Democrats must embrace social democracy, as in France, Germany and the Scandinavian countries if they want to benefit the middle class, working class and poor. It is a myth that the rich and wealthy got rich and wealthy on their own. The federal government provides the structure and often the funds to enable that. And they have to sell it in a media environment dominated by the right wing and a MSM that is also hostile to social democracy. They have to reverse the bill of goods first sold by Reagan that the federal government was the problem, not the solution.
Tom Hartman masterfully traces the "FALL" right back to Reagan and his anti-government, union busting rhetoric and his supply-side economics that has never trickled down to workers.
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
Reagan stood on Goldwater's shoulders. Nixon did as well. After Eisenhower, the Republican Party became infested with the anti-New Dealers. They have been trying to erase the New Deal from history and return us to 1938.
I have a friend who is both very politically active and way into Halloween. About 5 years ago he had some old electric rotisserie parts, a mannikin, and a decent Reagan mask. He built a coffin and has Reagan spinning in his grave every Halloween now.
All this is Marketing folks, and Democrats have been really lousy in their marketing efforts. They want the high ground, but don't know how to take it in a debate. They let themselves get flustered by Trump and the rest of his clown show. Someone has to go back to marketing basics:
1. No more mushy middle. Democrats have tried to be everything to everybody and they end up in the mushy middle. They are afraid of going after big corporations and their silly boards of directors who do NOTHING about the ethics of the company. It's only about ROI and spreadsheets. Being in the mushy middle is fatal to the brand.
2. Democrats need a rebranding (may even need to change the name). And they need to follow how Trump takes the other guy's wins and makes them his. For example, tough on crime. Democrats need to show (not say) themselves being tough on crime. They are, but they keep it under wraps for fear alienating some who think tough means brutal. They need to come out strong on judicial reform --even if only ways to speed up our judicial system which is a slow and lumbering giant full of holes lawyers for the wealthy persist in walking thru. There are a good half dozen of the infamouse Reagan, Trump, have used in different formats over the decades to scare people in believing things are worse than they are.
3. Social Media marketing is one of easy sound bites. People don't need a full article from the Atlantic to change their minds (as it used to be when I was younger). You don't have to resort to lies like Trump et. al. do, but you do need to have a forceful stance with a dose of economics. For example: Grandma explains economics to MAGA.
4. Part of marketing is knowing what your buyers actually think about the product. The Democratic party doesn't do itself an ounce of good sending out poorly crafted fundraising emails that don't let you respond unless you contribute. Talk about destroying what used to be a good way to get into the minds of consumers.
5. Budgets/ Targeting/ and Messaging. Example: The Pope came out and didn't like either candidate. Subliminal messaging however is that he didn't like Dems anymore because of Harris's abortion stance. Certain groups are highly organized thru their Catholic church. That opinion had already formed in the minds of men who see their own reality and machismo and Catholic. Right after the pope's comment, Harris should have respectfully told Pope Francis (and a bunch of other religious leaders) that the government of the US is one that has rested on the idea of the separation of church and state (for good reasons) and that any good believer (regardless of which sect of Christianity) should find comfort in the church helping them with adoption, financial support, healthcare, etc. and to do so without condemnation) and that the government of the USA should not/ and could not do what the churches do with legislation. btw, I'll give credit to Scott Adams for this which he calls the higher ground response. And you don't need to spend a penny on advertising if you do the right messaging. You just need to know your audience.
The list goes on and on and on. One thing Trump should have taught us is that you can beat a horse until it is dead. He said the same things about immigration in the last election that he did in his first term (i.e. mass deportation). No one within the party had the guts to call him on it. And the public has amnesia. He had framed the argument, told them they could win on it again and they were right. He also framed that as a way of stopping fentanyl. But that was largely a weak argument. Currently, China remains the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked through international mail and express consignment operations environment, as well as the main source for allfentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States. (DEA website) That could have/should have been reframed.
Look at the Isolationists back before WWII. The idea that country and government are separate is actually in the Declaration of Independence. The government is separate from the people and is only there with their consent.
And it would help if the Democrats would come out loud and strong for meaningful campaign finance reform!!! So many of the non-voting registered Democrats are cynical and refusing to vote because of their dismay and feelings of powerlessness due to corporate money in politics.
And they feel unheard. Several things Dems could do to claim higher ground:
Call for a system of National Referendums on big law changes. That would take personality out of the process. The results of the Referenda would have to be binding on Congress (giving them an easy way out and stop them from imagining what their constituents want)
End the electoral college. This too pits states against each other Blue vs. Red. The whole notion of one man vote is a hollow promise as long as the electoral college exists and it was this that helped by Bush and Trump steal elections. It just is too much like smoke and mirrors and eludes most voters so they all distrust it anyway. One more 'system' that can be manipulated by either side.
Increase the size of both the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court. The increase in workload from a much larger country today is a good argument for expansion.
Citizenry tests. Right now most immigrants taking the test for US Citizenship likely are learning more about the workings of the US government than born and bred Americans. Too many Americans forget the role of Congress and look to the president as their savior (we've all seen the comparisons to Trump and Jesus, which is sheer madness).
Campaign finance reform. Maybe the only source for federal campaigns (Congress, the President) should be a national lottery. whatever the lottery takes in, that's it. That's divided up and you have to show how cleverly you can use the budget. Both parties spent an obscene amount of money on bad marketing campaigns (until such point, you're Trump and he figures out he can just be outrageous and the press will keep following him like monkeys in a circus.
BTW, speaking of the Media, they need to change their habits as well. They used to put all stories thru rigorous vetting by editors. There should be fines and penalties (not just an 'oops' we made a mistake) for every story they get wrong. The old 60 Minutes had one of the best segments on TV: Point/Counterpoint. Every single Sunday. They showed the media could present both sides of the issue (without bringing up the personalities involved in the debate).
Fix the tax code. And modernize the IRS.
I know, you're saying Dems can't do this without Republican support. But claiming it now as their mission/cause because it is a way to bring the people back into their government is a way of shaming and blaming Republicans into submission by their own people and demonstrating that the Dems are a party of reform.
I read it. I thought it was interesting that HCR did not expressly reference democratic socialism. In fact, I tried to see if HCR was describing a social democratic model as her alternative, but I really couldn't read democratic socialism in what HCR wrote. I was surprised that I could not make out that well what was the alternative HCR was advocating, and I have a lot of respect for her.
Robert, I continue to be baffled by people (including you) saying that the Democrats have abandoned the working class. The Dems have been the only ones fighting for workers rights, both in Congress and in the Biden WH. I cannot think of any recent legislation that the Republicans have put forward or supported for workers rights. Certainly not the Pro-Act and definitely not supporting raising minimum wage. What am I missing here?
I agree with Henry. It’s as if the Dem party agrees with republican disinformation! I could be wrong,
but I think President Biden has done more for workers & families than any president since FDR.
In fact, he knocked himself out doing things for seniors. He began the process of lowering the cost of Rxs for seniors. He somehow managed to find money to have heat pumps installed in the homes of seniors free of charge. He helped people who have predatory student loans get out of them, he helped women by making sure abortion was available for women in the military, he began a process enabling hospitals receiving federal funds to perform abortions—(I don’t know what happened to it.)
President Biden also helped families during the pandemic by making sure people wouldn’t get
kicked out of their homes, he deposited money
in the accounts of people who paid taxes-no strings attached, he implemented the child tax credit in a way that gave people extra cash every month. He released oil from the strategic reserve in order to flood the market—bringing down the cost of gas. He
made the Covid vaccine free of charge & rapidly deployed it & he had Covid test kits available free of
charge as well. He helped workers by encouraging unions—even physically standing with them during a strike. The Republicans did almost nothing for average Americans.
The problem was & is, republican disinformation drowning out his accomplishments. Their “but the border issues” are nothing but a pack of lies. The other equally disastrous turn of events was the wholesale collapse of main stream media reporting.
They failed to report on everything President Biden did that was a success. They failed in their traditional role of educating the public on the political landscape. Worst of all, mainstream media failed to
report that our economy is the best post-pandemic economy in the world! They let the disinfo stand almost unchallenged. In fact the only other entity equally as bad as the mainstream media is the corrupt republican majority on the Supreme Court.
Our democratic leadership still fails to understand the power of disinformation. Almost anyone could
have figured out that allowing Fox news to spew
disinformation and alternate realities for almost 3 decades would be disastrous and it has been! But
apparently they, yet again, believed the disinfo that,
“cable news isn’t subject to FCC rules.” IT IS SUBJECT TO FCC RULES. I researched it. I tried to
get attention for it, but no one seemed interested &
now we are standing at the abyss of a dying democracy and we are about to turn our economy over to a predatory criminal administration.
It seems to me Biden, Harris and the DEMs did talk about all of their accomplishments and she talked about how she would continue those programs and improve and expand on them. I heard it many times.
Again and again. It just looks like the majority of voters would rather have a convicted rapist for president than a person who would work to bring them better health care among other things. OH! I forgot... how could a woman, and a mixed race woman possibly know what she was talking about> GH
One of the strongest marketing techniques is fear. Republicans have used it masterfully for decades. Trump plays into every dark and dangerous fear. And those EMOTIONS will ALWAYS surpass logic and reason with 80% of humans. Trump has the added advantage of being a Narcissistic Personality Disorder of the malignant variety. Those folks are great at keeping your head spinning (in his case with false accusations and outrageous claims). By the time anyone catches up with him, he has 20 more plates in the air.
Yes, Biden delivered leadership WITH* legislation for workers and the working class. The problem is that Harrison did not deliver leadership FOR* the Party.
Simply put, Harrison took a top-down approach that focused on corporate interests and big donors rather than the working class.
Harrison failed to talk to the working class as a messenger for Biden and Democratic legislation. Focusing on voters is a bottom-up and "middle-out" approach. The latter is what works and is really needed.
IMO, RR is referring to the abandonment of the working class by the DNC Party, not Democratic legislators like Biden and legislation like Build Back Better. RR is speaking of Party Leadership*, not Party legislation* abandoning the working class.
Why Harrison failed to be a messenger for Biden's legislation and party build in 50 States is the $64,000 question. It appears that Harrison was uncomfortable speaking to voters on TV programs. I get it... Not everyone is a good public speaker.
However, if he couldn't be a messenger, he should've appointed someone to fill the PR duties needed to lead the Party. It was his job to lead and be an effective messenger. Sadly, Harrison was totally Missing In Action (MIA) as a messenger for Biden's legislation to working class voters. Harrison failed to Party Build in 50 States. IMO, these are the two main reasons why Democrats lost.
