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Susan A.'s avatar

Where did anyone get the idea that politics should be fun? Maybe during that time of 'The Game'. It's not a game and it shouldn't be fun. It should be treated as the serious business of hiring someone for a very important job. Sure, lighten the mood with a few jokes, party a bit after winning. Sadly, this really indicates what Tom Nichols has said more than once - we are not a serious people. Not even when we need to be.

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Liberal Cynic's avatar

I don't know about you guys, but the Dem PA rally looked much more fun than the Rep hate rally in PA the same night.

Constantly hating on others is not fun. It's exhausting.

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Shane Gericke's avatar

Agree completely, LC. But what did media focus on in those two? The MAGA death rally. The fun Dem rally got hardly any coverage.

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Liberal Cynic's avatar

That's a media problem. Democrats can't fix that part unless some Lefty Rupert Murdoch-type wants to start a Fox equivalent on the Left.

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Shane Gericke's avatar

It is a media problem, yes, but Democrats can work around that by intelligent and ruthless use of social media to get the message across to the public. And by making our messaging a lot sharper and simpler than current.

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Ellen Thomas's avatar

How is that going to work as media platforms are one by one absorbed into the right-wing mediaverse?--Facebook for a while now, Twitter more recently, etc

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Shane Gericke's avatar

Dunno. If someone wanted to pay me millions in consulting fees to figure that out, I'd be happy to do so. Until then, not worth my time and effort to get into those kind of weeds!

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Teddy’s Mom's avatar

I read on the Bulwark that if democracy is really in danger, Democrats should talk like it is. Now they are, and they’re too serious? Democracy failing is serious, and so is climate change. Pretending otherwise is foolish. Younger voters are worried about the planet, and they’re drawn to the group that wants to help.

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Tim Miller's avatar

this point is addressed in the article

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Shane Gericke's avatar

I disagree that politics should be a humorless slog. The best politics are responsible AND fun. If you look like you enjoy the hard work of governing, people will embrace you.

Democrats need to up their excitement level without losing their good governance skills.

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Jan's avatar

We are more enthusiastic in States where we feel our lives are not in danger. I can’t imagine having armed Oath Keepers guarding the drop boxes where I live. What a creepy place Arizona seems to be.

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Shane Gericke's avatar

Nah, it's not creepy, and my life isn't in danger here. I spend most of my life in the Chicago area, and moved here four months ago for family reasons. I had to go out of my way to see an armed "poll watcher" at work in a Phoenix drop box; they and the other cosplay creeps are certainly here, but not remotely in the droves the media suggest. I'm a liberal, non-woke division, and have plenty of kindred spirits here. Plenty of creeps in Democratic Illinois, too, they just don't make the news.

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Peter T's avatar

I hear you, but...

I think Miller's point is important. And, no, it doesn't mean (as others are complaining below) that politics should be a "circus" or "reality TV show". But there's a range between a funeral and Krusty The Clown.

Right now, the Dems feel funerary. That is not a way to attract voters and generate enthusiasm. Maybe 'fun' isn't quite the right word/concept, but the Dems could use some optimism, some positive messaging, some smiles.

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Kate Fall's avatar

Some prominent politicians under the age of 80 would help too.

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Aurora's avatar

...some Obama.

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