"For a supposedly cruddy “brand,” Democrats are doing fairly well. Since 2024, Democrats have actually surged, overperforming in state races, special elections, and primary turnout. And the midterm map continues to expand for Democrats."
Ms. Rubin is right. We cannot let MAGAs define us.
Worth noting, the definition of "liberalism:"
"Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy that centers on individual liberty, equality, consent of the governed, and the protection of basic rights."
'Liberalism' goes along with the bumper sticker assertation of 'Socialism' and 'Communism'. They are right-wing buzzwords that are intended to stir up a base that has little to no idea what the words mean.
The Republican Party has all but drowned in a sea of lies and moral hypocrisy. The leadership is anti-American, unpatriotic and facilitating the most corrupt president in American history.
Everything you wrote about the Republican Party is accurate. And perhaps that should raise the question of why Democrats are only preferred by 46-35 over a party that is as you describe.
The Democratic brand has certainly improved versus where it was two years ago, but that improvement is mostly because the public has now had the opportunity to see how bad the GOP is -- and yet 35% still prefer the GOP and 13% think there is no difference. Some of that 35% are the ones who prefer the GOP because they're bad people (ie, the racists and neo-Nazis), but not all of them are.
Now I think that the state of the two parties is such that Democrats should do quite well in November, and probably in 2028, as well. But assuming that we win those elections, come 2030 the voting public will no longer be just comparing us to how awful the Republicans are, but will instead be judging Democrats on how they perceive our party is doing as a governing party. And the danger there is that we'll just see a continuation of the pattern that has held true for most of the past 20 years -- a midterm vote against whichever party is in power. So the question we should be starting to ask is what the Democratic Party can do to try to break loose from that pattern.
You ask "why Democrats are only preferred by 46-35 over a party that is as you describe" and the answer is due in large part to the fact that a shockingly large percentage of Americans simply DO NOT CARE about politics. They know very little and they don't want to know more.
In a sane, rational nation, that's a perfectly valid approach to take. Ignore the government and the relatively minor differences in party agendas and get on with raising those kiddies of yours! In fact, I prefer it! Let those with informed opinions drive our politics, not those ignorant of the issues! But of course the problem is that those folks don't realize when that mindset becomes invalid until it's too late. It's the frog in the pot of water staying until he's boiled because he does not realize the water is heating up.
I don't know how to make those who don't care, start to care. Not until the water is already boiling... which it certainly is right now in my opinion. Maybe the numbers Jen provided here show that at least some of the "don't care" crowd are beginning to pay attention and care. I sure hope so.
Unfortunately, "knowing very little" is also a problem on our side, when I see us promoting candidates based on infatuation rather than accomplishment or resume. We become starry-eyed over attractive young candidates who speak well and start promoting them very president before they've done very much. No wonder there's that saying "Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line." In fact, we should do neither, rather, engage our brains and discernment.
Because MAGAs now belong to a 'club,' and they deeply want to stay members of the 'club' so badly, that they do not care what the 'club' stands for. MAGAs will follow 47 off a cliff. If MAGAs identify with 47, they too stand for everything 47 stands for, and it ain't good.
Our horrible corporate media are big part of the reason that Democrats are only preferred about 46-35 over the Greedy Old Politburo. Long before the current cowardly surrender / prostitution, for the last several decades the media have framed EVERY issue from the Republican perspective. Sometimes it's subtle, but mostly it's some flack questioning an elected Democrat like "Republican Senator X says Democrat Y is a commie traitor, how do you defend being in the same party as this traitor." On the flip side, Republican lies and corruption are generally ignored as just Republicans being Republicans. Always ready to pounce on the slightest misstep by any Democrat, always ready to excuse crimes by Republicans.
And now it's even worse. Practically every day since Trump returned to office, he or one of his flunkies has committed an egregious violation of the constitution or federal law, often committing felonies like extortion or contempt of court on live TV, and ... crickets.
If a media outlet HASN'T been attacked by Trump, it's hiding Trump's crimes and lying about most everything else.