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
In fairness, Gov. O'Malley brings a lot to the table too. O'Malley would be a great Chair with his Executive experience as a Mayor and Governor. He would be super spokesperson on all the issues. Maybe we need co-Chairs? They would really compliment each other well and cover all the bases.
Following is the response I received from my politically active Wisconsin friend.
Ben Wikler is the most competent Dem Party Chair in my lifetime. He is in the Howard Dean mold of ground game warriors who also has the ear of donors. Put it this way. Wikler is who led the Wisconsin Dems to defeat Scott Walker, take out two Conservative Justices to hand the progressives the majority on the state Supreme Court. Re-elected Tammy Baldwin as Harris was losing the state. Plus we picked up 10 assembly seats and 4 Senate seats setting us up to reclaim the state Senate in 2026. Plus, he gets along with both the business community and with the progressive wing of the party. He is the real deal and the Democrats could do far worse than Ben Wikler.
Thanks Jamie, I just finished researching and writing a piece in response to a comment from Jan C in this same article. I’ve always had an inkling there’s a lot more to how republicans, including Trump, treat
their supporters and speak to them—more than I even realized.
Yes, they use a lot of bar room talk and sixth grade level language. I just don't know how much that would alienate the more educated who tend to vote Democratic already. We forget, Trump won, but those who are against him are PASSIONATELY against him and are not likely to be induced into a cult. I look at his face on TV and it is absent (for lack of a better description). I know the look. It's one of someone suffering Narcissistic Personality Disorder. So he could look into a camera all day long and still evoke the same response from me. I think the Republicans are damned good at slapping labels on people and making them stick.
Being anti business (never separting big multinational corporations from small businesses)
Being soft on crime
Being weak and a bunch of Karens
Being woke
Deficit exploding (which btw, did happen under Trump, just funny how they don't talk about it).
Wanting big government (when indeed the size of the federal government hasn't increased nearly as much as state governments have, but people seem to see states as better than the federal government ...and less bloated.
I still love Katie Porter because she takes on all their nonsense in neatly shuts them up in her cool, calm and collected way.
Well Said! The root of the problem is the control of mass media by corporations who's interests are opposite of working people's. But they have the loudest megaphone. It's going to be an uphill battle to counter that with an egalitarian message that impacts people's thinking.
And he didn't send the 1st batch of vaccinations to Putin! Biden has worked unpretentiously while diligently & with great determination to succeed for the American people and not like the garrulous incoming Trump who seems to be in constant trouble for talking too much...that's not called transparency, it's just plain stupid!
Starting with Trump caving in to the COVID alarmists money was “created” by increasing our out of control national debt. Biden, nor anyone else inside the Beltway has not and can not “find” any money for heat pumps or free vaccines. What you list as Biden’s accomplishments is what is destroying our country by way of debt. The goal of too many inside the Beltway is to perpetuate the demand for a nanny state. The result is that too many cannot and/or will not get off that train thus making it difficult for those who want to get off the train to actually get off. The problem is the knuckleheads inside the Beltway not the wealthy or corporations that Reich likes to throw stones at.
Maybe it was his 200+ golf games and flights into Mar-a-lago instead of Camp David, and Secret Service that lead to the debt. Of course it was his HUGE tax breaks to his cronies too!
Very little. In 2016 total federal revenues $3.27 trillion in 2023 revenues were $4.47 trillion. The tax cuts were never revenue, the money that may have been collected by the government did not go away, it remained in the hands of taxpayers and was spent and/or invested. Note the government spends more than every dollar it collects, and therefore increases the debt. There is no data for the future only predictions. You are free to believe tax cuts were/are a big or small contributor to the debt. My belief after observing government spending, tracking federal revenues, the money supply and the GDP is the cause of the deficit adding to an insurmountable debt is government spending. Governments at all levels collect too much of what we produce. We are fortunate we still have a somewhat free market economy. Interesting to note that in 2008 the size of our economy and that of the European Union were nearly equal. Today our economy has grown significantly while the EU’ is relatively flat. Higher taxes and more central planning vs our free market economy ,eh ? And our government manages to add to the debt every year. That’s the problem.
The main reason for our out of control debt is giant Republican taxes for corporations & the very wealthy. We had no serious debt problem until Reagan, who slashed taxes for corporations & the superwealthy & tripled the debt. Bush Sr nearly doubled the debt. Clinton brought us our first surpluses in something like 70 years. Bush Jr slashed taxes for corporations & the opulent, had the weakest growth rate since the Great Depression, & put us into 2 recessions, including the worst since the Great Depression that resulted from the irresponsible governance of 3 straight Republican presidents (Harding, Coolidge & Hoover). Obama recovered us from that Great Recession & started us on an historically long bull market which Trump rode until just before the pandemic, which through his reckless management was the worst in the world, after he slashed taxes on billionaires & corporations & conducted a foolish trade war against the world, & propelled us to the highest federal deficit ever, a full 1/4 of all debt incurred since the inception of the US, & the first negative growth since the Great Depression. Biden reduced our deficit somewhat despite obstruction & sabotage from the Republicans, knocking down Biden's attempts to raise taxes on the very rich, & brought us historically low unemployment, while managing global inflation better than his international peers, making the US the most successful economy in the world.
10 of the last 11 recessions were under Republican presidents. 50 million of the last net 51 million jobs gained have been under Democratic presidents. Federal deficits consistently go up under Republicans & down under Democratic presidents. Democratic presidents keep cleaning up the economic messes of their Republican predecessors. Only Democrats ever do anything to benefit the ordinary citizen, & always against Republican opposition. Republican presidents always prioritize corporate profits over the common good, trying to take away any benefits the middle & working classes have.
You are right about our national debt. Our government drastically cut taxes on the ultra wealthy and corporations, and they simply ran up our national debt to pay for the budget shortfalls they created. So everybody wins, right?
You well know the debt along with the unfunded liabilities are financial problems with no good or practical solution. The cost to service the debt is one trillion dollars per year. Spending is out of control, being over regulated is not only a cost but a constraint on growth. If federal spending were frozen (total spending so some lines would increase while others decreased) and the economy grew by 3% we could make headway. The root cause of our debt is spending not income. I'd much rather see more money churning in the private sector and less going to and then spent via the government. Money collected by and spent by the government is not a positive multiplier. The EU is a model not to follow but folks like Reich seem to think that the path we should continue to follow. Unfortunately, many inside the Beltway think the same way no matter what side of the aisle they occupy.
Read the above. Freeze total federal spending is best. If not a freeze hold to a 1% increase. Let the spending be looked at line by line. Some lines could increase some decrease. The economy is going to grow as will federal revenue. Additionally, unused or underutilized federal assets could be sold and/or leased with the proceeds going to debt reduction. If you understand economics you know what will happen if interest rates go up across the globe. That’s what I think. We cannot tax ourselves to prosperity or out of debt. Be well.
This is true Henry. It’s swallowing the felon-party talking points. But the corporate Dems have to get lobbyist $$ for the high cost of campaigning etc. The system itself is broken. Always absorbing the blame the way Democrats do gets people to forget the outrageous actions of the RescumliCons.
The Biggest problem with the Democratic Party isn't all the benefits they've created for the nation. It's the Messaging Problem. The Party and Politicians can't Campaign in Graduate School Language to a populace in which 54% are below an 8th Grade reading Level. Talking over their heads alienates them making the Democratic Party appear Elitist.
Dems under Biden have finally passed a good amount of legislation that will help the working class, but that legislation would have been more transformational and more noticeable to the public had corporate Democrats (now former-Democrats) Kirstin Sinema and Joe Manchin not insisted on watering it down. For example, we would have had lower prescription drug prices for everyone, not just for Medicare enrollees, as well as free community/technical college and more childcare assistance. For years, corporate Dems have been pushing neo-liberal Republican-lite policies that have contributed to income and wealth inequality. Dems won’t move forward until that hypocritical loser strategy is acknowledged and overcome.
Henry - If manchin and sinema hadn't torpedoed the progressives and their proposals, which biden was reluctantly starting to accept (not support, accept) what you say would be true. everything the progressives stand for and promote is what the american people want. but centrist dems, (trough slopppers) will not work for the people except to throw crumbs their way, if they get permission from the fatcats.
But can he get the point across loud and clear that he is for the little guy? Does he have oratory skills? Is he persuasive? have some personality? I am serious.
I don't think we have abandoned them so much as they didn't get or maybe didn't understand the message. Kamala was clear I thought, but the message got lost in the misinformation and fear bombardment from all directions including the lame stream media.
I kind of get what he is saying about abandoning the working class. Their are many institutions, banking, wall street, and corporations, that have been allowed to abuse the working poor for so long with little done, during Democratic presidencies. I know I would have felt better if during Obama's first months in office with the banking crisis if he had investigated and sent all those bankers to jail...but he didn't. If he had focused on helping out the underwater homeowner who was given loans they couldn't afford. If Clinton had invested in American workers and made sure NAFTA served Americans....not just corporations. Controlling junk fees is good ..but really one of a 1000 tiny cuts to the working poor....so I sort of get Robert's position.
Bernie would have gone more for the jugular....but even that scared the Democrats. It's like Democrats are only willing to curtail some of the corporate stranglehold on the nation. If Wikler can address the layers of messaging and hold the Democratic party to the straight and narrow and not pander to corporate democratic donors, who also are profit motivated...that would be great
In the short term (Biden), you're mostly correct. What Biden's administration lacked was the ability to communicate the good to the average voter.
But voters have long-term, not just short-term memory. And policy takes years to have meaningful effect that people realize. Over the last 45 years, Republicans have destroyed the notion that government does good for the average "Joe", and rather than holding to the principles of FDR's New Deal, Clinton, and to a large extent, Obama, failed to hold the line and moved rightward in policy. Moreover, Dems haven't had meaningful-enough majorities (filibuster proof) to enable real and fast-moving policy which would let the voters feel immediate effect, while R's always give quick acting tax cuts when in power. One of the very best Democratic ideas, the Child Tax Credit, only lasted a short time and was folded into COVID relief, so never was associated with a lasting change for the better.
The Democrstic Party was for years the Party of the working class, and much of the Rust Belt (and Pennsylvania) stuck with them, but over time, the loss of jobs and income left many blaming the Dems for their inability to stop outsourcing, corporate buyouts, etc. And they had good reason to blame Dems. Remember NAFA? Remember the effort to include China in world trade? The Clinton Administration (Reich's own, though he opposed much) was largely to blame. Obama's one great accomplishment was the ACA, but due to a razor thin majority in Congress to write and pass it, has taken years to be fully imemented, all the while being sabotaged (and almost killed) under Trump.
