There are long periods of national political-geologic stability in American history. This is not one of them. In this moment, the volcanoes keep erupting.
I've been writing hundreds of postcards for the last 3 years urging unregistered potential Democrats to register to vote. Sometimes I feel its a futile exercise, but this article gives me hope, that if even a few people are moved to register and vote, we might have a chance.
I agree with the point Mr. Wikler is making, but have an observation. The miniscule number of votes it will take to turn things around means that we need to avoid alienating the voters we need to get back. I'm thinking about the endless fundraising requests we get in our texts and emails from candidates and PACs. Especially the surveys. One cannot fill out a survey in a reply that doesn't end up directing you to a fundraising site. People are struggling to stay afloat,but keep getting bombarded by people begging for bucks. It's wonder people get turned off. Some genius needs to come up with a different formula that doesn't alienate the very people we need.
Remember always that Al Franken won his U.S. Senate seat the first time by about 315 votes. That was after 5 months of recounts and legal action. 315 votes. That is part of why I was so sorry to see him give up that seat on flimsy and unproven ethics charges later. It seemed to me a betrayal of the Minnesotans who worked so hard to help him win that first time.
Truth be told, the voter rolls of 114,885 voters were probably purged causing the defeat of Kamala Harris. There has been such investigations and evidence of this that occurred.
Sandra: I am one of the many who have read This Will Hold. I still cannot believe why there hasn't been an uproar. And, per Mr. Winkler's book, with electoral margins so thin in key races, the work of subterfuge is easily hidden.
The trick is to run candidates that the politically apathetic could get up and vote for. Texas doesn't have a shortage of registered Democrats - it has a shortage of Democrats who show up for the election. Same for many other states. It is not so much that we have unpopular policies - it is that they are successfully propagandized against and Democrats are demonized. Perhaps, but only perhaps, this is the sea change year where s significant number of voters are ready to throw the bums out and start to rebuild America.
Based on my reading across multiple sources Democrats are not viewed favorably. Ben's article today highlights the fact that citizens who are not Democrats do not view Democrats favorably. How do we improve the perception that Democrats have been more successful in governing on behalf of ALL Americans than Republicans? Particularly in light of major news media now being controlled by right wing and/or Trump supporting owners.
Democrats gave Americans Social Security (FDR), Medicare (LBJ), and ACA - healthcare (BHO). Republicans only push tax cuts that are directed to those already wealthy. Starting with Reagan, tax cuts have widened the gap between the economic classes, primarily by increasing the National Debt.
I'm emphatically with Tim Matchette....VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
When Democrats go out and talk to people directly and unceasingly they do well. Look at all these special elections, in my view they have turned because people viewed the candidate as real people. So it may be harder to do in a rural area but it needs doing.
Yet Democrats are over performing election after election flipping seats in deep Red places. Whoever is writing the BS of Democrats are not viewed favorably need to let us know what they are smoking and how much they get paid for being in the pundit class.
I get your point, but we can't go on living this way! We must have a "sea change" like 1932 to establish a new consensus that will last multiple generations, a "Fourth Turning" (Neil Howe). This living on the edge is destroying the America (and World) the last 80 - 100 years have built.
Yes, vote as if you are on track to becoming the last dinosaur! Don't let it slip through your talons. I love the comparison of recent electoral history to geologic eras and phenomema.
I appreciate the view that we can actually deliver a counter to what is occurring - politically, existentially, and globally. But it depends on whether the votes are counted. Expect interference in the many ways that Trump and his gang will conjure.
Read Sun Tzu's Art of War Again. Know what your enemy is going to do and counter it beforehand.
Their fundamental "cheat then win" strategy is fully in play. So the immediate question is: how to counter, how to initiate as many legal and political challenges as possible, and then keep the topic red hot so the media does its dance. For our current corporate media, the more controversy, the more airtime.
Forget "No King's Day" protests. You bet that "Will My Vote Count" protests would get good coverage.