There is no "leadership" in what we laughingly call, "the Republican Party," or in the alleged "administration." Yes, there are people in leadership positions, but absolutely NO actual leadership.
Yes, exactly. And if 33% of the voters can’t see that they must be just left behind. People who hate govt (Republicans) should not be put in charge of govt. Neither should psychopaths.
First: there is no republican party. It is as dead as mitch mcconnell, and its death spiral began at least 40 years ago. Second: corporate dems need to take their snouts out of the money trough of dark money...no exceptions. Third: as Steve Schmidt has said, every gop candidate deserves to lose in the midterms. They are nothing more than rubber stamps and lickspittles fir the crime family stealing everything not nailed down and giving the finger to the Federal courts. The fight is this...you will either be voting for democracy and reclaiming our government from fascists OR you will be voting to continue the destruction. These midterms offer all Americans the FIRST opportunity to say NO to the corruption, the violence, the cruelty, the theft the epstein oligarchic class brazenly show off day after day. Time to kick everyone of these people out, as many as we are able to and bring our Congress back to life.
Any remnants of the actual Republican Party were ousted years ago, ironically denounced as “RINOs.” I refer to the current group as the Neoconfederate Party. They just forgot to change the sign on the door.
there's a psychological element to perpetual Dem hand-wringing I never see discussed. something that happened over time, the scapegoating by GOP and right-wing media and even the more centrist media like the Times that responded to GOP accusations of liberal bias by gradually shifting toward portraying Dems / liberals as in permanent disarray. there's a crippling self-consciousness, a pervasive fear of putting one's foot wrong and bringing down yet more criticism upon one's head, that undercuts the kind of confidence needed to fight as fiercely as we now must. one of the worst things that happens when you're scapegoated is that you come to believe their assessment of you, at least on some level. and we need to see this and start to counter it. because it's simply not true, but it recruits the scapegoat into joining its critics. that's a kind of self-betrayal we desperately need to understand and stop.
Like an abused partner. Rs have mounted a 40+ year propaganda war. Where were Dems? I feel so frustrated with them acting like they can’t make arguments against R policies that most Americans don’t like once they understand them. They rely too much on reason; so many voters don’t.
Except they make those arguments all the time, and the media refuses to amplify them, instead demanding they respond to whatever Trump or some other Republican did or said. I recall a case in 2024 when an interviewer asked Harris to respond to something Trump said and when she replied she preferred to talk about her own policies and ideas, she was accused of being "evasive."
Agree-- Schumer is a Milquetoast. Jeffries is a bit better, but only a little bit better. In the 1990s, the GQP had Newt. The Dems need similar leaders who have the stomach for a fight. They don't have that now
Gingrich worked in tandem w/Limbaugh to introduce propagandistic speech into daily communications to GOP minds (and the worse stuff: very ugly scapegoating, stereotyping, dehumanization: of Democrats, liberals, women, LGBTQ, women, etc.).
The Dem Party should not touch that strategy with a 10-ft pole. It is the language of fanatics and extremists, as history documents.
As Rubin suggests in her mention of Buttigieg, Ossoff & Talarico, it's quite possible to be fierce without being a trash talker. I would add AOC, Sanders, Mamdani to that list. They are also effective, powerful communicators who stay out of the gutter.
I was not referring to Newt’s trash mouth, but his dogged approach. Agree on the Lim/Ging strategy, wholly the precursor of the RW ecosphere in media. You can be hard hitting without hating.
Yes, Gingrich was the progenitor of using demonizing labels, a truly horrible person trying to reinvent himself as a deeply pious individual. LOL.
We need to avoid being swept away by "communicators" who are attractive and say things we like. (Bernie isn't one: he makes the same annoying, hectoring speech over and over and makes a lot of people crazy.). They have a role but I despair when I see us all yelling "So and so for president" after a single well-delivered speech.
Newt’s “all or nothing” stance destroyed any collaborative possibilities in Congress, putting extremists in charge. It led directly to what we have today. We need leaders who focus on connections, not differences.