I am writing this from the UK, where there is no Fox News, and Parlaiment elects its Prime Minister based on the Party with the most votes---and there is no fillibuster. News stations cover topics in depth, without a constant "bothsidism" which dominates our news cycles. The main issue before Parlaiment currently is economic growth, clean power production, and better funding for NHS, which suffered from years of austerity from the Conservatives (with some help from Brexit). They recently have begun debate on whether to include funding for end-of-life assistance.
And one last thing: right or wrong, Dems are perceived as a Party more interested in Women's rights and especially Identity Politics than they are in making ends meet: housing, daycare, food, gas, education. We have to find way to help others understand our priorities and meet them wherever they are. People in economic crisis don't want to hear about pronouns. I say this as a person who supports all these Democrstic ideals. But it isn't just the message that is important, its how you say it. Priorities, in other words.
I seriously thought it was a piece on, "What's next? Nominating 'The Fonz' for a Cabinet position?" I mean, given what we're currently dealing with - it's not a stretch. 😅
I'd say a day late and a dollar short, Project 2025 Agenda 47, Trumps cabinet picks, schedule F, replacement of JCS,, martial law, and SCOTUS giving him total immunity, doesn't speak well for the future.
We would not be in this situation, had not the DNC slopped at the same trough as the Republicans, and had people like Rahm Emanuel call us "fucking retards", and Clinton who hired him and created the rust belt/swing states..
We are pretending that after Jan 21st, it will be business as usual, just a change in leadership, and that the DNC will still be relevant.
Well they do have an opposition par or two ty, such as it is, in Hungary or Russia.
We should have changed the ideological drift of the party after the shellacking of 2016.
America wanted a populist party, and they got one a right wing populist party, Bernia was the totem of a left wing populist movement, but the international financiers, that Clinton crowed about, the magnates of Chamber of Commerce, the billionaires are terrified of left wing populism, so the DNC stayed in its lane to slop at the trough.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris moved left in terms of actual policy but spent far more campaign resources trying to attract never-Trumper Republicans than the working class. It’s true we don’t know how much and how quickly MAGA will enact censorship and election rigging. My understanding is that dictatorships take a little time to fully take shape, so having the right person steering the DNC at least gives us a fighting chance. This is the first news I’ve heard since November 6th that gives me a little hope….
I hope Wikler will lead the DNC and also keep Tim Walz in a leadership position at the national level, given his popularity with a broad range of demographics and track record of making progress for the 99%. As a Minnesotan, I think Tim Walz is similar to Biden in that he has kept his head down and gotten A LOT done, without spending time in the limelight (before running for VP) publicizing his accomplishments. A great political strategist working with a progressive politician who has been highly effective behind the scenes could really move the Dems forward, for the first time in decades. MAGA will certainly try all the dictator dirty tricks to hold us back, but people like Wikler and Walz are familiar with those tricks and have been outsmarting MAGA for years.
The past is past, and we can only learn from it. At this point, reform of Dem party back into a people's party is a primary issue going forward. Wikler is the best guy for the job.
Yes, William, and what makes this all the more painful is that we were warned of this as early as 2006 by Kevin Phillips in American Theocracy. Naomi Klein, Nancy McNeil, and Jane Mayer also warned us. The very fact that Hillary ran for office in 2016, after she had been rejected by Democrats in 2008, show how out of touch Dem leaders were.
EVERYTHING is in a name. Too bad it isn’t “Winkler.” It sounds right. Like, if you had a disease called “the trumps” you would go to the pharmacy and pick up your “Winklers” to cure it. I wish he WAS named “Winkler!”
LOVE your reply and the fact that it gave me an "out loud" laugh. Thanks for that! (and we DO have a disease called "the trumps" and we have Dr. Brain Worm-Loves Heroin meeting the sick at the door to the ER.)
EXACTLY. As an Equal Rights Investigator, I've worked in three state equal rights divisions. When the respective legislatures' changed the laws, it was on us to adapt, fast, and explain these changes to the public & to employers and complainants. Often, after these often draconian law changes, I dreamed of giving a case file to a legislator; let them apply "their" law to the case. Or, have John or Jane Q. Public work a case. Easy, right? Wrong. In my field of "serving the public,"everyone worked diligently. Bad news for the public if we lose qualified state or federal employees - who absolutely specialize in their field and who get the work of government done for the people. Nothing wrong about Waking Up (or being "woke" to what's really going on).
I used to work as a public servant, and, as commentator on this site, I try to serve the public. Perhaps most commentators on this site believe that they serve the public. Civil service workers are definitely public servants in the literal meaning of the word, and you should be are that most of them will be fired, because according to the extreme Left and Right they are parasites, serving themselves, not the public. Be politically alert!
Aww, darn. I have Winkler cousins. Here I was hoping I might be distantly related to Ben. 8^( [But then, most of those Winklers are Republicans. So, unlikely.]
DEMOCRATS FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WHAT THEY DID FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THERE WERE A HUNDRED PROJECTS FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT IN WISCONSIN AND VERY FEW PEOPLE EVEN KNEW THEY EXISTED. DEMOCRATS NEED TO ADVERTISE ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST FOR AN ELECTION. BY THE TIME AN ELECTION COMES IT IS TOO LATE. ELECTIONS NEED TO BE RUN IN A TOTALLY DATA-BASED MANNER BY FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS SO THAT DEMOCRATS STOP MAKING THE SAME STUPID MISTAKES OVER AND OVER. THAT WOULD TAKE MUCH OF THE GUESSWORK OUT OF CAMPAIGNING. WHERE AND HOW TO CAMPAIGN WOULD THEN BE A KNOWN VARIABLE. THIS WOULD ONLY COST A FEW MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND GREATLY INCREASE DEMOCRATS' WINNING ELECTIONS IN THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DATA INDICATED THAT THE ECONOMY AND IMMIGRATION WERE THE PRIMARY ISSUES. TRUMP FOCUSED ON THEM AND HARRIS DID NOT. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES AS MUCH INCLUDING ABORTION. IF YOU DO NOT WIN THE ELECTION, YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR SOCIAL ISSUES AND RIGHTS.
I understand what you're saying about using 'All Caps' however extending a little grace towards the poster and thinking that this person may have a visual-imparity and typing in all caps helps them to engage with others.
Questioner, the media conglomerates are fully owned by the far right. How do you propose getting messages out through a right wing owned press? They own…tv, newspapers and plenty of online sources.
Feeding the public propaganda is how Fascism works. That is what we have. The news networks WILL NOT show or publish accomplishments by Dems for a very good reason!
That was slick how the MSM didn't report on Walz, America's dad. After the convention, they just didn't show him. Too bad, because Tim was really likeable and smart.
Yes, yes, and yes! I've turned them all off. I remember the days when "news" was NOT a profit center. It was what the news media owed us citizens. Get the $ out of the news!
The strength of "word of mouth" is no longer potent. We live in an age of over-stimulation from external sources, over-booked schedules, over-sized work loads, management over-reach into the off-hours lives of employees, inundation of both information and disinformation, over-proliferation of fear mongering - and too much social isolation.
Forget it, Robin. MSM has been selling us out for over 50 years. It's just taken a long time for it to become obvious beyond any doubt. Find alternate sources, including some that aren't based in the US. Dr. Reich posted a good list a couple of weeks ago; other people have too.
Not enough people are paying attention for word of mouth to be effective. However, I bet a lot more people will start paying attention when they finally realize the Trump admin. is destroying our government and there’s no one left who knows what the hell they’re doing or even cares.
I understand what you're saying about using 'All Caps' however extending a little grace towards the poster and thinking that this person may have a visual-imparity and typing in all caps helps them to engage with others.
I understand what you're saying about using 'All Caps' however extending a little grace towards the poster and thinking that this person may have a visual-imparity and typing in all caps helps them to engage with others.
J, you may be right, but given my limited energy and health issues, I am taking care of myself by not expending the energy it would take me to read anything posted in more than a few words in all caps.
The fragmentation of public discourse into ideologic echo chambers first in local stations carrying syndicated talk radio then bringing the cost down even further with internet hidey holes destroyed any basic "common knowledge."
I've been to Wisconsin a few times, most lately in September and November of this year, to engage and educate voters, knock on doors, etc., for the Wisconsin Democrats (WisDems) and can enthusiastically vouch for Wikler as a very effective and engaging leader.
His unflagging efforts for the last few years have made a huge difference, one standout example being the election last year of Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which broke the ultra-conservatives' lock on the court. That led to the end of extreme gerrymandering and the adoption of pretty reasonable redistricting. That then in turn led to a much stronger showing by Democrats, pretty closely representative of the actual makeup of the state, and a rebalancing of power in the state legislature.
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
I think Wikler would be a great choice! I like O'Malley too....but the Wisconsin guy HAS been on the front lines and has fought valiantly to enact change in that state.
Yes, Marlo and Michelle. Lobby your State Delegates. They get to vote, as do Congressmembers.
Old post from Vox:
The vast majority of the DNC’s members — a little more than 70 percent — are chosen in the various state chapters of the Democratic Party. The remainder are chosen by various national Democratic groups or by the DNC chair herself.
112 slots go to state party chairs and vice chairs (or technically, to the chair and the highest ranking state party officer of the opposite sex). That means two leadership slots each go to the state chapters of the Democratic Party in each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
208 more slots go to the various state parties to fill, allocated by population and Democratic vote total. Basically, the DNC uses a formula that gives more seats to bigger states, and gives a bit of a bonus to states that vote more for Democrats in presidential elections. So California gets 20 of these slots, Texas gets 10, and the smallest states and territories just get two each.
48 slots go to various national Democratic groups. Certain groups representing Democratic politicians (governors, county officials, municipal officials, state legislators, state treasurers and so on) and constituencies (the Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee, Federation of Democratic Women, College Democrats, Young Democrats of America, etc.) get a few slots each. The existing nine-member DNC leadership gets nine votes.
Four slots go to Democrats Abroad. Well, technically there are eight DNC representatives from this group representing Democratic expats, but they each only get to cast half a vote, so we’ll count them as four.
Up to 75 slots are appointed by the DNC chair. These appointments have to be approved by the DNC. Check out this list to get a sense of who then-chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz appointed to these slots in 2013 (a mix of local Democratic notables, party operatives, “government relations” professionals, and interest group bigwigs).
Identify the business interests that influence your state's policies, then ask: what are the costs and benefits of these policies? Once you are informed, you can inform others.
Asking the question does not imply that you have to have the answer. What is important is to be cognizant of the issues. Identifying business interests varies in complexity from state to state. In Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa it is fairly easy. Use your public library, Google, city hall development office, etc.
