Democrats launch scorched-earth strategy against Trump

[SecularMotion]

What began as a high-minded discussion about how to position the Democratic Party against President Donald Trump appears to be nearing its conclusion. The bulk of the party has settled on a scorched-earth, not-now-not-ever model of opposition.

In legislative proposals, campaign promises, donor pitches and even in some Senate hearings, Democrats have opted for a hard-line, give-no-quarter posture, a reflection of a seething party base that will have it no other way.

According to interviews with roughly two dozen party leaders and elected officeholders, the internal debate over whether to take the conciliatory path — to pursue a high-road approach as a contrast to Trump’s deeply polarizing and norm-violating style — is largely settled, cemented in place by a transition and first week in office that has confirmed the left’s worst fears about Trump’s temperament.

“They were entitled to a grace period, but it was midnight the night of the inauguration to 8 o'clock the next morning, when the administration sent out people to lie about numerous significant things. And the damage to the credibility of the presidency has already been profound,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “They were entitled to a grace period and they blew it. It’s been worse than I could have imagined, the first few days."

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/democrats-trump-strategy-234206

[dalton99a]

1. Now, just fucking do it.

[Dave in VA]

50. THIS!

[yallerdawg]

2. A 'Sea of Pink' helped!

Thank you!

[calimary]

90. INDEED! Anybody know how many were at the so-called pro-life march?

I would bet the Women's March last weekend was far larger. I would expect that we had the demonstrable majorities at the march that reflect the majorities in the population at large. More of us are pro-choice, too.

But a continuing problem I have with these people involves how

- you can't be pro-life if you're pro-death penalty.

- you can't be pro-life if you deny climate change.

- you can't be pro-life if you do things or cause things to be done that hurt or impoverish or set back those in need.

- you can't be pro-life if you try to end safe, legal, and affordable abortion services. They cut back on Planned Parenthood, drastically, in Texas. The next round of testing and statistics-keeping showed that when fewer PP clinics were available, because PP offers prenatal care and other women's health services, more women died. The death rate doubled. Pro-life, 'eh?

- you can't be pro-life if you fight reasonable gun controls.

- you can't be pro-life if you want to repeal the Affordable Care Act. We're hearing too many personal accounts of people who WOULD be dead by now if not for the dreaded Obamacare giving them access, at long last, to affordable health care.

- you can't be pro-life if you're gung-ho for war. War kills people and ecosystems, i.e.: THE PLANET.

I think we need to drive this point home and repeat, repeat, repeat!

[aggiesal]

92. How can you be pro-life and vote Republican? ...

Every time there is a conservative administration (R),
abortions go up, while with a liberal administration (D),
abortions go down.

Numbers prove it.

Pure and simple!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

95. You make excellent points ...

... and they need to be repeated loudly and often.

[Maraya1969]

99. Will they block trump's Supreme court nomination? They just better!

[bettyellen]

101. It wasn't even described as any thousand ... like one or two. Wish they did an aerial pic

[mrgorth]

3. Bring that shit in!

.

[The_Voice_of_Reason]

4. The Democrats have spent too much time

being nice, turning the other cheek. How did "When they go low, we go high" and "Stronger Together" work out for us? We lost our chance to take back the Senate, lost the White House, and our chance to have a liberal Supreme Court for the next 25-30 years.

The time has come to take the gloves off and get down into a serious street fight with the Radical Republican Party at every level of government, not just federally.

[Longtime lurker 99]

6. I love me some Michelle Obama but

When they go low, we should go lower.

[ginnyinWI]

11. no, not lower, but smarter.

You can resist them without compromising your integrity. No need to lie, resort to anything unethical. Just resist, resist, resist.

Stick by your values and principles and don't allow yourself to be compromised. Don't be tarnished by them. That is about maintaining the high ground.

[WePurrsevere]

16. I agree... smarter is the key. nt

[Doitnow]

96. Smarter should be so much easier----since they are so very stupid.

[SticksnStones]

32. Threading the needle

Smarter is how we use their own tactics against them without losing our souls in the process.

