Rick Wilson: Policy papers are a delusion, Democrats. This is a Trump referendum and you're blowing

[babylonsister]

Policy papers are a delusion, Democrats. This is a Trump referendum and you're blowing it.
Tough love for my Democratic friends: All their 2020 nominee needs is a short, pithy slogan and the ability to cure the infection Trump has given us.
Rick Wilson
Opinion contributor


For many Democrats, the past 25 years of politics were defined by two beautiful, generational candidacies run by two beautiful, generational candidates. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were gifted political figures, charismatic, empathic and raised to play the cool game of television politics.

They were also two of the only bright spots in that time frame. From 1994 on, the Republican Party conducted a slow, grinding march through congressional, local and statewide offices. Sure, the GOP wasn’t immune to setbacks, but the trend line for the Democrats was clear: powerful majorities in urban and coastal cities; beat-downs elsewhere. Yes, Donald Trump is flipping seats and states blue, but you’re not out of the woods. With Clinton (Bill, only) and Obama, Democrats could forget for a moment about Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Al Gore, Mike Dukakis and others who lacked the skills to win.

So, I’m going to give my Democratic friends some very tough love. This election, like every election, has a not-so-secret rulebook, and as of today you’re ignoring it.

Forget the plans, get a good slogan

The election, like all presidential reelection campaigns, is a referendum on Trump. Full stop. Democrats who believe that their massive policy papers and plans to reshape government will sway the electorate are living in a fool’s paradise. I’m not judging your policies. I literally don’t care one whit. I’m just telling you that they don’t matter, and never do. Trump’s policy fit on a trucker hat. Obama’s fit on a poster or in a three-word call of “Yes We Can.” Policy is a delusion.

The referendum on Trump will be based on his actions, his affect, his character, his corruption, and how he is reshaping this nation into a statist personality cult and away from our best values. It’s not like he doesn’t give Democrats something to work with.

To win, your candidate needs to be the most effective counterforce to Trump, a remedy for the disease with which he has infected our body politic. That’s it. Heart, guts and being great on TV beat brains and policy over and over again. Every aspect of the Democratic campaign's communications effort from grassroots door-knockers to earned and social media to paid advertising must be focused on creating this referendum.

more...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/05/2020-democrats-run-against-donald-trump-not-on-policy-plans-column/2209609001/?fbclid=IwAR3AT9Y6mLX4DpAURxc5bi2rqw_K01jDSdi-WMxTsgY3ZepXxBbzCjz2tn0

[Funtatlaguy]

1. I kind of agree. My slogan: "Make This End".

Or second choice: Make This Stop.

[elias7]

2. And if Trump does not end up the candidate, what then?

There is credible reason to consider Trump will not be the candidate in 2020. Depends on two factors 1) the degree of his own mental deterioration and 2) the ability of the house to get out the extent of Trumps criminality to the public.

It would foolish if Trump exits the scene and Dems are caught with a strategy attacking a ghost, while some Repub candidate like Nicki Haley end arounds the process.

[kentuck]

3. It would still be a referendum on Trump...

...and those that followed him and those that supported his insane policies.

[mnmoderatedem]

4. "if I had known this and that, I never would have supported Trump"

I'm fully prepared for that to be the standard line from republicans post trump presidency. They've probably been practicing that line in front of a mirror with a straight face for quite some time now.

God help any republican who says that in my presence. I'll be right up in their grill. You KNEW all this, just wrote it off as fake news, angry democrats, etc.

[htuttle]

8. The Republican party is in the process of cancelling it's primaries

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142364121

They're not going to be able to nominate anyone but Trump. Trump and his enablers have seen to that.

[Ilsa]

5. Didn't Donny Duetch come up with a good slogan?

It was several weeks ago.

I'm concerned that Rick Wilson is right: we could blow this opportunity with policy that some people believe will be over-the-top and will be used against the Ds: "open borders," debt forgiveness, "free healthcare," etc. Many democratic voters will not understand how these things will be paid for and will vote against it, even if it means voting for the vain, narcissistic, decompensating bigot.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

18. yes, link ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212422415
Party of Assault vs Party of Protection

[TreasonousBastard]

6. I have been bleating all along that policies and programs are almost meaningless...

in Presidential elections. People vote with their hearts, not their heads.

Trust me-- there are maybe a dozen people out there actually reading and comparing the healthcare plans of Bernie, Liz, or Kamala. The brighter ones know that no matter how well laid out the plans, they have to be shepherded through Congress, and will not survive as proposed. Their great plans are more likely

We have few objective criteria with which to judge who will be the "best" choice for President, even if we were able to use them, so as much as we deny it, we go with our guts for who we trust to do the job. That's Biden's true strength-- we know he's been there and can handle it. Whatever "it" may be.

We've had it with long shots and outsiders and people with no experience stopping the buck.Or don't know what to do if it just stops on their doorsteps.

And we don't need no revolution, either. We need to get back to work.

[superpatriotman]

7. Ignore this advice at your own peril

Advertising exists because advertising works.

[boston bean]

9. Yep. Not enough trump bashing. Seems Biden is the only one who gets this.

[uponit7771]

10. Policies attract democrats, this is the democratic party not the republican party where policy ...

... doesn't matter as long as brown people are being hurt.

[empedocles]

11. trump drives Democrats to the polls

[NewJeffCT]

13. agreed 100%

Trump should be uniting Democrats against him and against Republicans.

Instead, we're bickering amongst each other and attacking each other instead of Trump.

[KG]

12. both can happen.

[themaguffin]

14. Yes! THIS. I've been saying this. If it's not a referendum on trump, we lose.

[ananda]

15. More fucking unnecessary advice!

If Dems are Dems, nothing can stop them!

[empedocles]

17. Dems have a history of getting in their own way - to this day.

trump is effective at hope and fear - and it is still working, not as well, but still working.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. "Trump is a Lying Thief"

I think that works well as a slogan for whichever candidate wins the primary.

[Brainfodder]

19. Unless he steals it via hacking, there is 0 chance of re-election now.

...he hasn't gained anybody, but he sure lost a ton...

Speak up if you are still on board...

May the pin dropping begin...

-Math, not just for tips anymore!

[TheRealNorth]

20. He can win

If Dems stay home like they did on 2016. Don't discount the effect of disinformation in social media or even campaign ads to muddy the waters and dissuade likely Democratic voters from going to the polls.

[Brainfodder]

21. Nah, we are now too excited!

Too much is at stake, this will be RECORD TURN OUT!

RECORD!

and RECORD amounts of $ spent against him in every state he creeped over the finish thanks to.

Mr. Perez has got this!

Watching him squirm now: priceless!

[TheRealNorth]

22. I hope you are right

But it's a long way to Nov 2020 and more than enough time for Republicans to event some B.S. scandals for the MSM to chase and wear down the electorate.