December 31, 2018

The coming Democratic primary is sure to be divisive

Why? Past history-- every contested primary since at least 1992 has been (well 2000 was somewhat milder-- Bill Bradley did not get much traction). On DU, just look at the attacks in 2004, 2008, 2016 and continuing sniping about Bernie Sanders even now two years later. The second reason is the sheer number of expected candidates will create a huge division among Democratic voters about whom to choose. It's not going to be a picnic, as the inevitable attacks begin, bolstered by outside forces interested in sowing division.

What needs to happen? Democratic voters need to hold their tribalistic urges in check, so that later there can be a unified front against Trump no matter who the eventual nominee. Everyone should begin the what if game right now with each of the candidates running (as they declare). What if so an so actually wins the nomination? How will I feel and what will I do to help him or her win?

November 19, 2018

Jim Carrey "Would Love" To See Kamala Harris & Beto O'Rourke Win The Presidential Race

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jim-carrey-love-see-kamala-223612888.html
Deadline Deadline 6 hours ago

Jim Carrey is using his artistry and political platform on Twitter to not only alert people to “the demon that’s controlling us” he said at Vulture Festival in Los Angeles on Sunday, but also he wants people to know he “would love” to see Beto O’Rourke and Kamala Harris in the presidential race, although he has no issues with Hilary Clinton.

“I don’t think she would be a bad president,” said the star of Showtime’s Kidding. “I believe she knows what she’s doing, but the fact that so many people are conflicted about her, whether that’s right or wrong, is a problem and will lose votes, will lose swing votes…I would love to see Beto O’Rourke and Kamala Harris. I think she’s fantastic, and he’s a really incredible guy.”

Carrey then got a huge cheer from the festival audience when he added, “I would love in this decade to be able to vote for somebody who is not the lesser of evils.”

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Carrey thinks Harris and O'Rourke are two strong candidates for President. I agree. Both would be incredibly good candidates. As to potential problems with Harris, I think he's wrong and that she can be a terrific unifying candidate.

November 12, 2018

Big midterm lesson: Democrats will need an inspiring candidate to beat Trump in 2020

Big midterm lesson: Democrats will need an inspiring candidate to beat Trump in 2020
Matthew Rosza
Salon, 11/12/18
https://www.salon.com/2018/11/12/one-big-midterm-lesson-democrats-will-need-an-inspiring-presidential-candidate-to-beat-trump-in-202/

Here's the thing about President Donald Trump's supporters: They aren't a majority, and they aren't growing in number, but they are passionate and loyal. Most important of all, they show up on Election Day. The midterm elections are simply the latest occasion when this was demonstrated. True, Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives, but they didn't do so by the overwhelming margin that many had hoped to see -- and they actually lost seats in the Senate. Turnout in the 2018 midterms was the highest in any similar election since 1966, but that wasn't just Democrats eager to repudiate Trump. Republicans also turned out in unusually high numbers, considering that their party is currently in control of the White House. (Normally, the party that's out of power sees higher turnout in midterm elections). Trump convinced his voters that they needed to go to the polls to protect him, and they did so.
...
It isn't that Trump is exceedingly popular, but rather that the people who support him will clearly stick with their man no matter what and make a point of showing that loyalty where it counts the most. For Democrats to effectively counter this, they have to make sure that their presidential nominee in 2020 — who will, inevitably, play a crucial role in determining the fate of the down-ballot Democrats running for Senate and House seats, as well as for governorships and state legislatures — is able to inspire turnout on an equally impressive scale.
...
That said, Democrats can pick a nominee who has the best of what Biden can offer without being Biden himself. They need a nominee who, like Trump, appears to be a blunt truth-teller who speaks his mind and heart. (That isn't true of Trump, of course, but it is widely perceived as being true). The candidate must be able to advocate for progressive policies on issues like health care, environmental protection, the economy and protecting minorities in a way that enthuses the Democratic base without alienating independents and moderates. He or she must be able to appeal to the voters in the so-called flyover states, either because they hail from them -- like Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota or Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana -- or because they appeal to them naturally, like Biden himself.
...
Finally, the candidate must hold Trump's feet to the fire on the issues where he is weakest — such as his unethical conduct in office, his inflammatory rhetoric, his policies that persecute the poor and various racial and religious minority groups — without making it seem like all they have to offer is the benefit of not being Trump.

