Did anyone post the Steyer ad yet? "Nothing Happened"

[pdsimdars]

Tom steyer Democrats do Nothing about Trump

I think it is powerful.

[smirkymonkey]

1. I have to admit, pretty powerful.

And that is how a lot of people out there are thinking. They want fighters. I'm sorry, but it's true. I want to see fighters too.

[MythosMaster]

7. Thank you

[berni_mccoy]

25. +1000

[Pachamama]

2. Something better happen and soon.....

Because If the Democratic Congress doesn't take action, what will happen will not be good and our democracy is truly done.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. I have faith in Speaker Pelosi to make the wise decision to impeach tRumpty Dumbty...

whose about to have a great fall.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[hlthe2b]

3. This is going to make a lot of DUers uncomfortable...

no doubt has already been alerted on as "not supportive of Democrats". I beg to differ. Please, folks, we have to explore what our Dem leadership is doing and there are two sides to the argument--both ACTUALLY SUPPORTIVE of Democrats in general.

I don't know that there is a right or wrong answer politically as to how impeachment would shake out. But, there is a clear argument as to what the "right" thing is to do. The arguments are purely based on timing and what we have to have to move forward. Arguably the latter is one with no clear answers as well.

But, let's don't choke off debate.

[StarfishSaver]

12. Bashing Democrats as "do-nothings" isn't "debate" or "exploring"

[hlthe2b]

15. I don't agree with all the language, but we may well be at the point that nothing less than a kick

in the proverbial ass is going to change anything.

I love Joy Reid but listened to her and multiple guests try AGAIN to explain to her that the MSM conflation of IMPEACHMENT (something pollsters are doing as well) is part of the problem. Even after a very clear explanation of why this makes the polling or any other discussion impossible, she still refused to clarify whether she was asking about initiating an impeachment INQUIRY rather than a vote on IMPEACHMENT ACTION. That most Americans never lived through Watergate and totally do not understand the process and its stages (and as I've seen on DU, many DUers) and thus do not differentiate between a formal inquiry/investigation as opposed to a vote on impeachment as opposed to removal from office. This, one of our best and most clued-in MSNBC hosts just does not get it, because when Gov. Bullock came on, she reverted right back to doing it again.

And that is why it is time to accept some criticism and take a clear-eyed look at our tactics. That isn't anti-Democrats or anti-Democracy. It is quite frankly necessary if we are going to prevail and hyperbole aside, SAVE this country. I love Pelosi and have the deepest respect for her. I continue to support her, but this discussion needs to happen.

My big issue here today is with those who didn't want this ad posted on DU so that we could discuss it (and thus alerted on it seeking the post's removal). How are we supposed to respond if we don't know it exists? How do we discuss the "most effective" tactics if we can't even see it? This isn't something coming from RW media or Faux News or Breitbart. It will play on our local affiliates and undoubtedly on MSNBC and CNN. Steyer is no conservative nor Republican. Yet, in at least one DUer's mind, we can't even discuss it? I find that offensive.

[StarfishSaver]

17. Lying about what the Democrats are doing isn't a "discussion"

Spending millions of dollars on ads accusing the Democrats of "doing nothing" isn't productive.

nd Joy Reid's apparent cluelessness is 't the fault of the Democrats since, as you noted, plenty of people understand and tried to explain it to her. She's just not listening and, like a lot of people here, seems so caught up in the "impeachment now or else" fervor, she's become impervious to facts or reason.

Watching her trying to argue with and lecture Members of Congress about how they should do their jobs is mind-boggling -:especially since she hasn't spent one day working in government or on the Hill and has no first-hand knowledge of how things operate. Skepticism and pushback are one thing. But she's taken it to another level.

For example, today, she tried to badger Rep. Raskin and teach him a history lesson about how Andrew Johnson's wrongdoing was curtailed by his impeachnent - saying, for example, that it stopped him from trying to roll back Reconstruction. Her point was that impeachment, even without removal, would put Trump in check.

But not only was Andrew Johnson dealing with a hostile Congress - he escaped removal by one vote - the last time I checked, Reconstruction was crushed.

There's a difference between open discussion and badgering and armchair quarterbacking.

[hlthe2b]

21. Would you have agreed to remove this post and ad so that we would not discuss something

that while I can certainly agree was not wholly fair or accurate, will run widely and has as its core an active area of debate? This isn't RW propaganda. This is part of our Democratic core expressing these sentiments.

That this OP was alerted is alarming to me because I've seen a rise in similar alerts.

[JHB]

43. He's doing what Pelosi has tacitly asked, drumming up pressure on representatives

I think he might have chosen a different tack, but then, I don't actually disagree with him.

Time after time we have seen Republicans grab with both hands and just brazen it out while on the Democratic side there is some huffing and puffing and talk of the need to "keep our powder dry", but in the end the Republican thing stands and becomes the new normal. Is it any wonder that people hear the same opening notes and wonder if they're going to wind up with the same tune yet again?