Every individual democrat is not in a position to do that. Keep in mind that there are many who have not been heavily involved in party politics. They are newly motivated but need more specific and appropriate guidance. How do we find the people in our state who are leading this effort?
You are correct. I was making an inside joke about the number of Illinois politicians that have lately run foul of the law. I see that in California, CADEM has a list of committee members for that state. https://cadem.org/dnc-members/
I Googled DNC, contact us. Filled out the form, choosing feedback as the subject. In the note I wrote I vote for Wikler. Also pledged not to donate without a progressive as DNC chair.
Good question, Nina. Lobby the members who get to vote.
This Vox article is outdated, but numbers are about the same:
"The vast majority of the DNC’s members — a little more than 70 percent — are chosen in the various state chapters of the Democratic Party. The remainder are chosen by various national Democratic groups or by the DNC chair herself (DWS).
112 slots go to state party chairs and vice chairs (or technically, to the chair and the highest ranking state party officer of the opposite sex). That means two leadership slots each go to the state chapters of the Democratic Party in each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
208 more slots go to the various state parties to fill, allocated by population and Democratic vote total. Basically, the DNC uses a formula that gives more seats to bigger states, and gives a bit of a bonus to states that vote more for Democrats in presidential elections. So California gets 20 of these slots, Texas gets 10, and the smallest states and territories just get two each.
48 slots go to various national Democratic groups. Certain groups representing Democratic politicians (governors, county officials, municipal officials, state legislators, state treasurers and so on) and constituencies (the Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee, Federation of Democratic Women, College Democrats, Young Democrats of America, etc.) get a few slots each.
The existing nine-member DNC leadership gets nine votes.
Four slots go to Democrats Abroad. Well, technically there are eight DNC representatives from this group representing Democratic expats, but they each only get to cast half a vote, so we’ll count them as four."
Up to 75 slots are appointed by the DNC chair. These appointments have to be approved by the DNC. Check out this list to get a sense of who then-chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz appointed to these slots in 2013 (a mix of local Democratic notables, party operatives, “government relations” professionals, and interest group bigwigs).
I Googled DNC, contact us. Filled out the form, choosing feedback as the subject. In the note I wrote I vote for Wikler. Also pledged not to donate without a progressive as DNC chair.
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership, organizational skills and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
That's great! Your two friends must be people persons? Not everyone can do it. Some people are naturally "people persons."
Michael W. definitely was. He carried himself like an a Statemans, humble, and kind. It helped that he was bi-lingual. The Census needed people like him. Michael was a great team member who would take on any case.
It was a really interesting job because you deal with all walks of life from every socio-economic background. It's gets challenging when Enumerators must deal with two main anti-government types: conspiracy people who are anti-government and some immigrants who do not want to give information to "the government."
They have two things in common. They do not understand the Constitutional mandate and importance to count the community and country every 10 years. The most difficult interviews that resisted communicating would get kicked up to Supervisors.
The other commonality is they do not understand that their data (PII) is totally confidential by law. Other agencies, including the FBI and immigration cannot access US Census Bureau data under any circumstances. If they did, it's a Felony that includes a huge fine and jail time. Once people understand they strict Confidentiality, they usually cooperate. Getting people to understand the strict Confidentiality is the challenge.
For this reason, people can trust their data/PII is secure and confidential with the Census. It's required to maintain trust. Interestingly, many people unknowingly give up/over a lot of data when they use the Internet and apps that have no protections and is not confidential. I always found it strange that some people resisted giving the Census PII that had absolutely confidentiality, but they hand over their data/PII all the time on the Internet. Go figure!
Anywho, Michael was a really smart, humble gentleman who respected everyone. (A real Texan.) He communicated the Census' mandate excellent. He was one of the best. People who excelled like Michael got to work the Census longer until the job is complete. I kept Michael on as long as I could because he deserved it.
Performance is closely monitored, especially since 2020 when everything went digital and we could monitor performance better. We only keep the best working the entire time. At about 50% complete, if the Enumerator had not performed well, they didn't get more work. It had to be that way to root out the low quality work and rewards the best performing workers. I loved the Census. I was lucky to have team members like Michael. I hope he was re-hired for the 2020 Census. I Supervised another State and Region in 2020.
Great use of the term "jumped the shark." I remember the Happy Days episode. The Fonz's leather jacket and waterskis were so pathetic. Reminds me of Michael Dukakis photo wearing the oversized army helmet in the tank. Looked just like Rick Moranis in Spaceballs.
There is no panacea to cure the LOST Democratic Party.
Purge some of the old ; bring in the new.
Keep the Clintons as faraway as possible.
Bring Inside Bernie Sanders and the Woman Senator from Massachusetts …
Don’t kick out the party faithful no matter how out there but address their issues in proportion to the Voter who actually elect presidents congressman senators governors etc…
Get more people to vote the better the turnout the more representative the government …
I'm so glad to live in Massachusetts, born and bred....great leadership, great healthcare, excellent economy. We have and acknowledge our problems, but we're pretty darn good!
I agree with all you say, but you really should know - and say - the name of Elizabeth Warren. She is one of the great Democrats AND she needs all of our support now and in the coming Trump era. Musk hates her and will do all he can to undermine her and he has already declared intentions to eliminate the CFPB (he is behaving AS IF he has Presidential power, when that DOGGY "agency" or "department" has NO authority whatsoever - yet.) and the CFPB is a genuine "for the people" agency, albeit one that has been somewhat undermined even by some Democrats - Biden and Obama were pretty weak about it and seemed to be very wary of her. She's brilliant and a person of great integrity.
And instead we got Trump.
But your list is worthy of our favorable attention - and thank you for it.
I have a suggestion for the Democratic party. I know everyone was hoping we could somehow emulate other countries and have a 3 to 6-month election campaign while the Republicans are using their machinery to influence the public opinion of possible democratic campaigns decades in advance (Hillary - 1980). I suggest extending the Presidential Election campaign to four years starting NOW. Let's have Kamala, Joe, and Tim on TV constantly revealing to our public the dire contrast between Donald Trump's pogroms and platform. Effectively, these political superstars can express, "I told you so," while explaining the difference their plan would have had to everything Donald does. The public doesn't get it. We need a constant and consistent voice by someone who can be the next president. If we can run this 4-year campaign consistently contrasting the two parties in Real Time, we might be able to awaken the electorate to the consequences of giving power to a madman.
I agree, Sara. Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
As a Wisconsin native and proud resident, I’m thrilled that Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler is running for the next DNC Chair! Best of luck — the country needs you now more than ever!
Democrats must embrace social democracy, as in France, Germany and the Scandinavian countries if they want to benefit the middle class, working class and poor. It is a myth that the rich and wealthy got rich and wealthy on their own. The federal government provides the structure and often the funds to enable that. And they have to sell it in a media environment dominated by the right wing and a MSM that is also hostile to social democracy. They have to reverse the bill of goods first sold by Reagan that the federal government was the problem, not the solution.
Reagan was the source of a lot of problems we have now.
Tom Hartman masterfully traces the "FALL" right back to Reagan and his anti-government, union busting rhetoric and his supply-side economics that has never trickled down to workers.
Read Heather Cox Richardson substack she sums it up nicely going waaay back
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
Read Nixonland and see that Reagon was just pushing what Goldwater tried to do.
Still
Reagan stood on Goldwater's shoulders. Nixon did as well. After Eisenhower, the Republican Party became infested with the anti-New Dealers. They have been trying to erase the New Deal from history and return us to 1938.
I have a friend who is both very politically active and way into Halloween. About 5 years ago he had some old electric rotisserie parts, a mannikin, and a decent Reagan mask. He built a coffin and has Reagan spinning in his grave every Halloween now.
Remember, Reagan was the one who started the "Love your country, but hate your government" bullshit. GH
All this is Marketing folks, and Democrats have been really lousy in their marketing efforts. They want the high ground, but don't know how to take it in a debate. They let themselves get flustered by Trump and the rest of his clown show. Someone has to go back to marketing basics:
1. No more mushy middle. Democrats have tried to be everything to everybody and they end up in the mushy middle. They are afraid of going after big corporations and their silly boards of directors who do NOTHING about the ethics of the company. It's only about ROI and spreadsheets. Being in the mushy middle is fatal to the brand.
2. Democrats need a rebranding (may even need to change the name). And they need to follow how Trump takes the other guy's wins and makes them his. For example, tough on crime. Democrats need to show (not say) themselves being tough on crime. They are, but they keep it under wraps for fear alienating some who think tough means brutal. They need to come out strong on judicial reform --even if only ways to speed up our judicial system which is a slow and lumbering giant full of holes lawyers for the wealthy persist in walking thru. There are a good half dozen of the infamouse Reagan, Trump, have used in different formats over the decades to scare people in believing things are worse than they are.
3. Social Media marketing is one of easy sound bites. People don't need a full article from the Atlantic to change their minds (as it used to be when I was younger). You don't have to resort to lies like Trump et. al. do, but you do need to have a forceful stance with a dose of economics. For example: Grandma explains economics to MAGA.
4. Part of marketing is knowing what your buyers actually think about the product. The Democratic party doesn't do itself an ounce of good sending out poorly crafted fundraising emails that don't let you respond unless you contribute. Talk about destroying what used to be a good way to get into the minds of consumers.
5. Budgets/ Targeting/ and Messaging. Example: The Pope came out and didn't like either candidate. Subliminal messaging however is that he didn't like Dems anymore because of Harris's abortion stance. Certain groups are highly organized thru their Catholic church. That opinion had already formed in the minds of men who see their own reality and machismo and Catholic. Right after the pope's comment, Harris should have respectfully told Pope Francis (and a bunch of other religious leaders) that the government of the US is one that has rested on the idea of the separation of church and state (for good reasons) and that any good believer (regardless of which sect of Christianity) should find comfort in the church helping them with adoption, financial support, healthcare, etc. and to do so without condemnation) and that the government of the USA should not/ and could not do what the churches do with legislation. btw, I'll give credit to Scott Adams for this which he calls the higher ground response. And you don't need to spend a penny on advertising if you do the right messaging. You just need to know your audience.
The list goes on and on and on. One thing Trump should have taught us is that you can beat a horse until it is dead. He said the same things about immigration in the last election that he did in his first term (i.e. mass deportation). No one within the party had the guts to call him on it. And the public has amnesia. He had framed the argument, told them they could win on it again and they were right. He also framed that as a way of stopping fentanyl. But that was largely a weak argument. Currently, China remains the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked through international mail and express consignment operations environment, as well as the main source for allfentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States. (DEA website) That could have/should have been reframed.
