The other problems with the Republican efforts besides Trump's Teflon nature were they had nothing positive to offer.
After 3 years of Trump, the simplest messaging is to define his brand:
Traitor to American values and people
Race- and religion-baiting
Uninformed, unreliable, and uncaring
Misogynistic and immoral
Petty and paid-off
Nothing new here. It's his schtick. His supporters don't seem to care for whatever multiple reasons. Trump is in the ether all around us, and all Americans can acknowledge this branding.
At some point, the shift will be a personal tipping point as individuals realize Trump personally affects all of us, and has betrayed America:
- Taking away your healthcare
- Bankrupting the country
- Enriching his personal swamp
- Poisoning the environment (earth and us)
- Destroying our morals and values, how you/we live
- Corrupting our children's minds
- Increasing taxes, redistributing to the mega-wealthy
- Hurting your future financial prospects
- Making America Weak around the world now, and in the future
- … the list goes on with his policies.
No need to come up with some clever "gotcha-lines" -- Trump is it.
Then make the case(s) in all those areas to improve American lives.
2
Every day, every dem should loudly claim trump is crashing the economy.
Whether true or not.
trump is crashing the economy.
Repeat it again and again.
1
This article is a bit disingenuous (until the end). The Dem nominees have a primary to win. They are preaching to their own by railing against Trump to win primary voters over to them - not Republicans or independents.
Americans have absolutely no political imagination.
They live in a mystique and Trump has become part of it, even in the negative image .
On the democrat side of the potential voters, ( by reading comments in the NYT and Yahoo ) there is no consensus in the narrative . It is all over the place : a fragmented discourse .
No political imagination . In the sense of concrete projection in the future .
Talk policy. Make people aware of what Trump’s policies are doing that matter... healthcare, gun control, immigration solutions... This time around it will be the policies that will be the stake in Trump’s political heart.
One demographic needs to change their vote. White women. They elected a known sexist and misogynist. They can remove him.
4
When asked recently why he liked Trump, a friend of mine said that he "liked Trump's policies". While I disagree with his assessment, I can understand his indifference to Mr. Trump's (multiple and major) character flaws.
I believe the average person in the US wants the top levels of leadership to get results, and he/she is not too picky about how those results are obtained. It's sad, but I think we do not tightly link moral behavior with our country's success in the world.
So, if we want to get rid of Trump, we need to convince folks that his policies have hurt us, not helped us. Call him names, if you must, but also get the word out about how he is weakening our country.
6
For the same reason that various anti-biotics have no affect on different strains of STDs. In both cases, the disease doesn’t realize it needs to be treated...
1
Dyed-in-the-wool Republicans and Democrats are sitting tight in their respective camps, but neither group has enough voters to produce a spectacular majority. The objective of continuing to pound in Trump's many faults and foibles may be along the lines of a cumulative effect that one hopes will sway the Independents and the Undecideds to get off their duffs and vote for the eventual Democrat candidate in our next election. And - one hopes - to get about 78,000 Republicans to switch parties in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.
4
Yes Trump only won by 78k votes in those three states. But we dont need Reoublicans to switch. We can get those votes from Democrats who sat on their hands last time and independents who couldn’t stand Clinton.
3
Do-nothing, Republican senate. That's why anything the Democrats say or do doesn't make a dent. Republicans may "criticize" him, but they don't do anything to stop him...
3
I was of college age in the Reagan years and just beyond that for
Giuliani. Their appeals to the worst in Americans and New Yorkers ensured I could never be a Republican.
Trump makes them both look like Robert F. Kennedy.
There is no floor.
4
There is a huge gulf between our high-minded aspirations as a people and the reality of how 40 -45% of Americans actually think. I live among this large minority of racially conservative, mostly religious, anti-science folk. Trump has galvanized them into a battle tested army of anti-intellectual, unapologetic, warriors. So long as Trump has a podium to speak from, they will respond to his leadership.
4
It isn't that many Americans are indulging in a "suspension of belief" in face of all the silly and dangerous things Trump is accused of. It is more likely that there have been too many people crying "wolf" too many times to be credible. Americans may enjoying a gang "pile on", but they don't necessarily believe it. We have been too indiscriminate and scatter shot to be believable in the long term. And an even greater problem,, there is the chance that although Trump can barely put a noun and verb together to make a sentence, many people approve of some things he does even if he can't explain them.
2
I remember a lot of contentious political races growing up. What I don't remember (maybe I just wasn't aware) was people of one party insulting those of another party for voting the way they did.
Trump thrives on insults. He is immune to them. But Democrats make the mistake of lumping Trump voters / supporters with Trump.
The kid with the MAGA hat, people getting booted out of restaurants, deplorables, the comments in another article that people will be happy to see Trump supporters hurt by a recession...
When people lump Trump supporters with Trump, when they call them racist yahoos--people ignore the insults to Trump because they've been tied to those same insults.
If we want to launch an effective campaign against Trump, we have to stop competing for the prize of "best insult." We have to stop staying horrible things about Trump supporters and then waiting for the applause and approval from people who think like us.
Because that's ego. It's approval-seeking from inside the bubble, against the "other" outside.
If we want to win, we need to forget all the emotion. Strictly facts. Is this policy of Trump's working? No--OK what will Democrats do differently.
That's how to win.
3
Action speaks louder than words. It always has and it still does. Vote Trump out and do it in spades. A small majority will not do. We need a revolution. We need no doubt whatsoever. Vote him out. Then you can go ahead and lock him and his cohorts up for all the times they acted against democracy and the constitution. Then the world might begin to settle down once more. We could breathe again and begin to look around and see what we have and what we need to do. We could have a bit of control over our lives. We could live and breathe again.
4
One is very surprised to read that descriptions of of Mr. Trump as a "white supremacist" are considered by this author to be "ad hominem attacks."
An ad hominem attack is an informal logical fallacy in which claims about a person's lack of character or fitness are advanced to dispute an argument advanced by that person.
In this case, however, the Democratic attacks are not a distraction or an irrelevancy, but go directly to the matter at hand in this US Presidential election.
Major premise: A neofascist, white supremacist who persistently lies is not fit for the office of President.
Minor premise: Donald Trump is a neofascist, white supremacist, who persistently lies.
Conclusion: Donald Trump is not fit for the office of President of the United States.
That's no fallacy, that's a perfectly solid logical argument.
7
Why don't democrats come up with ideas and policy that might result in a better outcome for Americans?
