Well they gotta find something; it has been the border and Biden is dooomed....now that it looks like a border deal was hammered out with the Senate and it is becoming clear the House is just being obstinate.....they are moving on to Gaza. See, the left is mad at Biden, and they will vote for trump to punish him for taking Israel's side, and "Biden is losing to trump right now," according to Jonathan Chait on Morning Joe this morning, he is down in all the swing states and down by 8 in GA ( I do not consider GA a true swing state any more than I considered IN one for voting Obama narrowly in 2008, so get away from me with that nonsense ), and something about the youth and other nonsense. Sheesh. Then admitting Biden is doing well with indies and swing voters ( an admission! ) but is gonna lose the election because the left stays home. IMO why not drop people like Chait and have Simon on more...Eddie Glaude ( sp? )was a tad bit more positive, and they had MollyJong Fast on so it wasn't a total loss, but you'd conclude after watching the segment that we are done for. I don't read the New Yorker or Chait much but I'm not sure if the guy was doing his best to furrow his brow and look intently serious and worried or if he was just displaying some acting chops. What a thing to wake up to. My takeaway? Joe S just admitted Biden was winning indies and swing voters. That's the ballgame folks.
And that's why I've been calling Morning Joe the bedwetter show. Like most of cable TV I'm very upset with them right now. All they do is mope and Catastrophize . Of course I'm glad they agreed to have Simon on a few weeks ago - so as you say it's not a total loss! But after reading your comment I will definitely NOT give Jonathan Chait the time of day - seriously wtf are these people thinking?! Seems they are being pretty dramatic BUT for what?! Does Chait want the former guy back ?! Just a good reminder that these for profit entities will do anything for ratings - including give me chest pains!
FWIW, I would just exit this political loop and stop watching this show - there is no winning now with the doomsaying concern trolling click baity progressive “political experts” in the media because they just want more views, clicks, time (they are not interested in reporting). Most of these “experts” - like Jonathan Chait - aren’t really political experts, they are reporters who talk to political experts (and have now decided they are also experts). But they don’t understand how to read polls, look at data, construct a strategy or win a campaign. It’s like a reporter who covers healthcare thinking he/she/they can perform surgery. Political journalism - that provides facts, reporting, looks at the truth of promises, issues - is essential. The opining/endless amateur spin doctoring/political performance reviewing that has taken over so much of our political media is toxic dross that we can only stop by not engaging. What they put forward is not relevant to campaigns or us (other than as an amplifier of what political professional put forward for better or worse). Someday, we need to turn our sites towards fixing this problem (I believe there are options with the Times, which is entirely reliant on its 10 million almost entirely progessive subscriber/member base for its income, business and future) but for now I think we just have to focus on 2024.
You're right of course. I usually turn on the show to distract myself while taking my blood pressure ( I know, right? ) then turn it off and go for a walk. But this morning they were unusually morose. It might have been a taped show, it got me so rattled I forgot it was Sunday. I used to write articles on fisheries but I never considered myself a marine biologist, so I think you are onto something with these reporters. Imagine if Chait had interviewed some of the political experts who think Biden will win easily ( they are out there ). What if we started hearing from them on TV? Well, that would be boring, right? Better to scare the hell out of people and tell them trump is on track to win. Since they know trump isn't expanding his base, the new cry is that Dems will stay home over Gaza, and indies are upset about the border. No evidence of this is ever offered.
Traditional Republicans privately adore not only the wonderful economic news (record markets, interest rates dropping post pandemic, low unemployment) but also foreign policy with its eye on what’s matters - a united, secure and expanding NATO alliance, checking Chinese overreach, and recognition of why republicans principles of governance matter - free and fair elections, bipartisan cooperation on budget, immigration, and assurance our Armed Forces leadership receives promotions and new commands on a timely basis. Holding the center matters, and on that there is a growing bipartisan consensus.
If you run a small business or even manage a large company this economic environment is light years better than where we sat in mid/late 2020 when we were all sheltering at home, thousands were dying every day, and businesses were closing and right. All while our president was telling us to inject bleach. Republican chaos is bad for business, period. The only people who benefit from Republican leadership are grifters.