It's a tricky maneuver but, IMO, it starts by using every stalling and delaying strategy that congressional by-laws allow but without calling them morons, over dramatizing, or fixating on the size of dt's ties.

Policy policy policy!

We can beat them back !

[uponit7771]

44. +1, we don't have to go lower in morals just smarter in our response

[Richard D]

70. And louder

Louder is important.

[Saviolo]

87. The GOP would love us to believe that Resisting is "going low"

But it's a huge lie. Sadly, it's a lie that they've been selling very loudly for a lot of years, now. It's what they did, of course.

[The_Voice_of_Reason]

13. Been an Environmental Activist here...

a long time. Learned decades ago, that like it or not, the best way to get your proponent's attention is too hit them in the proverbial kneecap with a sledgehammer...being nice just gets you pushed aside. With peaceful protests, with massive crowds, with millions of phone calls and letters, with relentless pressure, we can win. But if we stick to our model of being the nice party, we will continue to lose, local, state and federal, and in my world that is unacceptable.

[Bayard]

26. When they go low

We should grind them into the dirt. No retreat, no surrender.

Now there's a thought. If this ends up coming to fighting in the streets, revolution, anarchy, how many of us will have the stomach to jump in?

[Ligyron]

78. I'm down.

[bigbrother05]

33. When they go low, step on them & squash 'em like a bug

[Metro135]

41. Just tell the TRUTH

That's all you have to do. And throw their fucking hypocrisy right back into their collective faces. Mission accomplished.

[DinahMoeHum]

82. No, we should go BOTH high AND low. . .

In other words, CHOP-BLOCK the motherfuckers.

[MFM008]

102. we need to be like wolverines

tasmanian devils, spitting cobras, rampagiing elephants, hippo with a toothache, deathstalker scorpion,
lions vs hyhenas..................i think you get it.....................

[yurbud]

89. staying silent or even cooperating isn't the same as "going high." That would be calling a spade a

spade and fighting tooth and nail, but not lying, coercing, or stealing people's voting rights to win.

Democrats under Bush and even in the Obama era faced with GOP obstruction have reacted the way the wife of some abusive husbands do. They try to stay calm and quiet and figure if they give him what's he wants, he'll be nicer.

[Bohunk68]

104. You got it right on the nail head.

Dems need to stop acting like they have Stockholm Syndrome.

[rzemanfl]

5. K&R. No respite, no quarter, not an inch more, never surrender. n/t

[coco22]

7. They finally get it ,how many decades did it take..

this was needed before Trump.

[Girard442]

8. Time too, to signal to some R legislators that they don't have to go down with the Trumptanic. NT

[Blanks]

29. They need to start talking to Republican house and senate members...

about who Pence might select as VP when Trump resigns.

Graham, McCain etc.

Plant that bug in the back of a few minds and see how they behave.

[sweetapogee]

65. A proclamation...

Sir, I hereby place you in-charge of communicating this vital information to the fence sitting pukes. Get back to us pronto with an update. Good luck.

[Johnny2X2X]

9. No SCOTUS

Do not let him sit anyone on the Supreme Court! Fillabuster for 4 years, this country cannot survive another White Supremacist on the SCOTUS.

[msanthrope]

10. No fucking quarter given. nt

[mindem]

12. Sounds wonderful......

but I'll believe it when I see it.

[MarvinGardens]

14. K & R to Scorched Earth!

[onecaliberal]

15. They better go through with it

[pscot]

17. I'll believe this when

I see the votes

[Buckeye_Democrat]

18. Me too. n/t

[uponit7771]

46. +1, buncha shit being talked on both sides... Jeff Sessions will be our tell tale

[pscot]

57. I watched Al Franken on Rachel last night

He seemed to be suggesting that some of the yes votes were a way of enticing GOP senators to vote against De Voss and some of the other more egregiously offensive nominees. It's like he still believes there are "moderate Republicans" we can do business with. If that's the case the last 8 years haven't taught him a god damned thing. Meet Republicans half way and they'll bust your chops and leave you bleeding in the middle of the road along with the yellow stripe and a dead armadillo.

[uponit7771]

64. Somehow we got to get the message to dems to stop going to a tank fight with a shot gun, it doesn't

... work and conservatives count on dems not fighting back.