1
@Lake. They have. They have sensible proposals to protect the environment, including our national parks and monuments, more effectively than Trump does. They have sensible proposals to improve health care access, which Trump promised in 2016 but has failed to do. The Democrats have sensible ideas for reducing Russian influence in our elections And rebuilding relations with our allies. And all the Democratic presidential contenders are vastly more honest than Trump is. A number of the Democratic candidates have numerous proposals on their campaign web sites.
4
@David Nice
Most of which I see on the front page are character attacks on Trump. Not much about policy proposals from the Dems.
How about a novel idea: voters vote for ideas and ideologies, not personalities? I know it clashes with the American notion that everything is about “people” or maybe “children” or perhaps “families” . But actually politics is about narratives. Trump tells a good story: America is threatened by China, or liberals, or immigrants and I am the only one to defend our fair country. No matter whether it’s true or not but it is a powerful narrative. What is the Democratic narrative? Socialism is good? No, it’s not. Everybody who disagrees with me is a racist? Yawn. Let’s let everybody in? Not going to fly. Tell me your story of the present and the future which does not rely on virtue signaling, victimization sweepstakes, pearl-clutching or reviving ideologies that died and were buried 25 years ago. Then I will listen.
3
@Mor I don't think the Democrats were the ones voting for tv personalites in the last election, that would be your team. Ideas and policy are indeed being discussed by the candidates, yes, maybe you could tune into that activity and all the information available to people out there. You'll learn many things such as where the candidates stand on the important issues of today.
1
It's not only true that Trump has a blindly loyal following, regardless of his very real, gross deficiencies as a leader. Many follow Trump as Republicans, since being Republican at all costs is so much a part of their personal identity and culture. However, it may be more useful to describe his popularity among 43% of Americans as a perverse "cult of Trump." The cult leader is never wrong and can never be questioned.
2
People who read the NYT seem unable to understand that there is a large segment of our country who have just grown weary of the message of the Left and feel that they are forgotten, treated like dummies.
Most of them are not bad people, not at all. But they're tired of the lecture and get an odd pleasure seeing liberals cringe when they say they support Trump.
4
@xcubbies9 It's true. It's like watching the rich guy in an expensive suit get a pie thrown in his face.
@xcubbies9. A good many of us are tired of the messages of the right. We don't see the logic of capitalism for poor people and socialism for the rich. We are not convinced when Trump claims to know more than all of us combined but then makes nonsensical decisions, some of which are reversed a few days later. We don't enjoy seeing conservatives cringe, but we are concerned that a president and his new attorney general think that the presidency is above the law.
4
Aw, c'mon. It's easy to understand.
We Democrats are more likely to tear apart each other. What other party when asked to draw up a firing squad immediately forms a circle?
What makes Trump invulnerable to attacks on his character is that he has no shame. He is so completely narcissistic that, even as he is being photographed with a baby orphaned by a white supremacist mass murderer who quoted his own Hispanic invasion tropes, Trump poses with a big grin and thumbs up. What normal human being does that? If attacked for making racist comments, Trump responds as a spoiled child would ("I'm rubber and you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.") He claims that he (and by extension his followers) is the real victim because he is being unjustly called a racist. Only if Trump's followers finally discover that his policies and behaviour hurt them personally will they ever abandon him. My guess is that it will never happen.
1
A really awful economic recession will get rid of Trump, and I will be willing to bear my loss in the stock market to rid our country of a TV game show creep pretending to know what he is doing.
2
You have to look at the people making the comments, it comes from extreme hatred and no comments coming from hatred will have any impact.
1
@C. Van Houten. Many of Trump's comments are rooted in hatred, but they seem to have impact.
1
Need a nickname for Trump? How about "lying Donald"?
1
Nothing the Dems do sticks because they don't know the first thing about fighting. What is the most consistent thing Dems say about Republicans? "Shame! Shame on the Republicans!" ????
Are we still playing by some Queen of whatever rules? This is a country that has t.v. shows about young couples stuck on an island together hoping to find love and we talk about shame? I watched the stupid show. We are long, long past the point of shouting "shame" at the other side hoping to leave a mark.
The latest name calling from both sides had Nancy Pelosi shouting "Kushnerville!" like it was going to make any difference. As a liberal, I have to ask why Elijah Cummings and Nancy Pelosi weren't so loud about Jared's property violations when he was repeatedly interviewed for his security clearance. It didn't seem to be an issue until there was a political advantage.
And as for advantage? Hey, Nancy, a simple google search reveals that Trump Tower itself has all kinds of violations for vermin and health code issues. I would have hammered on that from day one pointing out the Trump Tower has no water sprinkler system and who in their right mind would want to own or rent property in such a place.
And then as Speaker of the House, you should find any excuse in hell to move the Secret Service office from its current location at Trump Tower to a neighboring building siting employee safety issues.
1
Trump has a huge collection of appeasers at his beck and call. They are simply, the GOP. Therefore, he isn’t worried. Secondly, Trump has disdain for the Democratic candidates in general. He does not take their attacks seriously as he expects re-election in 2020.
2
I think most Americans have grown weary of the left, democrats and msm attacking the President at every opportunity. During the campaigns in 2016 it was tolerable, American politics is a cesspool, but after the election it should have stopped. I did not vote for President Trump but I fully support him now and will in 2020.
During Obamas term I thought it was shameful how conservatives and Fox attacked him. At that time I was a reader of the Times and the Staten Island Advance and thought their political coverage was even handed. Now although I still subscribe to the Times I rely on Fox, the Washington Times and Breitbart for news that I think is fair to the President.
The coverage of the President by the Times and other msm has made me doubt anything that is written by them.
So any attacks against the President, I think, are falling on deaf ears or as in my case making people support him.
8
@John Gildsy
Reporting in the NYT shows that you are not alone. But I don't get it. What you hear as attacking the President I read as reporting on his actions and words, and that those actions are what condemn him. Is it attacking him to report his administration's reductions of federally protected land to open up for drilling? Is it attacking him to report that the deficit is at record levels because of a tax cut that benefited only a tiny percentage of Americans? Is it attacking him to point out with fact checking that he constantly lies? Is it attacking him broadcast his declarations that he believes Putin over the US Intelligence Services? To not report those things would be irresponsible.
I'm sorry you see them as attacks rather than reporting.
1
Here's the answer.
You have to bring Trump's behavior into the everyday experience of Americans.
So, you don't condemn him.
You compare him.
Compare him and his actions to people whom all of know in our daily lives.
Ask:
What if your kids or spouse lied constantly about their accomplishments? Lied to pump themselves up? Would it bother you?