Good comparison, where’s Newt in the Democratic coalition?? This is where I see the biggest vulnerability. Trying to convince the people there’s a new voice won’t come easy from the mouth of Jeffries or Schumer. At least one of them needs to be switched up. With new fighters in the Senate it makes sense messaging should change hands there.
Newt wasn't a brilliant speaker or rabble-rouser, energizing the troops. He was a canny, ruthless calculator pulling strings. I think you are wrong about Jeffries and Schumer. their role doesn't call for a rousing speaker.
It's not the role of the majority leader or speaker to make fiery speeches and rouse the rabble. Their job is to keep their entire caucus unified and voting together. Pelosi got the same crap from commenters online, yet she was one of the most successful Speakers in modern history.
I would rather see someone younger than Bernie. He's fine where he is. Chris VanHollen has shown an ability in both domestic and international works and isn't fearful about speaking out.
Do you even know how old Sanders is? All we've been hearing recently is age limits, age limits, age limits. He's six months older than Mitch. Anyone advocating for age limits needs to include Bernie of they're being hypocritical.
And he's been an ineffective legislator his entire time in Congress, and an annoyance to a wide swath of Democrats. He'd never get the job because he'd be catastrophic. And no, he wouldn't have won.
Raskin will be superb in advocating for Supreme Court reform as head of the House Judiciary Committee. It's already in the pipeline.
I don't know about Van Hollen, but Raskin is not in leadership, and the indication is he has already been tapped to head the Judiciary committee which is exactly in his wheelhouse. He's already been put in charge of Supreme Court reform. There are others on the leadership ladder who are training for the specific job of Speaker if for some reason Jeffries doesn't want it: Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, even Joe Neguse who I think will be Speaker some day. Winning back Congress is not the time to topple leadership, which has done a commendable job in the minority.
As Jen has noted, we do not need any more "concerned" politicians. "Concerned" does not cut it and is meaningless. Only action matters in this climate.
Anyone who disses "strongly worded letters" is not in a position to declare what Schumer should do, with such a profound misunderstanding of the role of such letters. Schumer has been an excellent leader: the list of horrific GOP moves he has blocked is long. One of the ways we sabotage ourselves is by blaming our leaders for things they can't do in the minority so we set ourselves up to fail in the majority. I hope our elected senators and congresspeople don't take the bait.
Jenn hit the nail on the head with this one. The Democrats need to understand what even the most rookie football coach already knows-- THE BEST DEFENSE IS A STRONG OFFENSE!
For some strange reason, the Democrats have always had a strong "hand-wringing and pearl-clutching" caucus that sees the cloud behind every silver lining. In 2020, the Biden campaign cleverly called them "the bed-wetting caucus" and proposed to counter them with "operation rubber sheets"!
You never see the right wing and GQP clutching pearls and wringing hands. No matter what the odds, their approach is always "damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead". There's a good lesson for the Democrats in that.
This is so well written that I can't find any way to improve on it, as it exactly mirrors my thinking. Democrats have allowed themselves to be on the back foot for far too long. Forget trying to convert Maga to the big tent, and concentrate on forcefully standing up for democratic values that help ALL people.
There is a role for each and every one of us to play. Talk to your neighbors. Write postcards. Volunteer as a poll worker. Drive someone who needs a ride to vote. Babysit so someone can go vote. This is our election to lose, so we need to be massively engaged.
You are spot on Jen. The brand problem belongs to the Republicans. They have been disastrous from the get go. Look how many women have died or suffered permanent health issues because of the destruction of abortion rights. The ICE issues and how many have become victims of this heinous department. Mike Johnson who kisses Trumps ring on everything. If all they’ve got is the constant accusatory bullsh** of Dems wanting to protect trans people then they’ve got nothing. It might be a rude awakening for many in the GOP. Everyone deserves respect regardless of sexual orientation.
I urge everyone to watch Talarico's intervew with Kimmel on YouTube to see what we Democrats stand for -- building community, preserving public goods like schools and libraries, caring for our neighbors.
Not everyone for themselves, tax breaks for the rich, and corrosive individualism. Community!
Yes, Ossoff's speech was a stemwinder, as they side in earlier times. He's getting more o my attention as a potential 2028 presidential candidate because he has a combination of political capability, boldness, and rhetorical style that can capture the imagination.
