Yes, this. We must find, promote and support many more Dem/Progressive influencers. The Rep/Maga coalition is fully 8-10yrs ahead of us in the social media field. It doesn't matter how good our candidates and 'sermons' are if they're only read by the choir!
"Psyops goes after experts, science, democratic institutions so to try to create psychological means to create uncertainty and distrust to ready people for authoritarian influence."
"Victims obey psyops to commit treason through ideology, money, or blackmail."
"Humans are emotional, social beings, so Information overload looks for authoritarian certainty to relieve stress. First of all, we have states, we have governors, I live in Massachusetts which has a gay governor."
"People will lay down only if they believe they have to lay down, and I'm saying, come on we're Americans, we grew up knowing what Russia was like, China was like, we don't want to be Russia, we don't want to be just put into prison like Navalny and murdered, or poisoned, or have a plane blow up, so let's get real and roll up our sleeves and say 'Not on my watch'."
"I want to give people hope and to say, "You are not alone." We're Americans, we believe in the constitution, we believe in human rights, we believe in the rule of law, and anyone who wants to take away the rule of law and just say 'screw it, I'm the king', should irk us enough to action."
"Learn how to regulate your emotional states. Understand breathing is the most powerful way to change your consciousness. If you're feeling anxious, long slow exhales will calm down your nervous system."
"You need to be human. Get hugs, get kisses, eat well, get 7 to 9 hours of sleep, most people are sleep deprived and it's one of the BITE Model criteria of brainwashing. If you are sleep deprived you are not thinking clearly."
"We need people who are going to support independent journalism by subscribing."
"Lets destigmatize being ex-cult. Intelligent people can be hacked, there is life after cult, normalize it and let's connect with people who are in MAGA world so there's an off-ramp, you can share their stories."
"A technique Hassan shares with his clients is to have them visualize the cult leader to be a foot tall in diapers, so they're looking down and they laugh. Think of Donald Trump as one foot tall in diapers whenever you think of Donald Trump. It's gonna have a very different emotional attachment."
navigator data very interesting. we definitely lost men. and joe biden/economy was very unpopular despite being the world's best economy! it appears that men do not want a woman president. and young men are turning toward republicans. we have to reverse this trend because it could become a life long commitment. also odd since typically the younger generation is usually more liberal. don't know if we will ever really understand this election. but definitely massive failure on selling our achievements, as usual.
My concern is that as long as Democrats keep believing we just need to find some better way to talk about the economy, we're going to keep misdiagnosing the problem. Sure, we do need to be louder about our economic successes, but that's not going to help with a large percentage of the county that willingly votes against their own interests. It feels as if we just don't want to admit the real problem so we keep trying to fix the symptom. There are states that consistently have the lowest levels of income, health, education, etc. and they don't do what rational actors who were concerned about the economy would do: turn around the next election and vote to make their lives better. They double down on hating women, people of color, LGBTQ+, immigrants -- there's always some new group to hate.
Racism and mysogeny aren't the whole thing, but its certainly appears to be a substantial part of who wins presidential elections. You are right Catherine, if we just think the whole thing is about messaging, and getting louder, we are missing key storylines.
My guess is there is going to be blowback, and the Dems may need to nominate a straight, white, non-jewish man for the presidency in 2028 to be competitive. Sadly, Its anathema to the party's values on diversity and inclusion, but damn... we keep losing to these lying, cheating, scumbags.
Harris said "kick the f-ing door down if you have to" and I thought that was great. But women and young people did not show up in the numbers needed to do that in 2024 like many of us anticipated. We have to consider that fact going forward.
In retrospect it’s clear that Biden did not communicate effectively on his economic achievements. I don’t want to bring negativity into this forum but it’s a fact that Biden did markedly fewer press conferences compared to his predecessors. As Simon and many others have noted, we need to “get loud.”
I want to say that not all state parties are run by Anderson Claytons. Virginia comes to mind. If Dems want to try to take away territory from Republicans, they should look at Ken Mitchell, the Democrat who ran in Virginia's CD6. He ran a fantastic campaign with almost ZERO help from the state party. He's already running again for 2026. He's a vet, a farmer, a gun owner, and a small businessman. He's also strong on reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, and the need to preserve farmland He's the perfect candidate for this rural area that runs along the border with West Virginia. Even Republicans don't really like Ben Cline, the Freedom Caucus member who represents this district, but he starts out with a huge dollar advantage. And our state party is MIA. I get that there's a need to focus on areas we are likely to win. But focusing entirely on Arlington and Loudon means we're going to keep losing close state races -- like the one we have next year for Governor, etc. When a candidate like Ken comes along and gets ignored, it makes it more difficult to recruit other rural candidates.
Democrat Lily Franklin says some donors didn’t give her money because they ‘don’t understand or care about Southwest Virginia’
The Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates lost by just 183 votes, even though she received less funding than some other party candidates who didn’t run as strongly.
