We have to show voters we’re willing to fight! I’m convinced that this is the key to restoring voter approval of the Democratic Party.
Hopium has a lot of talk about Trump’s declining popularity, and rightly so. But it’s a depressing fact that Democrats have an even lower approval rate than Trump. This needs to change!
Exactly. I don't want to hear about norms, bi-partisanship, rule of law etc because it has been proven to be a sham right before my eyes. The GOP is the enemy. They are incapable of doing the right thing because they are a bunch of crooks, thugs and ignorant loons. They are not my "fellow Americans" and my greatest desire is to send them all to go live together in the new country of Shitholistan, and let us work on building a country where we can all have nice things, and being ignorant and bigoted meets with extreme social disapproval.
When Trump's "Deliverance characters" followers say they love Trump because "he gets me" they don't mean he gets the misery of living on the bottom of the economic ladder. What Trump gets is being a racist, rapist bully who makes his own rules --- and that is their dream come true. They can take off their white hoods and parade around in brought daylight - or so they think. They must be strongly disabused of that.
I think a demonstrated ability to lead and to work together is more important. The fact that the Texas legislature walked out to delay ratification of gerrymandering was brilliant! Finally a smart strategic response along with other states to follow from CA to NY! Wake up DEMS! Let’s go!
Texan Democrats walking out of the legislature and leaving the state to deny Abbott’s Republicans a quorum. That is a great example of fighting!
Moreover, Democrats are winning the narrative war. Abbott claims Democrats are blocking flood relief. BS! Flood relief was not top of the agenda when Abbott called his special session.
We'll get there. Democrats will come home. The party can broaden its appeal. And there is more fight in the dog every day from what I can see.
I also don't believe Democrats are more unpopular than Trump. Democratic voters I think feel let down by the party because they didn't win nationally in 2024. That's different from the reasons for Trump's unpopularity.
I agree: Democrats will come home. But we’ll need them to turn out massively. In addition we want to win over as many Independents as possible (we’re doing that; just look at our overperfomance in special elections in 2025), and recruit a lot of non-MAGA Republicans.
While I am confident, and my confidence is growing, we have a lot of work to do. As Simon says, "Hopium is hope with a plan."
I can't tell you how many times, at gatherings, I have heard yeah but Trump comes off as strong and the Democrats are weak. Mostly, these gatherings are with people I don't see on a regular basis. I say I don't think Trump is strong. He is loud and a liar and a racist.
That's an excellent counter point. I have to make index cards to carry with me! What I need to do is keep a mental list. Also, I really like what Simon has said in that it could be worse - Trump could be popular and he is not.
My comments on the topic were just posted under the Heller interview so I won't repeat them. This fight you speak of is what we want and I tell you it will dramatically improve Democratic Party polling because this is what the party's own base wants to see. The place I differ personally is the "strong and wrong." No, I don't prefer wrong of any sort and strong and wrong is the worst kind of wrong. Strong and wrong is the rapist you can't fight off, the reason that women say they choose the bear. And that it comes from Bill Clinton of all people is not very shocking. It is also not a model I am interested in having a leader emulate.
I hear you on this and I don't think I or anyone else hear is recommending that we emulate Trump. That is never implied, inferred or suggested. But we must understand what he is doing to defeat him.
I remember when Clinton said that. I had many issues w him and still do. But in comparison w the alternative at the time - another four years of H. W. Bush - no thank you.
On Nov. 7, 2024, five days after the disappointing election, I posted: "Take care of each other. We're not giving up!" I’m an eternal optimist at heart. The message is simply that:
1.) We’re not happy about the situation.
2.) Let’s take care of ourselves and each other.
3.) Together, we can prevail!
The resistance is finally starting to pick up steam. We can win the battle to preserve our democracy.
How serendipitous is it that I discover this brilliant, inspiring comment moments after getting yet another fucking apocalyptic fundraising text (I can now text Stop2End in my sleep)! Seriously, in spite of all of the terrible things occurring, I too choose optimism and am ready to fight. To me, doomerism is just a toxic feedback loop, which does nothing. Is every day going to be good? Hell no, but as someone with severe anxiety, I've come to learn that the bigger picture is often where hope lies!