Yes to this article. Go on offense. It is their brand which is toxic.
Also, those in the insurgent progressive movement, and those in the so-called “Establishment “, need to be reminded that parties are coalitions. No one on our side can exercise power unless our coalition wins.
So stop denigrating so much left progressives who win because you might disagree with them, or “Establishment “ politicians for the same reason. You might criticize them, but they are there because they know how to win.
We also have many new, great candidates, with politics that can win in their districts, and who come from many walks of life. Support what we’ve got.
I figure that the Democratic left is most effective when they push the rest of the party to the limits of their comfort zone, and even a bit beyond.
That's what Biden did in the 2020 election-- historically, he was a centrist as Democrats go, but he adopted many proposals proposed by people like Warren and Sanders.
It’s always going to be a coalition. It’s a big country. You have to win. Everyone can argue about how to best do that. But in the end, you don’t keep the fascists out of power and get any progressive policy made into law unless some centrists win. I think you are absolutely right.
It’s note worthy that many Dems want to see a clearer distinction between GOP and Democratic leadership. Unfortunately too many members of both parties are beholding to corporate interests and AIPAC. The appeal of Progressive candidates is their willingness to call out this hypocrisy.
IMO, the clear refusal to take SuperPAC$$$ has been the #1 appeal of Progressive candidates. People are SICK to DEATH of our political system being run by Big Money.
Leave the anti-Semitism by the curb. The problem isn't AIPAC, it's PAC and billionaire money in politics in general and there are many worse offenders than AIPAC which is why singling it out as a special demon is inherently anti-Semitic.
Democrats must win! We’re in a position to go on offense every single day until the election. Stay strong. In Ohio, we need to get behind Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown.
We are. Also Brian Poindexter in OH-07 to replace arrogant woman abuser Max Miller, a spoiled little rich boy. Lots of people here in OH-11 are crossing town to work on Brian's campaign, since our congresswoman is a shoo-in.
Oh Jen, Every time you write one of your ‘Here’s how to win’ essays, SO MANY of us heartily agree but the feckless, cowardly so-called leadership of Schumer, Jeffries & Ken Martin (instead of Ben Wikler, really???) continue to wring their hands. Schumer, in particular looks for milquetoast candidates when it is the fighters who are gaining traction. The imperative is to save democracy, all else flows from that. which leadership seems to think is the purview of Marc Elias, Norm Eisen
They are not "wringing their hands." They've done a great job of blocking the worst of GOP impulses. They are in the MINORITY. What about that don't you get?
That they aren’t fighters. While I realize they are in the minority, those 3 are guilty of silence. Meanwhile, Buttigieg, Murphy, Kelly, Garcia, Raskin, Warren, Stansbury are on the front lines speaking to reporters, appearing on social media & traditional news programs.
Hear hear! Well said. I’m prone to be politically cautious, living in a purple county in a deep-red state. But I think even we have a chance to overturn a senator here (in Kansas). We need to pull out all the stops, get over our woe-is-me mindset and forge onward!
Spot on! But will they listen? Just saying the brand is in disarray contributes to making it so. Go on the offensive and stay there! Tell the truth. Pound upon the constant lies and scams, corruptness, bigotry and stupidity constantly spewing from the white house and MAGA republicans. And even laugh at them...
As always, Jen, nail on the head. Please distribute to all Democratic and Independent candidates.
"For a supposedly cruddy “brand,” Democrats are doing fairly well. Since 2024, Democrats have actually surged, overperforming in state races, special elections, and primary turnout. And the midterm map continues to expand for Democrats."
Ms. Rubin is right. We cannot let MAGAs define us.
Worth noting, the definition of "liberalism:"
"Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy that centers on individual liberty, equality, consent of the governed, and the protection of basic rights."
Today's Republicans try to demonize liberalism.
Why?
'Liberalism' goes along with the bumper sticker assertation of 'Socialism' and 'Communism'. They are right-wing buzzwords that are intended to stir up a base that has little to no idea what the words mean.
