters.
But the whole discussion hinges on how much of politics usual still applies. How much bipartisanship can even be achieved if Musk is going to spend $10s of millions primarying defectors?
Sometimes you have to play a losing hand like WI in '11.
I'm seriously asking
Any wins should be hammered home
I know a flood of "what about X, Y, Z?!?" would follow but that's part of the job, no?
And Dem's authored this fiasco by failing and flailing with comms since 1/20
What's their agenda? Where's their ground game?
For example, the former might give some Republicans an occasional exit ramp.
Doing the latter might backfire spectacularly because confirmations become normal, and even Kash,RFK Jr., and Tulsi get confirmed.
Because it is "comfortable."
This is the democrats logic?
This is leadership worth of the publics trust?
The people who are "mad at us"
36% didn't vote at all & you still thinking your polling matters
Yes, dude, Dems should do everything they can to grind it to a fucking halt. Nitpicking over whether Tulsi or RFK get nominated as some kind of backlash is stupid. They are dismantling the constitution AS WE SPEAK, and you’re here acting like there’s a functional difference
Because regardless of their little chess moves, being out of power means they aren't going to be very effective at anything substantial.
I understand the strategy of Congressional Dems better.
For all of our sakes, I hope you’re right that these strategies are effective, especially after we saw Thom Tillis break his word to get Hegseth elected.
https://bsky.app/profile/danielb1609.bsky.social/post/3lh53whhdhk2s
For the first time, I will actively be seeking ways to oust leadership.
Democratic leadership have been adopting this supposedly effective approach through several election cycles, including the 2024 election.
IT’S NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE.
IT HASN’T WORKED.
The biggest thing they can due is get their best lawyers and file lawsuits. I refuse to believe the top talent in the party is being effectively deployed based on the response so far.
1) Inspiring the troops and giving people hope beyond “maybe in 2 years we can do something” is important
2) unless im mistaken you’re making it clean that D’s play the game with one hand tied, as obstruction works great for R’s
We'll see very soon if 51 Rs are willing to vote no on obviously unfit and dangerous nominees
Your venn diagram not as pertinent to D govs + AGs
Will Jeffries et al desist from fatuous promises to aggressively push back?
And voting to confirm these people also definitely doesn't demoralise the Dem base.
It's all so shortsighted :(
The fact that you mentioned Duffy as being “acceptable” as he’s been shitting the bed this week pretty much undercuts your whole point.
Treating things as if its all normal politics sends the message that things are normal.
On the one hand, Gaetz isn’t AG. On the other hand, Hegseth is SecDef.
I get why a space-for-Rs-to-oppose strategy can make sense. But when it doesn’t work it is demoralizing.
Does max-obstruction lead to public pressure that causes more Rs to oppose G/K or act to stop Musk?
I honestly don’t know but the max-obstruct strategy might also be bad, even if that’s what I want.
Anyway get back to finding diapers for your geriatric senator that is getting stock tips from Nancy.
https://bsky.app/profile/paulwaldman.bsky.social/post/3lhckc7sykk2z
Find something else to do with your life. You are either not good at your job or unwilling to do it. Get out of the way so that other folks can do it for you. You'll be happier, and you'll thank them for it.
And I love a good "Gotcha!" I thought "They're eating the dogs!" ended it silly me
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Jj4NZMVvZqY
2. Pressure only works when there’s no counter pressure
Strengthening Democratic response is good, but how much can you stiffen a wet noodle.
Legal action is good, but takes time
There is no pressure
You know, deal with the reality we actually live in and not the one you all think we do.
I am one of those who has been frustrated. I've never worked in politics and don't know the ins and outs of inter-party relationships.
It feels like we've careened past that into a burning of our government from the inside out
Without some assurances, it feels like we've been left out on our own
This is why institutionalist Dems are wholly unprepared for this moment & will continue to lose.
Republicans are TRAITORS.
NO QUARTER.
Never anything concrete. Which means they're not intending on rising to the moment.
- the won't oppose any bill or policy
- lol
- ok
Learn from the past.
Will keep reading tho
Keeping all options on table i
Depend on the opposition party that want full power and has a media/base that will for them to hold the line, and not communicate to the public.. just work behind the scenes.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
And calling for constituencies to pressure Republicans to agree might help with 2
lol
And I think that if you are pinning hopes on the Democrats winning elections, you are incredibly naïve.
But if they don't get big wins, then Democratic voters are likely to be discouraged and not vote, or be furious and vote third party in 2026.
https://bsky.app/profile/joekatz45.bsky.social/post/3li34v3c5w226
I think that you /think/ it helps, and twenty years ago, it might have. Not anymore.
What good are you
That's not the case here Aaron. Come on, you recognize that right?
We're beyond normal politics now. We've got Elon Musk seizing control of OPM.
Primaries are going to be a bloodbath for currently in office Dems
Social media can have far-reaching impacts. AOC going on Twitch is good! People listening to Joe Rogan and Alex Jones is bad! They both have an impact on how people are introduced to information.
https://bsky.app/profile/whstancil.bsky.social/post/3lh5hwd5qas26
So yeah, Dems need to scream.
Have you literally never heard the phrase “sunlight is the best disenfectant?”
If every dem is hammering these illegal actions with constant media attention it becomes a lot harder to maintain public approval.
https://bsky.app/profile/fritschner.bsky.social/post/3lh5h2cmfns2z
Dems will continue to lose low information voters if they dont change.
They're to focus public attention & media narratives on behind-the-scenes abuses & showing your base you haven't abandoned them and the constitution to Trump's/Musk's depredations.
Where I (politely) disagree: providing visuals of conflict can heighten the salience of what is going on. Most of the public don't really know why OPM might be a big deal. Making it more newsworthy can amplify media coverage.
They should be doing what they can to get the word out and forcing media coverage.
Fuck they should be holding up photos of Elons cronies and giving out their addresses and phone numbers.