I think we have seen the end of the Clintonian era and Obama who basically deviated little from their playbook. There are rumblings that the corporate status quo Dems might run Hillary or a stand in such as Corrie Booker, because if Trump screws up as much as seems likely, no great changes need to be made to win and they really see little need for change if that can happen. . This might actually deliver the presidency in 2020, as the majority of the electorate keeps desperately seeking "hope and change" or "make America great". After all the last presidential election was very close. However, this seems unlikely to regain the Congress or the 2/3 of the state legislatures the GOP now controls. The Bernie social democratic or democratic socialist platform seems to me like the best way to unite the various identities in the electorate. Free state university tuition, national health care for all, forgiveness or refinancing student debt at the interest we bailed out the banks, $15/hr minimum wage, increased social security benefits, ending the legalized bribery of billionaires financing politicians etc. help the vast majority whether black, white, brown, Asian or Native American, straight, gay, trans etc. These goals are easily understandable though the usual billionaire to media to thinktank to corporate media to focus group tested talking point transmission built will seek to create confusion. If American believe that they can actually have these benefits it is type of concrete change that may make the turn out election after election to defeat the current system controlled by billionaires and multi-millionaires. The proof of this is how Bernie with no name recognition, no money and no media coverage was not easily sidelined and is now the most popular national politician.
First, there isn't a chance in hell Hillary runs in 2020. If trump does turn out to be that bad, she was the one that couldn't even beat him. 2018 will be a sign. If democrats can get organized quickly (this year), significant gains can be made in 2018. If that happens, momentum could be on our side depending on who runs in '20. There are little signs that things, even in Texas could be shifting (a Dem won in Williamson County for the first time in decades). That's where it has to start...on the local level in the suburbs. None of it matters, though, unless there's a coherent message. Whether there will be one by the end of this year (necessary to make gains in 2018) is another story. I think we'll start to see it depending on what trouble trump has is in come this summer.
Make a bunch of BS promises? Bernie is merely the opposite side of the coin as Trump, a progressive populist.
Also, I like what Senator Schumer is about to release...a trillion dollar infrastructure plan over 10 years. He's going to force Trump to prove he isn't a GOP schill and see if he'll stick with the one promise he made that progressives could get behind. If not, it'll be a bullet in the chamber they can use in the mid-terms.
If Trump doesn't pull a Titanic and actually does what he's campaigned on, he will be difficult to beat. If the Democrats want to make a 'come back', whatever that means, then the following needs to take place: -Stop lumping Trump in with the status quo Republican. The Republicans are his lapdog, not the other way around. -Build sound policy. If the only strategy employed is attacking Trump at ever turn, they are going to fail just like the Republicans...and more importantly, Hillary. Democrats (and I would say this applies to the Republicans, but they are hopeless) need to prove they are the BEST candidate for the job, not because they are just marginally better than their opposition. -Distance themselves from the Elites. Booker is done. He is just another Hillary.
I would start where Trump and the others are weak. I would say...that instead of LIP service, we draw up this contract with the people with honesty and transparency. Then outline a plan of how they plan to help American's financially - including going after corporations that hide tax dollars..... Honesty and Integrity - only adhere to it. Everytime Trump lies about policy, or announces something that is not popular - say....this is how it should be done, let his and their mistakes build the platform for the dems.....also put Bernie in charge... DD
I know people love to claim Dems voted for Obama in '08 because of his charisma but I think there was also a sense of urgency in voting for anyone but another Republican as President then too. We were in a global recession, two wars, one of which was based on bad intel, healthcare costs were a huge concern because of all the layoffs and subsequent losses in employee based health insurance, and the largest stimulus package at the time was being rushed through Congress just before the end of Bush's term. Then there was the auto industry being in shambles and it really paved the way for anyone but another Republican President in 08'. I honestly don't wish worse for the United States as I do hope for a successful four years ahead for more Americans and not just big business but with the news I read I feel like I'm reading a more WWE scripted version of politics back in 2000 through 2008. People forget the DOW was at record all time highs up until 2007 and this caused many Republicans to tout the success of a deregulated market. You could dig up posts from TJ and bigtexx back then saying as much even. Then the recession hit largely influenced by a lack of regulation and we're still recovering from it to this day. So I could see the DOW hitting new highs in a Trump Presidency. I also see income inequality rising while it does and long term negative consequences to our economy for short term gain. If we were to repeat history like in 08', I don't think it'd matter much who would run as President as long as their track record isn't half as marred as Hillary's is/was. Citizens will notice whether their quality of life has improved in four years or not. If it hasn't for the majority, no amount of talk radio is going to change the tune of unhappy citizens with even emptier pockets.