1000% simon. if we dont fight, we dont save democracy. all of our efforts since election day have made dents, scratches, glancing blows, but we may be winning the battles and losing the war? and i think we will have to demand new leadership in the senate for sure, and maybe the house. we need to see fire in the belly. this is what we have been asking for since election day. very proud of all of us to be ahead of the electeds. that is impressive.
i have been watching the polls simon posts. specifically the $50-100K population. the middle class more or less. today, i see they are down 21%. so finally they are reacting!! that is good news, because this is a slice of our society that is somewhat buffeted from real hardship, but will not be from job loss.
'You never know....' William Wilberforce was on his deathbed when he heard that the Slavery Abolition Act had passed its second reading in the British parliament and was on its way to becoming law. Hopefully, some of us will see a return to sanity before then, but the tenacity needs to precede the reward....
Yes fight. We have taken a long time to get here in these past 20 years but now we are and it’s great! But T’s enablers have broken so much in just 6 months that we must also prepare the electorate to not expect quick fixes. Americans have gotten so impatient since everything is so fast now and we need people who fight and tell hard truths while showing a clear course that is big picture. Talk about the forest not every individual tree.
Everything he has done must be demolished - brought into the public square and set on fire. And the Heritage Foundations must feel the heat from that bonfire of tyrannies.
Absolutely. Including that $%^# ballroom. Paint it black so it's visually no longer part of the White House, and/or turn it into a center that celebrates immigrants and the environment. Don't be afraid of looking petty, Democrats. He has systematically destroyed everything every Democratic (and "RINO" Republican) president has done. The best way to ensure it never happens again is to show his supporters exactly what thatvfeels like.
" I think whatever that narrative becomes it has to have at least three elements:" ~Simon
I agree those elements are important, but I think the idea of constitutional order needs to be a strong component of the narrative.
Another thought, and I'm curious what hopioids think about this one; Trump's building the $200 million banquet hall at the White House. Hey Two Dolls, THATS OUR HOUSE. You are a temporary resident, a tenant with an expiration date in 3+ years.
Whaddya think Hopioids? Is it a distraction to argue about the ballroom, or should it be part of the narrative as a fundamental example of plunder?
I would frame the rose garden and ballroom efforts as showing, yet again, that Trump is always focused on himself while ignoring the needs of the American people.
Yes fight. What does “strong” mean when it’s a woman candidate for president? Harris was a prosecutor! I think she had to pull her punches so she wouldn’t come across as unfeminine or whatever bs.
I understand what you are saying, Ann. Women, and particularly women of color, have to measure how they respond to things. I heard Michelle Obama recently say that when Barack was initially running for President, she had to learn how to carefully balance how strong and committed she sounded, so that she sounded concerned and determined yet not too angry or she was labeled "an angry Black woman."
Her debate performance was hella strong. Her debate against Mike Pence way back when was too. "I'm speaking."
I thought her entire campaign for prez conveyed strength, except maybe for the "underdog" narrative that Simon references frequently as a signal of weakness.
Fantastic essay, Simon. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for Democrats to show the courage of their convictions and stop poll testing everything and all the fretting. Stand up for people, stand up for America.
People can smell phony. They also can feel authenticity. Being PISSED OFF about the GOP’s constant cheating is an appropriate and AUTHENTIC response!!!
I beieve that it is up to the democratic party to aggressively show voters what the party stands for and meets with what "we the people" really want. I am tired of the democrats in essence fighting among themselves. I must get at least 60 e-mails a day [some dupicative] asking for money. Instead I believe they should coordinate their efforts and pick a few key isues to focu son. -not all over the place like they do now. I understand that there are lots of concerns out there, but we can't solve thwem all right now. Now when I see an e-mail I generally just delete it. My wife and I are elderly and disabled. We don't have a lot of money to spare. I also believe that the democrats should focus on htings like ride sharing as away to get people to the polls, explain what the Democrats stand for. They can't stand for everything - at least not now.
SIMON You have just HIT YOUR STRIDE, for what this moment needs. I cannot wait to hear what you are going to say tonight! This is the most wonderful message. And thank you for connecting it to all the hard work leading up to this moment. I am now calling my senators and 1. thanking them for what they are doing (Poor Senator Warren; she must be hoarse from yelling!) but also sending a consolidated message about getting LOUDER and MORE UNIFIED. I think you have a great point about having to make A LOT of noise every time there is another egregious act. But also now showing more fight about the things that are really going to hurt Americans. Not sure HOW we'er going to do all this but this was an inspired letter today!!! Thank you.
Simon’s messages are the words needed to be spread across the land… repeated short strong messages over and over ! Everyone has been saying for awhile now - the Dems must fight harder now that the “iron is hot” to sear into the unraveling fabric of this wanna be “regime”… yet is there enough “fighting “/ action going on to make citizens notice the D. message truly speaks to them ? The right AND strong ?Do you think a stronger wave of action is starting to roll out ?