- Would you trust your dentist if you knew he cheated on his wife just months after she birthed their son? Would you drop him?
Would that disgust you?
- If your auto mechanic had set up a phony, fraudulent Mechanic "University" to rip off unsuspecting people would you trust him with your car? Would you tell everyone you know to avoid him?
Trump did both of these things - and a lot more shady things.
Make it personal.
Ask people to imagine familiar people in their lives acting like Donald Trump.
It helps make it real.
If I were running for president against Trump I'd mention Trump University and his wife cheating ways every time I spoke.
Why hold back on such a low scoundrel.
Hit him over and over where it hurts.
Get personal.
And ask people "would you do that?"
It makes it more real.
11
@Paul King
Yes do this but avoid any discussion about policy and ideas that might result in a better outcome for Americans. That'll surely work.
4
People have grown tired of the daily barrage of what a scoundrel Trump is. It is like the boy who cried wolf nobody hears it anymore. Most of every news cycle Trump dominates and most people are just saturated with the Perils of Trump. The roads are and our bridges are falling down but daily we wait to hear what Trump is tweeting. Trump would go bananas if for a few days we ignored him. Let us give it a try!
8
Trump's critics fail because they mostly just name call
8
Three years ago, Trump famously declared “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldn't lose any voters, okay?”
Shockingly, sadly, he was right.
His complete amorality makes him almost invincible, an illusion of strength that grips not just his base, but most republicans, and a fair few democrats to boot.
However, his epic narcissism should give hope to any political assailant who truly wishes to unseat him. Any situation that results in his humiliation makes him look weak, and that’s when he betrays his real fear: that people will finally see him for what he is.
To be blunt: laugh at him, belittle him, humiliate him, and watch him fall. Anything else is clearly a waste of time.
9
Why more handwringing about what Republicans think? If they still support Trump, they are unreachable. If they are friends or relatives, I suggest you limit your exposure to them as much as possible since they do little but spout off conspiracy theories and repeat lies and racist rants. Focus on supporting Democratic candidates and getting out the vote. I wish we could hear less about trump from everyone, especially Dem. candidates and the media. He thrives on negative feedback. Cut off the loop.
5
Even the hard line ride-or-die trumpers know he is a miserable excuse for a human being. That's not the argument. Showing his lies to them and how he has failed them on every front is the argument. It's a performance and policy argument.
1
There is a strain of American—many of them—that believes its ignorance superior to knowledge because anything that smacks of persuasion or is seen as coercive immediately gets this American annoyed. I mean, the American didn't take over this continent to be told what to do. If anything, to tell others what to do so the American can be "free".
3
@Slipping Glimpser Yes. Very good analysis.
Keep it simple. Make it memorable. Stinging if at all possible. Repeat it over and over. I’m thinking « the presidential apprentice. »
4
They should be attacking all republicans, not just the current republican leader. The republican enablers and collaborators are worse than Trump.
4
It doesn't matter what is said to or about Donald Trump. This is not a man who spends much time listening, even to his supporters - all he wants from them is applause. It is therefore useless to attempt to engage him in a debate or get him to defend his actions or their results. The only things that come out of his mouth are lies, insults, taunts, and boasts.
The real bottom line is pretty obvious: if you can see what another four years of this buffoon is going to mean to our country, your duty is clear - you need to get off your duff and make sure that everyone you know gets to the polls. A huge turnout makes the thin margins in flyover country disappear.
6
These characterizations of his Trumposity are not intended to speak to Republicans— the only people the Times seems to find worth talking to these days. They can energize Democrats and independents for the battle.
2
Attacking is just playing his game.
We need someone with a positive vision, who can ispire people to find the best in themselves.
I despair that Dems d nt understand this
5
Maybe everyone is hearing what they want to hear, but numbers speak loudly. The stock market during the Obama administration beats the stock market during Trump years at every marker, by multiples. I have checked the highest price of soybeans over 45 years and that was back in 2012, and yes Obama was President, and the highest price of beef cattle, back in 2014, when we were ranching.
The deficit is another number that was “oh so high!” during the Obama years, but with Trump in office, it is the highest on record at over $22 trillion. Interesting that the Republicans aren’t so alarmed about the deficit these days.
6
As the author acknowledges there is not much more left to throw at Mr Trump. But for the Democratic contenders the game is just beginning. Prospective Democratic candidates have not faced the intense personal attacks that Mr Trump sees on a daily basis. It will be interesting to see how they handle it.
4
The difference is that in 2020 Trump can be attacked on his record versus his promises. Democrats are going to win in 2020 by making simple promises to deliver what Trump has failed to do:
- protect American elections from foreign interference
- reduce gun violence
- provide health care for all Americans
- reform prescription drug pricing
- end the opioid epidemic
- implement immigration reform
- rejoin the Paris Accord
The list goes on. The simple math is that the policies that Democrats are pursuing are favored by a majority of Americans. Democrats don't need to attack Trump. The majority of Americans already know that he does not belong in the White House.
The difference in 2020 is that Democrats will be attacking Trump with evidence instead of accusations.
8
@rusty carr You know very well that the USA are very conservative.Half the measures you point here not pursued by half of Americans.
And even with several million more votes to the democrats ,the electoral college is still unfavorable.
1
When it comes from Congressional Hearings with sworn testimony rather than criticism from a politician, people are much more likely to listen. There are so many criminal and impeachable acts that the Fox news crowd just doesn't believe yet and won't ever hear from a Dem political speech. But I think many will when it comes from Impeachment Hearings.
Either way, the Dems should continue to prioritize turnout and defending the right to vote. They need more votes, not necessarily converted votes.
5
Democrats need to stand for something, not just against Trump. Sure, when a Trump question comes up they have to tell you what they think of him. But the main focus must be on how their programs and policies better serve the American people, and how Trump has served the rich and failed to deliver for the rest.
7
Politicians and others opposed to Trump can render him irrelevant. For example, in debates, or in response to his newest outrage, the comments should be something like, "Well, since Trump lied about (topic) again, I don't think we really need to talk about that. Instead, here's what we should be thinking about. . . . ."
3
If the Democrats hope to win in 2020, they had better not take the strategy of criticism of Trump. The article is correct, it makes no dent because the criticism is correct and everyone knows it--basically it is repeating what is obvious to the voters. It will not sway anyone at this point.
What the Democrats would be wise to do is listen to Marianne Williamson. The Democrats must appeal to the moral character and center of their policies. People have some sort of internal moral guide. They must appeal to this if they hope to sway votes. Let's face the ugly truth that the Trump cultists are totally committed to Trump, they are incapable of change. They find moral comfort in Trump's behavior.