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This is a balanced article, explains why it will be necessary to have someone who inspires folks. I think it's obvious that inspirational ability should extend from as much of the very diverse Democratic base as possible to even people with differing political opinions.

November 7, 2018

Beto may be the next President of the United States

He has risen to national prominence in this election where he was the decided underdog. and has the change, hope and unifying message like Obama. Most importantly, he inspires people-- which is what this country needs now.

September 22, 2018

Grassley grants Kavanaugh accuser extension on how to proceed on possible testimony

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley granted a deadline extension to a woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault to decide if and how she will testify, the Republican said on Twitter.

The Senate Judiciary Committee had delayed a vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation after California professor Christine Blasey Ford's allegations emerged last week, and her lawyers and committee staff were negotiating the conditions of her testimony.

"Judge Kavanaugh I just granted another extension to Dr. Ford to decide if she wants to proceed (with) the statement she made last week to testify to the Senate," Grassley wrote on Twitter. "She should decide so we can move on. I want to hear her. I hope you understand. It's not my normal approach to be indecisive."

Grassley did not say if a new deadline has been set.



Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/republicans-set-monday-vote-kavanaugh-no-deal-hearing-010138951.html#mycomments

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Looks like Sen. Grassley is trying to show some respect to Dr. Ford. The cynical interpretation is that they don't have the votes to confirm. We shall see.
Article is written by Doina Chiacu and Richard Cowan

July 23, 2018

The Democratic party since FDR has been the part of the common man/woman

But that theme has receded since Reagan. It's still there, but in the background. The Republicans' focus on being the party of "freedom" has caused a lot of mischief. Americans need to know that the Democratic Party is with them in their daily struggles, that it has their backs first and foremost. While the GOP is focused on freedom abstractly, Democrats should be countering that we really are the party of freedom for ALL (why Democrats support civil rights for everyone so strongly) and are the real party of opportunity. More focus on how Democratic policies can help SMALL business and individuals succeed in America. That's why policies such as affordable health care and education are so important, as well as consumer protection and the small business administration (which should be expanded). More focus on Democrats being more truthful than Republicans-- How powerful billionaires and corporations are subverting America though unchecked misleading marketing and propaganda. We need to counteract the GOP theme that government is evil-- rather that the government is us working together to potentially achieve great things like curing diseases or reaching the moon.

While DUers know these things as second nature, I find that the message of the common man has faded when talking to those not intensely political. The current debates about socialism and moderation are distractions that further weaken the message.

July 12, 2018

A new motto for Democrats: "The party of opportunity that has your back."

Trying to come up an elevator pitch that actually summarizes the best of the Democratic Party.
The problem is that the Democratic Party has such a large tent that there are so many ideas that underlie the Party's positions, that it's difficult to construct effective summaries.

"The party of opportunity that has your back." or
"The party of opportunity and fairness that has your back."

And then expand on what is meant-- like in an elevator pitch:
1) High paying jobs through helping small business.
2) Better future for your children by making education affordable.
3) Making sure health care affordable for everyone, (government based so you can explore better job opportunities).
4) Fairness: Civil rights for everyone.
5) Fair and humane immigration policies.
6) Policies based on science and common sense not superstition.

Something about honesty too.

What are your ideas for a motto/slogan/elevator pitch?

July 9, 2018

#OMAGA Obama Made America Great Again

Use it on Twitter and Instagram. Make it go viral.
If Trump sees it he will not be pleased.

June 27, 2018

Well Roe V Wade may finally be history

And that will make Trump a folk hero for evangelicals for a generation. A few thousand voters in the rust belt are going to have changed American history for a generation-- how ironic.

June 10, 2018

Monsters are Due on Maple Street

It's fairly easy to cause sow division among diverse Democrats by appealing to long-held grudges, unfounded criticism, suspicions, tribalism, and unbending loyalty. See Rod Serling's "Monsters are Due on Maple Street" for how turning on the lights in a few houses during a blackout soon has neighbors going to war with each other. The Russians and GOP operatives recognize how easy it is to sow discord, using their enemies as unwitting agents, and then let the consequences run their course, as they did during the last election. We must be vigilant, if we want a blue wave in the fall.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monsters_Are_Due_on_Maple_Street