An observation about the Lincoln Project

[Tom Rinaldo]

File it under "Credit where credit is due."

Not only are they openly attacking a president of their own political party.

Not only are they absolutely shredding Donald Trump while doing so.

They understand that the choice Americans face in November literally is binary, something Green Party voters refuse to comprehend.

The Lincoln Project didn't recruit some more respectable Republican to run against Trump, the way that Evan McMullin was recruited in 2016. They didn't unite behind pushing recent former Republican Justin Amash to run against Trump as a Libertarian. They aren't pulling a Mitt Romney by saying Republicans can write in a Jeb Bush or John Bolten or anyone else instead of voting for Trump. They are literally and specifically boosting Joe Biden.

And they don't even do so begrudgingly. Some of their ads go out of their way to praise Joe Biden personally as the type of leader America needs now. They do so undoubtedly with full knowledge that a Biden presidency will advance a number of policy initiatives that they stand in opposition to. They also do so knowing that their praise of Biden can only help Joe Biden increase his popularity with a broad cross section of American voters, which will strengthen his hand down the road if and when America is fortunate enough to return to partisan politics as it existed before Donald Trump.

They do so because they understand that the only one standing between Donald Trump and four more years of him as president is Joe Biden, and so they welcome Joe Biden's victory. And that is putting Country above Party, and that is worthy of respect.

[abqtommy]

1. Perhaps they're worthy of respect, but it's respect grudgingly given...

[hlthe2b]

2. Really past time to get over it, IMO. Resume your animosity in January, 2021.

we don't have the luxury of political purity right now--only allied objectives. Thus the Green Party/3rd party types that won't make the binary choice are far more dangerous than the NEVER TRUMPERS actively supporting Biden.

[redstatebluegirl]

4. Absolutely. This political purity stuff is growing old.

I am not fond of these guys either, but wow are they going after 45 where it hurts. They are pounding him! I LOVE IT! We need all the help we can get to take him down.

[Hortensis]

11. They've earned my gratitude and respect. Glad to have these allies.

Their new "How a President Leads" ad is wonderfully positive and inspiring, showing real presidents leading, only one brief clip of Trump attacking citizens, all building up to Biden at the end. Hope it's shown everywhere, especially in November.

[wnylib]

55. They've earned my suspicion

For exactly the reason that this thread exists - they are gaining Dem brownie points and admiration.

OK for now, but don't forget that their political direction is a mile apart from ours.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

56. RIGHT NOW: Their political direction is exactly the same as ours. n/t

[Hortensis]

57. :) Right. And at all times, their needs, wishes, beliefs

overlap very strongly with ours.

It's gulping the Kool-Aid that the relatively few ways in which we diverge mean everything, all the rest irrelevant, and that "those people" are all alike, none any better than the worst, that turns people into useful idiots.

United we stood, divided we fell.

[rurallib]

74. "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"

I first heard that attributed to Lyndon Johnson.

[PTWB]

77. It predates Christ.

It is an ancient proverb.

[rurallib]

79. figured it probably was

and here I thought I was pretty ancient saying I was alive during the Johnson admin.

[wnylib]

86. Such short memories people have.

These are the characters who created the political atmosphere for decades that led to where we are now.

Sure, I'm glad .they are beating up on Trump. Whatever it takes to defeat him. The enemy of our enemy is our friend, but very temporarily. Like in WWII, when the Soviets were our allies. But that didn't last.

So I think it is wise to look this gift horse in the mouth while watching it trample over Trump and his crime gang. But they are not doing it for us or even for the nation. They are doing it for thrmselves and their own future.

As long as we remember that, I'm happy to see Trump get trampled into dust.

[hlthe2b]

87. NO ONE has forgotten ANYTHING. Deferred animosity is not permanently voided animosity

There is an adage I'd suggest you ponder that justifies our taking their help for a common goal against a common foe.

[True Blue American]

107. 100%

[Hortensis]

113. +100. I check out what websites like The Bulwark are saying and

have even been been known to watch Joe Scarborough's RW MSNBC show now and then. Scar's softpedaling his smears of Democrats and Democratic policies these days, but I doubt I miss many when I do watch. As the Repubs he helped elect go down, he is doing what he can to save as much of the RW power he helped create as he can.

But people like him, Nicolle Wallace, and the writers at Bulwark are still MODERATE conservatives. Many helped create and sustain the progressive programs and the great civil rights advances of the last 100 years.