They can make deals but say them outloud seeing their actions are demoralizing to dem politicos.

Bending over for the KGOP fucks isn't something I voted for

[Doitnow]

97. Exactly, because no matter how the "more liberal Rs" pretend to object

to the nutcases, they ALL vote the same. Every. Single. Time.

[MoonRiver]

19. I'll believe it when I see it.

Rec'd and kicked because hope springs eternal.

[Jersey Devil]

20. So far only 1 of 48 Senators is actually fighting

Only Kirstin Gillebrand has voted no on all Trump nominees. We'll be counting.

[pscot]

68. Gillebrand for President

[Jersey Devil]

72. That's the message they need

If they won't go to battle for us why should we go to battle for them? Gillebrand gets it. So far the others don't.

[mercuryblues]

21. I have been getting a lot of calls

to donate to the Democratic party. My response is. They will not get one more dime out of me unless I see them stop trump. Filibuster his ass and hold him accountable hearing, hearings and more hearings. If that is not done, they won't get my vote either.

They usually say they will send the message up the ladder.

[tavernier]

22. So when is this supposed to start? n/t

[world wide wally]

23. Do they finally realize that politics is a contact sport?

[GoCubsGo]

24. I sure as hell hope so.

I'll believe it when I see it.

[SHRED]

25. Wishful thinking I'm afraid

Our Senators have already caved and voted to confirm his cabinet and now this...


Democrats' risky new Trump strategy: Pry him away from his own party, and win back his voters

http://www.salon.com/2017/01/27/democrats-risky-new-trump-strategy-pry-him-away-from-his-own-party-and-win-back-his-voters/

[manicraven]

30. Not sure what they can actually do. They've got no power.

[manicraven]

28. Maybe "scorched earth" means different things to different people because voting for

tRump's horrible nominees is not standing against him; it's enabling the tyrant to proceed. Thinking of Warren here for one...

[hvn_nbr_2]

60. "Scorched earth" means write a "strongly worded letter" and set it on fire

Sorry to be so cynical, but frankly I'll be surprised if the Senate Dems do one single sustained filibuster in the next two years.

[Eyeball_Kid]

31. Scorched earth? Nonsense. They staged a coup. Metaphors won't do.

There's no finessing of language. There can only be a rebellion against a fascist coup. This isn't a civil discussion.

[blueseas]

40. I am beginned to think that as well

A coup right before our eyes.

[volstork]

35. About f-ing time!

IMO, if we had done this in 2008, we wouldn't be in this situation. Hindsight is 20/20...

[lillypaddle]

36. Damn, let's hope they do it nt

[Akamai]

37. Also, part of the damage done by Trump is to question the validity of the last election---

It is perfectly clear that he wants to suppress the vote in the future,, to deny people the chance to cast their votes, and to dispute any election at all which does not comport with his views of the way things should be--that is, that contradicts his view that he is King of the United States and of the world.

[Gothmog]

38. We need to show the same respect to trump that the GOP showed to President Obama

[blueseas]

39. Are the protests working or they know something we don't

What are in the files that some house members saw?

[Cary]

42. This is not how it should be, but unfortunately Republicans give us no choice

What they have devolved into is not something that can be negotiated with. It is something that can only be appeased, which means they will take whatever they can and move the bar further towards their extreme.

Maybe someone smarter than I can explain a better way to deal with them?

[Mr. Sparkle]

43. i must be blind as im not seeing any of this.

it looks like all of trumps cabinet picks are about to go through with little or no delay. It is one thing talking the talk but can they walk the walk. Past experiences show they will always get out smarted out manoeuvred by the cons. Our leadership leaves a lot to be desired .

[Flatpicker]

45. I Don't believe it

These Democrats are so used to being paid to take a fall that I don't think they know how to do anything else.

Sorry, but, as long as they take money from the same Sources, the end is scripted for them.

[JNelson6563]

47. Amen brothers and sisters! This is war.

It was declared long ago on all things remotely resembling progress for the masses. We have to stand up to this, the barbarians are through the gate!