One recommendation is to generate a" Let The People Vote's Count Bill," where the States have the final say, which would force a Congressional vote, which would be a big enough controversy to force the politicians to weigh in beforehand on their stand on voting rights. Can you imagine at town halls, "Do you believe that black and brown people should have the right to vote?"
Or, do you want your voting controlled by the Federal Government or the States, by Trump or whoever we elected?
You want ot motivate people to vote, tell them they can't, or their votes won't be counted.
The Contrarian has done brilliantly in opposing and defeating Trump's court challenges. Masterful work. But it's all 'defensive,' whereas Trump is 'offensive.' You have brilliant people and the very best lawyers; my recommendation is to consider going on 'offense.'
Trump’s 'Heads I win, tails you lose' illogical stance has prevailed to date and points directly to the nefarious manipulation and voter suppression I fear we're going to see.
Okay -- so is the dream of an enduring majority for either side a fantasy? I tend to believe that the conditions of the country will create more Dems and less Reps if they continue on the current trajectory, despite all the sabotage of modernity coming from MAGA and the oligarchs. But how to live through the interim ... yes -- GOTV!
Ben, the question we have to solve is how do we lever Democratic and progressive voters off of their couches and to the polls? How do we get those voters in mail in ballot states to mark their GD ballots and walk them to the mailbox? It strikes me that Republicans are more reliable voters than Democrats. This election and the General Election in 2028 promise to be two of the most critical elections in our nation's history. How do we convince apathetic voters of that basic truth?
Journalism itself is part of the problem, because it keeps using the meaningless term, "widespread voter fraud," not the correct term "material voter fraud." 537 votes were in no way a widespread phenomenon, but they were "material" to the outcome. Let's start to use meaningful terminology about voting, not meaningless terminology.
I've been writing hundreds of postcards for the last 3 years urging unregistered potential Democrats to register to vote. Sometimes I feel its a futile exercise, but this article gives me hope, that if even a few people are moved to register and vote, we might have a chance.
💯 And thank you for what you are doing to help our Republic stay a Democracy.
Thank you for what you do! Everything matters! We all add up our small actions and together it creates change 🇺🇸💙
Thank YOU.
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE.
I agree with the point Mr. Wikler is making, but have an observation. The miniscule number of votes it will take to turn things around means that we need to avoid alienating the voters we need to get back. I'm thinking about the endless fundraising requests we get in our texts and emails from candidates and PACs. Especially the surveys. One cannot fill out a survey in a reply that doesn't end up directing you to a fundraising site. People are struggling to stay afloat,but keep getting bombarded by people begging for bucks. It's wonder people get turned off. Some genius needs to come up with a different formula that doesn't alienate the very people we need.
Amen brother. Rich S. Octogenarian and Contrarian, with a waste basket full of unopened asks for money
Remember always that Al Franken won his U.S. Senate seat the first time by about 315 votes. That was after 5 months of recounts and legal action. 315 votes. That is part of why I was so sorry to see him give up that seat on flimsy and unproven ethics charges later. It seemed to me a betrayal of the Minnesotans who worked so hard to help him win that first time.
Truth be told, the voter rolls of 114,885 voters were probably purged causing the defeat of Kamala Harris. There has been such investigations and evidence of this that occurred.
Sandra: I am one of the many who have read This Will Hold. I still cannot believe why there hasn't been an uproar. And, per Mr. Winkler's book, with electoral margins so thin in key races, the work of subterfuge is easily hidden.
The trick is to run candidates that the politically apathetic could get up and vote for. Texas doesn't have a shortage of registered Democrats - it has a shortage of Democrats who show up for the election. Same for many other states. It is not so much that we have unpopular policies - it is that they are successfully propagandized against and Democrats are demonized. Perhaps, but only perhaps, this is the sea change year where s significant number of voters are ready to throw the bums out and start to rebuild America.
Vote like Hungarians! 77 %!
