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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI'm a "the Republic is ending if we don't stop this maniac now" Democrat
We don't have room for any other kind of Democrat right now. Not for the next two years (and God I hope that's all).
I'm a "if we don't take back at least the House we have to consider the very real possibility of President-for-life Trump" Democrat.
I don't care if you want a $12 or $15 minimum wage. I don't care how you want to finance healthcare. I don't care what you think about banks. I don't care what diseases cannabis magically cures. Arguing about those things right now makes us a caricature: we're dealing with a party in control of all three branches of government that doesn't think women, gays, disabled people, or immigrants are human beings. A party that no longer returns money donated by Nazis. A party funded by a hostile foreign power.
There is literally no other issue that should even be on the radar: we. have. to. win. the. House. A candidate's caucus vote is right now more important than every single other vote they will cast, added together.
JustAnotherGen
(31,866 posts)I really needed to read this at DU today. I don't think people really understand/get -
The stakes are this fucking high right now!
radical noodle
(8,012 posts)ANY Democratic candidate is 1000X better than ANY Republican candidate.
Raster
(20,998 posts)...Because if we don't stop tRump*, nothing else is going to matter.
boston bean
(36,223 posts)pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)His election with his advisors Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller scared the hell out of me. It still does.
onecaliberal
(32,887 posts)bdamomma
(63,917 posts)vs. them, plus we ARE the MAJORITY, and don't forget that, we are up against a cult, and we know what happens to cults and those who dominate over them.
onecaliberal
(32,887 posts)Screwed at their mercy. IMO the demise of the cult simply cannot occur quick enough.
demmiblue
(36,875 posts)THAT is what needs to be done (and one of the myriad of reasons why MI was lost). And, yes, this will vary by district.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Voters don't actually care about policy, and never have. They adopt their policy views to what the leadership they support pushes for. This election, like all elections, is about getting voters to identify with us, namely, as people who know the man in the White House is the greatest threat to the country right now.
demmiblue
(36,875 posts)They get them to identify with Dems by addressing the issues that they face every day. Carrot vs. stick.
Farmer-Rick
(10,202 posts)That's why we hate Traitor Trump sooooooooo much. His suck off Little Putin policy, his abuse immigrants and journalist policy, his pro Nazi, KKK and racist policy. His destroy the earth policy, his hate women policy, his I'm Traitor Trump the king policy.
That's why some Dems voted for Gill and others over Hillary. It was about their policy positions. True, some people think they need a father figure, God or leader to be their political representative but that's identity politics or fascism and not the majority of people.
Show me the data that says I and the majority of voters only care about who and not what.
That said, Traitor Trump is the biggest threat to America and our democracy right now and that's the type of Dem I am.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Policy preferences really just don't drive voter behavior.
pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)They do for some of us. What about the women marches, the #me too movement, etc. Each person's moral compass determines what policies they can or can't support.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)What about them?
About 5 million people participated in the women's marches (I was one), which is, roughly, 8% of people who voted for Clinton. That sounds like a pretty good guesstimate of how much of the electorate really votes based on policy.
pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)and running for offices. I think there is more than 8% who will be voting using their moral compasses. Praying I am right.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And November is when we start that.
Farmer-Rick
(10,202 posts)They do not take, as far as I could tell, into consideration the social and institutionalized pressures and roadblocks preventing minorities, the powerless and the poor from voting. Not only are they prevented from voting, they are prevented from getting accurate information to make a decision. They are also discouraged from obtaining an education which would allow them to make better decisions on accurate information.
Numerous studies have show the widom of the crowd, if the crowds are allowed a truly secret vote. But that wisdom can be ruined by misinformation, excessive social pressure to conform, illiteracy and propaganda.
So what these men are really reporting on is all the pressure on voters to vote wrong.
The analysis of voter behavior mimicing spending money seems like something the right wing likes to shove down our throats all the time. That you can vote with your dollars when in actuality they are saying only those with money can vote. Sounds like a Milton Friedman style economic theory justification of why we should throw away democracy and just let the uber rich control us all.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,176 posts)The perfect mix is progressive policy + a charismatic candidate.
We need good policy and a good strategy to catapult the message. But let's not kid ourselves, gone are the days of the unassuming technocrat. Where their ideas trump (@$&@! Can't ever use that term now without barfing) personality.
Which Presidents stand out? Which ones had minimum two terms. FDR Kennedy Reagan Bill Clinton Obama. The message should always be the most important, but it won't get out without a messenger that can hold attention. I think a crowd pleaser is even more essential in this age of 1000 channel TV and net entertainment. Our minds are now conditioned for it.