6
I see the teflon characteristics of Trump differently than Ms. Karni. When one looks at Trump's supporters one sees them exhibit the following characteristics: overly aggressive behavior towards critics, unquestioning loyalty to their leader's beliefs, an us vs. them mentality towards "outsiders", attacking people who leave their group, and a willingness to overlook their leader's moral transgressions or illegal activities. These are the same characteristics one sees in a cult. Of course Trump's followers haven't been swayed. The only thing that will change their minds is a mass deprogramming effort or something catastrophic happening to them as a result of their blind allegiance.
8
The Times writes: "While the attacks may help Democrats distinguish themselves from one another, they appear to have no effect on Mr. Trump’s poll numbers.."
According to Five Thirty Eight Blog, Trump's current job approval rating stands just above 41%. And just last fall, voters handed Democrats a historic landslide victory in Congress, and a huge majority, while Democrats picked up scores of seats at the state level.
Yes, some two in five Americans will support this man despite, or perhaps especially because, of his bigotry and racism.
But America is a better country than that. Trump will suffer a historic loss at the polls next year, assuming he hasn't already been impeached.
7
Well, Trump's hardcore political base has forgiven him for every moral or legal transgression right along. What makes you think they are going to change now? But the silent majority is watching, and will show their hand in 2020. VOTE DEMOCRAT!!
5
There are two attacks that matter: 1) the threat he poses to minorities, to get out that vote; 2) the unfulfilled promises that were merely a con, to convert that vote. There are so many ways to criticize, they become ineffective: we need to choose strategically.
6
The one criticism of Trump that has not yet been tried is silence. Why not let the man's outrages speak for themselves? Every loud voice that screams to the heavens against him, on a daily basis, serves his core modus operandi -- attention. Deleting him from headlines and chyrons would have devastating effect on his phenomenon. It would remove the fuel from his fire.
5
Democrats stand for open borders and amnesty for illegal immigrants. Although I like Democratic proposals on reforming the health care system and reining in reckless and criminal banks, I will vote for Trump and live with all the rest. The sight of 100,000s of unauthorized migrants pouring into the U.S. over, thru and under fences, dragging defenseless kids with them like passports, and breaking our laws is just too much.
4
@Henry Democrats have to do something to counter this image. And every call to abolish ICE or decriminalize crossing the border illegally makes it harder.
2
@Henry
Democrats believe in humane treatment of immigrants, not open borders. Do you remember that deportations under Obama were at record levels? I think his theory was that we enforce our border fairly, then have comprehensive immigration reform. Not blanket amnesty but a path for DACA and parents of DACA. Not amnesty for new people crossing illegally. The Democratic Party is still largely there. Screaming now about cruelty at the border is not standing for open borders, it is standing for humanity.
1
Now is the time for Democratic candidates to sell us on their proposals for fixing America after Trump is defeated. We already know Trump is a monster, and there will be plenty of time to attack his character, along with his performance in office, once the campaign heats up next year. Dems will win if they get a good turnout, which means they must get voters off the sidelines, since it was the non voters who put Trump in office. So the winning candidate will be the one who inspires voters with their vision, their character, and who can punch back hard when Trump comes attacking.
2
Democrats attacking? You're joking, right? I keep wondering when we'll hear something, ANYTHING from Pelosi or Schumer but alas, ultimately they share benefactors with the republicans. I would wager they prefer a trump re-election to a more progressive candidate.
4
@caljn Good analysis. There is a lame conservative stagnant entropy in the democratic party. Which is the reason TRump is president to begin with.
They are the responsible for today's marasme in French , or slump in English.
Is there anyone in America of voting age who has not formed an opinion of Donald Trump that will go with them into the voting booth? The only thing Trump has going for his reelection--outside of evangelicals who would cheer money changers in the Temple if they appointed the right judges to the federal courts--and racists is the economy. Should it crater, after Trump boasting that all the good things are because of him, how will he walk away from the bad things?
1
Democratic success in 2018 was due primarily to campaigning on economic issues, such as health care, rather than attacking Trump. It stands to reason that presidential nominee Warren should follow the same approach next year.
9
trump is not a republican. most republicans realized that they weren't either when they saw that their party did not represent them. how long will it take before democrats realize that their party hasn't represented them for years.?
3
Trump's supporters, including Republicans in Congress, have no intention of abandoning him. Democrats need to focus on the impact of Trump's executive orders and the Republicans' refusal to actually do their job. Rather, they are allowing the country to be led by 1 unethical man - perhaps 2 unethical men, if we count McConnell.
Most voters are concerned about the money in their pockets and their health. So - what will happen when middle class tax breaks end in 2 years? How much money has the U.S. Treasury lost because of corporate tax breaks? What programs do Republicans want to end to make up for the trillion dollar debt they've created? What national forests does Trump want to sell? How many jobs have gone overseas? How many have come back? How much money will the Koch Brothers save because of regulation roll-backs and corporate tax breaks? How does that compare to what most Americans are able to save? And by the way, what business deals have Trump's children been pursuing? Etc, Etc.
And, Democrats should stop saying "Medicare for All." Medicare as we know it does not offer decent coverage unless someone buys a supplemental plan or qualifies for Medicaid as a supplement. Medicare co-pays, hospitalizations, and drug costs, are unmanageable to many people.
11
Even if criticism doesn't seem to make a dent, it is crucial to continue it, for two reasons.
First, obviously, because truth is important.
Second, it prevents slippage of the people who have decided to vote against Trump. Obviously, Trump's 35-40% base isn't going to be moved. But it's crucial that the 10% who don't like Trump but don't have strong feelings about the matter keep being reminded why he is so reprehensible.
15
The further to the Left think shouting louder will win. The media is letting Trump control the daily narrative... AGAIN. Who do Democrats think they are trying to convince? Will saying Trump is terrible change their behavior?
The only way to beat Trump is to have a clear, concise message and a plan for how to achieve it. That means how to realistically get legislation passed - legislation that impacts the great majority of us.
The only candidate I am supporting to do this is Buttigieg because I listen carefully to what the candidates are saying. You can be aspirational and reach for things we know are right, but you have to lead all people and actually solve problems. You are fighting for 5-10% - closer to 5%.
4
Thanks, David - perfectly put, though the so-called progressives, far left and MSNBC (and similar outlets) can't grasp how they are supporting Trump's re-election by focusing on Trump. and not on a message of national, universal prosperity and opportunity, accompanied by real solutions to the challenges of working and middle class people.