Those who see only one, big problem on the right might take a little wander over to Parler, which is apparently seeing a surge in MAGA membership as Twitter tightens up just a bit. Just to check out some of the differences that are causing Repub senators to feel a need to sign up. It seems likely Trump will start posting there.

Viewing does require signing up, but some idea can be gotten from those who've bravely surveyed for others. Yannah Yoest, sorta a Nicolle Wallace type, coauthor of "The Gross Hellscape That Awaits Ted Cruz on Parler" is another young female conservative I disagree a lot with but nevertheless also share a lot with when looking with her at those to her right.

Link to tweet

[oldsoftie]

103. Why is it so hard for everyone to get this?? nt

[True Blue American]

105. At this point

Mister Nice guy needs to fight the bullies. I do not care who helps us! Anything to get rid of this group of mobsters!

That includes Mitch, his enablers, Gym and what is left of the monstrous Freedom Caucus. I think that is down to Gym, MCCarthy, Scalise, Collins and a couple of hanger on like Gohmert. Nadler should have had him marched out of the chamber. There may be no rule against noise, but there is against interfering with witness testimony.. Between Jordan, Collins and Gohmert that panel is a joke.

[Hamlette]

25. thank you

by doing the right thing, and doing it so openly and enthusiastically, they have shown a side of republicans we don't very often see. It is easy to see them all as the enemy but there are some decent people left in the GOP. It might help the acrimony in this country to see that. I hate when they tell me what democrats are (they want to take your house!) these guys might help soften those edges.

Remember, they are just as hard on Trump supporters in office as they are on Trump.

[usaf-vet]

43. We are never going to get the hardline Republicans to meet us halfway the TEA PARTY destroyed that.

But what we can do it show the Romney's and the Lincoln Project republicans "LPR" that once we have ended Trump's reign of hatred and greed we can work across the aisle to benefit the American people. To make things better for all. Biden should be able to start building those bridges.

Once Trump is history I believe the Lincoln Project Republicans the "LPR" are going to be equally interested in cleaning out the tea party disrupters. The Jim Jordan, Louie Gohmert, Matt Gaetz. whose mission it is to disrupt not legislate.

All I know for sure at this point is this retired veteran on a fixed income is sending the Lincoln Project money that Covid-19 has saved me from spending. The two or three nights a month of going out to a nice restaurant for a meal, that bill and the bar tab that always seems bigger than the meal is Lincoln Project THANK YOU donation money.

Please stop questioning their intentions. The ads speak for themselves. If there was a Nobel Prize or Pulitzer or Golden Globe or Boy Scout merit badge they would deserve them all in my book.

Hint: maybe a Presidental Freedom Award. We could restore the prestige by dragging back Limbaugh's outrageous ass-kissing award.

[BComplex]

52. I don't get it. We're ready to "reach across the aisle" with republicans, who know NOTHING about

governing, who are crooks and liars every one, and cult members to boot. They are not even the same species as us!

But we continue to trash those who are genetically more similar to ourselves...for instance the Green party.. Bernie voters....and hate them, and not try to make common cause with them!!!! How fucking stupid is that???

This is why so many Bernie voters stayed home last time. NOBODY can do vicious, or hold a grudge, nearly as strongly as conservative DUers.

WE HAVE TO STOP THIS! Quit hating, alienating and bad-mouthing people who are aiming for 95% of the same things we are aiming for, and then suck up to people who are aiming for 1% of what we are aiming for, and people who are trying to destroy us, trash us at every turn, and ruin our country.

WTF?????

[stopdiggin]

62. Because ... Right now ...

Anyone that is advocating a vote for Biden is my ally. Anybody that is (perhaps coyly) suggesting that they might vote for somebody else, or stay home, if they can't have XYZ ,, is not. Full stop.

Please note that the Lincoln Project is not asking for changes in the Democratic party .. or platform. They are simply stating that Joe Biden is a significantly better leader, and better choice, for our country. Period. Full stop.

I can reach across the aisle for this because .... It's not a reach!

[usaf-vet]

69. EXACTLY!

[radical noodle]

81. No kidding!

I'm with you on this. Anyone who is not voting for Biden this time is not my friend.