Dare I say the best example might be Donald Trump. One of the multiple reasons why Hillary lost, though all things being fair that shouldn't have mattered. But whether one likes to admit it or not, Trump trumped Hillary in the charisma department. Trump had much more practice being a snake oil megalomaniac for years in front of cameras and crowds.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)The voters favor our issues. But they are WAY more vulnerable to hate and cultural resentment. So kuch so that his core voters will GLADLY vote to harm themselves, so long as those they resent are harmed more.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Proud Liberal Dem
(24,434 posts)Fight for Democrats to be elected. Period. Full stop. We can fight over what "kind" of Democrats we all are later.
Beartracks
(12,821 posts)Right now I don't care if somebody's candidate is the yellowest Yellow Dog Democrat or a raging DINO. If they have a (D) after their name on the ballot, you vote for them. Because unless we get a majority of (D)s on Capitol Hill, Democrats can't control the legislative agenda and the progressive ones can't become committee chairs.
=========
amb123
(1,581 posts)"There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter and, I trust, the stronger party."
- Ulysses S. Grant
gordianot
(15,242 posts)This is one of them. When modern political figures say we have survived darker times this could be what they are referencing. I am not sure we have yet survived those traitors.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Lee himself admitted he had underestimated Grant's logistical abilities and strategic creativity.
gordianot
(15,242 posts)His understanding of maneuver and attrition were well ahead of his time.
BannonsLiver
(16,438 posts)I'm there too. Along with other people who can process nuance.
Quemado
(1,262 posts)Last edited Wed Aug 1, 2018, 04:50 PM - Edit history (1)
As long as there are politicians and their voters (Republicans and Trumpers) who think certain kinds and classes of people are less than human.
Winning the House is the immediate need. Vote Democrat!
ewagner
(18,964 posts)LuckyLib
(6,819 posts)as there are politicians and their voters (Republicans and Trumpers) who THINK certain kinds and classes of people are less than human.
Correct your post!
Quemado
(1,262 posts)Post corrected.
lancelyons
(988 posts)Yep this is very important. Hopefully the posters in this forum will go make a difference in the real world.
The DU is a safe area. Need to be doing the battle on the battleground (elections, voting, get out the vote, join up, etc)
pandr32
(11,605 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,032 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Divisive primaries supress General Election turnout.
Lets argue over the details after we actually get some power.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)Those who purposefully drive division at this time are to me just as dangerous as Trump. Life in a dictatorship is not as easily reversible as I fear some believe. Theocracy, also a possibility, is just as difficult. I've escaped these. We're not engaging in a rhetorical exercise or a video game. People need to wise up.
paulkienitz
(1,296 posts)My position is, we can disagree later about whether to privatize the fire department or have armed prayer in schools. I'll put all that aside for now if we can just stand together against fascism and support constitutional democracy. Until this is over, Morning Joe and George Will and Max Boot are friends.
tinrobot
(10,913 posts)..because there's a chance we may hang separately later.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)barbtries
(28,810 posts)but i care about all of it, i just don't see a way to accomplish any of it while trump is president and especially the #GOPTraitors are in charge.
i am fearful that our democracy will be lost. it is that bad.
peggysue2
(10,837 posts)That's exactly where we all need to be, staring at and acknowledging the abyss, determined we hold the line and don't go over. This is no time for moaning and groaning, sniping at any and every flaw we can think of within the Democratic Party or our leadership team.
This is one of those rare moments when I can quote GW and not be embarrassed:
You're either with us or agin us.
This time that statement makes sense.
Martin Eden
(12,874 posts)YES, we need a strong message AGAINST the treasonous POtuS who poses the greatest threat to our country.
But to win every vote we can, we have to be FOR something as well -- a few strong messages backed up by practical policies, repeated over and over again. Voters need to understand what Democrats stand FOR as well as what we stand AGAINST.
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)Yavin4
(35,445 posts)A large number of you fellow Americans live on the edge every day. They're working multiple jobs with odd schedules, desperately looking for child care, dealing with a major health crisis, etc. Trump does not scare them as their own lives do. That's why they don't respond to your, and my, sense of urgency and panic about Trump. They may not support Trump, but they're not going to be motivated to vote unless they see a real plan that will improve their lives.
Thus, the problem with your thinking is that using Trump as a motivator is not enough to get rid of Trump.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)That is my pitch to politically-oriented people to stop absurd internecine squabbles over questions of policy that we aren't even slightly in a position to be addressing right now anyways.
Yavin4
(35,445 posts)What puts the Dems over the top are those people who don't vote or are not motivated to vote. Half the country did not vote in 2016. The other half was roughly split between Hillary and Trump. It's in that half that does not vote is where clear victory lies for the Democrats across the country.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)Not just those who didn't vote, but peeling away votes from those that voted for Trump, as well. No stone should be left unturned.