MAGAs and the "mainstream" media, one of our biggest enemies.
I am doing that to those I am in contact with.
The Republican Party has all but drowned in a sea of lies and moral hypocrisy. The leadership is anti-American, unpatriotic and facilitating the most corrupt president in American history.
Everything you wrote about the Republican Party is accurate. And perhaps that should raise the question of why Democrats are only preferred by 46-35 over a party that is as you describe.
The Democratic brand has certainly improved versus where it was two years ago, but that improvement is mostly because the public has now had the opportunity to see how bad the GOP is -- and yet 35% still prefer the GOP and 13% think there is no difference. Some of that 35% are the ones who prefer the GOP because they're bad people (ie, the racists and neo-Nazis), but not all of them are.
Now I think that the state of the two parties is such that Democrats should do quite well in November, and probably in 2028, as well. But assuming that we win those elections, come 2030 the voting public will no longer be just comparing us to how awful the Republicans are, but will instead be judging Democrats on how they perceive our party is doing as a governing party. And the danger there is that we'll just see a continuation of the pattern that has held true for most of the past 20 years -- a midterm vote against whichever party is in power. So the question we should be starting to ask is what the Democratic Party can do to try to break loose from that pattern.
You ask "why Democrats are only preferred by 46-35 over a party that is as you describe" and the answer is due in large part to the fact that a shockingly large percentage of Americans simply DO NOT CARE about politics. They know very little and they don't want to know more.
In a sane, rational nation, that's a perfectly valid approach to take. Ignore the government and the relatively minor differences in party agendas and get on with raising those kiddies of yours! In fact, I prefer it! Let those with informed opinions drive our politics, not those ignorant of the issues! But of course the problem is that those folks don't realize when that mindset becomes invalid until it's too late. It's the frog in the pot of water staying until he's boiled because he does not realize the water is heating up.
I don't know how to make those who don't care, start to care. Not until the water is already boiling... which it certainly is right now in my opinion. Maybe the numbers Jen provided here show that at least some of the "don't care" crowd are beginning to pay attention and care. I sure hope so.
Unfortunately, "knowing very little" is also a problem on our side, when I see us promoting candidates based on infatuation rather than accomplishment or resume. We become starry-eyed over attractive young candidates who speak well and start promoting them very president before they've done very much. No wonder there's that saying "Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line." In fact, we should do neither, rather, engage our brains and discernment.
I love that quote. I had not heard it before, but it sounds REALLY repeatable.
Because MAGAs now belong to a 'club,' and they deeply want to stay members of the 'club' so badly, that they do not care what the 'club' stands for. MAGAs will follow 47 off a cliff. If MAGAs identify with 47, they too stand for everything 47 stands for, and it ain't good.
Our horrible corporate media are big part of the reason that Democrats are only preferred about 46-35 over the Greedy Old Politburo. Long before the current cowardly surrender / prostitution, for the last several decades the media have framed EVERY issue from the Republican perspective. Sometimes it's subtle, but mostly it's some flack questioning an elected Democrat like "Republican Senator X says Democrat Y is a commie traitor, how do you defend being in the same party as this traitor." On the flip side, Republican lies and corruption are generally ignored as just Republicans being Republicans. Always ready to pounce on the slightest misstep by any Democrat, always ready to excuse crimes by Republicans.
And now it's even worse. Practically every day since Trump returned to office, he or one of his flunkies has committed an egregious violation of the constitution or federal law, often committing felonies like extortion or contempt of court on live TV, and ... crickets.
If a media outlet HASN'T been attacked by Trump, it's hiding Trump's crimes and lying about most everything else.
There is no "leadership" in what we laughingly call, "the Republican Party," or in the alleged "administration." Yes, there are people in leadership positions, but absolutely NO actual leadership.
Just sayin'.
Yes, exactly. And if 33% of the voters can’t see that they must be just left behind. People who hate govt (Republicans) should not be put in charge of govt. Neither should psychopaths.
