We're not going to reach Trump voters, Independents, or...

[SHRED]

...the Greenwald, Stein, Sarandon, JPR crowd.

I'm convinced.

What we MUST DO is encourage the youth vote and make sure every registered Democrat votes!!
That will assure victory to end this Trumpian nightmare.

GOTV!!

[dalton99a]

1. They're an utter waste of time and energy. Fuck them. GOTV!

[Garrett78]

2. Agreed. The Parkland kids going around registering young people this summer is encouraging.

We need to raise hell about voter suppression, gerrymandering, irresponsible media and Russian influence, too.

But, ultimately, we just have to outnumber the opposition.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. So-called "independent" voters are all over the political map.

There are a lot of them, and some may be reachable. I wouldn't give up on independents in general. In my state you don't register with a political party at all, so technically all of us are independent.

[Garrett78]

5. Studies have made clear that the vast majority of so-called independents are highly partisan.

In fact, they tend to be more partisan than your average party-affiliated individual of decades past.

They aren't swing voters. They're just people who like calling themselves independent or live places where party identification isn't a thing.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. So then the trick is to figure out in which direction they are highly partisan.

Give up on the wingnuts; persuade the left-leaning ones.

[murielm99]

14. This is where precinct committee people come in.

I know the voters in my precinct. I know the voters in several precincts adjacent to mine. I know who will vote, and for the most part, how they will vote.

I will do everything I can to get the Democrats among them to the polls. A large number of the independents in my area are actually Democrats, who have never voted for a repubbie.

[appalachiablue]

29. True, for many it's a dodge from being identified.

[bettyellen]

4. Recent polling suggests women have been turning against Trump in big numbers.

It’s Trumps male voters who are unreachable.

[SHRED]

7. Point taken

I can see that happening but I'm not sure they'll vote Democrat.
If they sit out that's good.

[bettyellen]

9. It was about the only good news I saw last week.

[AlexSFCA]

8. I would add white male trump voters

[bettyellen]

10. Why? It's no where comparable.

[Garrett78]

12. I think Alex's point is that it's *white* men specifically who support Trump in such high numbers.

While most men of color oppose Trump.

Of course, that's also true of white women, to a lesser extent.

[bettyellen]

48. Yeah, but they haven't been turning against him nearly as much as women have.

So... not sure what he chimes in w that.

[Garrett78]

49. Again, Alex's point isn't that white men are turning against Trump. We all know they aren't.

The emphasis is on *white*. I think Alex just wants to point out that we should be clear on where the bulk of Trump's support comes from. It's not men, but *white* men. And white women, who still make up a much larger share of Trump's support than do persons of color (regardless of gender identity).

[bettyellen]

50. Ahhh, I see. I get it's not *all men* but unfortunately it's enough of a plurality and I don't see

It getting better.

[Garrett78]

11. Trump's support among women has fluctuated between mid-30s and low-40s.

There's no guarantee, though, that those who don't approve of Trump will vote for Democrats.

[workinclasszero]

13. But 53% of white women voted for the pussy grabber-in-chief

The 53 percent issue
https://theundefeated.com/features/black-women-say-white-feminists-have-a-trump-problem/

[Garrett78]

16. Yeah, white women are also susceptible to racism, as well as sexism.

It'll be interesting to see how white women vote in November of this year as compared to November of 2016.

[Clarity2]

15. I think we can

Think about what trumpsters have been exposed to. They have been living in a Fear Factor world...afraid of terrorism and illegals. There are some Independent never trumpers who are afraid of the same thing. Some republicans who are never trumpers, but think criminals are “pouring” through the border so they hold their noses and vote for a republican. Dem leaders need to drive it home that we can have sane immigration laws. That trump aligning with dictators does the opposite of protecting us... We also need to stop the “abolish ICE” narrative. Its not going to help. Its a narrative that says open borders.

Putin was successful at pushing people more to the right and left. We need to find some places in the middle to overcome this fear based propaganda that has been promoted by the GOP. They are so fearful they will bite their nose to spite their face. In other words, they will tolerate policies that damage their lives as long as they perceive this country is safer.

This of course is only one segment of trumpers. The evangelicals and racists are another story.

[workinclasszero]

18. "We also need to stop the "abolish ICE" narrative."

