So Why DO Dems Need a Strategy More Than Running Against trump

[Norbert]

when it is the Republicans that are in a bad way.

The GOP need to vote for the super rich tax grab or alse lose much of their backing for future elections.

If they vote for this tax plan they must live with this decision throughout the 2018 campaign season.

It seems rather simple. Link them to the Tax plan and put a picture of the orange menace as another link and it will go a long way to victory.

[beachbum bob]

1. you have to also be able to run FOR something, its not just about

what you are against. Somehow, democrats have to crack thru the wall that too many conservatives have built up through their ignorance of what the nature of republican policies and how it effects their lives. Too many buzz words used by democrats that turn off many voters that should be voting democratic. On this same issue, there are buzz words that conservative voters flock to. We, as a party must understand its how we talk about issues that either pull people to vote and support or push people away.

When we can convince a portion of moderate conservatives to support democratic candidates, its all over for republicans as a political party. If we can have democratic voters actually vote instead of sitting on their butts, we can veer this shop away from the iceberg in time.

[global1]

2. Trump Is Not Running For Anything In 2018....

We can't waste our efforts running against Trump. On the other hand - all the Repug seats are up in the House and some in the Senate. We must focus our efforts and energies to running against the Repugs. They are the ones (under the cover of Trump) that are ruining this country. We must defeat the Repugs. We must take back the House & Senate. Once we do that we render Trump impotent and then we can deal with him too when we are in control again.

[Calista241]

3. The economy seems to be running along nicely.

Stock market is up. Consumer confidence is up. GDP is 3%+.

These are all actual results Trump can point to. If we don’t have a plan other than to call him a racist mad tweeter, we’re going to lose. WE know he’s an incompetent doofus, but others will have to be convinced otherwise.

[Vinca]

4. You make a good point. Look at the last election as the best example.

Don and the Republicans didn't run for anything. They ran on Hillary/Obama hate. That's it. It might not be the noblest way to win elections, but if calling Don out for the ass he is does the trick, we need to go there.

[bearsfootball516]

6. There's a big difference in what motivates Republicans and Democrats

Republican voters have been fueled up by 30 years of hate speech from Limbaugh, Fox News, Drudge and Breitbart. They're conditioned to fear and hate, and then come out in droves during election season.

Democrats don't tend to channel that same sort of fear/hate. They're motivation is typically hope and change for the better, but if a candidate doesn't inspire that, they stay home. And the fear/hate Republicans come out to vote and win.

That's a big part of why Ralph Northam won in Virginia a couple weeks ago. He spent very little of his time and money attacking Gillespie. He knew Gillespie was already in a hole, and Northam didn't need to try to dig it any deeper. Instead, he projected a message of hope for voters, and it translated in a big way.

[Vinca]

7. Gillespie didn't win because he tried to be Trump. If he had been himself, he might have won.

People are sick and tired of Democrats allowing themselves to be walked all over. Even now, with the current tax bill, the push back from Democrats is limited to a handful of strong personalities like Sherrod Brown. Most stand on the sidelines and wring their hands. We don't have to be total assholes to win elections, but we must stop the cringing in fear of stepping on toes. Sometimes the truth isn't nice. Sometimes it's even offensive. That's life.

[Va Lefty]

5. See 2016