"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
You are the best writer…. Thank heaven you write for the correct side.