He sounds kind of like Jon Tester, who won three terms in the Senate -- and lost on his fourth try. I haven't analyzed the Montana race, but it would be interesting to know how much financial support Tester got from the Democratic Party. His opponent was a wealthy guy who had MAGA backing.
Today I wrote to President Biden via your link and asked for the FBI background checks to begin immediately. I also called Congressman Cartwright, and Senators Casey and Fetterman to express my dissatisfaction with the Dangerous Four and my expectation that they will use their platforms to block these nominations, whether they get to vote on them or not. Thanks for the help with the concise messaging, Simon!
You inspired me! Wrote to Pres Biden, called Casey, Fetterman and Scanlon. Also wrote to Fetterman, since he seems a little soft in his stance. I did all this a couple weeks ago, but it’s crunch time.
All of Senator Fetterman’s constituents should contact him to protest his acquiescence to the incoming Administration. Meeting with Hegseth? Posting on Truth Social? Affirming Stefanik and Rubio…really? Rein in your Senator, PA. I regret supporting this man right now. Where is the fight?
Jessica Morse ran against Kevin Kylie in California’s third district. It was not an uncontested race. She had support from Nancy Pelosi and people who were trying to get more women in congress but she needed more help and backing to get to the finish line. I think that seat could be flipped with the right support!
Didn’t Morse lose by 15 points, almost 40,000 votes? That’s a lot of votes to flip. We should fight in every race, so kudos to Jessica Morse for running in a very challenging Red district!
It’s easy to blame American voters’ negative perception of the economy on the President’s poor communication about his economic achievements. Although I agree with that overall assessment, I believe that blaming this on Biden’s personal communication skills or the lack thereof, and more specifically on his supposed lack of press conferences, is overly simplistic.
The blame goes to the Biden Administration as a whole. Granted, the ownership structure of American media made it very challenging to effectively impact the narrative, but far greater efforts could and should have been made to underscore President Biden’s considerable achievements – which in my opinion have been the most consequential for America since LBJ’s tenure.
The consequence was almost a vacuum, which Trump and Republicans filled with a four-year campaign of negativity and their lies and talking points.
By the time Kamala Harris was our candidate, she faced an almost-insurmountable challenge of already-established voter perceptions. She also faced the fact that the news media largely "normalized" Trump, an astonishing dereliction of journalistic and editorial duty.
Tragically, the Harris Campaign, which imho was stellar, while making considerable inroads, could not overcome these challenges in the one hundred days allotted her.
In the months ahead, it will behoove Democrats to widely publicize important economic benchmarks, and to loudly blame Trump and Republicans and their inept policies when the inevitable worsening happens.
But remember Ruth Ben-Ghiat notes that the one of the first things that happens when an autocrat comes to power is an increase in "corruption." Trump has already attacked most of the safeguards that keep a President and other officials from enirching themselves. I think we need to also keep an eye on, including:
-- Number of prosecutions aimed at Donald Trumps opponents
-- Number of close family members of DJT who are offered political positions
-- Number of immigrants who are arrested and forced into prison or other detention, without due process
-- Number of children of immigrants who are separated from their families.
-- The growth in personal wealth of Musk and Ramaswamy since the announcement of their potential "cabinet
-- Number of civil servants who leave their positions or retire prematurely.
-- Increased wealth of Trump and his family. He's already made a mockery of the emolument clauses. Yet we have to watch and report.
You get my point: we can have cheap eggs and cheap gas and still be a cruel autocracy and a failed country living under a tyranny.
I wholeheartedly agree. My point is that we need to emphasize metrics that American voters – including ordinary Republicans and even MAGA voters – understand and care about, and which the news media has a track record of reporting. Those comparisons are likely to soon favor Democrats and Biden.
While our own base would certainly pay attention to negative numbers of the type you mention (and those should be closely watched and reported), some of those metrics would be loudly cheered by the MAGA crowd and low-information voters. For example:
– Civil servants leaving/retiring
– Immigrants arrested (with or without due process)
– Prosecutions and showcase trials of Trump’s opponents.
That’s why I believe Trump & co are most vulnerable on bread and butter issues, and metrics that matter to the business community.
Please add people's retirement account values. I know it isn't everyone but there are more than enough Trump voters whose retirement account will go to the floor.
My one cent: Simon was right when he said, "Primaries are healthy." That is when every kitchen table in Iowa and Montana, and Alabama, and every other rural area gets to see and talk to the candidates. I still belive perhaps naively that if Kamala had more time to connect with the rural voters, youth voters, the result would have been different.
Would appreciate a read on the effect, if any, the primary threats from Bannon and Musk (as reported in Meidas Touch) are having on the viability of the Hegseth, Gabbard, Patel & Kennedy nominations. A craven GOP is not a surprising prospect.
