Some point after the end of these every-other-year electoral contests (the major ones for president and the less-major-but-still-important off-cycle ones for the U.S. House and Senate also), I weigh in (for whatever my opinion is worth) about what has transpired, good and bad, about the election cycle that has just concluded. I usually hold off on that until after Election Day because I don’t want to say or do anything that could hurt Dem chances on November 8th (and yes, I realize I’m a miniscule player in all of this and probably couldn’t have much impact regardless).
However, I’m going to break with tradition a bit and comment a bit here because I think it’s necessary. I’ll give the glass-half-full perspective first and commend all of the hard work going on with everybody on team “D” doing the canvassing, phone calls, Emailing, texting, putting up signs, etc. for a whole slate of great candidates, including (but not limited to) John Fetterman, Ashley Ehasz, Josh Shapiro, Steve Santarsiero, and Perry Warren. I’m grateful to do whatever I can to try and move our politics towards representing folks in our communities who need services as a “hand up” and not a “hand out” for the sake of themselves, their families and friends. THAT should be the focus to which we are all committed, regardless of how big or small our impact may be in that enterprise.
And saying that, I can’t help but feel a bit of a churn in my guts over what passes for “leadership” on the part of the national Democratic Party.
As far as I’m concerned, these alleged political/media/Beltway geniuses could not have made more of a mess of our campaign if they tried. If I had the opportunity to say this to @harrisonjaime and @SenSchumer, I might be inclined to quote Burt Lancaster as Gen. James Matoon Scott to Fredric March as President Jordan Lyman from the film “Seven Days In May” and say to both of them, “You’re not just a weak sister. You’re a criminally weak sister.” (no chauvinism is implied in that, by the way).
I see virtually no engagement on social media concerning what could pass for a Democratic Party platform, included supported positions and legislation passed over the prior two years (such as COVID relief, the American Rescue Plan and the infrastructure reconciliation bill...and yes, President Manchin and Vice President Sinema made sure that Build Back Better was eviscerated, but do you SERIOUSLY BELIEVE that a Republican congress and president would have passed and signed into law the legislation I just noted, imperfect as it was?). I see virtually NO FIGHT from our side on this stuff on the national level. None. I barely look at Facebook regardless of whether or not we’re in an election, but I can tell you that Twitter has become an utter cesspool of Republican bullshit. And yes, there are plenty of folks pushing back, but (with the commendable exception of Dem U.S. House Rep Bill Pascrell, Jr. of NJ) there is NOBODY from the national political organization engaging in this exercise (and if you want to get an idea of the mindset that we’re up against, take a good look at the picture).
I don’t know what’s going to happen in a week, but let me just say this to these alleges “geniuses” at the DNC; do you want to know the main reason why Democrats lose? IT’S BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU STAND FOR, that’s why! And yes, I’m complaining about Democratic “messaging” (or the lack thereof) for the umpteenth time!
If nothing else, this is a sickening betrayal of the “foot soldiers” doing the great ground work that is needed for our campaigns to succeed. And it would be a lot easier to tolerate the non-stop appeals for money from phone calls, Emails, texts, you name it, if the people asking for my hard-earned dough had enough determinaton, courage and fortitude to merit a recurring contribution.
(And by the way, it’s unintentionally humorous to get appeals for donations also from Steve Bullock, who has written a few columns complaining about Dems allegedly not caring about the “heartland” and pretty much writing off Team D as a bunch of the dreaded “coastal elites.” I mean, Bullock could actually TRY AND ENGAGE THE OTHER SIDE in the battle of ideas...I mean, sure, the Dems can ALWAYS do more, but how about a little credit for what has transpired so far? And I know he has a bit of a point, but a circular firing squad will accomplish EXACTLY NOTHING to help us win elections.)
Update 1: Good advice from Mallory McMorrow (here - glad SOMEBODY is thinking about building up "the bench").
Update 2: And yeah, I think this matters too.
Update 3: I think this is well said.
And now that that rant is done, allow me to provide some of my own reminders as to why the Dems should be returned to power; first, because the other side sponsored the treasonous insurrection of January 6th, 2021...this was brought to us by REPUBLICANS, aided and abetted by REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate who either encouraged it or, by their silence, condoned it...this is a toned-down video versus what I’d like to actually present, but I know YouTube has become total bastards about what they’ll allow to be posted on a humble blog like this one because of admittedly violent content, but I don’t know how the hell you present anything about the 1/6 insurrection WITHOUT showing violence...
...and this reminds us of the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, when SCOTUS justices nominated, voted for and confirmed under Republicans decided that they should have the final say on decisions pertaining to women’s bodily autonomy...
Update 4: Yeah, I think this about says it.
...and what do you think they want to do to Medicare and Social Security if they get power? Do you really need to ask? And by the way, how many goddamn times are filthy, unkempt liberal bloggers like moi supposed to point out that LEX LUTHOR SCOTT WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE BIGGEST MEDICARE FRAUD IN HISTORY???!!!...
Update 11/3/22: More here.
...and I realize this doesn’t really qualify as another “This Day In Doomsy History” entry from October 2013, but if you STILL need a bit of a preview as to what a GOP Congress would look like...well, we have recent history as an example as Ari Melber tells us, and with Greene, Boebert, Biggs, Gosar and the rest of our current bunch, you can add a whole bunch of “values” BS...going after gays/trans (including more dangerous nonsense such as high school kids allegedly using litter boxes), banning books, passing a nationwide abortion ban, and on and on and on...
...and I would agree very much with the “HELL, NO!” sentiment in this Lincoln Project video...
...and I realize that I haven't added a new tune here for a little while, so please allow me to make amends for that now.
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