A brief comment... a few years ago Carlson wrote a book "Ship of Fools" the theme of which was that "elites" are ruining the world. One of his examples was that Chelsea Clinton got a job at NBC, a job for which, according to Carlson she was unqualified and only got because of her parents. Now we see that Carlson's 24-year-old son was hired as a communications director for a congressman and there's absolutely nothing to see here. Makes sense to me.
The first is a good read on today's British Conservative politics and the role of party politics in governing. Some possible applications in DC....
The second is the Republicans' plan to dismantle the Republic between now and 2024. (It is signed by Jim Banks, the guy Tucker Carlson's son works for, so Tucker is bashing Emmer, the guy holding the job Banks wants.)
“It’s our worst performing message,” Greenberg told West Wing Playbook. “I’ve tested it. I did Biden’s exact words, his exact speech. And that’s the test where we lost all of our leads… It said to the voters that this election is about my accomplishments as a leader and not about the challenges you’re experiencing.”
---------------------------------
Y'know, I don't mean to be insensitive to people's problems, but I honestly don't know how Tim, Sarah, Charlie or anyone who's ever been heavily involved with campaigning and political messaging doesn't just spend most of their lives with their faces buried in their hands over the infantility of the American voter.
Hasn't everyone been talking about what a bad job the Democrats have done selling their accomplishments, and how they need to be more aggressive about promoting them? Shouldn't that make perfect sense? Yet now we're told they should just STFU about them completely? I mean, they can't even pair that with a follow up about what they're going to continue to do for them, given their past record?
Whatever happened to the old saying, "What have you done for me lately?". Because apparently now it's, "We don't care what you've done for us lately. We want to hear your bullsh$t promises about how you're going to fix some things you don't actually control, and will likely leave unresolved so that you can continue to campaign on it. After all, we need to know that acting concerned about the challenges we face is important to you."
Set aside that it never seems to hurt Republicans to slobber over all of the (mostly imaginary) "great things" that Trump did for America. I mean, at some point, doesn't this just start to feel like you're a child photographer trying to find the right squeaky plush toy to wave in front of people's faces so they'll smile for you? I just couldn't ...
Tim’s article on Hobbs was perfect. I think Dan Pfeiffer, one of Obama’s former comm strategist said Dems were often accused of “bringing a ten point policy proposal to a gun fight”.
I think that’s about right. But so many things about this campaign and the intra-party politics seem completely baffling to me. If I was one of those conspiracy types, I’d almost wonder if the Republicans had somehow secretly pulled some strings to arrange for Hobbs to be the nominee!
So glad John McCain is not alive to see this travesty! :(
After reading through many of today's comments, I just want to express my EXTREME GRATITUDE that the Consitution and its Amendments do not leave the administration of rights up to "common sense."
Trump's speech on the Thursday after the election is sedition based on the evidence. It essentially was sedition that day because of a lack of evidence for any fraud and he was trying to influence the results of an election. Based on today's knowledge, every Republican in congress that supported the lie and voted against certification based on the fraud premise is also guilty. They will never be held accountable. Even today, a compromised supreme court justice is delaying potential justice against LG because, well, he can. There is no incentive to do what is right because everyone in a position of power or wealth is above the law - and they all know it. It also makes for wealthy representatives, lawyers and judges, so why would they get in the way.
The disgraced John Edwards had a campaign slogan which was entirely accurate:
There are two Americas, one for the very rich [and their politicians] and one for everyone else.
If we see nothing else, the past five years have proven that beyond doubt! The political class is above the law and the Constitution. The political class is the best government money can buy.
And Liz will be our nominee! Granted I'm in CA -- but I do have family in ID. Right now, not a single Republican I know wants Trump and/or this anti-democratic behvior. We all want a reasonable party option! I honestly believe that 80% of the country wants this to stop and 60% would vote for leaders with reasonable, thoughful policy decisions (3rd party, likely) if given the chance....Enough is enough.
Love the optimism, but of all the republicans you know, how many would support DeSantis? Does he represent to them an off-ramp to anti-democratic behavior?
They mostly see DeSantis as dangerous too. Naive or not, the prevailing belief is the noise and hate will diminish (not disappear) when Trump finally disappears. It's hard work to be angry all the time.