Fearing a primary challenge is antithetical to democracy. So glad these public servants embrace the notion that their job is to serve the public.
We ask where are the leaders in the Democratic Party, our elected officials we fought for and contributed money to, and thought would, in the worst of cases, be our line of defense should Trump win the election a month ago.
I think I've found them.
They are busily capitulating.
Yesterday, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which bans paying for gender affirming health care for minor dependents of men and women in the military; prohibits any consideration of diversity in the selection of candidates and advancement of admitted students for the U.S. military academies; and, in effect, forbids the teaching of issues of race at the academies. All of these stipulations weaken our military, make our future military officers more ignorant and potentially bigoted than they would otherwise be, and deny the children of service men and women needed medical care.
81
The bill passed 281-140. 81 Democrats voted for that bill, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aquilar from California.
Like many of you I am sure, Tuesday night I was on the Zoom call to hear Jeffries remarks to grassroots groups working for Democratic candidates and last night (Wednesday) I saw him on the Joy Reid program. In both instances he gave full-throated support for the protection of the access of all Americans to health care. But I was worried when he pledged to "work across the aisle" whenever possible.
For the Minority Leader to agree to support this bill and its racist and cruel implications, I have to wonder whether there is any difference between Republicans and Democrats. And why should I work to bring Democrats to a majority and Jeffries to the speakership in two years if he is really on the side of those who would weaken the military for temporary political appeasement.
In recent weeks, as the final votes were counted, Democrats were crowing about the "razor thin" majority that we have handed Speaker Mike Johnson in the House. Some razor! A 141 vote edge on a major setback for our supposed commitments to diversity and health care. The only razor I see is the very large blade aimed at American's neck wielded by white nationalists and autocrats.
At one o'clock in the morning, I wrote Jeffries asking about this. I expect I will not hear back. In light of what I see as the utter silence and collapse of the Democratic Party. I confess I feel like we are being played for saps out here on the landscape, especially in red states like Indiana. Appeals for money will continue to come. Dire warnings about Trump and the Republicans will clog our mailboxes. But when it comes down to making a stand or casting a simple "Nay" vote, I fear all we got on the Democratic Party bus is Neville Chamberlains in the driver's seat and for many rows back.
I share your deep disappointment regarding Dem capitulation on the NDAA. I fear it signals that they are willing to throw trans people under the bus, even though that will never be enough. There will always be another group Republicans will scapegoat, and Dems showing their bellies on trans people will embolden Republicans. These Dems are cowards and there are tougher things ahead that I now worry they will cave on.
I also share this deep disappointment, and am feeling a strong sense of betrayal, especially from Hakeem Jeffries and Ruben Gallego (who also voted for this bigoted bill). We fought so hard for them, and now they would throw trans kids and equality under the bus? Extremely disappointed in them and the 81 Dems who voted for this NDAA, and also fearing that it signals weakness in the Dem party. Have been keeping up the Hopium through everything else, but finding this very hard to bear... will contact Jeffries and Gallego and let them know how wrong this was, and contact my own Rep to thank her for voting against it. Hoping others will do the same.
I believe the most important thing we can do right now is contact DNC voting delegates urging them to vote for Ben Wikler for DNC chair. We desperately need Ben’s experience and talent demonstrated by his reviving the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
While I have a very positive view of both Ken Martin and Ben Wikler – based in part on Simon’s excellent interviews – my impression is that Wikler is more dynamic and the better communicator.
I'd like to know WHAT THE HELL is gong on with FETTERMAN?
Hopium team, everyone in PA needs to be slamming him with calls. Posting on Truth Social, telling reporters he might vote yes on Hegseth, what is going on there?
I don't know for sure. But, put simple, just hit him hard with backlash. Make clear where you stand, and maybe he will think twice before saying something like that again.
I am wondering if it would be a good idea for thousands of us to send one postcard per person to Senator Joni Ernst, telling her that by even thinking of supporting Hegseth is to not just abandon the her country, but to abandon her comrades in the military, both current and retired. She is a coward if she doesn't stand up to the MAGA extremists.
Not quite sure how to be most effective in the wording of this, but I would hope that for the investment of about $.56 and a few minutes, if we all decided to send her a postcard--send it to her Iowa address:
111 Seventh Avenue SE
Suite 480
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Let's see if we can push her back from the brink. Your thoughts?
I like the overall idea, that at certain moments, putting all hopium attention on a single simple act like writing 1 postcard to 1 individual (or possible a key small group) as a way to assert influence on key decisionmakers at key times. This is not to say that we should stop with other broader efforts, but rather on key occasions, just bring it to a single point and push hard.
SERIOUSLY, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE MISSING? I've been getting ANGRIER all day at these idiots.
FETTERMAN - Oh, I should be on Truth Social and talk positively about Hegseth and RFK.