Look at the Isolationists back before WWII. The idea that country and government are separate is actually in the Declaration of Independence. The government is separate from the people and is only there with their consent.
And it would help if the Democrats would come out loud and strong for meaningful campaign finance reform!!! So many of the non-voting registered Democrats are cynical and refusing to vote because of their dismay and feelings of powerlessness due to corporate money in politics.
Absolutely!
And they feel unheard. Several things Dems could do to claim higher ground:
Call for a system of National Referendums on big law changes. That would take personality out of the process. The results of the Referenda would have to be binding on Congress (giving them an easy way out and stop them from imagining what their constituents want)
End the electoral college. This too pits states against each other Blue vs. Red. The whole notion of one man vote is a hollow promise as long as the electoral college exists and it was this that helped by Bush and Trump steal elections. It just is too much like smoke and mirrors and eludes most voters so they all distrust it anyway. One more 'system' that can be manipulated by either side.
Increase the size of both the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court. The increase in workload from a much larger country today is a good argument for expansion.
Citizenry tests. Right now most immigrants taking the test for US Citizenship likely are learning more about the workings of the US government than born and bred Americans. Too many Americans forget the role of Congress and look to the president as their savior (we've all seen the comparisons to Trump and Jesus, which is sheer madness).
Campaign finance reform. Maybe the only source for federal campaigns (Congress, the President) should be a national lottery. whatever the lottery takes in, that's it. That's divided up and you have to show how cleverly you can use the budget. Both parties spent an obscene amount of money on bad marketing campaigns (until such point, you're Trump and he figures out he can just be outrageous and the press will keep following him like monkeys in a circus.
BTW, speaking of the Media, they need to change their habits as well. They used to put all stories thru rigorous vetting by editors. There should be fines and penalties (not just an 'oops' we made a mistake) for every story they get wrong. The old 60 Minutes had one of the best segments on TV: Point/Counterpoint. Every single Sunday. They showed the media could present both sides of the issue (without bringing up the personalities involved in the debate).
Fix the tax code. And modernize the IRS.
I know, you're saying Dems can't do this without Republican support. But claiming it now as their mission/cause because it is a way to bring the people back into their government is a way of shaming and blaming Republicans into submission by their own people and demonstrating that the Dems are a party of reform.
Bill, well said
Indeed, Reagan's snake oil was a bill of goods and a warm-up act to the incompetence of W and the neofascism of the Trump party, formerly the GOP.
Read last week's letter from an American.
I read it. I thought it was interesting that HCR did not expressly reference democratic socialism. In fact, I tried to see if HCR was describing a social democratic model as her alternative, but I really couldn't read democratic socialism in what HCR wrote. I was surprised that I could not make out that well what was the alternative HCR was advocating, and I have a lot of respect for her.
France, Germany and the other countries are ALL wrestling with the same forces.
Search any of the YouTubes from DiEM25.
Wikler. Not winkler.
My bad. Yes, Wikler, of course.
Robert, I continue to be baffled by people (including you) saying that the Democrats have abandoned the working class. The Dems have been the only ones fighting for workers rights, both in Congress and in the Biden WH. I cannot think of any recent legislation that the Republicans have put forward or supported for workers rights. Certainly not the Pro-Act and definitely not supporting raising minimum wage. What am I missing here?
I agree with Henry. It’s as if the Dem party agrees with republican disinformation! I could be wrong,
but I think President Biden has done more for workers & families than any president since FDR.
In fact, he knocked himself out doing things for seniors. He began the process of lowering the cost of Rxs for seniors. He somehow managed to find money to have heat pumps installed in the homes of seniors free of charge. He helped people who have predatory student loans get out of them, he helped women by making sure abortion was available for women in the military, he began a process enabling hospitals receiving federal funds to perform abortions—(I don’t know what happened to it.)
President Biden also helped families during the pandemic by making sure people wouldn’t get
kicked out of their homes, he deposited money
in the accounts of people who paid taxes-no strings attached, he implemented the child tax credit in a way that gave people extra cash every month. He released oil from the strategic reserve in order to flood the market—bringing down the cost of gas. He
made the Covid vaccine free of charge & rapidly deployed it & he had Covid test kits available free of
charge as well. He helped workers by encouraging unions—even physically standing with them during a strike. The Republicans did almost nothing for average Americans.
The problem was & is, republican disinformation drowning out his accomplishments. Their “but the border issues” are nothing but a pack of lies. The other equally disastrous turn of events was the wholesale collapse of main stream media reporting.
They failed to report on everything President Biden did that was a success. They failed in their traditional role of educating the public on the political landscape. Worst of all, mainstream media failed to
report that our economy is the best post-pandemic economy in the world! They let the disinfo stand almost unchallenged. In fact the only other entity equally as bad as the mainstream media is the corrupt republican majority on the Supreme Court.
Our democratic leadership still fails to understand the power of disinformation. Almost anyone could
have figured out that allowing Fox news to spew
disinformation and alternate realities for almost 3 decades would be disastrous and it has been! But
apparently they, yet again, believed the disinfo that,
“cable news isn’t subject to FCC rules.” IT IS SUBJECT TO FCC RULES. I researched it. I tried to
get attention for it, but no one seemed interested &
now we are standing at the abyss of a dying democracy and we are about to turn our economy over to a predatory criminal administration.
It seems to me Biden, Harris and the DEMs did talk about all of their accomplishments and she talked about how she would continue those programs and improve and expand on them. I heard it many times.
Again and again. It just looks like the majority of voters would rather have a convicted rapist for president than a person who would work to bring them better health care among other things. OH! I forgot... how could a woman, and a mixed race woman possibly know what she was talking about> GH
One of the strongest marketing techniques is fear. Republicans have used it masterfully for decades. Trump plays into every dark and dangerous fear. And those EMOTIONS will ALWAYS surpass logic and reason with 80% of humans. Trump has the added advantage of being a Narcissistic Personality Disorder of the malignant variety. Those folks are great at keeping your head spinning (in his case with false accusations and outrageous claims). By the time anyone catches up with him, he has 20 more plates in the air.
Even Bernie Sanders praised and campaigned for Biden as being the best pres. for working class, possibly of all time.
Yes, Biden delivered leadership WITH* legislation for workers and the working class. The problem is that Harrison did not deliver leadership FOR* the Party.
Simply put, Harrison took a top-down approach that focused on corporate interests and big donors rather than the working class.
Harrison failed to talk to the working class as a messenger for Biden and Democratic legislation. Focusing on voters is a bottom-up and "middle-out" approach. The latter is what works and is really needed.
IMO, RR is referring to the abandonment of the working class by the DNC Party, not Democratic legislators like Biden and legislation like Build Back Better. RR is speaking of Party Leadership*, not Party legislation* abandoning the working class.
Why Harrison failed to be a messenger for Biden's legislation and party build in 50 States is the $64,000 question. It appears that Harrison was uncomfortable speaking to voters on TV programs. I get it... Not everyone is a good public speaker.
However, if he couldn't be a messenger, he should've appointed someone to fill the PR duties needed to lead the Party. It was his job to lead and be an effective messenger. Sadly, Harrison was totally Missing In Action (MIA) as a messenger for Biden's legislation to working class voters. Harrison failed to Party Build in 50 States. IMO, these are the two main reasons why Democrats lost.
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
In fairness, Gov. O'Malley brings a lot to the table too. O'Malley would be a great Chair with his Executive experience as a Mayor and Governor. He would be super spokesperson on all the issues. Maybe we need co-Chairs? They would really compliment each other well and cover all the bases.
Yes, but not as good as Bernie would have been.
He's a great guy, but too progressive!
Biden/Harris should've hired you for their publicity manager. They failed to get that message out you so beautifully recited.
Following is the response I received from my politically active Wisconsin friend.
Ben Wikler is the most competent Dem Party Chair in my lifetime. He is in the Howard Dean mold of ground game warriors who also has the ear of donors. Put it this way. Wikler is who led the Wisconsin Dems to defeat Scott Walker, take out two Conservative Justices to hand the progressives the majority on the state Supreme Court. Re-elected Tammy Baldwin as Harris was losing the state. Plus we picked up 10 assembly seats and 4 Senate seats setting us up to reclaim the state Senate in 2026. Plus, he gets along with both the business community and with the progressive wing of the party. He is the real deal and the Democrats could do far worse than Ben Wikler.
Thanks Jamie, I just finished researching and writing a piece in response to a comment from Jan C in this same article. I’ve always had an inkling there’s a lot more to how republicans, including Trump, treat
their supporters and speak to them—more than I even realized.
Yes, they use a lot of bar room talk and sixth grade level language. I just don't know how much that would alienate the more educated who tend to vote Democratic already. We forget, Trump won, but those who are against him are PASSIONATELY against him and are not likely to be induced into a cult. I look at his face on TV and it is absent (for lack of a better description). I know the look. It's one of someone suffering Narcissistic Personality Disorder. So he could look into a camera all day long and still evoke the same response from me. I think the Republicans are damned good at slapping labels on people and making them stick.
Being anti business (never separting big multinational corporations from small businesses)
Being soft on crime
Being weak and a bunch of Karens
Being woke
Deficit exploding (which btw, did happen under Trump, just funny how they don't talk about it).
Wanting big government (when indeed the size of the federal government hasn't increased nearly as much as state governments have, but people seem to see states as better than the federal government ...and less bloated.
I still love Katie Porter because she takes on all their nonsense in neatly shuts them up in her cool, calm and collected way.
Well Said! The root of the problem is the control of mass media by corporations who's interests are opposite of working people's. But they have the loudest megaphone. It's going to be an uphill battle to counter that with an egalitarian message that impacts people's thinking.
Yes Syd, one of the problems is that republicans
emphasize a false egalitarianism. They pretend
they are for workers and families while actually
voting for legislation that benefits only the wealthy
and corporations. The best example of that is how
republicans vote on income tax matters. Also, when
voters complain, republicans often blame democrats
for whatever voters are complaining about. Dems
have simply failed to effectively counter that.
And he didn't send the 1st batch of vaccinations to Putin! Biden has worked unpretentiously while diligently & with great determination to succeed for the American people and not like the garrulous incoming Trump who seems to be in constant trouble for talking too much...that's not called transparency, it's just plain stupid!
He has become more aware of the problems because of Bernie's influence!
Starting with Trump caving in to the COVID alarmists money was “created” by increasing our out of control national debt. Biden, nor anyone else inside the Beltway has not and can not “find” any money for heat pumps or free vaccines. What you list as Biden’s accomplishments is what is destroying our country by way of debt. The goal of too many inside the Beltway is to perpetuate the demand for a nanny state. The result is that too many cannot and/or will not get off that train thus making it difficult for those who want to get off the train to actually get off. The problem is the knuckleheads inside the Beltway not the wealthy or corporations that Reich likes to throw stones at.