Thanks Simon as always. I wouldn't have predicted Epstein or Texas becoming the battle cry they have become but I'm here for it. Honestly, I lived in Dallas the last time Dems left the state to thwart quorum and I can't even remember now what the issue was. We will not forget this, I'm quite sure!
The following video with Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Reverend Barber was in my Inbox this morning and it is both chilling and important. It's worth a watch.
No excuse whatsoever to vote for a sexual deviant like Trump. The problem I believe lies with large swaths of Americans and the values they hold dear. Those values revolve around laziness and being entertained. American society, especially in ruby red states, is rotten to the core.
Strong brands are built on contrast. Successful movements are built on values. Our Democratic movement must clearly contrast our values (“Freedom, Family, Fairness, Future”*) versus theirs (Greed, Cruelty).
Go to the Events tab at the top of the Hopium home page. It's the first item.
We have to show voters we’re willing to fight! I’m convinced that this is the key to restoring voter approval of the Democratic Party.
Hopium has a lot of talk about Trump’s declining popularity, and rightly so. But it’s a depressing fact that Democrats have an even lower approval rate than Trump. This needs to change!
Exactly. I don't want to hear about norms, bi-partisanship, rule of law etc because it has been proven to be a sham right before my eyes. The GOP is the enemy. They are incapable of doing the right thing because they are a bunch of crooks, thugs and ignorant loons. They are not my "fellow Americans" and my greatest desire is to send them all to go live together in the new country of Shitholistan, and let us work on building a country where we can all have nice things, and being ignorant and bigoted meets with extreme social disapproval.
When Trump's "Deliverance characters" followers say they love Trump because "he gets me" they don't mean he gets the misery of living on the bottom of the economic ladder. What Trump gets is being a racist, rapist bully who makes his own rules --- and that is their dream come true. They can take off their white hoods and parade around in brought daylight - or so they think. They must be strongly disabused of that.
I think a demonstrated ability to lead and to work together is more important. The fact that the Texas legislature walked out to delay ratification of gerrymandering was brilliant! Finally a smart strategic response along with other states to follow from CA to NY! Wake up DEMS! Let’s go!
Texan Democrats walking out of the legislature and leaving the state to deny Abbott’s Republicans a quorum. That is a great example of fighting!
Moreover, Democrats are winning the narrative war. Abbott claims Democrats are blocking flood relief. BS! Flood relief was not top of the agenda when Abbott called his special session.
We'll get there. Democrats will come home. The party can broaden its appeal. And there is more fight in the dog every day from what I can see.
I also don't believe Democrats are more unpopular than Trump. Democratic voters I think feel let down by the party because they didn't win nationally in 2024. That's different from the reasons for Trump's unpopularity.
I agree: Democrats will come home. But we’ll need them to turn out massively. In addition we want to win over as many Independents as possible (we’re doing that; just look at our overperfomance in special elections in 2025), and recruit a lot of non-MAGA Republicans.
While I am confident, and my confidence is growing, we have a lot of work to do. As Simon says, "Hopium is hope with a plan."
Agreed. Look to the special election margins and wins by democrats in 2025. I think enthusiasm is increasing.
This support of Texas Democrats , Pritzker, Hochul, Newsom— we’re engaging in war tactics now.
I can't tell you how many times, at gatherings, I have heard yeah but Trump comes off as strong and the Democrats are weak. Mostly, these gatherings are with people I don't see on a regular basis. I say I don't think Trump is strong. He is loud and a liar and a racist.
I couldn’t agree more! Moreover, Trump is a bully – and bullies are fundamentally cowardly and weak.
💯.
I also counter that argument w a list of Dem special election margins and wins in 2025. They’re speechless.
That's an excellent counter point. I have to make index cards to carry with me! What I need to do is keep a mental list. Also, I really like what Simon has said in that it could be worse - Trump could be popular and he is not.
My comments on the topic were just posted under the Heller interview so I won't repeat them. This fight you speak of is what we want and I tell you it will dramatically improve Democratic Party polling because this is what the party's own base wants to see. The place I differ personally is the "strong and wrong." No, I don't prefer wrong of any sort and strong and wrong is the worst kind of wrong. Strong and wrong is the rapist you can't fight off, the reason that women say they choose the bear. And that it comes from Bill Clinton of all people is not very shocking. It is also not a model I am interested in having a leader emulate.