Identity politics only compounds the folly of their strategy. Mayor Pete seems the only candidate with a clear understanding of this approach, though his lack of a national base regrettably may limit his campaign gaining national traction. Too bad Tim Kane won't/can't run. He would have been the right man at the right time, but his association with Hillary Clinton has sadly rendered the point moot.
3
"There's no business like show business, like no business I know."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Irving Berlin, from "Annie Get Your Gun", 1946)
(I think Trump is like Harold Lloyd, in "Safety Last" (1923)
His insane daring dominates the daily media cycle.)
Surely, Trump's show business can be trumped.
But Democrats and critics continue to avoid show business.
I suggest, for starters, the use of the "Democracy" song.
Leonard Cohen sang, "Democracy is coming to the USA" (1992)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, Democrats need to find ways to match Trump's show biz.
If they continue to bore the public with policy, Trump trumps.
"There's no business like show business, Like no business I know"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7
Trump's every move is intended to raise indignation among the left. This is his formula for creating a rift among Democrats, where I believe a reticent sympathy with the distorted Republican narrative about "identity politics" silently resides. I don't give him credit for having designed this strategy, but as a natural blowhard, he was bound to have stumbled upon it. His greatest wish is always that his latest tweet earns harsh rebukes-- seen as pro forma by the cynical right-- from the Democratic presidential candidates.
Trump knows, especially, that race-baiting will be tolerated among Republicans, because they want nothing more than to stick it to the righteous liberals. Racism among most Republicans takes exactly such a passive form: while they are ambivalent about resolving the real problems of race in America, what really churns their viscera is the perceived ownership of culture by condescending urban elites. They will live with a bit of racism (after all, they experience it only remotely, if at all) if it means getting at the liberals.
The Democratic field must realize that their automatic responses to the Fool's most foolish tweets will not win them an election, by this formula. They must admit that, even in their own ranks, there are a marginal number that are turned off by indignation, even though it is legitimate. And margins may matter in the next election.
The winning response is to keep calm and carry on.
11
@MarkW. Right. Let's make him irrelevant by pointing out that his latest inflammatory statement is just more lies, so we're moving on to discuss facts and reality. Don't even engage with his circus.
1
@MarkWOk with the first half of your analysis, not with the conclusion. It is by clearly stating the difference that a minority of non voters or an undecided margin that the election can be won.
Politics are not marketing , even if it is the American ideology.
@MarkW This is a brilliant analysis.
In order to "prosecute the case" against Donald Trump, it does little or nothing to hurl invective in his direction. First off, he is a pin cushion. He has no shame or guilt, so there is nothing you can say to admonish him.
But there is a "more effective" way to go after him. You have to show dereliction of duty and massive fecklessness along with his face showing a creepy expression during attack ads. That might work.
4
There are many, many reasons for the polarization and deep divide that grips this country: fear of diversity in the post-Obama age, demonizing journalists as enemies, glorifying opinion and not recognizing the difference between PR spin and facts, and a political system increasingly driven by wealth to the point where corporations are given huge financial and lobbying influence over lawmakers. It should shock every American when Mr. Trump talks of elections that are rigged in favor of his opponents, when he is incapable of simple honesty instead of grandiose exaggerations and lies, when he cozies up to dictators and authoritarian leaders who rule almost exclusively by dividing their people until it becomes too risky to challenge wrong and dangerous behavior. Most of our Republican leaders in Congress and the Senate are clear examples of this. They've made a joke of themselves, probably none more pathetic than Senators Cruz and Graham. To the question of why Democrats can't penetrate this armor is partly due to the way Americans consume news and information. Most Americans don't read the New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald or Wall Street Journal where there is a strong investment even in these unpredictable times to journalism. The major networks news hours are almost ignored now unless they bring in cooking tips, fashion shows, and celebrity gossip. Cable opinion and propaganda types are the top of the food chain -- infotainment over news.
2
The party's over like the song the blog on Immigration on a Liberal paper like this indicates he's made the sale (although he's still tweeting) and the electorate has bought con from the con-man not to let anymore of them in. Since this has always been a country of immigrants; even the founders, it appears that Trump is not opposed to certain immigrants (Nordic) and only eschews those of color and from certain locales. He's reelected.
1
I assume that criticisms and accusations will begin to stick once Democrats have chosen their nominee. There is too much noise now with 25 people gunning for the nomination. Trump may be Teflon Man with some of the electorate but not with everyone.
4
The Democratic party in this country still has no clue. They are convinced that constantly telling the voters that Trump is awful is their best strategy for victory. They also want to turn the clock back to Nov. 7, 2016, and pretend that Trump never happened. Hence Biden for President. What they don't understand is that many of the 62 million people who thought it was a good idea to vote for a buffoon like Trump did so because of the Democrats' decades-long abandonment of middle and working class Americans. Any Democrat who sincerely try to reach out to those forsaken voters (like Warren or Sanders) are shut down by the party leaders. Based on all I've seen so far, Trump is a shoo-in for 2020.
5
That’s fascinating. Tell me, who got legislation passed that gave health care access to 20 million Americans, now covering 100 million individuals? That’s right, Democrats. Obama. Biden.
1
@James M. McGrath Forsaking the middle and working class Americans is only a piece of it. Other key pieces:
-Political Correctness that has reached the point of complete absurdity ("safe spaces", "triggered", and "pronoun police", anyone?).
-Incoherent (or non-existent) Immigration policies that sound more and more like "open borders" every day
-Accusing anyone who disagrees with you of being a "racist"
-Identity politics that divide us into tribes and have practically negated the concept of Citizenship and a common American identity
These all pieces of a toxic cultural pie that have helped create the Trump reign of terror. Yet the Dems keep blindly pushing these concepts. Which practically guarantees 4 more years of Trump.
Whenever I make these types of remarks, the comments are inevitably along the lines of, "You are just a Republican in disguise."
No, I am a Democrat who feels increasingly alienated from my party and the current culture. And there is no place to go.
2
The challenge is you have legit candidates with real-world solutions to problems (and yes, no policy is perfect) but you don't have anyone that's witty and clever in banter. Buttigieg comes close but you need someone who can give a comeback in real time and have it zing. Someone who responds to idiotic media questions with a well-timed barb time and time again. Not just once.
If the Presidential debates come up next year and we don't have a candidate that can (have sound policy, good judgment, excellent delivery and) put Trump in his place with quick truth and wit, then you won't win over those voters who voted for both Obama and Trump.