[mountain grammy]

48. No compromise!

[secondwind]

49. IT'S ABOUT TIME!!

[onlyadream]

51. Very important - PLEASE READ

Text the word DAILY to the number 228466 (or ACTION), and you’ll get a text message about an urgent progressive issue in your area, based on your zip code. If you want to act, you listen to a short recorded explanation on it and from there, you’re routed directly to your member of Congress or senator to weigh in.

“In 90 seconds, you can conscientiously object and be done with it,” reads the Daily Action website. “You can make the phone calls when you’re walking to the bus stop, or waiting in line for your morning latte. One touch of the phone and you’re done.”

[northoftheborder]

55. Pardon my density, but clarify...

Do you text the number, then enter DAILY or vice-versa??? Or do you start with texting Daily Action?

[onlyadream]

79. Easy

The number is like the phone number. The word DAILY is the message. They'll text back asking for your zip.
I already got a call to action!

[northoftheborder]

84. thanks - since I asked the question --

I've been sent an Action text link by a friend - actually this is "Indivisible" group also, which I have registered for; there aren't any groups closer than 25 miles here, but I like the fact that you can take Action on your own. This is great!!!

[ananda]

52. I hope this is not just talk!

The past twenty years has been just so
much fucking talk!

And look where we are now!

It's time to stand up and say no to the GOP
and Benedict Donald!

[NBachers]

53. The Washington Generals have a NEW game plan.

Villaraigosa better not bring any "accommodation" or "flexibility" talk with him when he campaigns for California governor.

[Paladin]

54. Enough talk---now fucking DO IT!

Come on, Democratic Party leaders---the party membership is enraged and they're leaving you behind in the dust. Catch up and let's put up an effective fight. Immediately.

[bucolic_frolic]

56. I'll believe it when I see it

nothing motivates like fear

[joanbarnes]

58. its about time; 49 years too late

[Hekate]

59. I think the Women's Marches had something to do with this

Our calls and emails will also let them know not just what we want them to do, but that we have their backs when they do it.

[Farmgirl1961]

61. It is about damn time, but...

Let's just hope we don't scorch the Earth in the process...

[usaf-vet]

62. HOW ABOUT A UNIFIED PROTEST for a change.

EVERYBODY on the same page. Daily unified talking points. I'll be with you dems UNTIL it fragments into chaos. Then I'm gone.

No more ... sign this petition and that petition as a way to get me on a mailing list to raise money to keep you in office to continue to do nothing. Here is a simple lesson. Remember GOD-GAYS-GUNS that put the R's where they are. We need the same focus. CLEAN WATER- ENVIRONMENT - HEALTHCARE as and example. Get those issues on ballot initives for every election to get supporters to the polls. I told you what I think I hope you are listening.

[KG]

63. I lulz'd

[Cryptoad]

66. Obstruct, Obstruct, Obstruct...........

GOP has proven that this method works......!

[Mira]

67. When they go low

we need to go lower

[meow2u3]

69. Give'em a taste of their own medicine

If Canteloupe Caligula and those repunk minions can dish it out, they'd damn well better be prepared to take it like they've never taken it before!

[forgotmylogin]

71. No Shortcuts!

If we can't stop them, we need to make sure every i is dotted, every t is crossed, every signature clearly written, and every rule is followed. You must read your ENTIRE bill out loud on the Senate floor.

[LiberalLovinLug]

73. I wish that would happen, not too optimistic.

There's a reason why this cartoon went so viral

[masmdu]

74. G O O D !

[orangecrush]

75. RESIST

It's all that is left to do.

[heaven05]

76. I will believe it

when I benefit from it. We don't need bluster, we need whatever muscle we still have in those two Houses in D. C.

[orangecrush]

77. ...

[StrictlyRockers]

80. #TheResistance is on. No quarter.

A progressive wave is about to sweep over this country.