The greatest potential, I think, is among college-age voters, who are wildly underrepresented in the voting totals.
Afromania
(2,770 posts)Leith
(7,813 posts)tRump and his minions are, quite literally, enemies of the US. We Democrats have to repeat that as often as is feasible.
But we can repeat it by showing the electorate why he's bad and why we're good:
- he promised better, cheaper health care. We already delivered it.
- he conspired with Russians. Our candidates turned purloined docs to the FBI.
- he's a lying loudmouth, full of childish insults. People are used to civility from us.
- the government is flailing, he is threatening a shutdown. We get things done.
- he brags about the economy. We did the actual work to improve it.
Oh, and about a thousand more things we can run on. Let's not limit it to hatred of the White House squatter. We have accomplishments that the electorate like and we can give the country more and better.
gademocrat7
(10,665 posts)beaglelover
(3,488 posts)like Nazi Germany. These deplorable people believe tRump over the media and he lies all the time. We are in very dangerous and depressing territory at the moment. I want our sane country back.
bdamomma
(63,917 posts)don't want us women to walk around in red capes and white hats.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)emanymton69
(124 posts)If Putin's Puppet is not impeached, the elections in 2020 will be a sham.
This you can take to the bank!
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,816 posts)JCanete
(5,272 posts)the downfall of democracy at this point if he isn't held to account for his crimes, and if worse, he somehow wins a second term. as to no other issue on the table, I have no idea how you think we can win some of these races if we just talk about Trump. These other issues matter, and primaries still matter. They are a gauge of a district or state's interest in a candidate. What is important is that we unify for the GE behind democratic candidates.
And Democrats voted for Clinton in the last election by-and-large, whether they went for Sanders in the primary or not, so this is not an issue that is the result of our internal squabblings about policy.
pnwmom
(108,990 posts)the result of the failure of the party to fully unify after Bernie lost.
Somehow we have to convince all our voters, and especially the young whose whole future is riding on this vote, that every race in this election matters. We also need to change things on a state level, since 35 of the states are now controlled by Republicans -- and that's why we have so much gerrymandering.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)That's what I'm trying to push back against.
pnwmom
(108,990 posts)would be with us 10% of the time. No comparison.
JCanete
(5,272 posts)Sanders that got some young voters to vote in the primary but then they stayed home in the GE, but ultimately, Sanders voters came in at the same rate that Clinton voters came in for Obama, so it seems like there was nothing special about this election year in terms of the numbers of people who stayed home or I guess, voted 3rd party, so I'm not sure what should be attributed to interparty divisiveness. I understand that Trump should be scary and is scary, and that should have motivated people, but McCain was scary too...not super crazy and lazy and openly racist...but scary all the same.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)They are trying to divide our party because that is what destroyed theirs. The Tea Party fixed them good, going after the "mainstream republicans" tore them to pieces. Their far right wing policies did to them what a litmus test for Democrats will do to us. GOTV!!!!! Drive people to the polls, call your neighbors, if you work with young adults encourage them to register, if they are already registered have them check their registration to make sure they are still able to vote. The same for minority friends and neighbors. I took one to the county registration office and she found out she had been purged. Thankfully she was still able to register for November.
Get busy people, stop fighting with each other!
Cosmocat
(14,568 posts)being saying this November was the last stand since the day he was elected.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Paladin
(28,271 posts)We have to start the long, tough job of reclaiming what's left of our country, from the right-wing savages who currently control and despoil it. We need to field the strongest, most intelligent and articulate candidates we can---those of you who are angling for a repeat of the 2016 fiasco, who are putting up the faction vs. faction threads, kindly leave the fucking building. We either claim victory now, or we prep ourselves for another civil war. That's really and truly where things are at, now.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Could not agree more.
Voting D straight ballot for the first time in their life.
worstexever
(265 posts)I watched his "rally" in Tampa yesterday and was disgusted. He is a dangerous demagogue who delights in whipping up hate and fear-of-the-other in his base.
And then I watched the heartbreaking show on Frontline last night about child detentions and family separations at the border, and saw the results of his disastrous policies.
We have to get rid of this guy.
Different Drummer
(7,636 posts)possibility of President-for-life Trump' Democrat."
A very scary thought, and it's a possible scenario.