You don’t think that trumps huge tax breaks for the wealthy decreasing out tax revenue had anything to do with our National Debt?
Maybe it was his 200+ golf games and flights into Mar-a-lago instead of Camp David, and Secret Service that lead to the debt. Of course it was his HUGE tax breaks to his cronies too!
Very little. In 2016 total federal revenues $3.27 trillion in 2023 revenues were $4.47 trillion. The tax cuts were never revenue, the money that may have been collected by the government did not go away, it remained in the hands of taxpayers and was spent and/or invested. Note the government spends more than every dollar it collects, and therefore increases the debt. There is no data for the future only predictions. You are free to believe tax cuts were/are a big or small contributor to the debt. My belief after observing government spending, tracking federal revenues, the money supply and the GDP is the cause of the deficit adding to an insurmountable debt is government spending. Governments at all levels collect too much of what we produce. We are fortunate we still have a somewhat free market economy. Interesting to note that in 2008 the size of our economy and that of the European Union were nearly equal. Today our economy has grown significantly while the EU’ is relatively flat. Higher taxes and more central planning vs our free market economy ,eh ? And our government manages to add to the debt every year. That’s the problem.
The main reason for our out of control debt is giant Republican taxes for corporations & the very wealthy. We had no serious debt problem until Reagan, who slashed taxes for corporations & the superwealthy & tripled the debt. Bush Sr nearly doubled the debt. Clinton brought us our first surpluses in something like 70 years. Bush Jr slashed taxes for corporations & the opulent, had the weakest growth rate since the Great Depression, & put us into 2 recessions, including the worst since the Great Depression that resulted from the irresponsible governance of 3 straight Republican presidents (Harding, Coolidge & Hoover). Obama recovered us from that Great Recession & started us on an historically long bull market which Trump rode until just before the pandemic, which through his reckless management was the worst in the world, after he slashed taxes on billionaires & corporations & conducted a foolish trade war against the world, & propelled us to the highest federal deficit ever, a full 1/4 of all debt incurred since the inception of the US, & the first negative growth since the Great Depression. Biden reduced our deficit somewhat despite obstruction & sabotage from the Republicans, knocking down Biden's attempts to raise taxes on the very rich, & brought us historically low unemployment, while managing global inflation better than his international peers, making the US the most successful economy in the world.
10 of the last 11 recessions were under Republican presidents. 50 million of the last net 51 million jobs gained have been under Democratic presidents. Federal deficits consistently go up under Republicans & down under Democratic presidents. Democratic presidents keep cleaning up the economic messes of their Republican predecessors. Only Democrats ever do anything to benefit the ordinary citizen, & always against Republican opposition. Republican presidents always prioritize corporate profits over the common good, trying to take away any benefits the middle & working classes have.
Republicans are really bad at managing the Economy. Especially when it concerns Main Street
You are right about our national debt. Our government drastically cut taxes on the ultra wealthy and corporations, and they simply ran up our national debt to pay for the budget shortfalls they created. So everybody wins, right?
You well know the debt along with the unfunded liabilities are financial problems with no good or practical solution. The cost to service the debt is one trillion dollars per year. Spending is out of control, being over regulated is not only a cost but a constraint on growth. If federal spending were frozen (total spending so some lines would increase while others decreased) and the economy grew by 3% we could make headway. The root cause of our debt is spending not income. I'd much rather see more money churning in the private sector and less going to and then spent via the government. Money collected by and spent by the government is not a positive multiplier. The EU is a model not to follow but folks like Reich seem to think that the path we should continue to follow. Unfortunately, many inside the Beltway think the same way no matter what side of the aisle they occupy.
Ok Charlie, what do you think should be done about it?
Read the above. Freeze total federal spending is best. If not a freeze hold to a 1% increase. Let the spending be looked at line by line. Some lines could increase some decrease. The economy is going to grow as will federal revenue. Additionally, unused or underutilized federal assets could be sold and/or leased with the proceeds going to debt reduction. If you understand economics you know what will happen if interest rates go up across the globe. That’s what I think. We cannot tax ourselves to prosperity or out of debt. Be well.
This is true Henry. It’s swallowing the felon-party talking points. But the corporate Dems have to get lobbyist $$ for the high cost of campaigning etc. The system itself is broken. Always absorbing the blame the way Democrats do gets people to forget the outrageous actions of the RescumliCons.
The Biggest problem with the Democratic Party isn't all the benefits they've created for the nation. It's the Messaging Problem. The Party and Politicians can't Campaign in Graduate School Language to a populace in which 54% are below an 8th Grade reading Level. Talking over their heads alienates them making the Democratic Party appear Elitist.
Its so sad if the 54% statistic is true. America’s priority was once was education for all its citizens. Trump loves the ‘poorly educated’.
Dems under Biden have finally passed a good amount of legislation that will help the working class, but that legislation would have been more transformational and more noticeable to the public had corporate Democrats (now former-Democrats) Kirstin Sinema and Joe Manchin not insisted on watering it down. For example, we would have had lower prescription drug prices for everyone, not just for Medicare enrollees, as well as free community/technical college and more childcare assistance. For years, corporate Dems have been pushing neo-liberal Republican-lite policies that have contributed to income and wealth inequality. Dems won’t move forward until that hypocritical loser strategy is acknowledged and overcome.
Henry - If manchin and sinema hadn't torpedoed the progressives and their proposals, which biden was reluctantly starting to accept (not support, accept) what you say would be true. everything the progressives stand for and promote is what the american people want. but centrist dems, (trough slopppers) will not work for the people except to throw crumbs their way, if they get permission from the fatcats.
But can he get the point across loud and clear that he is for the little guy? Does he have oratory skills? Is he persuasive? have some personality? I am serious.
I don't think we have abandoned them so much as they didn't get or maybe didn't understand the message. Kamala was clear I thought, but the message got lost in the misinformation and fear bombardment from all directions including the lame stream media.
They need to fight much harder. Together!
That’s going to be much harder in the next 4 years Tamme with none of the 3 branches.
I kind of get what he is saying about abandoning the working class. Their are many institutions, banking, wall street, and corporations, that have been allowed to abuse the working poor for so long with little done, during Democratic presidencies. I know I would have felt better if during Obama's first months in office with the banking crisis if he had investigated and sent all those bankers to jail...but he didn't. If he had focused on helping out the underwater homeowner who was given loans they couldn't afford. If Clinton had invested in American workers and made sure NAFTA served Americans....not just corporations. Controlling junk fees is good ..but really one of a 1000 tiny cuts to the working poor....so I sort of get Robert's position.
Bernie would have gone more for the jugular....but even that scared the Democrats. It's like Democrats are only willing to curtail some of the corporate stranglehold on the nation. If Wikler can address the layers of messaging and hold the Democratic party to the straight and narrow and not pander to corporate democratic donors, who also are profit motivated...that would be great
It is not Democrat candidates per se, many elected to office have been and are doing a lot.
The problem is the party, the corporate dems who run it, as Reich says, is a money machine. And they primary progressives.
Indeed. Not once again on the side of working class. But once again PERCEIVED on that side.
In the short term (Biden), you're mostly correct. What Biden's administration lacked was the ability to communicate the good to the average voter.
But voters have long-term, not just short-term memory. And policy takes years to have meaningful effect that people realize. Over the last 45 years, Republicans have destroyed the notion that government does good for the average "Joe", and rather than holding to the principles of FDR's New Deal, Clinton, and to a large extent, Obama, failed to hold the line and moved rightward in policy. Moreover, Dems haven't had meaningful-enough majorities (filibuster proof) to enable real and fast-moving policy which would let the voters feel immediate effect, while R's always give quick acting tax cuts when in power. One of the very best Democratic ideas, the Child Tax Credit, only lasted a short time and was folded into COVID relief, so never was associated with a lasting change for the better.
The Democrstic Party was for years the Party of the working class, and much of the Rust Belt (and Pennsylvania) stuck with them, but over time, the loss of jobs and income left many blaming the Dems for their inability to stop outsourcing, corporate buyouts, etc. And they had good reason to blame Dems. Remember NAFA? Remember the effort to include China in world trade? The Clinton Administration (Reich's own, though he opposed much) was largely to blame. Obama's one great accomplishment was the ACA, but due to a razor thin majority in Congress to write and pass it, has taken years to be fully imemented, all the while being sabotaged (and almost killed) under Trump.
I am writing this from the UK, where there is no Fox News, and Parlaiment elects its Prime Minister based on the Party with the most votes---and there is no fillibuster. News stations cover topics in depth, without a constant "bothsidism" which dominates our news cycles. The main issue before Parlaiment currently is economic growth, clean power production, and better funding for NHS, which suffered from years of austerity from the Conservatives (with some help from Brexit). They recently have begun debate on whether to include funding for end-of-life assistance.
And one last thing: right or wrong, Dems are perceived as a Party more interested in Women's rights and especially Identity Politics than they are in making ends meet: housing, daycare, food, gas, education. We have to find way to help others understand our priorities and meet them wherever they are. People in economic crisis don't want to hear about pronouns. I say this as a person who supports all these Democrstic ideals. But it isn't just the message that is important, its how you say it. Priorities, in other words.
And did I mention the short election cycle which is publicly funded?????!
Henry, I think it’s the democrats’ move to corporate money that Reich is talking about.
Wake up! The DNC has been only interested in money for years. That is why so many of their politicians have become rich!
I seriously thought it was a piece on, "What's next? Nominating 'The Fonz' for a Cabinet position?" I mean, given what we're currently dealing with - it's not a stretch. 😅
Henry Winkler would be a considerable improvement over many of the chosen ones.
Oh good grief! Don’t be ridiculous, you troll. We’re not stupid like a great many MAGAs.
This "person" who keeps replying to our comments with this same alarmist message has gone by various names.
There are no microphones in your underwear, Carol. You should take your meds.
The Fonz would be a definite asset!
Heeyy!
I'd say a day late and a dollar short, Project 2025 Agenda 47, Trumps cabinet picks, schedule F, replacement of JCS,, martial law, and SCOTUS giving him total immunity, doesn't speak well for the future.
We would not be in this situation, had not the DNC slopped at the same trough as the Republicans, and had people like Rahm Emanuel call us "fucking retards", and Clinton who hired him and created the rust belt/swing states..
We are pretending that after Jan 21st, it will be business as usual, just a change in leadership, and that the DNC will still be relevant.
Well they do have an opposition par or two ty, such as it is, in Hungary or Russia.