SCHIFF: I'm gonna be a little mousie who squeaks, “I don’t think the incoming president should be threatening his political opponents with jail time. That’s not the kind of talk we should hear from a president in a democracy.”
BLUMENTHAL: please mr elon don't let people be mean to me...
MY DUDE, that's the goddamn point. TRUMP is a FASCIST. You are playing like this is kindergarden, "oh, boo hoo, teacher tell him to stop poking me"
Schiff's comments are weak sauce. Either Trump and everyone are fascists and you fight them, or everything is fine, nothing to see here.
"Look, I told you. I have defended the Democrats in various ways for years, especially when they stood up for democracy, the Constitution and the rule of law after Trump’s attempt to overthrow the will of the people. But this is so weak, I can’t defend it. I don’t think anyone can." - John Stoehr
Schiff should have said: "Trump is a convicted criminal. It is a crime to rape women, it is a crime to threaten jail time for his opponents, it is a crime to lead an insurrection. This is a criminal leading a group of criminals and frauds. And criminals, even if they win an election, are bad for democracy. This man and everyone he associates with are corrupt and will continue to corrupt our country, our moral and legal fabric. As a Democrat, we are the party of the rule of law and the Constitution, we will do whatever it takes to hold these criminals accountable and ensure justice is done. We might not win, but we're gonna fight for this!"
yes! they should always speak truth to power. that is their job. that is why we elect them. agreed, dems just cant seem to fight, or speak directly in plain, tough language (excepting bernie & AOC). people don't want weak sauce anymore. these are existential times. we can not condone. we must contrast. maybe the big dems in DC are out of touch? too corporatist? they just took a hell of a beating and are suddenly very quiet. Schumer let 4 appellate judges go with a deal with repubs. they could have worked a little harder and skipped the compromise. is there a disconnect between grassroots dems and DC dems? at a bare minimum we need a tried and true firebrand heading the DNC. do we lobby the DNC?? is that a Hopium thing?
I have no idea. Call your senators. Keep saying the same things over. Follow the Indivisible Project method of making it clear that they need to do the right thing.
Well stated! You might consider sending this same message to President Biden, and reminding him that he alone has been granted (by SCOTUS) the power to mitigate risk to the American Republic. If a foreign enemy were presenting these direct threats to our country, it would be vanquished. So, why are we giving the proverbial fox the keys to the henhouse?
Final paragraph: Democrats will have to learn how to convince people to vote for them. They need to engage in both an ideological and class struggle, as Hall said. That means making left ideas appeal because they are plain, common sense—a difficult task in a world dominated by oligarchs and special interests. The Carville koan advocates against this introspection. And it halts the necessary reckoning. Sure, it’s the economy, stupid. But since the economy is—can be—just about everything, Democrats won’t find a way to beat the antidemocratic right’s dominance by returning to Clinton. If anything, this election proved that era is finally gone forever.
The people who are giving way like Ernst are being threatened with being primary-ed and maybe worse. Elon is now spending some of his vast fortune on tv ads in IA telling people to call Joni Ernst urging her to confirm Hegseth. Money has captured this presidency, and now possibly the nominations. I don’t know how we get past the money and bullying tactics, both electoral and physical threats. What a crazy country this has become.
I’d like to see that Syrian victim of Assad’s brutality appear at Tulsi Gabbard’s Senate hearings.
Where is the reporting on the Russian war on the USA? Putin admits he did it and demands quid pro quo from Trump.
Trump says he will not interfere in Syria.
Either him or someone else. It is a good idea and I will float with folks I know.
Good information. Also, how do we cultivate informative and entertaining messaging outlets on social media, TikTok, YouTube and podcasts, operating 24/7, to attractive younger voters and counter Republican disinformation? And how do we cultivate ostensibly non-political communities that will help bring apathetic and disengaged voters into the fold? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/nov/25/democrats-organizing-get-out-the-vote?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Yes, this. We must find, promote and support many more Dem/Progressive influencers. The Rep/Maga coalition is fully 8-10yrs ahead of us in the social media field. It doesn't matter how good our candidates and 'sermons' are if they're only read by the choir!
"Think of Donald Trump as one foot tall in diapers whenever you think of Donald Trump"
LIVE: Trump Cult Expert Reveals PSY-OPS that Swung Election | The Weekend Show
https://www.youtube.com/live/WcxjsWnHtk4?si=RLFRz1Q-rS5zivXi
In a nutshell:
"Psyops goes after experts, science, democratic institutions so to try to create psychological means to create uncertainty and distrust to ready people for authoritarian influence."
"Victims obey psyops to commit treason through ideology, money, or blackmail."
"Humans are emotional, social beings, so Information overload looks for authoritarian certainty to relieve stress. First of all, we have states, we have governors, I live in Massachusetts which has a gay governor."