Liz has thrown down the gauntlet -- I believe this will seal Trump's elect-ability fate and deliver another 4 years of a Dem president. So be it.
I do believe the noise and some of the lying and violence will disappear with TFG.
I do not believe the threat to democracy will be lessened by his disappearance. Mitch is much much much worse when it comes down to stealing elections and shredding the Constitution and packing the courts, and basic dishonesty and hypocrisy. Because Mitch KNOWS better and is manipulative and secretive. TFG is all out front!
I disagree. I don’t think we’ll see the noise or hate diminish when Trump disappears. Too many people have built their livelihood/grift on this foundation to let it backslide. If anything, it will continue to spread. Lies are cheap to create when a narrative is needed, grow legs easily, and expensive (or impossible/not feasible) to disprove when that happens. Facts are expensive to confirm and take work for people to truly read/internalize them. Often facts have nuance, situation-specific elements, and other time-intensive activities that require thoughtfulness and self-reflection - all more work than hating “the other side.”
She doesn't have to. Her 3rd party will deliver the dagger. There's no way Trumpists can achieve a majority in that scenario. Even if she takes only 10-15%....that segment is so anti-Trump they will be enough to deny him.
One half of Democratic election consultants "Stop talking about Trump and the Republicans and decline of democracy! Talk about your achievements and everything you've done in the past 2 years. Sell your successes! ".
The other half of the consultant universe advising the Democratic party -"Shut the hell up about all the work you've done. It’s not that voters don’t care. Voters actively turn against Democrats when they hear this."
Dems need to hire all the ex-Republican strategists like Steve Schmidt and Stuart Stevens. They know how to message to the voters beyond the bases. Too late now, of course. Probably in every way.
Political affiliation is so ingrained in people’s identity these days. The principles my parents taught me in the 90s, have made me more of a democrat than a republican, but both of my parents will vote (R) no matter what. They don’t see that the party is no longer what it was 20 years ago, that it doesn’t align to the principles espoused all those years ago. No, instead democrats and their supporters are the enemy.
I believe the civil war we’re trying to avoid has already started. Can our country revert course? Yes. Will we? Absolutely not. That would mean many folks admitting they were wrong or made poor decisions. How often does that happen anymore?
I think there may be a chance if we get to a point where 'average' Americans are being impacted by low intensity violence.
Emphasis on 'think' and 'chance', but if political violence stops people from going about their daily lives, I think we may see a big backlash against the side it is coming from. I hope so, at least.
All alarms are sounding. Even if the dems eke out a victory in the senate, an increasingly unlikely scenario, what then? Because they're together on all of these crazy things, and democrats can't even agree to support their actual nominee, it's only a matter of time until we get God-King Trump, or Ron, or Tom, or whatever. There's no way to get information to right-wing voters that they're getting ready to hand America over. Maybe these people think they'll be spared from the thought police already getting a foothold in right-wing states. I couldn't be more discouraged. I think I'm going to join the right wing so I can keep my job and my life. I've never seen a more skillful wielding of power by a minority of voters.
It wasn't done by a minority of voters; it was done by the political hacks put into office by the megawealthy donor class over the past few decades. TFG unleashed the worst of the worst, up front and in public. SCOTUS and Mitch have just taken advantage of what Mitch has been working hard on for 20 years and Newt before him. The "skillful wielding of power" has been in the US Senate and behind the closed doors of the Republican Bohemian Grove and other such gatherings annually through the years (beginning I think with the John Birchers).
Charlie didn't even mention that the Cook Report down-graded Pat Maloney's seat (Chairman of the DCCC) in NY from Lean Dem to Toss Up. Momentum is on their side, folks. Get ready for it.
Why do we give Tulsi Gabbard any publicity? She is a kook who grew up in a cult in Hawaii. She was ineffective during her short time in office. She’s just another whacky grifter.
Amen, Liz Cheney. The Republicans are mired in Trump corruption, and everyone must know by now that Putin helped Trump become President.
A brief comment... a few years ago Carlson wrote a book "Ship of Fools" the theme of which was that "elites" are ruining the world. One of his examples was that Chelsea Clinton got a job at NBC, a job for which, according to Carlson she was unqualified and only got because of her parents. Now we see that Carlson's 24-year-old son was hired as a communications director for a congressman and there's absolutely nothing to see here. Makes sense to me.