distance themselves from the far left, pc liberals, and move toward & listen to the left center and center. that's their biggest issue imho. they serve care about a few and ignore the many others who don't share or care as much about their far left ideology. to put it another way, you can't appear to care more about a lizard than a project that would employee thousands. work towards both while pandering to the people because lizards can't vote.
First, stop with the divisive rhetoric of X group needs help, Y group needs help, Z group needs help (well, the "middle class" might be the only exception here). Other than the billionaires and centi-millionaires, we ALL could use a little help. This myopic focus on the most underprivileged has the unintended consequence of making everyone else tune out your message. Second, Trump has a simple message. We will take back from China and the illegal immigrants what they took from us, and give it back to the people. Simple. Straightforward. Not nuanced (Memo to Democrats: start treating that as a dirty word). Most likely a mirage. But as a message, it's effective. So there, get to work. Those are your internal and external demons, Democrats.
Honesty and integrity *snorts* Like spending weeks talking about Russia, hacking, yadda yadda yadda instead of standing up and admit their behavior was corrupt and unethical ... instead of blaming Russia. Dont take it personal, DD. The Republicans would have done the same. But then again, there is not much difference between the two parties anyways once you get past social issues.
I think that is a good move. Despite Trump it will help him as it will put a bunch of construction workers back to work. From what I read it will do most good if it is spent on repairing existing infrastructure.
Run Hillary again? A moderate Wall Street war loving Cold Warrior type Dem? You need to come to terms with Hillary was not a great candidate. http://wallstreetonparade.com/2015/11/how-did-the-taxpayer-make-out-on-the-wall-street-bailout/ Instead, between 2007 and 2009, the Fed provided over $13 trillion in emergency lending to just a handful of large financial institutions. That’s nearly 20 times the amount authorized in the TARP bailout. “Now, let’s be clear, those Fed loans were a bailout too. Nearly all the money went to too-big-to-fail institutions. For example, in one emergency lending program, the Fed put out $9 trillion and over two-thirds of the money went to just three institutions: Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch . BTW what it is the interest rate of the average student loan? Forgiveness would be ok also. Also, don't worry if millions of student loan debtors get a break, your life will still be fine. I think that these folks are in general worthy and it will help the consumer and housing markets if they have cash to spend instead of the banks and the government getting the money
No doubt, but this thread is about how they can make a comeback- Trump will ultimately damage the republican party for years. The Dems need to be there pointing out all his lies, and discrepencies, like signing an executive order about the Dakota Pipeline while being an investor in that pipeline - an impeachable event. They need to stop whining - and start supporting the people, talk about science, vanishing liberties, and how they will fix that, talk about what TRULY makes America Great is the freedoms that are being trampled on by the people in charge now. And toss out the old guard, get some young people in there, make it a party of the people - the true majority. DD
Grow a spine, be less cynical and more transparent. The open secret is that K Street works both ways. Come clean and rather claim to be the "grown up" party, just try to inspire and deliver on those promises. Dem voters are wildly idealistic and place unrealistic goals for legislation only to become disillusioned to the compromises they've won...to the point of disowning it. Republican leaders hold their breath to get what they want but at least they can justify the outcomes to their voters (in this case, they now have to deliver on their crazy promises) This disillusionment is cancerous because of lower turnouts and because it forces Big Bang issues artificially grown in order to drive out the vote. That Dem turnout is drastically lower in off presidential elections is indicative of how Dem voters think and act. In a post truth world, more arguments and shouting doesn't energize the base like it does with angry cons, rather it overloads and shuts Dem voters down into not trying at all.