[usaf-vet]

68. Absolutely !!!

[Tom Rinaldo]

98. I supported Bernie in 2016, and I supported Bernie in 2020

I don't think it undemocratic, with either a small or large "D", to express sincere constructive criticism of Democrats on important issues. I don't automatically think it is just about "dividing us" when one Democrat gets challenged by someone in a Democratic primary. I know that Bernie throughout his long career has identified primarily as an Independent, and I don't mind him being true to his own beliefs. I respect Bernie Sanders for having competed for the Democratic nomination for President rather than taking the third party route or having run as an Independent against a Democratic nominee for president in the fall.

Bernie was offered the Green Party nomination for President in 2016 but he declined it and endorsed Hillary Clinton instead. This year he is on board with Biden early. I never mind people advocating for and working for policy solutions to the problems our nation faces that fall to the left of where most Democrats currently stand. Often I am one of those who do. But Bernie Sanders understands that we have a binary choice in November and he comes down on the correct side of that choice, as does the Lincoln Project.

[True Blue American]

106. Not me!

I accept any help we get at this point.

[stopdiggin]

60. 100%. -- and note that the OP makes a point

of highlighting that this is a binary choice. This is not "draft a candidate", or third party, or "anybody but Trump." This is quite specifically JOE BIDEN vs Trump.

In that .. they are more clear sighted .. and more on board .. than many of our supposed allies.
----- -----

[Gore1FL]

84. Animosity is OK when directed against left, but not for the the very Republicans who built this.

DU has certainly changed during my 19 years of membership.

[hlthe2b]

85. Animosity toward those("Left " or "Right") who won't support our Democratic candidate, certainly.

That was the way 19 years ago when BOTH of us registered on DU and since.

[Gore1FL]

88. It's weird you can forgive republicans for the past but not the left.

Applauding those that gave us Bush, Cheney, Palin, Romney, and Trump, but forever hating people who once or twice didn't vote for the Democrat.

Seriously, DU has changed. We used to value progressive thought, now we abandon all of our values to embrace victory. It's the very thing the GOP did when they decided winning meant more than policy. It's sad to watch it happen.

[hlthe2b]

89. You really need to quit misrepresenting what others are saying. No one is "forever hating people

who once or twice didn't vote for the Democrat"... What is being said is that those who wish to split the party on the Left-- are not to be forgiven NOW if they do not support our current candidate, Biden against Trump. The past is not material to the coming election, but their lack of support NOW IS.

Stop it, Gore1FL. You know better.

[Gore1FL]

95. Let's attack the people on the left who share most of our vales and embrace GOP operatives.

Du has changed since I joined 19 years ago. We knew who the enemy was in 2001. No we embrace those who made it possible.

Quit dividing the left. YOU know better.

[hlthe2b]

96. It is YOU who is dividing by accusing fellow DUers of what they are NOT

No one has attacked ANYONE.

I don't remember you doing this in your past time on DU. I hope you rethink, now.

[Gore1FL]

97. You did so did the OP.

Do you need quotes?

Stop attacking the left.

[Tom Rinaldo]

99. I wrote the OP, please see my post #98 above. n/t

[hlthe2b]

100. I DID no such thing. I am abiding by the TOS that supports our DEM Candidates

That is the condition upon which we post here. Are YOU arguing with THAT? You are defending those self-identified as being on the Left who REFUSE to support our Democratic Presidential candidate? Really?

No one here is attacking Dems who intend to vote as Dems. If you do not, then I really question why you are here.

BTW, I read the other posters OP that you claim was attacking Dems. It was NOT and note that he has responded directly to you as well. He indicated he intended to support the correct side of the binary choice, Joe Biden. So, you have misrepresented BOTH of us.

[melman]

101. Totally agree

It's really gross to see but far from surprising at this point. It just is what it is I guess.

[unstableAngel]

109. You misunderstood

No one is applauding them for what they've done in the past or will do in the future. They are currently helping us keep our democracy. FULL STOP Nothing is more important atm.

[The Magistrate]

110. Welcome To The Forum, Sir

The person you are addressing, by the way, often misunderstands things....

[marble falls]

112. They aren't our allies but they are against Trump. We'll stand next to them in this battle ...

but we'll never embrace them or their ideals. We're all clear that on Jan 21, 2021 its back to normal for them.

[Cary]

92. I like them

I hope we can find a way to build on shared values after January 20. That would be healthy, IMHO. We both oppose a sick ideology.