I'm afraid it will be a teensy tiny conservative party. What would really have an effect is several Republican senators leaving the Republican caucus.
Here are two pieces Bulwark readers should read and possibly share widely:
https://www.persuasion.community/p/what-liz-truss-proved
and
https://banks.house.gov/uploadedfiles/fy23_budget_final_copy.pdf
The first is a good read on today's British Conservative politics and the role of party politics in governing. Some possible applications in DC....
The second is the Republicans' plan to dismantle the Republic between now and 2024. (It is signed by Jim Banks, the guy Tucker Carlson's son works for, so Tucker is bashing Emmer, the guy holding the job Banks wants.)
“It’s our worst performing message,” Greenberg told West Wing Playbook. “I’ve tested it. I did Biden’s exact words, his exact speech. And that’s the test where we lost all of our leads… It said to the voters that this election is about my accomplishments as a leader and not about the challenges you’re experiencing.”
---------------------------------
Y'know, I don't mean to be insensitive to people's problems, but I honestly don't know how Tim, Sarah, Charlie or anyone who's ever been heavily involved with campaigning and political messaging doesn't just spend most of their lives with their faces buried in their hands over the infantility of the American voter.
Hasn't everyone been talking about what a bad job the Democrats have done selling their accomplishments, and how they need to be more aggressive about promoting them? Shouldn't that make perfect sense? Yet now we're told they should just STFU about them completely? I mean, they can't even pair that with a follow up about what they're going to continue to do for them, given their past record?
Whatever happened to the old saying, "What have you done for me lately?". Because apparently now it's, "We don't care what you've done for us lately. We want to hear your bullsh$t promises about how you're going to fix some things you don't actually control, and will likely leave unresolved so that you can continue to campaign on it. After all, we need to know that acting concerned about the challenges we face is important to you."
Set aside that it never seems to hurt Republicans to slobber over all of the (mostly imaginary) "great things" that Trump did for America. I mean, at some point, doesn't this just start to feel like you're a child photographer trying to find the right squeaky plush toy to wave in front of people's faces so they'll smile for you? I just couldn't ...
Tim’s article on Hobbs was perfect. I think Dan Pfeiffer, one of Obama’s former comm strategist said Dems were often accused of “bringing a ten point policy proposal to a gun fight”.
I think that’s about right. But so many things about this campaign and the intra-party politics seem completely baffling to me. If I was one of those conspiracy types, I’d almost wonder if the Republicans had somehow secretly pulled some strings to arrange for Hobbs to be the nominee!
So glad John McCain is not alive to see this travesty! :(
After reading through many of today's comments, I just want to express my EXTREME GRATITUDE that the Consitution and its Amendments do not leave the administration of rights up to "common sense."
LOL. Now if politicians and SCOTUS judges would only FOLLOW that Constitution.... we might survive as a democratic republic.
Trump's speech on the Thursday after the election is sedition based on the evidence. It essentially was sedition that day because of a lack of evidence for any fraud and he was trying to influence the results of an election. Based on today's knowledge, every Republican in congress that supported the lie and voted against certification based on the fraud premise is also guilty. They will never be held accountable. Even today, a compromised supreme court justice is delaying potential justice against LG because, well, he can. There is no incentive to do what is right because everyone in a position of power or wealth is above the law - and they all know it. It also makes for wealthy representatives, lawyers and judges, so why would they get in the way.
The disgraced John Edwards had a campaign slogan which was entirely accurate:
There are two Americas, one for the very rich [and their politicians] and one for everyone else.
If we see nothing else, the past five years have proven that beyond doubt! The political class is above the law and the Constitution. The political class is the best government money can buy.
GAWD I love this woman
And Liz will be our nominee! Granted I'm in CA -- but I do have family in ID. Right now, not a single Republican I know wants Trump and/or this anti-democratic behvior. We all want a reasonable party option! I honestly believe that 80% of the country wants this to stop and 60% would vote for leaders with reasonable, thoughful policy decisions (3rd party, likely) if given the chance....Enough is enough.
Love the optimism, but of all the republicans you know, how many would support DeSantis? Does he represent to them an off-ramp to anti-democratic behavior?
They mostly see DeSantis as dangerous too. Naive or not, the prevailing belief is the noise and hate will diminish (not disappear) when Trump finally disappears. It's hard work to be angry all the time.