When Republicans are in the majority, life gets worse for ordinary people. I read years ago, in a US News & World Report article that voting for a Republican for president is tantamount to voting for a recession. The Republicans would take the country backwards toward the Gilded Age and the age of the robber barons when a few had a lot and lot (of people) had very little.
May we use the data compiled by Simon to generate our own graphics or clip the images provided, citing Simon as the compiler with [the source] as the source?
Hurrah! This good economic news is FINALLY resonating with more voters.
However, I’ve been reading The Ink by Anand Giridharadas, and listening to Words to Win By, a podcast by messaging guru Anat Shenker – Osorio. Their research shows that graphs and talk about past accomplishments do not sway voters… Positive storytelling and emphasis on threats to our Freedoms, Abortion and how we’re going to make life better for you are messages that work.
A quick point here - as I often say we have to differentiate between what is true, and what people believe. Part of my work is to help ground you in truth, an objective reality, that we are connect via the data I provide. Once you are grounded in truth, and data, and a policy agenda too then you can begin the process of selling it, figuring out how to best tell the story. But the first step in this process is coming to an understanding of what is true, what is happening around us, and that's where I spend my time. How all of you take all this information and move it through your networks is up to you. Hopium is not designed to reach low information voters. I am trying to help teach the teachers so to speak, and as I've been doing for decades in traditional Democratic politics, with those teachers being the elected officials themselves. Having also worked with dozens and dozens of politicians over a long period of time I don't really buy into the idea there is a single formula for comms success, that there is only one way. We all have to tell these stories in ways that work for us, that allows us to connect powerfully with others. What worked for Obama did not work for Clinton for example. We all need to open minded, learning, all the time, evolving, getting better. There is no single, rigid path.
Last night I went to a gathering of my hyper-local Democratic group and spoke witha young man who happened to be an intern for the county Democratic party. He is still in HS and mentioned that his HS had recently had a successful voter registration drive - 200+ students registered/pre-registered. (In NC, you can pre-register at 16). Woohoo!
We can all help with the effort to increase youth voter registration! The League of Women Voters (www.LWV.org) is heavily involved in voter registration You may even have a local chapter nearby that you can join. They will most likely provide free training on how to register voters (if it is permitted) in your state.
I also support the Civics Center (www.thecivicscenter.org) - I wrote postcards for two campaigns in 2023 and recently wrote letters for their Letters for Democracy campaign in AZ. You can scroll to the bottom of this page and add your email address to get updates. The founder of the group, Laura Brill also has a substack https://thecivicscenter.substack.com/.
FYI, donations to both the League of Women Voters and the Civics center are tax deductible.
Simon I want you to know know that because of you and Hopium Chronicles you have talked me off the ledge numerous times! Thank you for your clarity and wisdom and of course, hope!
The posts are easy to share. Once you click on one, you might be asked to wait while the image or video downloads, then just upload it back to your post.
Wow! Those are great. I don't think I know anyone that actually resides in NY-03 (I'm in NC) but I am attending the Suozzi postcarding party tomorrow afternoon, and I will make myself a note to share this link in the ZOOM chat to spreat the word.
Any Hopium fans in the Philly area? I'm on the mailing list for Swing Left Philadelphia hecause I joined some of their Zoom postcard parties. I got their newsletter this afternoon where they mentioned they would be headed to Long Island Saturday, Feb 10th to canvass for Tom Suozzi. Here is the pertinent part from the newsletter:
WE WILL BE HEADING TO LONG ISLAND TO Canvass on Saturday February 10th. If you would like to drive and take a carload of others, reach out and let us know and we’ll send you all the information. If you would like a ride there and back for the day, reach out and we’ll see what we can do. COME CANVASS WITH SWINGLEFT PHILADELPHIA.
Andrew Yang WTF - what team is he on anyway ?!
Apparently. Oh well, I also know he won't be the only one saying shit like that. Brian was def kinder with his response than I would have been !
