If we, as Democrats, do not get our shit together and focus

[MineralMan]

on winning next year's election, we're going to get another Trump term.

As long as we're not focused on that goal, but are, instead, fighting among ourselves over trivial matters, we're going to lose. We have to beat interference with the election, trolls, Russians, and overcome many other obstacles to win in 2020.

We'll have a Democratic nominee. Who that is will depend on elections or caucuses in 50 states. Whoever that is will need everyone's vote and the votes of everyone's friends and acquaintances to get enough votes to neutralize all of the negative activities that will be going on.

Let's start working on what really matters, instead of focusing on things we can do nothing about, OK?

[MineralMan]

3. You don't seem to understand. We will nominate the person who

wins enough delegates in the primaries and caucuses. You and I will have almost nothing to do with that except for our two votes.

Any Democrat who can win the nomination will be just fine, compared to another four years of Trump. How do you not understand that?

For pete's sake. Reality is calling. Pick up your phone.

ETA: Oh, yes - welcome to DU...

[LanternWaste]

6. Rather than posting on a message board?

For pete's sake. Reality is calling. Pick up your phone."

Rather than posting on a message board?
(I get it... holding others to a higher standard allows us a pretense we often need)

[MineralMan]

9. Did you have anything to say about this thread, or

did you just want to scold me?

[BannonsLiver]

13. Do you consider yourself a purist?

[MineralMan]

19. Or, maybe a troll. That screen name has been deleted.

[Hekate]

11. Good gods. If we get Trump again, I can guarantee what you call "REAL CHANGE." In fact...

...we are experiencing in right now. Trump has hollowed out department after department, achieving Bannon's goal of "deconstructing the federal government."

We are in the worst emergency of our entire national history, including the Civil War. The Messiah ain't coming -- it's only us and the battered Democratic Party.

[ooky]

2. Totally with you, period.

[littlemissmartypants]

4. GOTV! nt

[Thomas Hurt]

5. Getting our shit together means....

refusing to pick either impeachment or getting out the vote.

Both of them can be pursued at the same time.

Stop being negative about voting like it is a foregone conclusion that the election is already fixed for Trump.

Stop being negative about impeachment proceedings because they still have value in publicizing Trump's corruption and fulfilling the moral and constitutional duty of oversight.

Nor can we count on some future witness like McGahn or Hicks or whoever exposing some smoking gun.

Trump has no shame, no conscience.

Make him expose himself as the wanna dictator and refuse to give up the presidency.

[Joe941]

7. Quit lecturing us. We don't need this.

[MineralMan]

10. It's an open forum. I take it that you disagree with my point.

That's your privilege, as it is mine to post my thoughts.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[zackymilly]

18. Rallying the troops never hurts. n/t

[Initech]

8. Agreed!!! Let's shove the bullshit aside and eradicate this monster from the White House!

And his crew can go with him!

[kentuck]

14. What percentage of Democratic voters is enlightened as you, Mineral Man?

It would be nice if every Democrat was on the same page and reading the same information. But, unfortunately, that is not the case.

There are un-informed and ill-informed voters in both major Parties.

Democrats will run on healthcare reform, minimum wage increase, and infrastructure. Trump will run on "Sleepy Joe", "Pocahontas", and bullshit braggadocio.

Which do you think will win with the American people?

[MineralMan]

16. I wish I knew.

If they're paying attention and thinking, and if they go to the polls and vote, then Democrats will win. If they're doing none of those things, the loyal Trump supporters will win, with the help of voter intimidation, registration irregularities and manipulation of facts during the campaign by a whole range of people.

It's sort of going to be up to active Democrats to help turn out the vote, I think, and in high numbers. Who the Democratic nominees are for each office is less important than voter turnout. We did pretty well in 2018. We need to do that well and better in 2020, since the stakes will be higher.

[0rganism]

15. we will need a strong candidate to win this one

i'm not saying we need a WWE-style firebreather with chest-banging and shouting. the demographics most responsive to that kind of candidate are going overwhelmingly to the incumbent.

no, we need the candidate who is quietly confident in and familiar with the premises underlying his/her positions, one who can represent those positions whatever they are without showing weakness, one who projects physical health and mental stability. one who can credibly laugh away the shady Russian bullshit flooding social media.

the electorate will tolerate and even embrace Democratic positions, even the most progressive ones, if they are presented clearly and confidently. they will not tolerate perceived weakness, and the RW media will go out of its way to create and exaggerate any such flaws.

[MineralMan]

17. It seems to me that the candidate who wins the nomination will be

just what you're looking for. I mean, he or she will be the candidate who won the most votes in enough states to get the delegates to nominate him or her. Right?

Those who vote in the primaries or their caucuses will decide who the nominee will be. The one who gets that nomination will be the one who the most people prefer. I'm good with that. A weak candidate will not become the nominee. The strength of a candidate determines that candidates potential success in the primary race.

[0rganism]

20. "A weak candidate will not become the nominee." - let's hope so

i don't know if i've seen the strong candidate yet on the debate stage, but with 20+ it's hard to tell. i hope s/he steps forward unmistakably as the field narrows.

> strength of a candidate determines that candidates potential success in the primary race

i don't think this is given. there are factors at play in the primaries that diminish in importance in a general election and vice-versa. e.g. essence of policy vs. presentation of policy & self. Democratic primary voters are going to be more informed on issues of the day and may be more forgiving of a candidate who shares their preferred views without being able to represent them optimally as opposed to one whose views might deviate from their specific ideals yet be strongly positioned to represent the Democratic platform in a general election.