Liz has thrown down the gauntlet -- I believe this will seal Trump's elect-ability fate and deliver another 4 years of a Dem president. So be it.
I do believe the noise and some of the lying and violence will disappear with TFG.
I do not believe the threat to democracy will be lessened by his disappearance. Mitch is much much much worse when it comes down to stealing elections and shredding the Constitution and packing the courts, and basic dishonesty and hypocrisy. Because Mitch KNOWS better and is manipulative and secretive. TFG is all out front!
I disagree. I don’t think we’ll see the noise or hate diminish when Trump disappears. Too many people have built their livelihood/grift on this foundation to let it backslide. If anything, it will continue to spread. Lies are cheap to create when a narrative is needed, grow legs easily, and expensive (or impossible/not feasible) to disprove when that happens. Facts are expensive to confirm and take work for people to truly read/internalize them. Often facts have nuance, situation-specific elements, and other time-intensive activities that require thoughtfulness and self-reflection - all more work than hating “the other side.”
She doesn't have to. Her 3rd party will deliver the dagger. There's no way Trumpists can achieve a majority in that scenario. Even if she takes only 10-15%....that segment is so anti-Trump they will be enough to deny him.
One half of Democratic election consultants "Stop talking about Trump and the Republicans and decline of democracy! Talk about your achievements and everything you've done in the past 2 years. Sell your successes! ".
The other half of the consultant universe advising the Democratic party -"Shut the hell up about all the work you've done. It’s not that voters don’t care. Voters actively turn against Democrats when they hear this."
Square this circle for me please.
Dems need to hire all the ex-Republican strategists like Steve Schmidt and Stuart Stevens. They know how to message to the voters beyond the bases. Too late now, of course. Probably in every way.
The trouble is - some people kinda liked it. And now they feel free to say it out loud.
“But look at the gas prices...” seems to be the winning argument for many low info voters in this election, according to this newsletter.😣
Political affiliation is so ingrained in people’s identity these days. The principles my parents taught me in the 90s, have made me more of a democrat than a republican, but both of my parents will vote (R) no matter what. They don’t see that the party is no longer what it was 20 years ago, that it doesn’t align to the principles espoused all those years ago. No, instead democrats and their supporters are the enemy.
I believe the civil war we’re trying to avoid has already started. Can our country revert course? Yes. Will we? Absolutely not. That would mean many folks admitting they were wrong or made poor decisions. How often does that happen anymore?
I think there may be a chance if we get to a point where 'average' Americans are being impacted by low intensity violence.
Emphasis on 'think' and 'chance', but if political violence stops people from going about their daily lives, I think we may see a big backlash against the side it is coming from. I hope so, at least.
All alarms are sounding. Even if the dems eke out a victory in the senate, an increasingly unlikely scenario, what then? Because they're together on all of these crazy things, and democrats can't even agree to support their actual nominee, it's only a matter of time until we get God-King Trump, or Ron, or Tom, or whatever. There's no way to get information to right-wing voters that they're getting ready to hand America over. Maybe these people think they'll be spared from the thought police already getting a foothold in right-wing states. I couldn't be more discouraged. I think I'm going to join the right wing so I can keep my job and my life. I've never seen a more skillful wielding of power by a minority of voters.
It wasn't done by a minority of voters; it was done by the political hacks put into office by the megawealthy donor class over the past few decades. TFG unleashed the worst of the worst, up front and in public. SCOTUS and Mitch have just taken advantage of what Mitch has been working hard on for 20 years and Newt before him. The "skillful wielding of power" has been in the US Senate and behind the closed doors of the Republican Bohemian Grove and other such gatherings annually through the years (beginning I think with the John Birchers).
They're about 40% of the population at large, though.
Charlie didn't even mention that the Cook Report down-graded Pat Maloney's seat (Chairman of the DCCC) in NY from Lean Dem to Toss Up. Momentum is on their side, folks. Get ready for it.
Your side asked for it.
I'm sorry - are we on twitter?
Why do we give Tulsi Gabbard any publicity? She is a kook who grew up in a cult in Hawaii. She was ineffective during her short time in office. She’s just another whacky grifter.
because she's cute ? a la Palin?
Palin, Boebert, Tudor. Blech
LOLOLOL