We should have changed the ideological drift of the party after the shellacking of 2016.
America wanted a populist party, and they got one a right wing populist party, Bernia was the totem of a left wing populist movement, but the international financiers, that Clinton crowed about, the magnates of Chamber of Commerce, the billionaires are terrified of left wing populism, so the DNC stayed in its lane to slop at the trough.
.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris moved left in terms of actual policy but spent far more campaign resources trying to attract never-Trumper Republicans than the working class. It’s true we don’t know how much and how quickly MAGA will enact censorship and election rigging. My understanding is that dictatorships take a little time to fully take shape, so having the right person steering the DNC at least gives us a fighting chance. This is the first news I’ve heard since November 6th that gives me a little hope….
I hope Wikler will lead the DNC and also keep Tim Walz in a leadership position at the national level, given his popularity with a broad range of demographics and track record of making progress for the 99%. As a Minnesotan, I think Tim Walz is similar to Biden in that he has kept his head down and gotten A LOT done, without spending time in the limelight (before running for VP) publicizing his accomplishments. A great political strategist working with a progressive politician who has been highly effective behind the scenes could really move the Dems forward, for the first time in decades. MAGA will certainly try all the dictator dirty tricks to hold us back, but people like Wikler and Walz are familiar with those tricks and have been outsmarting MAGA for years.
The past is past, and we can only learn from it. At this point, reform of Dem party back into a people's party is a primary issue going forward. Wikler is the best guy for the job.
Yes, William, and what makes this all the more painful is that we were warned of this as early as 2006 by Kevin Phillips in American Theocracy. Naomi Klein, Nancy McNeil, and Jane Mayer also warned us. The very fact that Hillary ran for office in 2016, after she had been rejected by Democrats in 2008, show how out of touch Dem leaders were.
But could Fonzarelli still save the day?
He would definitely be better than the offering at the moment.
He, Henry Winkler, would definitely grab attention and a following.
What’s in a name?
EVERYTHING is in a name. Too bad it isn’t “Winkler.” It sounds right. Like, if you had a disease called “the trumps” you would go to the pharmacy and pick up your “Winklers” to cure it. I wish he WAS named “Winkler!”
But Wikler will do!
LOVE your reply and the fact that it gave me an "out loud" laugh. Thanks for that! (and we DO have a disease called "the trumps" and we have Dr. Brain Worm-Loves Heroin meeting the sick at the door to the ER.)
Had a great, beloved coach & PE teacher named Winkler, so yes, I'm partial to that name, too.
So how do we support Wikler? Which one of the 448 voters in California do we ask to vote for him? What is the call to action?
Thanks
Amy Reynolds
Wikler gets the little guy! Government workers like me will do everything we can do resist Trump, DOGE, and fascism. https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/public-servant-democracy-defender-introduction
"Public Servants" rings like a special interest group, not a "little guy."
Well, sometimes words mean what they say. "Public Servant" sure sounds like someone who serves the public, not special interests.
As a lifelong public servant, this comment is disgusting. Try it sometime, Victor.
EXACTLY. As an Equal Rights Investigator, I've worked in three state equal rights divisions. When the respective legislatures' changed the laws, it was on us to adapt, fast, and explain these changes to the public & to employers and complainants. Often, after these often draconian law changes, I dreamed of giving a case file to a legislator; let them apply "their" law to the case. Or, have John or Jane Q. Public work a case. Easy, right? Wrong. In my field of "serving the public,"everyone worked diligently. Bad news for the public if we lose qualified state or federal employees - who absolutely specialize in their field and who get the work of government done for the people. Nothing wrong about Waking Up (or being "woke" to what's really going on).
I used to work as a public servant, and, as commentator on this site, I try to serve the public. Perhaps most commentators on this site believe that they serve the public. Civil service workers are definitely public servants in the literal meaning of the word, and you should be are that most of them will be fired, because according to the extreme Left and Right they are parasites, serving themselves, not the public. Be politically alert!
Stop it, Victor. WAY too often, you sound like someone bent on destroying solidarity on the left.
Maybe your bell is out of tune, Victor.
The Fonz has my vote if he supports democracy
I was going to post that.
Me too!
Another me too!
Aww, darn. I have Winkler cousins. Here I was hoping I might be distantly related to Ben. 8^( [But then, most of those Winklers are Republicans. So, unlikely.]
SO glad the lady posing w/ Bucky made that correction! ;-)
I thought he meant Henry Winkler :-)
DEMOCRATS FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WHAT THEY DID FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THERE WERE A HUNDRED PROJECTS FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT IN WISCONSIN AND VERY FEW PEOPLE EVEN KNEW THEY EXISTED. DEMOCRATS NEED TO ADVERTISE ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST FOR AN ELECTION. BY THE TIME AN ELECTION COMES IT IS TOO LATE. ELECTIONS NEED TO BE RUN IN A TOTALLY DATA-BASED MANNER BY FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS SO THAT DEMOCRATS STOP MAKING THE SAME STUPID MISTAKES OVER AND OVER. THAT WOULD TAKE MUCH OF THE GUESSWORK OUT OF CAMPAIGNING. WHERE AND HOW TO CAMPAIGN WOULD THEN BE A KNOWN VARIABLE. THIS WOULD ONLY COST A FEW MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND GREATLY INCREASE DEMOCRATS' WINNING ELECTIONS IN THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DATA INDICATED THAT THE ECONOMY AND IMMIGRATION WERE THE PRIMARY ISSUES. TRUMP FOCUSED ON THEM AND HARRIS DID NOT. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES AS MUCH INCLUDING ABORTION. IF YOU DO NOT WIN THE ELECTION, YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR SOCIAL ISSUES AND RIGHTS.
I agree with what you say but All Caps sound like Trump and is very off putting
I understand what you're saying about using 'All Caps' however extending a little grace towards the poster and thinking that this person may have a visual-imparity and typing in all caps helps them to engage with others.
...please. At least Questioner is not using a zillion exclamation marks
Caps are harder to read...
So are long paragraphs. . .
Oh, for god's sake, enough about All Caps = BAD. If it is to you, fine. It's hardly a universal truth.
All caps was the take away? No wonder we lost.
David. 👍
Questioner, the media conglomerates are fully owned by the far right. How do you propose getting messages out through a right wing owned press? They own…tv, newspapers and plenty of online sources.
Feeding the public propaganda is how Fascism works. That is what we have. The news networks WILL NOT show or publish accomplishments by Dems for a very good reason!
That was slick how the MSM didn't report on Walz, America's dad. After the convention, they just didn't show him. Too bad, because Tim was really likeable and smart.
It is the loss of a true fourth estate, where we all get a fair report that builds understanding. If The NY Times won’t print it, normalize felons????
Yes, yes, and yes! I've turned them all off. I remember the days when "news" was NOT a profit center. It was what the news media owed us citizens. Get the $ out of the news!
One could think word of mouth would have gotten out the news of what was done for the greater public good.
The strength of "word of mouth" is no longer potent. We live in an age of over-stimulation from external sources, over-booked schedules, over-sized work loads, management over-reach into the off-hours lives of employees, inundation of both information and disinformation, over-proliferation of fear mongering - and too much social isolation.
…as well as an ever-diminishing attention span and
an aversion to listening to others who are speaking.
Listening, but do not hear... echoing the sounds of silence.
Not good enough when the trumpskis were being so outrageous and "entertaining". MSM...do your jobs!
Forget it, Robin. MSM has been selling us out for over 50 years. It's just taken a long time for it to become obvious beyond any doubt. Find alternate sources, including some that aren't based in the US. Dr. Reich posted a good list a couple of weeks ago; other people have too.
It's like they have a noise machine that sucks up all the air.
Not enough people are paying attention for word of mouth to be effective. However, I bet a lot more people will start paying attention when they finally realize the Trump admin. is destroying our government and there’s no one left who knows what the hell they’re doing or even cares.
Not when "word of mouth" is 2 opposite things from 2 different people.
Quit shouting with the ALL CAPS,
I agree, Henry. I won’t bother to read anything posted in all caps.
I understand what you're saying about using 'All Caps' however extending a little grace towards the poster and thinking that this person may have a visual-imparity and typing in all caps helps them to engage with others.
I understand what you're saying about using 'All Caps' however extending a little grace towards the poster and thinking that this person may have a visual-imparity and typing in all caps helps them to engage with others.
J, you may be right, but given my limited energy and health issues, I am taking care of myself by not expending the energy it would take me to read anything posted in more than a few words in all caps.
The fragmentation of public discourse into ideologic echo chambers first in local stations carrying syndicated talk radio then bringing the cost down even further with internet hidey holes destroyed any basic "common knowledge."
Unfortunately that is exactly who Trump world hates because they make them feel stupid.
Wikler sounds like a good, progressive choice to lead the Democratic Party away from the maelstrom of the Clintons and neoliberalism.
Wikler is also a far better choice than the spectre of disastrous former Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, who's also thrown his hat into the ring.
I will never forgive the democratic elite for throwing Bernie Sanders under the bus, which basically insured a Trump victory in 2016, as well as 2024.
The democratic party needs to clean house and electing Wikler is a good path forward for us.
Rahm Emanuel is a neoliberal champion. If he gets the job I will have to seriously consider leaving the DP.
I will be right with you ✅️
Amen.
And go where?
Right. You have to change the Party from the inside, as Bernie has been doing.
I suspect Bernie's endorsement will carry a lot of weight with progressives. The candidates are likely lobbying him, except for the establishment.
I've been to Wisconsin a few times, most lately in September and November of this year, to engage and educate voters, knock on doors, etc., for the Wisconsin Democrats (WisDems) and can enthusiastically vouch for Wikler as a very effective and engaging leader.
His unflagging efforts for the last few years have made a huge difference, one standout example being the election last year of Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which broke the ultra-conservatives' lock on the court. That led to the end of extreme gerrymandering and the adoption of pretty reasonable redistricting. That then in turn led to a much stronger showing by Democrats, pretty closely representative of the actual makeup of the state, and a rebalancing of power in the state legislature.
You sound very engaged, which is great.
The descriptions of Wikler remind me of the late, great Paul Wellstone.
All the best.
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
Let’s hope that those people who have the power and courage will put him in charge.
I think Wikler would be a great choice! I like O'Malley too....but the Wisconsin guy HAS been on the front lines and has fought valiantly to enact change in that state.
HOW can WE make this happen? What can WE DO? Tells us who to contact.
That’s my question too. Is there anything we can do to assist?
Yes, Marlo and Michelle. Lobby your State Delegates. They get to vote, as do Congressmembers.