Pelosi is very smart and experienced in a lot of the details here, but this is bigger than her and a lot of what needs to be done to prepare the ground falls under "messaging, marketing, and sales". We have to be more out-front with messaging because we don't have a dedicated apparatus like the Republicans do, ones that will pick up the talking points and spend all day thumping them into people's heads across the nation. That lack is another problem, but not one that can be addr seed on the needed time scale.

[StarfishSaver]

44. He can "drum up" support without accusing the Democrats of failing their responsibility

[JHB]

47. Well, that's what can happen when you leave messaging up to third parties.

I will fault him for not highlighting the fact that this is all up to the Democrats and that the Republicans are hopelessly supine to Trump and the people pushing their agendas through him..

Actually, if I'm going to fault him, I'll put it in the right place: he funds billboards and videos when it would be much more effective and desperately more needed to regularly fund an actual liberal media that reaches into "red" America.

However, the congressional break that started on Memorial Day is over as of Monday, right? If we don't have televised live hearings daily by the end of the month, then he wasn't wrong. If that's the situation by then, it is a failure of responsibility.

[pdsimdars]

27. Agreed, I think it is a good idea to hear these arguments. We all love Nancy but Democrats

should be allowed to push if they believe in it.

[BeyondGeography]

30. Well said

There are those of us, many I would wager, who are sick of watching Republicans punch way above their weight while Democrats overdose on comity, caution and good bipartisan intentions. It takes two to tango and we have no dance partners. It hasn’t worked. We need to defeat Republicans, shame them, humiliate them, make them pay for what they have done to our country and our democracy, and we need to do it loudly, clearly and consistently. It’s the only way out.

[StarfishSaver]

31. When Republicans "punch above their weight," they're punching at Democrats

They're not running attack ads against Republican leaders.

[BeyondGeography]

40. Well yeah

That’s how they do it. We extend our hand, they kick us between the legs and our reward is the MSM asking us (not them) why our politics have become so polarized.

[Chin music]

37. +1z

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

4. The time for talkin about impeachment is over...the time for impeaching that traitorous POS is NOW!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

5. If he wants to help, fund a challenger to McConnell.

Support senate democratic challengers nationwide.

[hlthe2b]

9. I certainly agree with this.

[smirkymonkey]

10. That would also be a worthy endeavor.

I would support it. Meanwhile we can all contribute here https://ditchmitchfund.com/

I have contributed. Please consider it. This man needs to be removed from office.

[pdsimdars]

28. Funny how "ditch" and "mitch" also rhyme with son-of-a-b*

[Honeycombe8]

8. That ad will impact people who are uninformed, for sure. Because it's a catchy phrase...

that wraps up lies. People pay attention to the catchy phrase. It's meant to have an emotional appeal to the uninformed.

We've seen misleading ads like this before. Usually it's on the other side, but it can happen with Democrats, too.

Example: It says when Trump's admin refused to produce tax returns, nothing was done. That's of course not true. It went to Court. "On May 20, 2019, a judge upheld the House subpoenas and rejected a lawsuit which Trump filed to keep his tax and financial records secret.[16][17] The judge also denied a requested stay of his order." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_returns_of_Donald_Trump

Everyone who is following the production of records knows this, of course. So the ad has an effect on people who aren't following the many things that are going on.

Gotta watch these ads. These ads will become more and more common, as the election season progresses.

[StarfishSaver]

11. I think it's GOP-enabling BS

Not only aren't the Democrats "doing nothing," I'm disgusted that Steyer would spend money pushing an ad that bashes Democrats as weak and ineffective - yeah, that's helpful, Tom - when he could be spending his money supporting Democratic challengers to GOP senators and reps, funding GOTV efforts or paying for messaging about Trump's criminality and the GOP's complicity and inaction.

Why not do ads putting the Republicans on Front Street, calling out their behavior and urging voters to pressure THEM?

Steyer's doing the Republicans' job for them. He's no friend of ours.

[EleanorR]

13. I agree

Democrats have had the house for a matter of months, so this message that they sat around doing nothing for two years is disingenuous. They also have tried to investigate and have been stonewalled at every turn.

[Tipperary]

16. How do you know that he is not using his money to support Democrats?

He could be doing this as well.

[StarfishSaver]

18. Do you have any evidence that he is?

I'd love to know if he is.

[hlthe2b]

26. Opensecrets.com. Steyer & wife are the #3 overall contributors-- all to Democrats/Progressives

Second only to Bloomberg among Dem/Progressive Donors:
https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/topindivs.php

Rank Contributor
3 Steyer, Thomas & F. & Kathryn Ann Fahr LLC/Tom Steyer
San Francisco, CA

Total Contributions
$73,470,598

To Dems & Liberals
$73,424,357

To Repubs & Conservatives
$0

Pct to Dems & Liberals
100%
Pct to Repubs & Conservatives
0%

[StarfishSaver]

29. That's great

But I think these numbers are for past races and don't reflect his current donations. He certainly could be donating to challengers moving forward, but this doesn't tell us.