I hear you on this and I don't think I or anyone else hear is recommending that we emulate Trump. That is never implied, inferred or suggested. But we must understand what he is doing to defeat him.
I remember when Clinton said that. I had many issues w him and still do. But in comparison w the alternative at the time - another four years of H. W. Bush - no thank you.
On Nov. 7, 2024, five days after the disappointing election, I posted: "Take care of each other. We're not giving up!" I’m an eternal optimist at heart. The message is simply that:
1.) We’re not happy about the situation.
2.) Let’s take care of ourselves and each other.
3.) Together, we can prevail!
The resistance is finally starting to pick up steam. We can win the battle to preserve our democracy.
Love this!!! We can absolutely win!
My first post after the election:
This is not the first time I've felt like the sky has fallen on me, and I will rally.
So will you.
We will win in the end, because if we haven't won,
It's not the end.
Yes, THIS. I prefer optimism to doomerism. 😊
How serendipitous is it that I discover this brilliant, inspiring comment moments after getting yet another fucking apocalyptic fundraising text (I can now text Stop2End in my sleep)! Seriously, in spite of all of the terrible things occurring, I too choose optimism and am ready to fight. To me, doomerism is just a toxic feedback loop, which does nothing. Is every day going to be good? Hell no, but as someone with severe anxiety, I've come to learn that the bigger picture is often where hope lies!
1000% simon. if we dont fight, we dont save democracy. all of our efforts since election day have made dents, scratches, glancing blows, but we may be winning the battles and losing the war? and i think we will have to demand new leadership in the senate for sure, and maybe the house. we need to see fire in the belly. this is what we have been asking for since election day. very proud of all of us to be ahead of the electeds. that is impressive.
i have been watching the polls simon posts. specifically the $50-100K population. the middle class more or less. today, i see they are down 21%. so finally they are reacting!! that is good news, because this is a slice of our society that is somewhat buffeted from real hardship, but will not be from job loss.
'You never know....' William Wilberforce was on his deathbed when he heard that the Slavery Abolition Act had passed its second reading in the British parliament and was on its way to becoming law. Hopefully, some of us will see a return to sanity before then, but the tenacity needs to precede the reward....
"The idea is not that we will win in our own lifetimes, and that’s the measure of us, but that we will die trying"
--Barbara Ehrenreich
Yes fight. We have taken a long time to get here in these past 20 years but now we are and it’s great! But T’s enablers have broken so much in just 6 months that we must also prepare the electorate to not expect quick fixes. Americans have gotten so impatient since everything is so fast now and we need people who fight and tell hard truths while showing a clear course that is big picture. Talk about the forest not every individual tree.
Everything he has done must be demolished - brought into the public square and set on fire. And the Heritage Foundations must feel the heat from that bonfire of tyrannies.
Absolutely. Including that $%^# ballroom. Paint it black so it's visually no longer part of the White House, and/or turn it into a center that celebrates immigrants and the environment. Don't be afraid of looking petty, Democrats. He has systematically destroyed everything every Democratic (and "RINO" Republican) president has done. The best way to ensure it never happens again is to show his supporters exactly what thatvfeels like.
" I think whatever that narrative becomes it has to have at least three elements:" ~Simon
I agree those elements are important, but I think the idea of constitutional order needs to be a strong component of the narrative.
Another thought, and I'm curious what hopioids think about this one; Trump's building the $200 million banquet hall at the White House. Hey Two Dolls, THATS OUR HOUSE. You are a temporary resident, a tenant with an expiration date in 3+ years.
Whaddya think Hopioids? Is it a distraction to argue about the ballroom, or should it be part of the narrative as a fundamental example of plunder?
Called my peeps about the tarriffs this morning.
I would frame the rose garden and ballroom efforts as showing, yet again, that Trump is always focused on himself while ignoring the needs of the American people.
And also destroying things that are beautiful and precious to satisfy his grotesque delusions of grandeur
Yes, I like it!
It fits into the overall narrative of his corruption and his singular focus on himself, so yes!
I love “that’s our house,” because of the symbolic value. Our country, our house, our armed forces, our government, our people.
Plus it resonates with Minnesota Lynx fans, an all important demographic.
I am outraged about this ballroom thing. It is really symbolic of all of it
Why build a ballroom when they could just park the Qatari 747 on the White House lawn and use that for their gala events?