Nazi Germany: We need to stop the "abolish the SS narrative."

Oh hell no! I'm willing to bet you have no skin in the game huh? And the ones that do should just shut up and go away??

Is that what you are saying? Be a good German huh? BS!

First they came for the Mexican babies and I did not speak out because I was not Mexican......

[Clarity2]

32. Abolish ICE is a right wing talking point

and they use it and will use it against us.

And this is what I mean when I say far to left and right. Because your rage just lit up calling me a nazi. Which is so far from what I am. So really, bite me. Because I am just as outraged by what they are doing.

Fucking fix immigration...not use.the.words.abolish.ICE.

[workinclasszero]

34. Yeah right

The bastard ICE are kidnapping babies on the border and locking them up in dog cages and harassing American citizens close to the Canadian border now as well.

Not only ICE but DHS ought to be abolished as well, IMO.

[mythology]

33. Are you under the impression ICE is sending kids to gas chambers or something?

And saying a DUer is being a good German is offensive and really just serves to indicate how poor your sense of perspective is.

[workinclasszero]

35. Migrant mother says her son came back to her after 85 days 'covered in dirt and lice'

Hers is one of the hundreds of accounts included in a lawsuit against the Trump administration's family separation policy
Mythili Sampathkumar New York



A child was returned to his parents “full of dirt and lice” 85 days after being taken by US immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) at the border, according to his mother.

Olivia Caceras made the claim about her 14-month-old son in a lawsuit filed by 17 states and Washington DC against Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” family separation policy at the US border that has resulted in more than 2,300 children being separated from parents or guardians upon entry.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-border-migrant-trump-olivia-caceres-texas-mother-child-lice-dirt-policy-a8435456.html

[workinclasszero]

36. You were saying?

[rainin]

42. This makes me cry. :(

[workinclasszero]

44. Me too

Poor kids being abused by our own damn government.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. I say we abolish the "stop the 'abolish ICE' narrative"!!

[dottie66]

20. Yes, you're right, especially about "abolish ICE"

Trump is pushing immigration because he knows it's a winning issue for him.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

56. How about standing up for what's right?! ICE is a terrorist organization and must be "iced."

[Grammy23]

17. Reaching potential voters is critical. Registration of new voters must be done.

But could someone tell me (and other inquiring minds) what is being done to stop the Russian interference? So far, all I have heard is that there is plenty of evidence they will repeat what was done in 2016. And not just from Chicken Little. Credible people with the knowledge and expertise to understand how they will do it are warning us over and over that the Russians will have a say in the 2018 election.

I have not heard one word that assures me anything is being done or will be done to purge the Russians from our election. So for all of the efforts to get the Democrats out in record numbers, it will be futile if the Russians control the outcome. And once again we will be told we chose bad candidates, ran lousy campaigns or just failed to appeal to enough voters to win. I feel like we are being really naive to think that a GOTV (by itself) is going to be the winning strategy. 😩

[mythology]

41. Russia didn't control the election

In spite of their efforts, what lost Clinton the election based on polling was the second Comey announcement. If she didn't have that stupid email server, she'd be president today.

Yes Russia made efforts to influence our election, but by influencing voters to believe things they might have already been predisposed to believe due to years of the Republicans attacking the Clintons.

If Russia controlled the outcome, why are we winning so many elections?

[Wwcd]

51. If she didn't have that "stupid" private email server the

Putin's hackers would have had access to all her business as Sec of State as well as any official govt & personal data.

Republican criminals went after the Server issue because they could not hack into it.

THIS is why Pres Bill & Sec of State Hillary Clinton had a private server in the first place.

It was a security issue & they were both aware of the threat from outside foreign govts as well as here at home.

The fake hearings & the negative spin was used to create a reason for the Repubs to open a case against HRC thus gaining a legal access to her private server data.

It was smart & necessary to have a private server.

[Kentonio]

19. We absolutely can reach independents

More to the point, we HAVE to reach independents. They’re nearly half of the electorate.

[qazplm135]

22. you list them like they are one block

the reality is most independents are really D or R when they get in the voting booth.

The number of "independents" who are truly non-affiliated is what 5-10 percent at most.

Get out folks how usually vote D, when they vote...that second part being key, these upcoming elections we have to get them to vote instead of staying home.

