Agree. This is a good message. We need to see more fight from the Dems and I think we finally are. Also we absolutely need a road map. I am confident we can beat back this fuckery because there are more of us. But we need to get very loud, very focused with concrete actions and stay determined.
The Dem party has been hollowed out after years of crushing anything that looked like it might upset some undecided voter in Kansas. Bernie, the "progressives", "the squad", etc., etc., all put down as being the problem. Now all we have is milquetoast smooth talkers, who might even be compromised.
Maybe, but we must learn the lessons of history in order to do something that meets this moment. I place less hope in the pablum speakers rising to this moment. We must meet this force of history with equal or greater force.
I agree with a lot here, but I also think a lot of the "I bet you're gonna fire off a sternly-worded press release" response (incl. mine) is borne of frustrating experience. Historically, it feels like that's their only play. Instead of (2) in your three part list, we get underpants gnomes.
But somebody's gotta call the play and I've *gotta* believe that we're not out here on our own while leadership sits around and asks "What Would Carville Do?" Tell me the play, coach!
Is there a power struggle we are not yet recognizing among the Dem leadership that is keeping them quiet? Because I am done with the old guard. I want vibrant, young voices leading the way. And I’m a boomer. Can’t imagine younger people don’t feel this even more intensely.
There are things Senate Dems can be doing to delay and block proceedings on nominees and legislation. Those delays add up and can become an effective barricade if Dems stick together. Object to unanimous consent every time. Call quorum every time.
Here is the thing. If your supporters see you as rolling over for Trump, you are finished. Right or wrong, that’s supporters are seeing. Like you said, leadership needs to lay out its plan. Strongly worded social media posts is not a plan. Absent that, their support is going to dry up.
this is what is missing from Democrats messaging right now on all levels (with a few notable exceptions). this isn't the fight we wanted but it's maybe the fight the system needed
The only person I've seen showing up over my transom is JB Pritzker. He's not who I'd figure. And he doesn't have a totally coherent message. But he's literally the only one I'm seeing on TV saying some version of Fuck This.
I want to see Shawn Fain in this space characterizing this as nothing less than a war between the billionaires and the rest of us. Pretty sure that’s a winning message.
Correction on my part - Ranking Member, though setting her up to be Chair if/when the Dems take the House back.
I think it matters a bit. We've seen the GOP use Chairs/Ranking Members to help drive media narrative. Of course our side doesn't have Fox News to drive it on. But still... 😌
As a person very interested and vested in the future but not a politician, or a podcaster, or a substacker, or a whatever. I know how bad it is, I know it's really, really, really bad and going to get worse and stay bad for a while.
BUT, I am getting sick of the pundits and podcasters and the ilk who chastise us ALL daily about how lame we all are. I don't really see them doing much at all really, except yelling at us. They make a living off this shit, I might point out.
Schumer has the jowls for a Churchillian moment but not the gravitas. Weirdly I think AOC is showing the gravitas but lacks the leadership role. Regardless, I hope someone steps up quickly, and effectively, to deliver that message.
Though I think it should be noted that the backlash Dem leadership is facing is in response to years of inaction and their habit of undercutting anyone who does try to take action (like AOC).
Dems need to earn back public trust by acting. Not posturing. Not fundraising. Acting.
The country may be falling to fascism but hey, we protected the seniority system in Congress!
It is enraging that they seem to be more upset at the idea of AOC leading a committee than at putting fascist apparatchiks in charge of vital American infrastructure.
Amidst all our justifiable frustration, I remind myself that this is happening at lightning speed. Yes, Trump’s burn-it-all-down strategy has been telegraphed for months, yes, but seeing it actually burn incites a whole new level of shock. I believe we hard-to-herd cats *are* gathering... 1/2
... we’re just in the very early stages. Trump II is not even two weeks old. I have faith that we feisty, hard-to-organize creatures will rapidly evolve into a fighting force equal to the task. Just as the Allies rallied to defeat last century’s fascists. 2/2
The grassroots has been bailing out democratic leadership for decades. We deserve the right to yell and criticize and hopefully they will hear us before it’s too late.
Adam is a good guy. Hakeem is a good guy. But where is the unified messaging to us about what this pushback looks like and how we can participate? Don't send us donation requests and expect responses other than contempt.
THANK YOU Josh for this. And if you don't have the blueprint drafted yet, you go out and yell offer OUR framing and defend the interests of the American people and the Constitution - and undertake a tactic while you work on the strategy.
Public opinion is drugged rn and shouldn't be driving Dems.
You are right, BUT Dems are failing. Connolly over AOC for Oversight was a self-own. Dems need to bring the DRAMA, because most of the country is not really paying attention. Ask “What would Mitch do?”
I've had a few people ask me versions of this. I think it's a mistake to get focused on charismatic individuals, notwithstanding my analogy. My focus at least is that you need to be explaining a path back even if all the steps on path aren't clear yet.
This is fair, but time is slipping. Also, the kind of leadership you are describing has been largely absent for, oh, the last 50 years. We can’t keep running scared from the civil rights era.
Comments
I want to do the work. I'm ready to do the work.
But somebody's gotta call the play and I've *gotta* believe that we're not out here on our own while leadership sits around and asks "What Would Carville Do?" Tell me the play, coach!
But they aren't doing squat. They're tweeting.
I also wish (yet again) that Katie Porter were my Senator, not Adam.
I think it matters a bit. We've seen the GOP use Chairs/Ranking Members to help drive media narrative. Of course our side doesn't have Fox News to drive it on. But still... 😌
Though I think it should be noted that the backlash Dem leadership is facing is in response to years of inaction and their habit of undercutting anyone who does try to take action (like AOC).
Dems need to earn back public trust by acting. Not posturing. Not fundraising. Acting.
It is enraging that they seem to be more upset at the idea of AOC leading a committee than at putting fascist apparatchiks in charge of vital American infrastructure.
Public opinion is drugged rn and shouldn't be driving Dems.
https://youtu.be/xz7KLSOJaTE?si=epN5dxP6HQ7gGbSC&t=79