Yes fight. What does “strong” mean when it’s a woman candidate for president? Harris was a prosecutor! I think she had to pull her punches so she wouldn’t come across as unfeminine or whatever bs.
I'm sick of the "unfeminine" crap. Fuck feminine - that word is the word men use to describe women. It is not our word for ourselves.
I understand what you are saying, Ann. Women, and particularly women of color, have to measure how they respond to things. I heard Michelle Obama recently say that when Barack was initially running for President, she had to learn how to carefully balance how strong and committed she sounded, so that she sounded concerned and determined yet not too angry or she was labeled "an angry Black woman."
Her debate performance was hella strong. Her debate against Mike Pence way back when was too. "I'm speaking."
I thought her entire campaign for prez conveyed strength, except maybe for the "underdog" narrative that Simon references frequently as a signal of weakness.
100%! Kamala made her opponent look like a weakling! How did that not get into the ambiatmosphere?
Fantastic essay, Simon. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for Democrats to show the courage of their convictions and stop poll testing everything and all the fretting. Stand up for people, stand up for America.
People can smell phony. They also can feel authenticity. Being PISSED OFF about the GOP’s constant cheating is an appropriate and AUTHENTIC response!!!
I beieve that it is up to the democratic party to aggressively show voters what the party stands for and meets with what "we the people" really want. I am tired of the democrats in essence fighting among themselves. I must get at least 60 e-mails a day [some dupicative] asking for money. Instead I believe they should coordinate their efforts and pick a few key isues to focu son. -not all over the place like they do now. I understand that there are lots of concerns out there, but we can't solve thwem all right now. Now when I see an e-mail I generally just delete it. My wife and I are elderly and disabled. We don't have a lot of money to spare. I also believe that the democrats should focus on htings like ride sharing as away to get people to the polls, explain what the Democrats stand for. They can't stand for everything - at least not now.
Hi Everyone, someone was going to send me information on “post card writing campaign”
PLEASE SEND ME THE INFO!!
Thanks,
Bsbhigh18@gmail.com
https://secure.everyaction.com/q6C58scJOUeWJJy_rcEQkA2?emci=ffd7bd60-6f71-f011-8dc9-6045bda9d96b&emdi=a750818e-0d72-f011-8dc9-6045bda9d96b&ceid=31992172
This is the link for the news boosting postcard campaign. I think it's really exciting. If it works, the organization will roll it out nationwide.
Thanks, Elizabeth - was just going to repost.
I’m working on these cards in Virginia! They are different in approach.
I just ordered cards (the VA ones). Looks like it could be very effective.
SIMON You have just HIT YOUR STRIDE, for what this moment needs. I cannot wait to hear what you are going to say tonight! This is the most wonderful message. And thank you for connecting it to all the hard work leading up to this moment. I am now calling my senators and 1. thanking them for what they are doing (Poor Senator Warren; she must be hoarse from yelling!) but also sending a consolidated message about getting LOUDER and MORE UNIFIED. I think you have a great point about having to make A LOT of noise every time there is another egregious act. But also now showing more fight about the things that are really going to hurt Americans. Not sure HOW we'er going to do all this but this was an inspired letter today!!! Thank you.
Simon’s messages are the words needed to be spread across the land… repeated short strong messages over and over ! Everyone has been saying for awhile now - the Dems must fight harder now that the “iron is hot” to sear into the unraveling fabric of this wanna be “regime”… yet is there enough “fighting “/ action going on to make citizens notice the D. message truly speaks to them ? The right AND strong ?Do you think a stronger wave of action is starting to roll out ?
Thanks Simon as always. I wouldn't have predicted Epstein or Texas becoming the battle cry they have become but I'm here for it. Honestly, I lived in Dallas the last time Dems left the state to thwart quorum and I can't even remember now what the issue was. We will not forget this, I'm quite sure!
The following video with Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Reverend Barber was in my Inbox this morning and it is both chilling and important. It's worth a watch.
https://lucid.substack.com/p/how-to-resist-at-a-time-of-moral
I'm looking forward to "seeing" you all tonight! Kent
No excuse whatsoever to vote for a sexual deviant like Trump. The problem I believe lies with large swaths of Americans and the values they hold dear. Those values revolve around laziness and being entertained. American society, especially in ruby red states, is rotten to the core.
Strong brands are built on contrast. Successful movements are built on values. Our Democratic movement must clearly contrast our values (“Freedom, Family, Fairness, Future”*) versus theirs (Greed, Cruelty).
* Pete Buttigieg