First: there is no republican party. It is as dead as mitch mcconnell, and its death spiral began at least 40 years ago. Second: corporate dems need to take their snouts out of the money trough of dark money...no exceptions. Third: as Steve Schmidt has said, every gop candidate deserves to lose in the midterms. They are nothing more than rubber stamps and lickspittles fir the crime family stealing everything not nailed down and giving the finger to the Federal courts. The fight is this...you will either be voting for democracy and reclaiming our government from fascists OR you will be voting to continue the destruction. These midterms offer all Americans the FIRST opportunity to say NO to the corruption, the violence, the cruelty, the theft the epstein oligarchic class brazenly show off day after day. Time to kick everyone of these people out, as many as we are able to and bring our Congress back to life.
Any remnants of the actual Republican Party were ousted years ago, ironically denounced as “RINOs.” I refer to the current group as the Neoconfederate Party. They just forgot to change the sign on the door.
This!
Well said!
there's a psychological element to perpetual Dem hand-wringing I never see discussed. something that happened over time, the scapegoating by GOP and right-wing media and even the more centrist media like the Times that responded to GOP accusations of liberal bias by gradually shifting toward portraying Dems / liberals as in permanent disarray. there's a crippling self-consciousness, a pervasive fear of putting one's foot wrong and bringing down yet more criticism upon one's head, that undercuts the kind of confidence needed to fight as fiercely as we now must. one of the worst things that happens when you're scapegoated is that you come to believe their assessment of you, at least on some level. and we need to see this and start to counter it. because it's simply not true, but it recruits the scapegoat into joining its critics. that's a kind of self-betrayal we desperately need to understand and stop.
Like an abused partner. Rs have mounted a 40+ year propaganda war. Where were Dems? I feel so frustrated with them acting like they can’t make arguments against R policies that most Americans don’t like once they understand them. They rely too much on reason; so many voters don’t.
Except they make those arguments all the time, and the media refuses to amplify them, instead demanding they respond to whatever Trump or some other Republican did or said. I recall a case in 2024 when an interviewer asked Harris to respond to something Trump said and when she replied she preferred to talk about her own policies and ideas, she was accused of being "evasive."
This is why Chuck Schumer, deliverer of strongly worded letters, has to go. This is no time for middle of the road, lukewarm politics.
Agree-- Schumer is a Milquetoast. Jeffries is a bit better, but only a little bit better. In the 1990s, the GQP had Newt. The Dems need similar leaders who have the stomach for a fight. They don't have that now
Gingrich worked in tandem w/Limbaugh to introduce propagandistic speech into daily communications to GOP minds (and the worse stuff: very ugly scapegoating, stereotyping, dehumanization: of Democrats, liberals, women, LGBTQ, women, etc.).
The Dem Party should not touch that strategy with a 10-ft pole. It is the language of fanatics and extremists, as history documents.
As Rubin suggests in her mention of Buttigieg, Ossoff & Talarico, it's quite possible to be fierce without being a trash talker. I would add AOC, Sanders, Mamdani to that list. They are also effective, powerful communicators who stay out of the gutter.
I was not referring to Newt’s trash mouth, but his dogged approach. Agree on the Lim/Ging strategy, wholly the precursor of the RW ecosphere in media. You can be hard hitting without hating.
Yes, Gingrich was the progenitor of using demonizing labels, a truly horrible person trying to reinvent himself as a deeply pious individual. LOL.
We need to avoid being swept away by "communicators" who are attractive and say things we like. (Bernie isn't one: he makes the same annoying, hectoring speech over and over and makes a lot of people crazy.). They have a role but I despair when I see us all yelling "So and so for president" after a single well-delivered speech.
Newt’s “all or nothing” stance destroyed any collaborative possibilities in Congress, putting extremists in charge. It led directly to what we have today. We need leaders who focus on connections, not differences.
Good comparison, where’s Newt in the Democratic coalition?? This is where I see the biggest vulnerability. Trying to convince the people there’s a new voice won’t come easy from the mouth of Jeffries or Schumer. At least one of them needs to be switched up. With new fighters in the Senate it makes sense messaging should change hands there.
A D version of Newt is the last thing we need.
