This is the takeaway and what people need to get their heads wrapped around
The people in this country, and in general, are stupid in mass.
We can have high ideas, we can have FACTS and REALITY behind our positions, we can try to engage in a thoughtful and meaningful discussion, but as much as people moan about "negative" politics, time and time again, negative politics wins.
Running AGAINST something and or someone wins almost every time, and this element amplifies as there is a more clear and unified message.
The simple reality is, 06 and 08, these elections swung hard D because 1) it had gotten THAT bad 2) there was a singular face to own it - Bush.
It does not matter that republican's have been complete, obstructionist jackasses for the last 6 year, they have screamed in unison how bad Barrack Obama is which 1) rallies their people and keeps them ginned up 2) either pulls the soft "middle" toward their side or alienates enough people to give the space to win elections. So, they win big in 10 and 14, with the only break coming in 12 when ...
Democrats rallied around their horse, which leads to the first of three things the democratic party has to do:
1) Never again, NEVER again, run from the party leader. Time and time again, and republicans know this will happen. Republicans eviscerate the top of the party - Clinton, Gore, Dean, Kerry, Obama, Pelosi, Reed... Whoever it is, they just knife them down, and what do democrats do? Go and run into a corner and let them take them down like Ceaser. This is rifting a Reagen rule, and something democrats HAVE to learn. Stand behind your leader, fight for them, own them and champion them.
2) Be honest about republicans. Don't mealy mouth, and be unified in saying these simple things
Republicans hate America.
Republicans hate minorities.
Republicans hate blacks.
Republicans hate Hispanics.
Republicans hate women.
Republicans hate gays.
Republicans hate teachers.
Republicans hate hard working American.
Republicans hate any one of a 100 other peoples
This SHOULD be the simple reality of this thing, it will be called "negative' but 1) is it nothing compared the never ending vile shit they say about democrats 2) IT IS THE GOD DARNED TRUTH.
HAMMER THIS, just say it and leave it at that and force them to have to defend and explain themselves. KEEP SAYING IT , DO NOT BACK DOWN. Help the people of this country reconcile the bullshit they say and do and hold them accountable for it. Don't be cowards and don't fall in line with, after 6 years of rabid sedition, what will now be calls for BIPARITSANSHIP. They pull this shit EVERY TIME. They act like lunatic jackasses when democrats in power, then chant "bipartisanship" when they are in power.
3) Get a uniform "policy" agenda of good common sense government featuring the solid progressive ideas that have a record of success - good progressive economic policy, universal health care, a sensible foreign policy, ect.
And, sorry, it is not good enough to sit back and do the "wait for demographics to change the game."
It isn't going to happen in our lives ... I was there 8 years ago, but the last 6 years has been a BIG wakeup call to what I had experienced in the 90s.
The republicans are far too intense, mean and dedicated, and sell fear and division too well - products have effectively worked in molding masses of people throughout human history.
You don't have to "join" them to beat them. We can be right, we can be dedicated to the right causes, but we cannot allow ourselves to repeat this cycle - we have to stand behind our own, our own ideas and we HAVE to be upfront and blunt about what republicans are.
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