A Caution To Dems For 2018......

[global1]

Don't get caught up in making the midterms about Trump. Trump is not running for any office. The 2018 midterms have to be focused on the Repugs. It is their seats that are up for grabs and it is the Repugs that have tied their fate to Trump and circled the wagons around him any time there was an issue related to Trump. They supported everything and blocked out the Dems on everything and didn't let the Dems in on negotiations. The Repugs made everything one-sided over this past year.

The Dems need to run against the Repugs in the midterms. They must focus all their monies and energies toward defeating the Repugs in every contest around the country. It is imperative that the Dems take back the House and Senate. That is the only way they will be able to get to Trump. The Dems need to cut off Trump's support group and they must defeat the Repugs.

The Dems can't get snookered into making the 2018 midterms about Trump.

[Bettie]

1. But we should make it about congressional Dems

and all they've done to destroy our society.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Note that the grassroots efforts are going on at the state/local levels already

The only ones who you might be referring to are the "national" party politicos, who many on DU whine about are "not doing enough".

So really, no "caution" is needed. The results of the 2017 off year elections should be an illustration to you what the strategy is.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Understand, but...

We can't ignore Trump, he is the thousand pound elephant in the room. He should probably not be the most significant issue for most Dems to run on, but there is no reason to ignore him.

In support of your comments, though, we need to remember that all politics is local. Local races are usually decided on local issues. You did say:

The Dems need to cut off Trump's support group and they must defeat the Repugs.

One fact to be dealt with is that Trumplodytes will bring this up and use it to attack Dems across the country. All Dems should have a response keyed to the local situation. Your statement about cutting off Trump's support is true, and we'll need to overcome/discourage the Trumplodytes out there.

[bronxiteforever]

4. The tax bill cuts against them and that is a national issue

So many of the rethugs in Congress voted to blow up the fed deficit. The bill is despised across party lines. If a Congress critter of the rethug persuasion cried about the deficit during Obama’s term but then voted for the bill, that switch will sting. It should be noted as well as their slavish devotion to the 1%.
I think this may be a reason why many rethugs are retiring. Of course the retirees also don’t want to be in the minority and be treated the way they treated us. Our candidates can run on repeal and replace the tax bill.

The Mercer/Koch/ adelson money will pour in as personal attack ads against our candidates so it would be nice to tie those ads to idiot in chief and the big threes benefit in the tax bill.

Also we can run on national security and the failure of the gop to formulate a strong cyber defense.

[dalton99a]

5. Hang Trump around the neck of every Republican running for office

Midterms are a referendum on the presidency.

Popular sentiment against Trump is high, and Democrats should exploit it 100%