Newt wasn't a brilliant speaker or rabble-rouser, energizing the troops. He was a canny, ruthless calculator pulling strings. I think you are wrong about Jeffries and Schumer. their role doesn't call for a rousing speaker.
It's not the role of the majority leader or speaker to make fiery speeches and rouse the rabble. Their job is to keep their entire caucus unified and voting together. Pelosi got the same crap from commenters online, yet she was one of the most successful Speakers in modern history.
Sen. VanHollen would be a better replacement for Schumer: Rep. Raskin would be a better replacement for Jeffries.
Would love to see Senator Sanders replace Schumer. Raskin is superb.
I would rather see someone younger than Bernie. He's fine where he is. Chris VanHollen has shown an ability in both domestic and international works and isn't fearful about speaking out.
Do you even know how old Sanders is? All we've been hearing recently is age limits, age limits, age limits. He's six months older than Mitch. Anyone advocating for age limits needs to include Bernie of they're being hypocritical.
And he's been an ineffective legislator his entire time in Congress, and an annoyance to a wide swath of Democrats. He'd never get the job because he'd be catastrophic. And no, he wouldn't have won.
Raskin will be superb in advocating for Supreme Court reform as head of the House Judiciary Committee. It's already in the pipeline.
I don't know about Van Hollen, but Raskin is not in leadership, and the indication is he has already been tapped to head the Judiciary committee which is exactly in his wheelhouse. He's already been put in charge of Supreme Court reform. There are others on the leadership ladder who are training for the specific job of Speaker if for some reason Jeffries doesn't want it: Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, even Joe Neguse who I think will be Speaker some day. Winning back Congress is not the time to topple leadership, which has done a commendable job in the minority.
As Jen has noted, we do not need any more "concerned" politicians. "Concerned" does not cut it and is meaningless. Only action matters in this climate.
Let's see if Troy Jackson can beat her then. Susie is the only politician who puts "concern" without action at the top of her list.
Anyone who disses "strongly worded letters" is not in a position to declare what Schumer should do, with such a profound misunderstanding of the role of such letters. Schumer has been an excellent leader: the list of horrific GOP moves he has blocked is long. One of the ways we sabotage ourselves is by blaming our leaders for things they can't do in the minority so we set ourselves up to fail in the majority. I hope our elected senators and congresspeople don't take the bait.
Jenn hit the nail on the head with this one. The Democrats need to understand what even the most rookie football coach already knows-- THE BEST DEFENSE IS A STRONG OFFENSE!
For some strange reason, the Democrats have always had a strong "hand-wringing and pearl-clutching" caucus that sees the cloud behind every silver lining. In 2020, the Biden campaign cleverly called them "the bed-wetting caucus" and proposed to counter them with "operation rubber sheets"!
You never see the right wing and GQP clutching pearls and wringing hands. No matter what the odds, their approach is always "damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead". There's a good lesson for the Democrats in that.
This is so well written that I can't find any way to improve on it, as it exactly mirrors my thinking. Democrats have allowed themselves to be on the back foot for far too long. Forget trying to convert Maga to the big tent, and concentrate on forcefully standing up for democratic values that help ALL people.
There is a role for each and every one of us to play. Talk to your neighbors. Write postcards. Volunteer as a poll worker. Drive someone who needs a ride to vote. Babysit so someone can go vote. This is our election to lose, so we need to be massively engaged.
Wrote hundreds of postcards yesterday! Have signed up to be an election response mobilizer for Indivisible. Let's Go!
Good on you!
Excellent advice! No whining - get to work!
You are spot on Jen. The brand problem belongs to the Republicans. They have been disastrous from the get go. Look how many women have died or suffered permanent health issues because of the destruction of abortion rights. The ICE issues and how many have become victims of this heinous department. Mike Johnson who kisses Trumps ring on everything. If all they’ve got is the constant accusatory bullsh** of Dems wanting to protect trans people then they’ve got nothing. It might be a rude awakening for many in the GOP. Everyone deserves respect regardless of sexual orientation.