"People will lay down only if they believe they have to lay down, and I'm saying, come on we're Americans, we grew up knowing what Russia was like, China was like, we don't want to be Russia, we don't want to be just put into prison like Navalny and murdered, or poisoned, or have a plane blow up, so let's get real and roll up our sleeves and say 'Not on my watch'."
"I want to give people hope and to say, "You are not alone." We're Americans, we believe in the constitution, we believe in human rights, we believe in the rule of law, and anyone who wants to take away the rule of law and just say 'screw it, I'm the king', should irk us enough to action."
"Learn how to regulate your emotional states. Understand breathing is the most powerful way to change your consciousness. If you're feeling anxious, long slow exhales will calm down your nervous system."
"You need to be human. Get hugs, get kisses, eat well, get 7 to 9 hours of sleep, most people are sleep deprived and it's one of the BITE Model criteria of brainwashing. If you are sleep deprived you are not thinking clearly."
"We need people who are going to support independent journalism by subscribing."
"Lets destigmatize being ex-cult. Intelligent people can be hacked, there is life after cult, normalize it and let's connect with people who are in MAGA world so there's an off-ramp, you can share their stories."
"A technique Hassan shares with his clients is to have them visualize the cult leader to be a foot tall in diapers, so they're looking down and they laugh. Think of Donald Trump as one foot tall in diapers whenever you think of Donald Trump. It's gonna have a very different emotional attachment."
navigator data very interesting. we definitely lost men. and joe biden/economy was very unpopular despite being the world's best economy! it appears that men do not want a woman president. and young men are turning toward republicans. we have to reverse this trend because it could become a life long commitment. also odd since typically the younger generation is usually more liberal. don't know if we will ever really understand this election. but definitely massive failure on selling our achievements, as usual.
I believe that the economy was the excuse, just as in 2016 "her emails" was the excuse. Sexism and racism were the real reasons.
Agree with you so much. I’m in NC. Have been a witness to the baked-in misogyny & racism here my whole life.
My concern is that as long as Democrats keep believing we just need to find some better way to talk about the economy, we're going to keep misdiagnosing the problem. Sure, we do need to be louder about our economic successes, but that's not going to help with a large percentage of the county that willingly votes against their own interests. It feels as if we just don't want to admit the real problem so we keep trying to fix the symptom. There are states that consistently have the lowest levels of income, health, education, etc. and they don't do what rational actors who were concerned about the economy would do: turn around the next election and vote to make their lives better. They double down on hating women, people of color, LGBTQ+, immigrants -- there's always some new group to hate.
Racism and mysogeny aren't the whole thing, but its certainly appears to be a substantial part of who wins presidential elections. You are right Catherine, if we just think the whole thing is about messaging, and getting louder, we are missing key storylines.
My guess is there is going to be blowback, and the Dems may need to nominate a straight, white, non-jewish man for the presidency in 2028 to be competitive. Sadly, Its anathema to the party's values on diversity and inclusion, but damn... we keep losing to these lying, cheating, scumbags.
Harris said "kick the f-ing door down if you have to" and I thought that was great. But women and young people did not show up in the numbers needed to do that in 2024 like many of us anticipated. We have to consider that fact going forward.
Catherine, you might be interested in reading this. Among other points raised, is the observation that Trump talks about economic woe by fusing policy with cultural anxieties. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/12/what-is-the-economy-stupid-clinton-election-2024-democrat-identity-crisis/
Agree 💯
In retrospect it’s clear that Biden did not communicate effectively on his economic achievements. I don’t want to bring negativity into this forum but it’s a fact that Biden did markedly fewer press conferences compared to his predecessors. As Simon and many others have noted, we need to “get loud.”
I want to say that not all state parties are run by Anderson Claytons. Virginia comes to mind. If Dems want to try to take away territory from Republicans, they should look at Ken Mitchell, the Democrat who ran in Virginia's CD6. He ran a fantastic campaign with almost ZERO help from the state party. He's already running again for 2026. He's a vet, a farmer, a gun owner, and a small businessman. He's also strong on reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, and the need to preserve farmland He's the perfect candidate for this rural area that runs along the border with West Virginia. Even Republicans don't really like Ben Cline, the Freedom Caucus member who represents this district, but he starts out with a huge dollar advantage. And our state party is MIA. I get that there's a need to focus on areas we are likely to win. But focusing entirely on Arlington and Loudon means we're going to keep losing close state races -- like the one we have next year for Governor, etc. When a candidate like Ken comes along and gets ignored, it makes it more difficult to recruit other rural candidates.