I hope he is. But that still doesn't let him off the hook for spending millions of dollars bashing Democrats for "doing nothing," which is not only unhelpful, it's a lie.

[hlthe2b]

33. both...

We may disagree with his tactics, but he is SURELY not the enemy.

From his wiki page

In 2010, Steyer and his wife signed The Giving Pledge to donate half of their fortune to charity during their lifetime. In 2012, he sold his stake in and retired from Farallon Capital. Switching his focus to politics and the environment, he launched NextGen America, a non-profit organization that supports progressive positions on climate change, immigration, health care, and education.[3][4]

Political activity

Steyer is a leading Democratic Party activist and fundraiser. In 1983, he worked on Walter Mondale's presidential campaign.[31] He raised money for Bill Bradley in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.[32][33]

An early supporter of Hillary Clinton in 2008, Steyer became one of Barack Obama's most prolific fundraisers. Steyer served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 2004 and 2008.[34] Steyer has been a member of the Hamilton Project[35] and has been involved with the Democracy Alliance, a network of progressive donors whose membership in the group requires them to donate at least $200,000 a year to recommended organizations.[36][37]

Steyer has been compared with and contrasted with the Koch brothers, billionaire businessmen who engage in extensive political activity, and has been viewed as a Koch adversary, although Steyer's total reported net worth is but a small fraction of that of the Koch brothers or other billionaire political activists, donors, and fundraisers (such as Michael Bloomberg and George Soros).[40][41][42]

[StarfishSaver]

34. He may not be the enemy

But these ads are not the behavior of a true friend. If the topic were anything other than impeachment - such as immigration or the economy - these could very easily be mistaken for GOP ads.

I edited my post at the same time you replied - Just a heads up in case you anything to add or change in response to the revised post

[hlthe2b]

36. My answer to you below indicates otherwise. His membership in Democracy Alliance is ongoing

and requires members to donate a minimum of $200K annually to progressive organizations.

I understand the concern over the tone/tenor of his ad, but Steyer is one of the good guys. Not all of our allies are going to come to the same conclusions on tactics.

[Tipperary]

45. Thank you.

[Historic NY]

39. Doesn't appear to be at all in fact he been a bundler since 1990...

[Generic Brad]

20. Agreed. Republican obstructionism is the problem

They made this mess and they are responsible for cleaning it up. They own 75% of this.

[berni_mccoy]

23. Republicans will exonerate Trump on the inaction of Democrats

It will be far worse than if they impeached Trump and it dies in the Senate.

[struggle4progress]

46. +

[mopinko]

14. the next one better target the gop.

hell, do 60 seconds of lindsey and mitch, 1998.

or even make one starring justin amash, and shame the rest of the party.

[UniteFightBack]

19. I can see a commercial like this AFTER all is said and done. Shit is HAPPENING, right now!!

Let's see it's been 5 months since they took over...FUCK OUTTA HERE WITH THIS BULLSHIT.

And let's not mention PUKES. NO National ad campaign against them.

[StarfishSaver]

24. Precisely!

[berni_mccoy]

22. It needs to be said. Because if we don't

Republicans will definitely be exonerating Trump on the fact that the Democrats did nothing.

[Historic NY]

32. For the last time its not impeachment, its holding hearings to decide

on impeachment and issue and indictment. The impeachment trial happens in the Senate.

[ooky]

35. Yes, we've seen it a few times on DU. Yes its powerful, unfortunately.

It doesn't bother me seeing it posted here, but I'm not thrilled it's being run nationally where it gives uninformed individuals a reason not to vote for democrats. We will lose votes in 2020 by running ads like this. Its not helpful for election purposes, and I don't support it.

[StarfishSaver]

38. Precisely

Doesn't inform - it only inflames.

Why not take out a series of ads explaining impeachment and exactly why Trump deserves it and urging people to contact their representatives.

There is no need for this kind of harsh attack on Democrats as weak and ineffective.

[Eliot Rosewater]

41. How is it possible only 41% of this country wants to impeach per poll I just saw on MSNBC?

THAT is why it is risky, because we are IGNORANT as a country.

Now, I believe impeachment hearings would actually educate the public and would not hurt us in 2020, so I am for impeachment, but it is scary to think after all the crimes he has committed that still not even a majority is for it.

[Cartoonist]

42. They don't have to impeach him to do something

Things they can do:

Call Trump a liar
Call him a crook
Call him a racist
Call him a misogynist
Call him a pervert

Use his own words and tweets against him.

Every time they talk to the media, Trump should be labeled a criminal and a traitor.

There should be no letup in attacks. They should be merciless.

Mitch and all the other repubs should take fire as well. Tie them to Trump with Russian money.

Barbara Boxer floated this idea long ago: have the House write a constitutional amendment giving women control of their bodies, then bludgeon the Senate repubs with it.

I see too much hand wringing and fussing about votes. You don't need to win an election to open your mouth.