Mike Johnson is kissing 47's A$$
I urge everyone to watch Talarico's intervew with Kimmel on YouTube to see what we Democrats stand for -- building community, preserving public goods like schools and libraries, caring for our neighbors.
Not everyone for themselves, tax breaks for the rich, and corrosive individualism. Community!
Yes. And Ossoff's recent address in Athens, GA.
Yes, Ossoff's speech was a stemwinder, as they side in earlier times. He's getting more o my attention as a potential 2028 presidential candidate because he has a combination of political capability, boldness, and rhetorical style that can capture the imagination.
Great speeches, but we also need people with legislative skills and experience.
Yes to this article. Go on offense. It is their brand which is toxic.
Also, those in the insurgent progressive movement, and those in the so-called “Establishment “, need to be reminded that parties are coalitions. No one on our side can exercise power unless our coalition wins.
So stop denigrating so much left progressives who win because you might disagree with them, or “Establishment “ politicians for the same reason. You might criticize them, but they are there because they know how to win.
We also have many new, great candidates, with politics that can win in their districts, and who come from many walks of life. Support what we’ve got.
I figure that the Democratic left is most effective when they push the rest of the party to the limits of their comfort zone, and even a bit beyond.
That's what Biden did in the 2020 election-- historically, he was a centrist as Democrats go, but he adopted many proposals proposed by people like Warren and Sanders.
It’s always going to be a coalition. It’s a big country. You have to win. Everyone can argue about how to best do that. But in the end, you don’t keep the fascists out of power and get any progressive policy made into law unless some centrists win. I think you are absolutely right.
Absolutely, any candidate with a (D) after their name. That's as fine of a distinction as I need!
It’s note worthy that many Dems want to see a clearer distinction between GOP and Democratic leadership. Unfortunately too many members of both parties are beholding to corporate interests and AIPAC. The appeal of Progressive candidates is their willingness to call out this hypocrisy.
IMO, the clear refusal to take SuperPAC$$$ has been the #1 appeal of Progressive candidates. People are SICK to DEATH of our political system being run by Big Money.
Leave the anti-Semitism by the curb. The problem isn't AIPAC, it's PAC and billionaire money in politics in general and there are many worse offenders than AIPAC which is why singling it out as a special demon is inherently anti-Semitic.
Democrats must win! We’re in a position to go on offense every single day until the election. Stay strong. In Ohio, we need to get behind Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown.
We are. Also Brian Poindexter in OH-07 to replace arrogant woman abuser Max Miller, a spoiled little rich boy. Lots of people here in OH-11 are crossing town to work on Brian's campaign, since our congresswoman is a shoo-in.
Oh Jen, Every time you write one of your ‘Here’s how to win’ essays, SO MANY of us heartily agree but the feckless, cowardly so-called leadership of Schumer, Jeffries & Ken Martin (instead of Ben Wikler, really???) continue to wring their hands. Schumer, in particular looks for milquetoast candidates when it is the fighters who are gaining traction. The imperative is to save democracy, all else flows from that. which leadership seems to think is the purview of Marc Elias, Norm Eisen
My iPad betrays me. Should read, ‘and the courts rather than candidates screaming that continuously.
They are not "wringing their hands." They've done a great job of blocking the worst of GOP impulses. They are in the MINORITY. What about that don't you get?
That they aren’t fighters. While I realize they are in the minority, those 3 are guilty of silence. Meanwhile, Buttigieg, Murphy, Kelly, Garcia, Raskin, Warren, Stansbury are on the front lines speaking to reporters, appearing on social media & traditional news programs.
Hear hear! Well said. I’m prone to be politically cautious, living in a purple county in a deep-red state. But I think even we have a chance to overturn a senator here (in Kansas). We need to pull out all the stops, get over our woe-is-me mindset and forge onward!
God, Roger Marshall is so terrible.
There are no words… he is abysmal. He doesn’t even live here any longer!
Spot on! But will they listen? Just saying the brand is in disarray contributes to making it so. Go on the offensive and stay there! Tell the truth. Pound upon the constant lies and scams, corruptness, bigotry and stupidity constantly spewing from the white house and MAGA republicans. And even laugh at them...