1
If Democratic insults don’t dent Trump, it’s only because Dems are too decent to go that low. What you have to understand about Trump and his base is they’re susceptible to their own taunts because they’re insecure. It’s a street fight and they don’t play by the rules. If you think you’ll win on issues or by appealing to reason, you’re wasting your time. If you’re cutting, if you go after their intelligence, and if you question their manhood with any kind of skill, you’ll own them. But then what decent person wants to stoop to their level? Dems are in the unfortunate position of being the parent smiling dumbly as the tantruming child tears apart the living room.
5
Continued personal attacks on Trump are a complete waste of time. Democrats need to focus on his policies and how theirs are different and better. And they need to do this quickly.
12
Republicans are quite happy to stand with a racist lying fraud as long as they get tax cuts for the rich and anti abortion laws . Republicans will tolerate a man elected with the help of a foreign adversary and will support his re-election if he had folks murdered there is nothing Trump could do to turn off the morally bankrupt republicans fawning over Trump.
3
he's tapped into a base of people who don't care how awful he is. That's real revelation here--how many nasty minded bigots make up the electorate. Nativism has always had a strong hold in American politic. He's added misogyny and vulgarity and naked dishonesty, but Trump voters don't care. As he said, he could shoot someone on 5th avenue and the wouldn't care.
7
The #1 problem with most Democrats and liberals is that they do not know to speak "fluent flyover country".
The problems and realities on the coasts are different than those in the middle of the country. Furthermore, liberals, while not wrong, think more in abstract terms which divorces them from the tangible immediacy of the real issues facing people on the front lines of life. Those people have a deeper understanding of human nature and how that plays into life that abstraction has a tendency to ignore.
Trump understands human nature - he's used it his whole life to his advantage. And this is why he gets elected because, like it or not, the Electoral College mathematics makes it that the people in flyover country have enough Electoral votes to defeat the popular vote as illustrated in recent Presidential elections.
For the Democrats to succeed, they need to learn to do the following:
1. Explain in human terms why GOP policies are wrong.
2. Explain in human terms why Democratic polices are better.
Ideologies and abstractions are fine, but they don't get votes. For the vast majority of people, they think "Candidates who 'get me' and tell me they are looking out for me and my people by identifying what they are going to do is what gets my vote."
Reagan understood it in the 1980 Election:
"Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.
And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."
5
Hard to believe he's a GOP President. An out of control over 22 Trillion National debt, Free trade? No thanks, trade wars galore. Leader of the free world? Not even leader of his own people, has divided us on a daily basis. Pro business? Go ask American importers who have to pay extra because of trade tariffs, or American Farmers that rely on federal handouts to survive, because of trade tariffs. American values? No, none....
7
The first thing to understand about Donald Trump is that he thrives on chaos, controversy, division -- and excessive litigation.
This is a person who courts discord and tempts opposition so that he can play by turns bully or victim.
But then, what else would one expect from someone who had the nefarious McCarthy-era lawyer Roy Cohn as his mentor?
With wealth and privilege to shield him and a tendency to surround himself with hand-picked followers and acolytes, Trump can't stand anyone who disagrees with him, and on more than one occasion he has exhibited just how little empathy he feels for anyone other than himself.
Psychologists call it Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
I call it dangerous.
3
Nothing but nothing will change a Trump supporters view of him. Each and every one of them (excluding the wealthy) has their own personal ego tied to him. Not unlike how loyal sports fans stick with their teams no matter what, Trump supporters believe he represents them and their values. No matter the criticism of Trump, it's as easy for his supporters to deflect as it is for him. Breaking a false belief is extremely difficult, but breaking a delusion like " being great" is nearly impossible. When a large group of people who persistently vote against their own economic self interest and fail to recognize it, or just don't care, there is no use trying to reach them. Better to mobilize everyone else who is capable of understanding the urgency. The Dems aren't especially effective at doing that, but they are all we have.
18
@KB Exactly right.
it's been obvious for as long time that Democrats would not beat Trump by simply pointing out how awful he is. Everybody already knows that. The trick is to provide an attractive alternative, based on decency and realistic approaches to fixing what ails America. You can't just be against Trump. You have to be FOR something.
25
Attacking Trump is exactly what he wants. It is how he's operated all his life, and what he is most comfortable with.
That is one reason I recommend all Democrat candidates stick to the issues: why his are failing and why theirs will be more likely to succeed.
17
@abj slant I agree. Best to just say, "well, he lied again about that, so let's talk about this other important thing instead."
1
Unfortunately criticizing Donald Trump is just flogging a dead horse. It is clear that most of his supporters are tuning out such attacks.
I will never vote for him, but I also have become bored with the criticism. Not because the critics are wrong, but I already know what a scoundrel he is. I am not sure what else there is to know. I'm already convinced. At this stage more is less.
However, I think the writer is making a distinction without a difference. Donald Trump has no character other than his "schtick". It is what makes him so effective with his supporters. They mistake it for transparency but he is just playing whoever will listen to him.
3
Perhaps not attack, but point out that the behavior Trump has made now acceptable? Bankruptcy? Adultery? Racism? Sexism? Pay-offs? Foreign influence? Insults? Xenophobia? Elect me and I'll do your bidding attitude? Paranoia? Conspiratorial Dark Deep States? The danger in this is that it seems this is what America wants, after years of the GOP telling us this is not. I still see deplorable bumper stickers. As in they are a deplorable, and want a leader who is deplorable also.
2
100% of Trump's support now comes from his cult. They would no sooner vote for a Democrat than they would for Eugene V. Debs.
But Democrats do need to keep attacking Trump, maybe with luck it will cause the epic meltdown that causes the GOP to throw him under the bus to save themselves.
7
What?
Biden's beating Trump by 8.5 points; Sanders is beating Trump by 5.2 points; and Warren is beating Trump by 2.4 points -- according to Real Clear Politics national polling averages.
Seems like whatever the Democrats are doing -- it's working.
6
@Barbara T
don't forget the polls in 2016 !
I was fooled...
2
@thostageo
This article uses Trump's own internal polling as a basis for its conclusions, so it's only fair to point out the polling that doesn't support this article's conclusions.
@thostageo. The real problem in 2016 is how many people didn’t vote or protest voted, thinking Clinton as a shoe-in. We need to work to make sure people remember that, and this time vote and vote as if theirs was the deciding vote.
There are only two types of voters in the electorate. Those that are intellectually honest and those that are not. The former group will not vote for Trump. The latter group? Well...
The election will come down to how the no-so intellectually honest can manage to come to their senses.