[Eliot Rosewater]

114. FAR FAR FAR more dangerous, indeed...Some are out there DYING to BASH Joe, but

depending on WHERE they are, they may not be allowed to.

[guyfromla]

3. Agreed

But whatever helps is good at this point

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. I think you nailed the proper note

As they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. Out of desperation they are backing Joe Biden. Out of desperation I genuinely appreciate and welcome their contribution during this critical election cycle. Grudging all around but real nonetheless.

[Hortensis]

18. :) Well, try not to let your faces freeze in "grudging."

There will be an after someday, and those who insist on carrying forward today's hostility against half the nation, eyeing everyone suspiciously for clues to which half and badmouthing them as "the enemy," are going to be very tedious.

[KPN]

34. What are you saying? I would be extremely disappointed if

we do what we did in 2008: look forward, not back. We must look both forward and back in 2021, and we must be clear about that if we hope to achieve lasting confidence in our governance.

[DownriverDem]

37. Time to admit

we need all the help we can get to defeat trump. Folks need to stop attacking those trying to get rid of trump including Morning Joe. It makes folks look like they are stuck in 2016 mode.

[Warpy]

44. Grudgingly? Not by me, these men are great at slick advertising

and the DNC needs to start paying attention to what works and what doesn't. The Lincoln Project ads are absolutely devastating to Big Dummy. The DNC has put out one or two decent ads, but most of them have been utterly forgettable, and that is unforgivable in an election like this one.

While I get the distinct impression Rick Wilson is having the time of his life going after Big Dummy, I know he'll be back to pushing bad Republican candidates in 2024 because that's who is is and what he does. If the DNC doesn't start paying attention to what is working here, they will lose, again and again and again.

So my admiration is genuine. I wish he'd stay on our side because we desperately need them instead of the namby pamby, wishy washy lobbyists we've been stuck with year after year. I just know he is not going to have an epiphany. Once Big Dummy is gone, that weaponized truth will be aimed back our way.

[BigOleDummy]

51. While I agree with most you say.....

.... I DO look askance at you calling our chump in chief "Big Dummy". He's not smart enough to be a Dummy and I ought to know.

[renate]

66. Lol! I almost didn't notice your user name!

[BigOleDummy]

82. Lol

[Warpy]

67. I actually prefer calling him Dumdum

You know, like the bullets, hollow and do a hell of a lot of damage.

Is that acceptable?

[BigOleDummy]

83. Indeed

Took me a lifetime to know what a BigOleDummy I am and our chump in chief doesn't have that kind of self awareness.

[BComplex]

70. I agree 100%.

You nailed it!

[Pluvious]

45. It simply comes down to Country over Party. n/t

[judeling]

6. Self interest

There are two things to remember about them. First they live here and cannot fathom another 4 years.

But as important, they are political operatives who lean towards the more corporate side of the party. This is not Wall Street but business. For their own political future they need the party to be broken away from the Trump populist base that he can inflame and force them back to followers.

They need to break the party to have a hand in rebuilding it and their own fortunes.

Our goals align for a cycle but that wont survive much beyond that.

But they are really good, they have been manipulating their base for years.

[bucolic_frolic]

21. THIS

[Bradshaw3]

22. Or it could be that they genuinely care about their country

And they see drumpf as destroying our democracy and the fabric of this country. That's what I take away from Schmidt, Wallace and some of the others. I disagreed with them in the past and will in the future but perhaps they are decent people.

[Hamlette]

29. thank you for this

I"m of the trust but verify school but I too think they are decent people. They could have gone along and milked Trump and the party for all it is worth but they didn't. That takes character.

[Roc2020]

31. Yah. Sure they have their own self-interest

but I really think they believe 4 more yrs of Trump will totally destroy America. The country is on it's knees right now. Another Trump term will flattened it.

[judeling]

47. Nichole seems to have made a major shift

But Steve Schmidt? He was going with Howard Shultz there before that blew up.

I'm glad they are with us in 2020, I just expect them to be against us in 2022.

[Eliot Rosewater]

115. But what is the POINT of making this point now? Let me help you, there is none

but doing so could dissuade some.

GOP is sitting back while rump allows putin to murder our soldiers.

GOP is sitting back while rump TRIES to KILL us with the virus.

No time for anything but unity AGAINST the traitor.