Reminds me of a story from a year ago on VA:
Cardinal News
OPINION
Democrat Lily Franklin says some donors didn’t give her money because they ‘don’t understand or care about Southwest Virginia’
The Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates lost by just 183 votes, even though she received less funding than some other party candidates who didn’t run as strongly.
by Dwayne Yancey
December 12, 2023
https://cardinalnews.org/2023/12/12/democrat-lily-franklin-says-some-donors-didnt-give-her-money-because-they-dont-understand-or-care-about-southwest-virginia/
He sounds kind of like Jon Tester, who won three terms in the Senate -- and lost on his fourth try. I haven't analyzed the Montana race, but it would be interesting to know how much financial support Tester got from the Democratic Party. His opponent was a wealthy guy who had MAGA backing.
I keep repeating: read Jess Piper.
Today I wrote to President Biden via your link and asked for the FBI background checks to begin immediately. I also called Congressman Cartwright, and Senators Casey and Fetterman to express my dissatisfaction with the Dangerous Four and my expectation that they will use their platforms to block these nominations, whether they get to vote on them or not. Thanks for the help with the concise messaging, Simon!
Thank you Kay.
I did too Kay! let's keep it up everyone!
You inspired me! Wrote to Pres Biden, called Casey, Fetterman and Scanlon. Also wrote to Fetterman, since he seems a little soft in his stance. I did all this a couple weeks ago, but it’s crunch time.
All of Senator Fetterman’s constituents should contact him to protest his acquiescence to the incoming Administration. Meeting with Hegseth? Posting on Truth Social? Affirming Stefanik and Rubio…really? Rein in your Senator, PA. I regret supporting this man right now. Where is the fight?
Jessica Morse ran against Kevin Kylie in California’s third district. It was not an uncontested race. She had support from Nancy Pelosi and people who were trying to get more women in congress but she needed more help and backing to get to the finish line. I think that seat could be flipped with the right support!
Didn’t Morse lose by 15 points, almost 40,000 votes? That’s a lot of votes to flip. We should fight in every race, so kudos to Jessica Morse for running in a very challenging Red district!
VA 01 was also contested. Leslie Mehta won 43.6% of the votes according to NBC news on December 2 with 99% of the votes counted.
It’s easy to blame American voters’ negative perception of the economy on the President’s poor communication about his economic achievements. Although I agree with that overall assessment, I believe that blaming this on Biden’s personal communication skills or the lack thereof, and more specifically on his supposed lack of press conferences, is overly simplistic.
The blame goes to the Biden Administration as a whole. Granted, the ownership structure of American media made it very challenging to effectively impact the narrative, but far greater efforts could and should have been made to underscore President Biden’s considerable achievements – which in my opinion have been the most consequential for America since LBJ’s tenure.
The consequence was almost a vacuum, which Trump and Republicans filled with a four-year campaign of negativity and their lies and talking points.
By the time Kamala Harris was our candidate, she faced an almost-insurmountable challenge of already-established voter perceptions. She also faced the fact that the news media largely "normalized" Trump, an astonishing dereliction of journalistic and editorial duty.
Tragically, the Harris Campaign, which imho was stellar, while making considerable inroads, could not overcome these challenges in the one hundred days allotted her.
In the months ahead, it will behoove Democrats to widely publicize important economic benchmarks, and to loudly blame Trump and Republicans and their inept policies when the inevitable worsening happens.
These benchmarks include:
– Price of gas
– Price of eggs
– Overall price of food
– Overall inflation rate
– Unemployment rate
– Worker participation rate
– Gain/loss of manufacturing jobs
– Average rent, price of homes
– Budget deficits
– National debt
These are good metrics to be sure.
But remember Ruth Ben-Ghiat notes that the one of the first things that happens when an autocrat comes to power is an increase in "corruption." Trump has already attacked most of the safeguards that keep a President and other officials from enirching themselves. I think we need to also keep an eye on, including:
-- Number of prosecutions aimed at Donald Trumps opponents
-- Number of close family members of DJT who are offered political positions
-- Number of immigrants who are arrested and forced into prison or other detention, without due process
-- Number of children of immigrants who are separated from their families.
-- The growth in personal wealth of Musk and Ramaswamy since the announcement of their potential "cabinet
-- Number of civil servants who leave their positions or retire prematurely.
-- Increased wealth of Trump and his family. He's already made a mockery of the emolument clauses. Yet we have to watch and report.
You get my point: we can have cheap eggs and cheap gas and still be a cruel autocracy and a failed country living under a tyranny.
I wholeheartedly agree. My point is that we need to emphasize metrics that American voters – including ordinary Republicans and even MAGA voters – understand and care about, and which the news media has a track record of reporting. Those comparisons are likely to soon favor Democrats and Biden.
While our own base would certainly pay attention to negative numbers of the type you mention (and those should be closely watched and reported), some of those metrics would be loudly cheered by the MAGA crowd and low-information voters. For example:
– Civil servants leaving/retiring
– Immigrants arrested (with or without due process)
– Prosecutions and showcase trials of Trump’s opponents.
That’s why I believe Trump & co are most vulnerable on bread and butter issues, and metrics that matter to the business community.