Old post from Vox:
The vast majority of the DNC’s members — a little more than 70 percent — are chosen in the various state chapters of the Democratic Party. The remainder are chosen by various national Democratic groups or by the DNC chair herself.
112 slots go to state party chairs and vice chairs (or technically, to the chair and the highest ranking state party officer of the opposite sex). That means two leadership slots each go to the state chapters of the Democratic Party in each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
208 more slots go to the various state parties to fill, allocated by population and Democratic vote total. Basically, the DNC uses a formula that gives more seats to bigger states, and gives a bit of a bonus to states that vote more for Democrats in presidential elections. So California gets 20 of these slots, Texas gets 10, and the smallest states and territories just get two each.
48 slots go to various national Democratic groups. Certain groups representing Democratic politicians (governors, county officials, municipal officials, state legislators, state treasurers and so on) and constituencies (the Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee, Federation of Democratic Women, College Democrats, Young Democrats of America, etc.) get a few slots each. The existing nine-member DNC leadership gets nine votes.
Four slots go to Democrats Abroad. Well, technically there are eight DNC representatives from this group representing Democratic expats, but they each only get to cast half a vote, so we’ll count them as four.
Up to 75 slots are appointed by the DNC chair. These appointments have to be approved by the DNC. Check out this list to get a sense of who then-chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz appointed to these slots in 2013 (a mix of local Democratic notables, party operatives, “government relations” professionals, and interest group bigwigs).
I’m in a Red state. How can I help?
Identify the business interests that influence your state's policies, then ask: what are the costs and benefits of these policies? Once you are informed, you can inform others.
Asking the question does not imply that you have to have the answer. What is important is to be cognizant of the issues. Identifying business interests varies in complexity from state to state. In Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa it is fairly easy. Use your public library, Google, city hall development office, etc.
"Identify the business interests that influence your state's policies" ...And how is that done, exactly? Please help us help them.
Yea. In Illinois, we start by reading trial transcripts....
Every individual democrat is not in a position to do that. Keep in mind that there are many who have not been heavily involved in party politics. They are newly motivated but need more specific and appropriate guidance. How do we find the people in our state who are leading this effort?
You are correct. I was making an inside joke about the number of Illinois politicians that have lately run foul of the law. I see that in California, CADEM has a list of committee members for that state. https://cadem.org/dnc-members/
Yes. Lobby your State Delegates.
They’re all Republicans
This!!!
I Googled DNC, contact us. Filled out the form, choosing feedback as the subject. In the note I wrote I vote for Wikler. Also pledged not to donate without a progressive as DNC chair.
Who do we contact to "vote" for Wikler?
Good question, Nina. Lobby the members who get to vote.
This Vox article is outdated, but numbers are about the same:
"The vast majority of the DNC’s members — a little more than 70 percent — are chosen in the various state chapters of the Democratic Party. The remainder are chosen by various national Democratic groups or by the DNC chair herself (DWS).
112 slots go to state party chairs and vice chairs (or technically, to the chair and the highest ranking state party officer of the opposite sex). That means two leadership slots each go to the state chapters of the Democratic Party in each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
208 more slots go to the various state parties to fill, allocated by population and Democratic vote total. Basically, the DNC uses a formula that gives more seats to bigger states, and gives a bit of a bonus to states that vote more for Democrats in presidential elections. So California gets 20 of these slots, Texas gets 10, and the smallest states and territories just get two each.
48 slots go to various national Democratic groups. Certain groups representing Democratic politicians (governors, county officials, municipal officials, state legislators, state treasurers and so on) and constituencies (the Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee, Federation of Democratic Women, College Democrats, Young Democrats of America, etc.) get a few slots each.
The existing nine-member DNC leadership gets nine votes.
Four slots go to Democrats Abroad. Well, technically there are eight DNC representatives from this group representing Democratic expats, but they each only get to cast half a vote, so we’ll count them as four."
Up to 75 slots are appointed by the DNC chair. These appointments have to be approved by the DNC. Check out this list to get a sense of who then-chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz appointed to these slots in 2013 (a mix of local Democratic notables, party operatives, “government relations” professionals, and interest group bigwigs).
I Googled DNC, contact us. Filled out the form, choosing feedback as the subject. In the note I wrote I vote for Wikler. Also pledged not to donate without a progressive as DNC chair.
This may be good news. Have supported D candidates but not DNC for years because they repress more progressive candidates.
I agree that Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership, organizational skills and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
From Wisconsin here! I wanted to nominated right away but I also don't want to lose him. He's been so good to us.
He would reach more people by being active on the national level.
Richard, Are you relation to Michael in Austin?
No, I don't know him.
Ok. He worked for me in the Census in Austin. Really great guy! Smart too.
I have two friends here in Denton who have done loads of census work.
It is so admirable and inspiring to step out and get involved lie that More of us will probably see the need for similar actions in our lives.
That's great! Your two friends must be people persons? Not everyone can do it. Some people are naturally "people persons."
Michael W. definitely was. He carried himself like an a Statemans, humble, and kind. It helped that he was bi-lingual. The Census needed people like him. Michael was a great team member who would take on any case.
It was a really interesting job because you deal with all walks of life from every socio-economic background. It's gets challenging when Enumerators must deal with two main anti-government types: conspiracy people who are anti-government and some immigrants who do not want to give information to "the government."
They have two things in common. They do not understand the Constitutional mandate and importance to count the community and country every 10 years. The most difficult interviews that resisted communicating would get kicked up to Supervisors.
The other commonality is they do not understand that their data (PII) is totally confidential by law. Other agencies, including the FBI and immigration cannot access US Census Bureau data under any circumstances. If they did, it's a Felony that includes a huge fine and jail time. Once people understand they strict Confidentiality, they usually cooperate. Getting people to understand the strict Confidentiality is the challenge.
For this reason, people can trust their data/PII is secure and confidential with the Census. It's required to maintain trust. Interestingly, many people unknowingly give up/over a lot of data when they use the Internet and apps that have no protections and is not confidential. I always found it strange that some people resisted giving the Census PII that had absolutely confidentiality, but they hand over their data/PII all the time on the Internet. Go figure!
Anywho, Michael was a really smart, humble gentleman who respected everyone. (A real Texan.) He communicated the Census' mandate excellent. He was one of the best. People who excelled like Michael got to work the Census longer until the job is complete. I kept Michael on as long as I could because he deserved it.
Performance is closely monitored, especially since 2020 when everything went digital and we could monitor performance better. We only keep the best working the entire time. At about 50% complete, if the Enumerator had not performed well, they didn't get more work. It had to be that way to root out the low quality work and rewards the best performing workers. I loved the Census. I was lucky to have team members like Michael. I hope he was re-hired for the 2020 Census. I Supervised another State and Region in 2020.
*wanted him nominated (not "wanted to nominated" 🤦🏻♀️
If Al Franken supports him, then so do I. Al has been soooo underrated & I miss him from Senate.
I really thought you meant Henry Winkler because your government certainly has "jumped the shark"! Apologies to my US friends..
I thought so too! 😂
Great use of the term "jumped the shark." I remember the Happy Days episode. The Fonz's leather jacket and waterskis were so pathetic. Reminds me of Michael Dukakis photo wearing the oversized army helmet in the tank. Looked just like Rick Moranis in Spaceballs.
There is no panacea to cure the LOST Democratic Party.
Purge some of the old ; bring in the new.
Keep the Clintons as faraway as possible.
Bring Inside Bernie Sanders and the Woman Senator from Massachusetts …
Don’t kick out the party faithful no matter how out there but address their issues in proportion to the Voter who actually elect presidents congressman senators governors etc…
Get more people to vote the better the turnout the more representative the government …
Abolish the electoral college.
Enact mandatory voting with monetary fines…
Yes to all you said. BTW, our Senator is Elizabeth Warren - who would have been a terrific president.
I'm so glad to live in Massachusetts, born and bred....great leadership, great healthcare, excellent economy. We have and acknowledge our problems, but we're pretty darn good!
Thank You ,
Elizabeth Warren & Bernie Sanders .
I knew that but it was buried under all the electoral BS that been floating thru the ether…
I SO agree!!
I agree with all you say, but you really should know - and say - the name of Elizabeth Warren. She is one of the great Democrats AND she needs all of our support now and in the coming Trump era. Musk hates her and will do all he can to undermine her and he has already declared intentions to eliminate the CFPB (he is behaving AS IF he has Presidential power, when that DOGGY "agency" or "department" has NO authority whatsoever - yet.) and the CFPB is a genuine "for the people" agency, albeit one that has been somewhat undermined even by some Democrats - Biden and Obama were pretty weak about it and seemed to be very wary of her. She's brilliant and a person of great integrity.
And instead we got Trump.
But your list is worthy of our favorable attention - and thank you for it.
You're referring to Elizabeth Warren.
I like him already!
I have a suggestion for the Democratic party. I know everyone was hoping we could somehow emulate other countries and have a 3 to 6-month election campaign while the Republicans are using their machinery to influence the public opinion of possible democratic campaigns decades in advance (Hillary - 1980). I suggest extending the Presidential Election campaign to four years starting NOW. Let's have Kamala, Joe, and Tim on TV constantly revealing to our public the dire contrast between Donald Trump's pogroms and platform. Effectively, these political superstars can express, "I told you so," while explaining the difference their plan would have had to everything Donald does. The public doesn't get it. We need a constant and consistent voice by someone who can be the next president. If we can run this 4-year campaign consistently contrasting the two parties in Real Time, we might be able to awaken the electorate to the consequences of giving power to a madman.
Wisconsinite here—couldn’t find a better person for the job than Wikler!!
I agree, Sara. Ben Wikler would be a great DNC Chair. I met him I think 20 years ago at a progressive event. He's a really great guy. I have always been impressed with his leadership and communication skills.
As the WI Dem Chair, Ben has done really great work. They flipped 4 State Senate seats to break the GOP's super majority. They flipped 10 State Assembly seats. Most notably, Ben helped win the State Supreme Court to end gerrymandering and re-elect Gov. Evers in '22. WI also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate. Keep in mind, WI is one of the most competitive states in the country. Need I say more?
I believe Ben's experience leading WisDems gives him a keen understanding of what it takes to Party Build from the grassroots up. Ben knows how to WIN in the crucial swing states. I believe Ben has earned the right to lead the Party. He's put in the work. He's proved to be a very effective leader.
Thank you, RR, for showing your confidence and support for Ben. I totally agree. #Ben4DNC
As a Wisconsin native and proud resident, I’m thrilled that Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler is running for the next DNC Chair! Best of luck — the country needs you now more than ever!
I wish Harrison would resign immediately and make Ben the interim Chair.
Love him. PS it’s Wikler.