[Midwestern Democrat]

118. I don't know - I think the people in the Lincoln Project have probably permanently burned all their

bridges with the Republican Party - I'm sure there are people in the Republican Party who can't stand Trump who have made the calculation that if they want to have any influence in the post-Trump Republican Party, they need to at least go through the motions of giving at least tepid support to Trump now - it's hard to have future influence in a party when a large percentage of that party thinks of you as a betrayer.

[judeling]

119. When he loses

Watch the party drop him like a hot potato.

[dalton99a]

7. I welcome all ammunition against the Putinist criminal regime.

[grumpyduck]

8. I appreciate what they're doing,

I just hope their spots are aired in locations where the people who need to see them will see them.

[HotTeaBag]

9. They're doing it because Trump and Trumpism is embarrassing to the Republican

brand - and shrinking it daily with the threat of tainting the GOP for a generation.

If Mitt Romney was in office right now doing every single thing policy-wise (minus pulling out of treaties and putting kids in cages and acting with such cruelty), that Trump is doing there would be no Lincoln Project.

They are down with tax cuts and massive de-regulation and packing the courts with Conservative judges and ending Obamacare and, and, and...

I love what they're doing, but don't confuse their motivation with altruism.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. I don't dispute your observations

Pure altruism is almost as rare as a purple unicorn in politics. I would grant them the concept "enlightened self interest", with much of that enlightenment due to sincere revulsion at the type of hate and total incompetency that Trump is sowing, partially from some sense of general morality, and partially from the knowledge that hatred and incompetency can spin out of control and bring the whole house down on top of all of us.

[HotTeaBag]

16. Very well said.

And I agree completely.

[BComplex]

71. +1

[GusBob]

10. They were criticized here a bit, mainly for their "teasers"

and then the ads were greeted with a "big whoop" by those who didn't like the teasey build-up

To which I say: try and create your own ads! Try and make better ones! Good luck!

When they used Robert Kennedy and MLK in their Tulsa ad, I was over the moon. Republicans using Democratic icons

This is why we discuss politics y'all, to change minds

Trump makes it easy of course, but the LP movement is huge. IMO

[sop]

12. Their attacks on Trump are welcome, but their motivation is crystal clear: they want to save the

Republican party from the lunatic fringe that has gained power. Trump has literally destroyed their Republican establishment, and the various participants in The Lincoln Project are nothing if not card-carrying members of that movement. No one understands better than TLP that voting third party is a wasted effort in a two-party system, so if it means supporting Biden now to get rid of Trump, so be it.

But, like all good Republican strategists, they take the long term view of politics. They know the GOP will be back in four years once Trump has been flushed down the memory hole, and they'll be the first to attack Biden when their establishment candidate of choice is on the ballot.

[LiberalArkie]

33. I think they want to take the Republican Party back to the Nelson Rockefeller path instead of the

Barry Goldwater path.

[pandr32]

38. Agreed

[Tom Rinaldo]

40. Maybe. Or maybe they would be fine with the Goldwater path of his later years

Maybe it was Goldwater mellowing, or maybe it was the crazies getting crazier, but Goldwater started seeming less extreme during the latter part of his life, though still hard right.

Meanwhile Trump has no legitimate political path. He's out there with a machete in the jungle, with the mainstream far behind.

[LiberalArkie]

49. He is that natural progression of the path from Goldwater to Reagan to the bush wackers to himself

[we can do it]

14. Yeah but apparently only drump makes them upset enough to do something.

[highplainsdem]

15. K&R!

[Demsrule86]

17. I agree with this assessment. K&R

[WhiteTara]

19. They created this and now it's clean up on Aisle 2

They do what they do and this time the enemy they want to defeat is trump. When it's over, watch them revert. The only thing they understand is winning at whatever. They are republicons deep in their hearts.

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. They're also producing anti-Republican and pro-Democrat videos for the senate

see https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13650924

which shows they're thinking this through - they don't want McConnell to be majority leader and block everything Pelosi and Biden do. That could change by 2022, of course, but they do seem committed to Dem government for now.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

23. I appreciate them.

I don't trust Republicans in general, but I'm glad some of them are reasonable enough to understand Trump is extremely dangerous.

[yonder]

24. As usual Tom, an excellent analysis.

Lately I've been thinking about what would Democrats be doing if the situation was reversed. Two things pop up for me: One, we would never allow it to fester until the campaign phase began and most importantly, it's doubtful we would find ourselves in the same place to begin with.