Well they gotta find something; it has been the border and Biden is dooomed....now that it looks like a border deal was hammered out with the Senate and it is becoming clear the House is just being obstinate.....they are moving on to Gaza. See, the left is mad at Biden, and they will vote for trump to punish him for taking Israel's side, and "Biden is losing to trump right now," according to Jonathan Chait on Morning Joe this morning, he is down in all the swing states and down by 8 in GA ( I do not consider GA a true swing state any more than I considered IN one for voting Obama narrowly in 2008, so get away from me with that nonsense ), and something about the youth and other nonsense. Sheesh. Then admitting Biden is doing well with indies and swing voters ( an admission! ) but is gonna lose the election because the left stays home. IMO why not drop people like Chait and have Simon on more...Eddie Glaude ( sp? )was a tad bit more positive, and they had MollyJong Fast on so it wasn't a total loss, but you'd conclude after watching the segment that we are done for. I don't read the New Yorker or Chait much but I'm not sure if the guy was doing his best to furrow his brow and look intently serious and worried or if he was just displaying some acting chops. What a thing to wake up to. My takeaway? Joe S just admitted Biden was winning indies and swing voters. That's the ballgame folks.
And that's why I've been calling Morning Joe the bedwetter show. Like most of cable TV I'm very upset with them right now. All they do is mope and Catastrophize . Of course I'm glad they agreed to have Simon on a few weeks ago - so as you say it's not a total loss! But after reading your comment I will definitely NOT give Jonathan Chait the time of day - seriously wtf are these people thinking?! Seems they are being pretty dramatic BUT for what?! Does Chait want the former guy back ?! Just a good reminder that these for profit entities will do anything for ratings - including give me chest pains!
FWIW, I would just exit this political loop and stop watching this show - there is no winning now with the doomsaying concern trolling click baity progressive “political experts” in the media because they just want more views, clicks, time (they are not interested in reporting). Most of these “experts” - like Jonathan Chait - aren’t really political experts, they are reporters who talk to political experts (and have now decided they are also experts). But they don’t understand how to read polls, look at data, construct a strategy or win a campaign. It’s like a reporter who covers healthcare thinking he/she/they can perform surgery. Political journalism - that provides facts, reporting, looks at the truth of promises, issues - is essential. The opining/endless amateur spin doctoring/political performance reviewing that has taken over so much of our political media is toxic dross that we can only stop by not engaging. What they put forward is not relevant to campaigns or us (other than as an amplifier of what political professional put forward for better or worse). Someday, we need to turn our sites towards fixing this problem (I believe there are options with the Times, which is entirely reliant on its 10 million almost entirely progessive subscriber/member base for its income, business and future) but for now I think we just have to focus on 2024.
You're right of course. I usually turn on the show to distract myself while taking my blood pressure ( I know, right? ) then turn it off and go for a walk. But this morning they were unusually morose. It might have been a taped show, it got me so rattled I forgot it was Sunday. I used to write articles on fisheries but I never considered myself a marine biologist, so I think you are onto something with these reporters. Imagine if Chait had interviewed some of the political experts who think Biden will win easily ( they are out there ). What if we started hearing from them on TV? Well, that would be boring, right? Better to scare the hell out of people and tell them trump is on track to win. Since they know trump isn't expanding his base, the new cry is that Dems will stay home over Gaza, and indies are upset about the border. No evidence of this is ever offered.
Traditional Republicans privately adore not only the wonderful economic news (record markets, interest rates dropping post pandemic, low unemployment) but also foreign policy with its eye on what’s matters - a united, secure and expanding NATO alliance, checking Chinese overreach, and recognition of why republicans principles of governance matter - free and fair elections, bipartisan cooperation on budget, immigration, and assurance our Armed Forces leadership receives promotions and new commands on a timely basis. Holding the center matters, and on that there is a growing bipartisan consensus.
If you run a small business or even manage a large company this economic environment is light years better than where we sat in mid/late 2020 when we were all sheltering at home, thousands were dying every day, and businesses were closing and right. All while our president was telling us to inject bleach. Republican chaos is bad for business, period. The only people who benefit from Republican leadership are grifters.
When Republicans are in the majority, life gets worse for ordinary people. I read years ago, in a US News & World Report article that voting for a Republican for president is tantamount to voting for a recession. The Republicans would take the country backwards toward the Gilded Age and the age of the robber barons when a few had a lot and lot (of people) had very little.