Encouraging, huh?
7
At this point, everyone either agrees with Trump attacks or has learned to ignore them. The content of a new attack is not evaluated; it is simultaneously acknowledged and ignored.
Yes, the 2020 election will be a referendum on Trump. But for a candidate trying to stand out, attempting to be more negative than the rest is a path to obscurity. Further, I don't think Democrats understand how much they are reminiscent of Trump when they attack him; Trump is the king of personal attacks on political opponents. No, to stand out a candidate should leave the negative attacks to literally everyone else, and focus on positive solutions and positive thoughts about America. Too many of the Democrats are echoing Trump's image of "carnage" in America. Personal attacks and negative visions of America will not beat Trump
18
@Tom Meadowcroft
You know what angers me so much? All of the people who have just ACCEPTED the fact that Donald Trump was implicated in numerous felonies including fraud and campaign finance violations by his attorney...
Excuse me... but, WHAT?!?!?
On every of the most powerful executives in the world was implicated in FELONIES, for which the conspirator went to prison, and the American populace just decided to deal with that?
It’s cowardice!
It boggles. My. Mind. And this is EXACTLY why the Democrats need to emphatically pull out every single stop and INCREASE attacks on Trump. Not decrease. They need impeachment proceedings, not tomorrow, TODAY! They need to drill it into every single American’s prefrontal cortex that no, these attacks are NOT just the same old partisan bickering.
No, whether or not someone has to follow the law does NOT depend on how much money they have.
No whether or not someone has to follow the law does NOT depend on what party they belong to.
It is that simple. If we are a nation of laws, Trump must be impeached. If we are just another banana republic forced to endure the boot heels of a dictator, then let Trump slide into a 2020 victory. It really is that simple.
Democrats haven’t been too aggressive. They’ve been to cowardly to challenge him.
1
My own description of choice for #45, accurate in both a literal and figurative sense as the beneficiary of Republican/Russian electoral skulduggery and being the most unpresidential leader by far in our history, is to brand Trump as the "Fake President ". May there forever be a shaming asterisk after his name, wherever it may appear.
12
None of it matters... they're going to outright change numbers in machines, everyone is going to know about it, and they're just going to call it a witch hunt and move on like we're not even here...
10
@J
I don't disagree; the question is how much they can change numbers. What does the actual Democratic margin need to be - 3%? 5%? 8%? At a certain point, the reported results will be so different from the polling outside the voting sites that the actual fraud will be indisputable to everyone. And then we will have civil war between those that think that matters and those who just want dictator Trump.
2
Just before the 2016 election, when banks had long since quit lending to Trump Inc, Trump Jr was bragging about not needing banks because of all the money coming in from Russia. Selling high end real estate for cash to Russian 'oligarchs' is a massive conflict of interest that should bring the motivation for every action and policy by this self-dealing white house into question. You don't need the flawed and compromised Mueller report to see that the Trump organization has been kept afloat by Russian money for years. That clearly explains his deference to Moscow and Putin. One thing everyone knows about Trump is that money will buy his loyalty. Ad Saudi Arabia, Israel and every other country where he has sought to make 'deals' for himself and his family to the list. Everything he says and does is intended to advance his own person interests, either political or financial. This is corruption worthy of a 3rd world tin pot dictatorship, yet no one talks about it.
11
Re-read a NYT op-ed article from an Italian published right after the election: Italy's experience with Berlusconi proved the *only* successful election strategy is to focus on issues, not on the personality.
18
Maybe the reason denigration didn't work with Republicans was because the Republican base embraces, racism, xenophobia and cruelty. The attacks could only appear halfhearted when it's clear the entire party is missing a heart. Anyway, the reason the Democrats should continually remind voters of Trump's unfitness for office is twofold. One, you never know when those 40% who don't vote and don't pay attention might wake up and two, we need a clear defining line between the two parties. I never want to hear again, in my lifetime, the phrase "There's no difference between the two parties."
10
As far as I'm concerned, Congressional Democrats have been way too easy on Trump since his inauguration. This man has completely disgraced the Presidency with his comments and actions, and he remains unscathed with an approval rating around 40%. And I largely blame the Democrats. The Republican Party stands behind him because he has helped them get what they want... primarily two seats on the Supreme Court, while they hope for a third. The Democratic candidates for President may now be somewhat bolder in their criticism of Trump, but what's the excuse for the remainder of the Party? Trump should be shamed and humiliated publicly at every opportunity (and there are plenty of them). When you remain silent and complacent, the bully wins.
6
Attacking Trump for his sleazy character has lost its sting, as the writer points out. Everyone knows that he's a greaseball, white working-class Republicans included, and they don't care. But for some reason, Democratic candidates continue to pour energy and resources into these pointless attacks.
Trump's outrageous character is a distraction from less flashy political issues that really do have the potential to sway his base. And he has used his power to distract very shrewdly. A smart opponent would ignore his character and focus on accessibility of education, healthcare, and jobs - kitchen table issues that really matter to his base (and to the rest of us!). The real question is why the Democratic candidates allow themselves to be so easily distracted by his character. If you really want to attack Trump personally, ignore him and get on with the real issues!
3
Trump is right about illegal immigration being a problem and also about the US being on the losing end of various trade agreements. That is why he makes it central to his campaign. Democrats need to come to terms with this. They need to push e-verify strongly, propose reducing H1B visas, and acknowledge the issue without racial overtones. This isn't about a lack of compassion, it is about fairness. They need to take this issue away from Trump and make it clear that although he is right, he is incompetent and unable to control immigration with his cruel and arbitrary policies and that democrats will be able to do better. He is not wrong on everything but he is truly corrupt and therefore incompetent. This is his weakness.
3
@Cary Mom Agree 100%. Immigration is where the Dems are blowing it. Bigly. We can all agree that Trump's tactics have been inhumane. But enough about, 'We don't want to see kids in cages -- it's so cruel." Yes, we've got that. What I want to know is exactly HOW the Immigration system is broken, and HOW you propose fixing it (beyond DACA). So far, I have not heard any cogent arguments about this. Just a lot of, "Immigration is good for the country, it's what this country was built on." Sure, but that is not the point (although I suspect it is quickly becoming the point).
This morning, a Hispanic commentator on MSNBC was up in arms about Obama's deportations. It was all about re-litigating Obama's horrible deportation policy. She may not believe in open borders, but it sure sounded that way to me (and plenty of others).
When are the Dems going to wake up about this issue? Joe Biden has made some reasonable remarks, but of course, he's part of the Obama "deportation scandal", so he must be punished for that. I guess we now don't deport anyone, ever?