They have been making their beds for 40 years or more with foul, unwashed bedding — only now and finally, the hotel chain has sent in corporate to tidy up this location. It's still a Motel 6.

[Cosmocat]

26. They are doing what a D led group should have been doing decades ago

We have spent my entire life with the republican party being the globe trotters and the democratic party being the washington generals.

The republicans dribbling the ball between our legs, faking throwing the ball at us and driving to the basket for a fancy layup while democrats stand in one place waving their arms.

Yeah, come November 4 we might part ways, but in the interim we now have an entity playing the same game as the Rs have played unchallenged for to friggen long.

[mudstump]

27. While I'm grateful they are opposing Trump...

these same republicans are responsible for the state of affairs today. Rick Wilson invented the "no issue" republican candidate so to tear down democrats who do have a policy based campaign. They have degraded the process of electing leaders down to a reality show winner takes all mentality. I think the American electorate wants more from their candidates...at least I do.

[Marcuse]

28. In January they will start trashing Joe just as badly, but for now...

[Johnny2X2X]

30. They are next level

Their stories flow together and build off each other. This the type of long sell that you need. And they constantly post ads to tweak Trump, they know how to push his buttons and they know what his response will be. This is the type of ad campaign that is needed, this is powerful and they have done their work in psychology and marketing.

Let them lead, the narrative they have isn't told in 1 ad, it's told in all the ads put together, go with it.

[liberalla]

32. Well stated and I am in agreement !

And thanks to Lincoln Project.

[KPN]

35. Great post.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

36. I'll give them some credit for trying to blow up right wing rule in the Senate. And not just

stopping at the bloated rancid meat goblin.

[grantcart]

39. Actually they are even greater than your eloquent observation.

1) They are relentless and clever, by coming out daily with an interesting and provocative attack they are getting a ton of free play

2) They are not advocating"Vote against Trump but keep the senate red". They are going after every Republican enabler from Graham to McSally.

These are people we can work with

[Lucinda]

41. +1

[NNadir]

42. I agree to the fullest. They are last members of their...

...party who place love of their country above ideology.

[angrychair]

46. Screw the Lincoln Project

It's great they are trying to help but these are the same people that literally brought trump to our doorstep, everything from racist tropes like "welfare queens" to the one person plague of Sarah Palin. These are the very people that laid the foundation for the rise of trump.
These people are not our friends, they will go right back to fostering the same hate and animosity and distrust that got us where we are now.

The Lincoln Project is, at best, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" and nothing more.

[melman]

58. You are 100% right

But it's a losing battle here. People are just wowed by these charlatans.

[stopdiggin]

63. not at all. I think if you read through

the posts you will see very few that are enamored of these peoples background .. or politics. It seems a pretty clear eyed assessment of who and what they are to me.

On the other hand, lots of praise for their ads .. because people think they're effective. And probably winning us votes.

[Eliot Rosewater]

116. Yeah, I think the person you are responding to knows that but what fun is it

for that person to admit that.

When they can BASH democrats.

[backscatter712]

120. Yep. They're Republicans, I don't think there are many here who will agree with their politics.

However, they are very skilled and talented at the art of politics - of making attack ads, of making themselves go viral on social media, of making themselves newsworthy, and being enough of a thorn in Trump's side that Trump's making butthurt tweets about them.

DO NOT underestimate them - they do this for a living, they've been doing this for years, and they're very, very good at their work. This is our opportunity to learn from them without the inconvenience of them aiming their political attacks at us, and that doesn't happen very often in this business.

[backscatter712]

65. They're our frenemies right now. It's a good opportunity to learn how they operate.

We're fortunate this year in that Rick Wilson & Steve Schmidt are using their methods on a deserving target this year.

But James Carville is right - they've been doing this for decades, they've got quite a lot of skill at it, so it behooves us Democrats to learn something.

[True Blue American]

108. :)

Live and learn. Jim is a crafty old devil who knows how to win.

Have not seen Mary Madeline.

[George II]

75. Many of those behind the Lincoln Project are those who were not the ones you describe....

And last I heard, Sarah Palin wasn't elected and she's slinked back into the shadows.

Democrats, and Americans, should accept whatever help they can get to defeat trump.

[dajoki]

48. Would they do this for Elizabeth Warren?

I doubt it, so I I will not give them any praise but I will take their help.