The Liberal Lion
(1,414 posts)...but I'm willing to wait and see what happens in November before I hold the funeral" camp. I personally don't see how America recovers from the "tajmahalification" it's experiencing right now, but many progressives/liberals still continue to hold out hope that the America we knew prior to that orange gollum illegally assuming residence in our White House can be recovered. Ok, I say, not being one to squash hope. But in that I give a sound warning, just in case I'm right each of us should be prepared to take the steps necessary to bring this evil empire to it's knees, for the good of the world. This evil can not be allowed to survive. I think we have to at some point grapple with the notion that there just are somethings that love alone can't solve.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)That's something I keep realizing as I work with younger volunteers. This is just the political world they've known since they first started getting into politics. I want to "repair" things, they want to "improve" them. My inclination is their view should win out.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)The republic is on life support. People jeering the press with animalistic howls. Babies in cages.
Alliances with old friends are mocked. Dictators embraced.
We HAVE to win.
orangecrush
(19,606 posts)Stinky The Clown
(67,817 posts)This is not the time for putting ourselves in slots. And once a primary is over, unify and move the fuck along in support of the primary winner. Lastly, stay the fuck out of other primaries if your goal is to tear down a viable candidate who is leading.
ooky
(8,926 posts)Any kind of democrat is better than the Helsinki Coward.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)if we lose in November, we will have to keep fighting. From the trenches if it comes to it. If we win in November, we'll be in a much better position of strength, but the war won't be over.
Trump's a product of the systematic corruption of the minds of much of our electorate, right and left, and of the destabilization of our nation. He's not the cause. Others from our new ultrawealthy classes are and this isn't over until we destroy them.
It was bad in his time, but Justice Brandeis hadn't seen anything like what's happening now.
Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)I've got my exit strategy in place. Hoping I'm wrong, but I absolutely expect a staged "Reichstag fire" type of event occurring in the September/October timeframe. We'll be at war with North Korea or Iran, there will be a major attack on US soil.. something.
If it walks like a fascist, propagandizes like a fascist,
..
Texin
(2,597 posts)As odious as these bastards have been and continue to be, even they get it that this crap is a raging dumpster fire in Washington, D.C. that threatens to destroy everything in its path.
This is the VERY LAST SHOT THAT ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE U.S. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC IS GOING TO GET TO STOP THIS MADNESS. The very last one. And it's not even a good shot at that! What with Russia doubling down on the hacking of the U.S. electoral process and twisting and distorting public and social media information.
FM123
(10,054 posts)calimary
(81,433 posts)That sums it up, FM123!
Vote D for Democracy. NOT R for Russia.
Lulu KC
(2,572 posts)And in looking at Democrats running right now (e.g. KS-03) I am not only looking for who I want, but who has the greatest chance of winning. It is time to win.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,913 posts)I don't care if someone is even a Democrat if they are working to bring Trump down (and not splitting our vote in the process of doing so and thereby enabling a Trumper to get in. By that I mean right now I welcome the support of "Never Trump" Republicans and ex-Republicans who are urging relatively sane Republicans to vote for Democrats running in the 2018 mid-terms.
IronLionZion
(45,513 posts)so it could be a very long presidency for life
tiredtoo
(2,949 posts)betsuni
(25,598 posts)Cha
(297,510 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)yardwork
(61,698 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)We need to take back control of the House and Senate (and ultimately the SCOTUS too), impeach and convict Trump or at least force him to resign, repair the damage to our institutions as rapidly as possible, and only then entertain any kind of divisive topics.
We need the House. We need the Senate. We need enough Democrats in both chambers so we can get things done.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)CanonRay
(14,112 posts)Firestorm49
(4,036 posts)EndGOPPropaganda
(1,117 posts)VOX
(22,976 posts)Its out of the ballpark and bouncing around somewhere in a far parking lot.
Well said, Recursion, well said. With you 100 percent.
7962
(11,841 posts)He's gone in '20 or a tiny chance of '24.
I'm all for fighting the fight, we all are, but I'm out of the total fear stuff. I'm not letting him take away enjoying life.
Upthevibe
(8,068 posts)NOTHING else matters!
UCmeNdc
(9,600 posts)DDySiegs
(253 posts)Squinch
(50,992 posts)GoCubsGo
(32,086 posts)But, yes. We need to get rid of these motherfuckers ASAP, or all of that stuff will be out of our reach permanently.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)It's dangerous at this time in history.
Persondem
(1,936 posts)KPN
(15,649 posts)WinstonSmith4740
(3,056 posts)I don't give a damn about your "personal ethics". Right now the Republic is at risk, and there is a real threat of him declaring himself "President for Life" by starting a war if the numbers are against him enough. Because 80,000 idiots couldn't bring themselves to get over themselves and their damn personal importance, we now have Putin running our country. Get the fuck over it. Get involved. Volunteer to register voters. And hold your nose if you have to, but get off your ass and vote blue in November.