I personally liked Hillary, the hatred against her was quite irrational, but the reality is we won't be nominating anyone nearly as loathed or viscerally hated as she was even among our own group, so perhaps that will return some folks who will view Trump as Trump, and not as "well at least he's not Hillary."

[Kentonio]

23. Yep, that's my hope too.

I just want us to fight for every damn vote on the table. I just get worried when I read this stuff about how we shouldn’t even try for some groups votes. We need to try and get every vote we potentially can. All that matters is the result.

[hedda_foil]

25. Independent voters are polling almost identically to Democrats.

Advocating against them would play directly into Trumputin's hands. This is a dangerously divisive tactic. If it were the advice of Russian trolls it could not be more wrongheaded imho.

[Garrett78]

30. Yeah, they aren't swing voters. Most are highly partisan.

They just like calling themselves independent or live places where people don't affiliate.

Swing voters do exist but they are dispersed across 50 states and relatively few in number. You don't run a campaign based on turning them out for your side. With limited time and resources, you have to focus on turning out the base (Republicans understand this) and registering young people. And combating voter suppression.

[qazplm135]

21. get out our vote

minorities, the young, women...do that, and we win.

That didn't happen in election that didn't involve Obama directly.

Everyone, the party and yes voters in those groups, need to redouble their efforts, get involved, and VOTE.

[no_hypocrisy]

24. Beg to differ on Independents.

A lot of them didn't vote FOR Trump as much as vote AGAINST Hillary.

Call it a holdover from Bill Clinton, but there are some voters who are rabidly antagonistic towards the Clintons, period.

2018: Not a Clinton in sight.


Let's try to get them to vote against Trump vicariously through congressional, senate, state representatives, etc. They may in fact determine whether we will have a democracy (or reclaim it if one is so inclined).

[Garrett78]

31. One mustn't confuse independents with swing voters.

Most so-called independents are highly partisan.

[SHRED]

47. Yep

[Stinky The Clown]

26. More and more I am hearing disaffected Republicans favoring Democrats . . . . for now.

They want a return to a SANE two party system. Destroying the teabaggers and magats is the path to that end.

[guillaumeb]

27. Voting is essential.

We might reach a fringe of Trump voters based on specific issues, but most who vote for a racist reveal themselves as racist, or supportive of racists.

[Moostache]

28. 79,000 votes in questionable circumstances...THAT was Trump's margin...

Locally, precincts and districts need strong GOTV efforts and nationally, we need to be prepared for a repeat of the 2016 dirty tricks play book that is STILL in effect (Russians, bots, social media susceptible idiocy and NRA funnelling money).

2018 is mainly a "local" election...motivation may be high at a national level to oppose Trump, but it is at the local level only that GOTV efforts should be laser focused.

Take back the house, start REAL investigations and subpoena EVERYONE!!!

[mcar]

37. Register new voters, help those affected by suppression

GOTV!

[gulliver]

38. It will be hard to attract them to us, but we can separate them from Republicans.

Thanks to the Republican Party, Trump voters have gotten themselves invested in a Taj Mahal level scam staffed by incompetents and con artists who think Trump voters are easy marks. Trumpies like to be angry. They just need to be angry at the people who deserve it, the Republicans.

[scarytomcat]

39. we need to register all Hispanic people eligible to vote

and get out the vote

[Initech]

40. Yes and I have attempted to argue with them numerous times.

They can't stand being told that democrats were right about something, and always have to blame it on a boogeyman - whether it's the deep state, Soros, Hollywood elites, or something else. Talk about a cult mentality.

[rainin]

43. I'm feeling stupid right now. Who is JPR?

[SHRED]

46. Jack Pine Radicals

It's a forum for disgruntled conspiracy theorists that lean left.
So far left they are rightwing in many ways.

The ones that are real and not bots that is.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

52. Good idea.

I agree...nobody is going to change their mind now..

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

53. Tell that to Chuck Schumer.

[kwassa]

55. Try to reach everyone, you never know where the next vote will come from.

Most people are not ideological, and can be reached in some ways.

[randr]

57. The trumpets along with their Russian

friends are trolling with a "leave the Democrat Party" bot. We need to do the same and create a movement for displeased Trump voters.