[stopdiggin]

73. I think they would

because I think the ONLY reason they are supporting a Democrat .. is they see DJT as utterly ruinous to the country. By that logic .. yes to Warren, or Pete, or Harris, or Amy .. or just about anybody on the other side of the ballot.

And I will note that LP is also running ads against other Republicans .. including a (vulnerable?) Joni Ernst. So their agenda is (to some extent at least) to jettison some of the deadwood and enablers. Recognizing the sycophants as a large part of the problem. The more you look at it the more it just looks like a plain win .. for the country. Are they our soulmates in political ideology? Hardly. But they represent the by far most vigorous Republican opposition to a cancerous malignancy that we've seen so far.

So, praise? The more I think about it .. the more I don't have a bit of problem with that.

[Eliot Rosewater]

117. Of course they would , this is not about Joe, it is about a traitor in the WH who is helping

our enemy kill our soldiers and who is helping the virus kill ALL of us!

They would do this if BERNIE was the candidate.

No, I am no fan of any republican...but then I called them traitors 15 years ago so dont go there with me.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

50. Well said. They're doing their part to save the country. Welcome it. nt

[roamer65]

53. They are definitely putting the country over their party.

My hats off to them and I’ve thrown a few bucks their way.

[mountain grammy]

54. Great thread

I’ve been ambivalent about the LP for all the reasons listed above. This is why I love DU. Discussions like this one..

[Crunchy Frog]

59. Our party could stand to learn a few things from them about effective advertising.

I'm very thankful that we have them on our side right now because I don't think the Dems even have the capacity to come up with messaging at that level of sophistication.

[George II]

61. Anything that brings trump down lower and lower is fine by me and earns my respect...

They're demonstrating that country is more than party, which is how it should be.

[DCofVA]

64. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

[seta1950]

72. Perfectly said

I can respect anyone who puts country above party.

[FakeNoose]

76. Yes - all true and they have my respect & thanks!

I just wish they would join the good guys' team.
But sadly that's not going to happen, unless we pay them.

[UCmeNdc]

78. K&R

[wishstar]

80. George Conway has been donating to Dems too including Biden and several running for Congress

Don't know much about the others in the Lincoln Project but George has been donating to Dems and encouraging everyone to do likewise since at least last year when House began impeachment hearings.

[Cary]

90. Which is why I gave them money and why I buy their books

[Schmice3]

91. THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND?

I'm glad the Lincoln Project is doing what it can to unseat Trump, but I find their members suspect, too. They want this regime out because it has opened many more people's eyes to the entire nature of the system. They want him out so we can forget about him and the lessons learned as quickly as possible. For millions of Americans, defeating Trump will mean mission accomplished. They will then fold up their tents, and go home. Nothing will really change. And that's what Conservative Republicans; many of whom finance the Lincoln Project, want. Move along, there's no longer anything to see here...

[hay rick]

93. As noted, they compare favorably to the Green Party. nt

[warmfeet]

94. I hate all repukes.

I hate all trumpistas.

I will take any help I can get to get rid of this orange fuck face asshole!

[summer_in_TX]

102. Wonderful to have the help of those behind the Lincoln Project.

I for one have a feeling that they've done some soul-searching and repenting of their part in bringing on the election of Trump. I follow Joe Walsh on Twitter and he has apologized multiple times.

They are putting their considerable talent, their money, and their time at the service of saving our country. They are serving the best interests of the country with skill and passion. That makes them heroes to me.

I'm sure there will be many things we will never agree with them on, but they recognized and are affirming decency and rejecting indecency and corruption.

I am cautiously hopeful that they will continue to find some common ground with Democrats and that maybe, just maybe, they can help the country move to a less hyper partisan state. It will mean taking on the systematic propaganda that FOX News and the 1,200 conservative talk radio stations in the country that are major players in that system.

A girl can dream, can't she?

[Deb]

104. they've gained trust and attention while awaiting a replacement POTUS candidate

I'm expecting them to dump an anti Dem trumped up scandal Ad any week now. And who will question it's motive?

[Tom Rinaldo]

111. If the GOP actually dumps Trump and picks a replacement POTUS candidate

you may be right, that certainly would not shock me if Lincoln Project folks did that. But it will shock me if the GOP dumps Trump. And if Trump remains the GOP nominee I believe the Lincoln Project will continue on its current course.