Based on my reading across multiple sources Democrats are not viewed favorably. Ben's article today highlights the fact that citizens who are not Democrats do not view Democrats favorably. How do we improve the perception that Democrats have been more successful in governing on behalf of ALL Americans than Republicans? Particularly in light of major news media now being controlled by right wing and/or Trump supporting owners.
Democrats gave Americans Social Security (FDR), Medicare (LBJ), and ACA - healthcare (BHO). Republicans only push tax cuts that are directed to those already wealthy. Starting with Reagan, tax cuts have widened the gap between the economic classes, primarily by increasing the National Debt.
I'm emphatically with Tim Matchette....VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
When Democrats go out and talk to people directly and unceasingly they do well. Look at all these special elections, in my view they have turned because people viewed the candidate as real people. So it may be harder to do in a rural area but it needs doing.
Part of the problem is that Democrats have been ignoring rural voters. https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/01/28/how-democrats-lost-rural-voters-and-how-to-win-them-back/
Yet Democrats are over performing election after election flipping seats in deep Red places. Whoever is writing the BS of Democrats are not viewed favorably need to let us know what they are smoking and how much they get paid for being in the pundit class.
Wow! thought-provoking ideas! thank you
I get your point, but we can't go on living this way! We must have a "sea change" like 1932 to establish a new consensus that will last multiple generations, a "Fourth Turning" (Neil Howe). This living on the edge is destroying the America (and World) the last 80 - 100 years have built.
Yes, vote as if you are on track to becoming the last dinosaur! Don't let it slip through your talons. I love the comparison of recent electoral history to geologic eras and phenomema.
I appreciate the view that we can actually deliver a counter to what is occurring - politically, existentially, and globally. But it depends on whether the votes are counted. Expect interference in the many ways that Trump and his gang will conjure.
Read Sun Tzu's Art of War Again. Know what your enemy is going to do and counter it beforehand.
Their fundamental "cheat then win" strategy is fully in play. So the immediate question is: how to counter, how to initiate as many legal and political challenges as possible, and then keep the topic red hot so the media does its dance. For our current corporate media, the more controversy, the more airtime.
Forget "No King's Day" protests. You bet that "Will My Vote Count" protests would get good coverage.
One recommendation is to generate a" Let The People Vote's Count Bill," where the States have the final say, which would force a Congressional vote, which would be a big enough controversy to force the politicians to weigh in beforehand on their stand on voting rights. Can you imagine at town halls, "Do you believe that black and brown people should have the right to vote?"
Or, do you want your voting controlled by the Federal Government or the States, by Trump or whoever we elected?
You want ot motivate people to vote, tell them they can't, or their votes won't be counted.
The Contrarian has done brilliantly in opposing and defeating Trump's court challenges. Masterful work. But it's all 'defensive,' whereas Trump is 'offensive.' You have brilliant people and the very best lawyers; my recommendation is to consider going on 'offense.'
Trump’s 'Heads I win, tails you lose' illogical stance has prevailed to date and points directly to the nefarious manipulation and voter suppression I fear we're going to see.
Also, get put the vote.
Okay -- so is the dream of an enduring majority for either side a fantasy? I tend to believe that the conditions of the country will create more Dems and less Reps if they continue on the current trajectory, despite all the sabotage of modernity coming from MAGA and the oligarchs. But how to live through the interim ... yes -- GOTV!
It really does matter. Look what happened in the 2017 senate race in Alabama.
Ben, the question we have to solve is how do we lever Democratic and progressive voters off of their couches and to the polls? How do we get those voters in mail in ballot states to mark their GD ballots and walk them to the mailbox? It strikes me that Republicans are more reliable voters than Democrats. This election and the General Election in 2028 promise to be two of the most critical elections in our nation's history. How do we convince apathetic voters of that basic truth?
Journalism itself is part of the problem, because it keeps using the meaningless term, "widespread voter fraud," not the correct term "material voter fraud." 537 votes were in no way a widespread phenomenon, but they were "material" to the outcome. Let's start to use meaningful terminology about voting, not meaningless terminology.