[MarinCoUSA]

81. "not-now-not-ever model of opposition" No friggin' Sh@t!

n/t

[Danascot]

83. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is leading by example

voting against every Trump appointee (except Niki Haley for ambassador), more than any other democrat.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/25/kirsten-gillibrand-has-voted-against-almost-all-of-donald-trumps-nominees-2020-anyone/

[CCExile]

85. It is not too early to start planning post Trump action.

I believe Trump will flame out sooner than later, or be maneuvered out by the GOP. We must not let the American people forget where he came from, who put him where he was, who used a mentally disabled soul as an executive signing machine, and what they intend to do next. The entire conservative movement is traitorously complicit in what is essentially a coup of the American people. Keep THAT in front of the voters!

[tomp]

86. street fight, YES!!!

it has to be total opposition. and we have to remember to let the people lead, like in the womens march.

[mvd]

88. The guy is a wannabe dictator. We MUST be stronger than we have been

The Republican Party is Party over county as they showed for President Obama's whole 8 years. Combined with Trump, it could get very, very bad. If Bernie and Warren vote for Sessions, DeVos, and that treasury secretary nominee, for example, I would have to look for a new hero. Maybe Gillebrand.

[flying_wahini]

91. We absolutely need to come in swinging hard with everything we have.

Mealy mouth, lambie-pie bullshitters can stay home! We lost the last election because of the
"make it into gruel" message. The younger voters need to see blood in the water.
I do too, and I'm in my 60's! I want to see a snot blowing ass whipping. God knows we've got it coming.

[workinclasszero]

93. No Surrender - Bruce Springsteen

Well, we bursted out of class
Had to get away from those fools
We learned more from a 3-minute record, baby
Than we ever learned in school
Tonight I hear the neighborhood drummer sound
I can feel my heart begin to pound
You say you're tired and you just want to close your eyes
And follow your dreams down

Chorus:
Well, we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter's night
With a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender

Well, now young faces grow sad and old
And hearts of fire grow cold
We swore blood brothers against the wind
Now I'm ready to grow young again
And hear your sister's voice calling us home
Across the open yards
Well maybe we'll cut someplace of own
With these drums and these guitars

'Cause we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Blood brothers in the stormy night
With a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender

Now on the street tonight the lights grow dim
The walls of my room are closing in
There's a war outside still raging
You say it ain't ours anymore to win
I want to sleep beneath
Peaceful skies in my lover's bed
With a wide open country in my eyes
And these romantic dreams in my head

Once we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Blood brothers in a stormy night
With a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender

Ohhhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhhh

[Fantastic Anarchist]

94. The following passages from the article ...

... is why Democrats lose midterms:

Some party leaders are wary of the implications of teeth-baring, no-holds-barred opposition. They worry about the difficult position in which it puts vulnerable Democratic senators — 10 of them will be up for reelection in 2018 in states that Trump carried.

There are also concerns about the dangers of appearing overly obstructionist, and the possible blowback it could create for party officeholders up and down the ballot in 2018. An explicitly aggressive approach also stands to shape the 2020 presidential field, incentivizing potential candidates to compete in expressing their level of anti-Trump vitriol.

“We need to remember that one of the reasons young voters, especially, were uninspired is you can’t have a message of, “I’m not him,’” cautioned DNC vice chairman R.T. Rybak, the former Minneapolis mayor.

“Focusing too much on what he says — every absurdity, every misrepresentation of fact, every lie that comes out of his mouth or his tweets — makes no sense to me,” said former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a candidate for California governor. "The best way to fight Trump is to chart what represents the values, the priorities that we’re for. I don’t think it makes sense to spend all of our time responding to every tweet, I think that will just reinforce a notion that many people have in our country that we put party before country."

[zentrum]

98. About effing time. nt

[MadDAsHell]

100. Where was this fucking "seething party base" on November 8th? nt

[Boomerproud]

103. I'll believe it when I see it and when it's SUCCESSFUL!

Passion. Commitment. Principles. Smarts. Strategy.

[diane in sf]

105. They better, no appeasement this time like they did with bush, the last unelected Repug.

[annabanana]

106. As well they should. He has GIVEN us to Russia. . .n/t

[Lunabell]

107. I am not holding my breath

I don't hold much hope that many Democrats will factually do this.

[catbyte]

108. I certainly hope so. I am so sick and tired of Dems "picking their battles" & losing the war.