Cannot agree more.
Please add people's retirement account values. I know it isn't everyone but there are more than enough Trump voters whose retirement account will go to the floor.
My one cent: Simon was right when he said, "Primaries are healthy." That is when every kitchen table in Iowa and Montana, and Alabama, and every other rural area gets to see and talk to the candidates. I still belive perhaps naively that if Kamala had more time to connect with the rural voters, youth voters, the result would have been different.
Would appreciate a read on the effect, if any, the primary threats from Bannon and Musk (as reported in Meidas Touch) are having on the viability of the Hegseth, Gabbard, Patel & Kennedy nominations. A craven GOP is not a surprising prospect.
Fearing a primary challenge is antithetical to democracy. So glad these public servants embrace the notion that their job is to serve the public.
We ask where are the leaders in the Democratic Party, our elected officials we fought for and contributed money to, and thought would, in the worst of cases, be our line of defense should Trump win the election a month ago.
I think I've found them.
They are busily capitulating.
Yesterday, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which bans paying for gender affirming health care for minor dependents of men and women in the military; prohibits any consideration of diversity in the selection of candidates and advancement of admitted students for the U.S. military academies; and, in effect, forbids the teaching of issues of race at the academies. All of these stipulations weaken our military, make our future military officers more ignorant and potentially bigoted than they would otherwise be, and deny the children of service men and women needed medical care.
81
The bill passed 281-140. 81 Democrats voted for that bill, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aquilar from California.
https://cnb.cx/3OP4Uyy
Like many of you I am sure, Tuesday night I was on the Zoom call to hear Jeffries remarks to grassroots groups working for Democratic candidates and last night (Wednesday) I saw him on the Joy Reid program. In both instances he gave full-throated support for the protection of the access of all Americans to health care. But I was worried when he pledged to "work across the aisle" whenever possible.
For the Minority Leader to agree to support this bill and its racist and cruel implications, I have to wonder whether there is any difference between Republicans and Democrats. And why should I work to bring Democrats to a majority and Jeffries to the speakership in two years if he is really on the side of those who would weaken the military for temporary political appeasement.
In recent weeks, as the final votes were counted, Democrats were crowing about the "razor thin" majority that we have handed Speaker Mike Johnson in the House. Some razor! A 141 vote edge on a major setback for our supposed commitments to diversity and health care. The only razor I see is the very large blade aimed at American's neck wielded by white nationalists and autocrats.
At one o'clock in the morning, I wrote Jeffries asking about this. I expect I will not hear back. In light of what I see as the utter silence and collapse of the Democratic Party. I confess I feel like we are being played for saps out here on the landscape, especially in red states like Indiana. Appeals for money will continue to come. Dire warnings about Trump and the Republicans will clog our mailboxes. But when it comes down to making a stand or casting a simple "Nay" vote, I fear all we got on the Democratic Party bus is Neville Chamberlains in the driver's seat and for many rows back.
I share your deep disappointment regarding Dem capitulation on the NDAA. I fear it signals that they are willing to throw trans people under the bus, even though that will never be enough. There will always be another group Republicans will scapegoat, and Dems showing their bellies on trans people will embolden Republicans. These Dems are cowards and there are tougher things ahead that I now worry they will cave on.
I also share this deep disappointment, and am feeling a strong sense of betrayal, especially from Hakeem Jeffries and Ruben Gallego (who also voted for this bigoted bill). We fought so hard for them, and now they would throw trans kids and equality under the bus? Extremely disappointed in them and the 81 Dems who voted for this NDAA, and also fearing that it signals weakness in the Dem party. Have been keeping up the Hopium through everything else, but finding this very hard to bear... will contact Jeffries and Gallego and let them know how wrong this was, and contact my own Rep to thank her for voting against it. Hoping others will do the same.
I believe the most important thing we can do right now is contact DNC voting delegates urging them to vote for Ben Wikler for DNC chair. We desperately need Ben’s experience and talent demonstrated by his reviving the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
While I have a very positive view of both Ken Martin and Ben Wikler – based in part on Simon’s excellent interviews – my impression is that Wikler is more dynamic and the better communicator.
would be nice to have video of ben wikler on our hopium page.
Here is Ben Wikler in conversation with Tara McGowan and Simon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkcjjQPO1xY
A good non-video interview by Matthew Kotcher:
https://brownpoliticalreview.org/2024/11/americas-hardest-working-democrat/
Agreed.
I'd like to know WHAT THE HELL is gong on with FETTERMAN?
Hopium team, everyone in PA needs to be slamming him with calls. Posting on Truth Social, telling reporters he might vote yes on Hegseth, what is going on there?
I don't know for sure. But, put simple, just hit him hard with backlash. Make clear where you stand, and maybe he will think twice before saying something like that again.