May we use the data compiled by Simon to generate our own graphics or clip the images provided, citing Simon as the compiler with [the source] as the source?
Hurrah! This good economic news is FINALLY resonating with more voters.
However, I’ve been reading The Ink by Anand Giridharadas, and listening to Words to Win By, a podcast by messaging guru Anat Shenker – Osorio. Their research shows that graphs and talk about past accomplishments do not sway voters… Positive storytelling and emphasis on threats to our Freedoms, Abortion and how we’re going to make life better for you are messages that work.
Judy Loeb
Seniors Taking Action
A quick point here - as I often say we have to differentiate between what is true, and what people believe. Part of my work is to help ground you in truth, an objective reality, that we are connect via the data I provide. Once you are grounded in truth, and data, and a policy agenda too then you can begin the process of selling it, figuring out how to best tell the story. But the first step in this process is coming to an understanding of what is true, what is happening around us, and that's where I spend my time. How all of you take all this information and move it through your networks is up to you. Hopium is not designed to reach low information voters. I am trying to help teach the teachers so to speak, and as I've been doing for decades in traditional Democratic politics, with those teachers being the elected officials themselves. Having also worked with dozens and dozens of politicians over a long period of time I don't really buy into the idea there is a single formula for comms success, that there is only one way. We all have to tell these stories in ways that work for us, that allows us to connect powerfully with others. What worked for Obama did not work for Clinton for example. We all need to open minded, learning, all the time, evolving, getting better. There is no single, rigid path.
Last night I went to a gathering of my hyper-local Democratic group and spoke witha young man who happened to be an intern for the county Democratic party. He is still in HS and mentioned that his HS had recently had a successful voter registration drive - 200+ students registered/pre-registered. (In NC, you can pre-register at 16). Woohoo!
We can all help with the effort to increase youth voter registration! The League of Women Voters (www.LWV.org) is heavily involved in voter registration You may even have a local chapter nearby that you can join. They will most likely provide free training on how to register voters (if it is permitted) in your state.
I also support the Civics Center (www.thecivicscenter.org) - I wrote postcards for two campaigns in 2023 and recently wrote letters for their Letters for Democracy campaign in AZ. You can scroll to the bottom of this page and add your email address to get updates. The founder of the group, Laura Brill also has a substack https://thecivicscenter.substack.com/.
FYI, donations to both the League of Women Voters and the Civics center are tax deductible.
Simon I want you to know know that because of you and Hopium Chronicles you have talked me off the ledge numerous times! Thank you for your clarity and wisdom and of course, hope!
Couldn't have said it better. The "grounded optimism" is what really sets Hopium apart from many others!!!
Digital warriors: DemCast created this toolkit for the Souzzi race —
https://share.demcastusa.com/campaign/7D061A66-6E73-4F3B-B8B0-D8C809FD53DA/ready_made_post/twitter
The posts are easy to share. Once you click on one, you might be asked to wait while the image or video downloads, then just upload it back to your post.
Have fun!
Wow! Those are great. I don't think I know anyone that actually resides in NY-03 (I'm in NC) but I am attending the Suozzi postcarding party tomorrow afternoon, and I will make myself a note to share this link in the ZOOM chat to spreat the word.
Any Hopium fans in the Philly area? I'm on the mailing list for Swing Left Philadelphia hecause I joined some of their Zoom postcard parties. I got their newsletter this afternoon where they mentioned they would be headed to Long Island Saturday, Feb 10th to canvass for Tom Suozzi. Here is the pertinent part from the newsletter:
WE WILL BE HEADING TO LONG ISLAND TO Canvass on Saturday February 10th. If you would like to drive and take a carload of others, reach out and let us know and we’ll send you all the information. If you would like a ride there and back for the day, reach out and we’ll see what we can do. COME CANVASS WITH SWINGLEFT PHILADELPHIA.
The contacts for this chapter are Janet (janetlynnegolden@gmail.com) and Mete (mete@swingleft.org).
Is it possible to get an updated set of talking points drawing on this amazing recording "With Democrats, Things Get Better?"
Thank you!
Short form:
Democrats: We Make America *Rich*™️