Simon, you asked for some ideas for action now:
I am wondering if it would be a good idea for thousands of us to send one postcard per person to Senator Joni Ernst, telling her that by even thinking of supporting Hegseth is to not just abandon the her country, but to abandon her comrades in the military, both current and retired. She is a coward if she doesn't stand up to the MAGA extremists.
Not quite sure how to be most effective in the wording of this, but I would hope that for the investment of about $.56 and a few minutes, if we all decided to send her a postcard--send it to her Iowa address:
111 Seventh Avenue SE
Suite 480
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Let's see if we can push her back from the brink. Your thoughts?
It could make a difference, Andrea
I like the overall idea, that at certain moments, putting all hopium attention on a single simple act like writing 1 postcard to 1 individual (or possible a key small group) as a way to assert influence on key decisionmakers at key times. This is not to say that we should stop with other broader efforts, but rather on key occasions, just bring it to a single point and push hard.
SERIOUSLY, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE MISSING? I've been getting ANGRIER all day at these idiots.
FETTERMAN - Oh, I should be on Truth Social and talk positively about Hegseth and RFK.
SCHIFF: I'm gonna be a little mousie who squeaks, “I don’t think the incoming president should be threatening his political opponents with jail time. That’s not the kind of talk we should hear from a president in a democracy.”
BLUMENTHAL: please mr elon don't let people be mean to me...
MY DUDE, that's the goddamn point. TRUMP is a FASCIST. You are playing like this is kindergarden, "oh, boo hoo, teacher tell him to stop poking me"
https://www.editorialboard.com/the-democrats-are-not-acting-like-a-democratic-political-party/
Schiff's comments are weak sauce. Either Trump and everyone are fascists and you fight them, or everything is fine, nothing to see here.
"Look, I told you. I have defended the Democrats in various ways for years, especially when they stood up for democracy, the Constitution and the rule of law after Trump’s attempt to overthrow the will of the people. But this is so weak, I can’t defend it. I don’t think anyone can." - John Stoehr
Schiff should have said: "Trump is a convicted criminal. It is a crime to rape women, it is a crime to threaten jail time for his opponents, it is a crime to lead an insurrection. This is a criminal leading a group of criminals and frauds. And criminals, even if they win an election, are bad for democracy. This man and everyone he associates with are corrupt and will continue to corrupt our country, our moral and legal fabric. As a Democrat, we are the party of the rule of law and the Constitution, we will do whatever it takes to hold these criminals accountable and ensure justice is done. We might not win, but we're gonna fight for this!"
yes! they should always speak truth to power. that is their job. that is why we elect them. agreed, dems just cant seem to fight, or speak directly in plain, tough language (excepting bernie & AOC). people don't want weak sauce anymore. these are existential times. we can not condone. we must contrast. maybe the big dems in DC are out of touch? too corporatist? they just took a hell of a beating and are suddenly very quiet. Schumer let 4 appellate judges go with a deal with repubs. they could have worked a little harder and skipped the compromise. is there a disconnect between grassroots dems and DC dems? at a bare minimum we need a tried and true firebrand heading the DNC. do we lobby the DNC?? is that a Hopium thing?
I have no idea. Call your senators. Keep saying the same things over. Follow the Indivisible Project method of making it clear that they need to do the right thing.
Well stated! You might consider sending this same message to President Biden, and reminding him that he alone has been granted (by SCOTUS) the power to mitigate risk to the American Republic. If a foreign enemy were presenting these direct threats to our country, it would be vanquished. So, why are we giving the proverbial fox the keys to the henhouse?
Lots of good stuff to chew on here: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/12/what-is-the-economy-stupid-clinton-election-2024-democrat-identity-crisis/
Final paragraph: Democrats will have to learn how to convince people to vote for them. They need to engage in both an ideological and class struggle, as Hall said. That means making left ideas appeal because they are plain, common sense—a difficult task in a world dominated by oligarchs and special interests. The Carville koan advocates against this introspection. And it halts the necessary reckoning. Sure, it’s the economy, stupid. But since the economy is—can be—just about everything, Democrats won’t find a way to beat the antidemocratic right’s dominance by returning to Clinton. If anything, this election proved that era is finally gone forever.
Some headlines are saying that the Republicans are looking more favorably toward Kash Patel and Hegseth. Maybe I am missing some important details.
If either or all 4 are vetted by the FBI, I would hope some problems should arise to stop some of the Republicans to reconsider?
I live in TX so it's a waste of time to call Cruz although I did contact Cornyn's office early on.
The people who are giving way like Ernst are being threatened with being primary-ed and maybe worse. Elon is now spending some of his vast fortune on tv ads in IA telling people to call Joni Ernst urging her to confirm Hegseth. Money has captured this presidency, and now possibly the nominations. I don’t know how we get past the money and bullying tactics, both electoral and physical threats. What a crazy country this has become.