I am growing increasingly despondent. Because America is now so deeply divided on this issue, there can barely be any reasonable (and potentially polarizing) discussion. But without it, we are handing the next election to Trump on a silver (or gold) platter.
2
Please, Democratic candidates, once again, ignore the ogre. Concentrate on what matters to the voters you’re seeking to sway. Think wallet. Think purse. Don’t think about anything else. A Democrat, and democracy, must win on Nov. 3, 2020.
18
Of course it no longer matters. There's nothing about Trump which isn't already known and hasn't been known for years.
The problem is that much of the American public doesn't care, and it can't be said that the Bidens, Clintons, Pelosis, Schumers and Emanuels of the party haven't given them good reason to be disgusted.
5
It must be great to belong to the tribe that embraces a man who promised you a tax cut, not a dime of which you'll ever see; a man who tried repeatedly to take away your health care with no plans for replacement; a man who promised your coal and manufacturing jobs would be coming back, and lied; a man who declared a tariff war and now has plunged thousands of farmers into bankruptcy; a man who makes a travesty out of every one of your sacred "values", and secretly despises you for enabling him. Where do I sign up!
8
My problem with the premise that because "Republican Party Members" used the same rhetoric to describe Trump misses the point. The reason these attacks and "name calling" do not resonate with the American Public is because it is now non-stop by Democrats, especially those running for President. The constant drumbeat of "He is racist," and anyone who supports him must be "racist" too. After that it gets worse: anyone who supports Donald Trump is not only racist but must be a "White Supremacist." Where does this come from? Do the people who are lobbing these attacks even understand the people who support Donald Trump? Do they care who they are?
This started with Hillary Clinton and her "Basket of Deplorables" comments. She just threw everyone who did not back her as being irrelevant and not worthy of discussion. Is it any wonder she didn't win? She didn't campaign in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin at the very end. She just accepted that no one would elect Donald Trump as president. Well, how did that work out for her?
I implore the Democrats running for President now: stop with the personal attacks and just campaign. Make your case for why you are the right candidate now. Otherwise this may very well go the same way it went in 2016.
Are we doomed to "history repeating itself?"
8
This phenomenon is not new in the world of politics.
Readers of a certain age with memories of events of the day will recall the Democratic Party's reaction to Bill Clinton's candidacy in 1991-1992. That reaction was decidedly negative, including continuous attacks upon his character and fitness for the office he sought. The press was a willing accomplice in the campaign, taking the low road against Clinton on numerous occasions.
This process continued right up until the day Clinton secured the nomination. Then these same sources of wisdom informed us that Mr. Clinton and his wife were the ones who were going to save us from George H. W. Bush, by then deemed to be an even worse president than Ronald Reagan.
What's on display during these episodes is the lack of respect for the electorate shown by our political classes. They consider us to be uninformed, malleable, and not particularly intelligent. Given the success they enjoy, they seem to have evaluated us accurately. As a people, we continue to enjoy the governments we deserve.
7
Forgot those mythological moderate Republicans. What WE need: a real team, to take on the creature and especially excite our Base, and greatly increase turnout. I won't give my preference here for the Presidential slot, but here's a promise: I will crawl over broken glass to VOTE for Stacey Abrams as Vice President. Not that it matters much in Kansas, but it sure does elsewhere. Want to get Women, minorities and younger people excited and to actually Vote ??? Choose Stacey, for the future, for the WIN.
19
@Phyliss Dalmatian
Stacey could pull in women, minorities and young people because she has CHARISMA. Barack Obama had charisma, which is why he remains so popular. People want to "like" the person they vote for.
3
To say that one cannot effectively criticize Trump is to say that all of his policies are what the American people want. That is simply not the case. If however, nastiness, name calling and one up man ship doesn't work, I can buy that. I think contrast is the answer.
I think Americans want stability. Trump does not engender stability. I thInk American businesses want predictability. Trump does not provide that either.
Sure tax cuts are always popular but a business cannot grow when it cannot count on anything, such as consistent trade policies, interest rates, investment opportunities here and abroad. Businesses don't want a casino environment. Farmers in particular are hurting. What is particularly daunting though is that many sensible Republicans may never be able to vote for a Democrat. It's just not in their DNA.
15
"It didn't work" -- then. But at that point it was just hearsay for the average voter, many of whom were influenced by Trump's television image. I think that's changed a little bit.
If I were putting together a campaign ad, I'd simply take clips of Republicans denouncing Trump and mix them up with clips of Democrats and average people sane people denouncing Trump. There are plenty to choose from.
10
Certainly there is no way to convert Trump's true believers. They have been embracing the unembraceable for so long that they are beyond redemption. However, criticism of Trump helps remind the Resistance that we are fighting for democracy, for decency, for our children. It helps us underscore that voting Democratic in 2020 is the only way to rid ourselves of Trump and his GOP.
58
@ Bert love
Yep. I take heart in your comment and others in this thread, since it seems that people are realizing that the secret to victory in 2020 will be turnout. That and solidarity. There is no converting the committed Trumpkins, whose fear, ignorance, and racism have been empowered beyond their fiercest hopes by Trump.
If we do not win in 2020, they will have their way and it all may be over. And if we do win, we must remember that we will still have tens and millions of them living and breathing in our midst. Vote!
6
@Bert Love
Never give up on Trump's true believers... we have seen "friends" of Trump become critics. A few "new" critics with power can have an influence. The notion of the "tipping point" should not be ignored.
1
@Bert Love
Criticizing Trump's policies is necessary and productive.
Criticizing Trump's character just plays into his hands.
1
The article is spot-on. Political attacks only serve to change lukewarm opinions or reinforce tribalism; at this point they're completely redundant to what's already happening daily. Everyone is already in an echo chamber hearing what they want to hear, whether that's attacks on Trump or praise of him.
The path to victory in 2020 is to remind people what actual governing looks like.
32
While the candidates of both parties are performing for their bases--whose votes they would say anything to get--are we taking the time/paying the attention to protest and counter the actual damage that this administration is gleefully doing to our land, water, sky, and all the inhabitants thereof.?
Don't get too distracted.
6
Don’t tell Trump’s base that their guy is a failure; SHOW THEM. Bring charts to a debate that prove that farming and manufacturing have actually suffered under Trump’s tenure
68
@Alan Facts don't matter to trump supporters.
26
@Alan
Ross Perot was certainly on to something with his schtick. Our insulting debate formats barely allow for single idea to be spelled out, even sketched out, with the recent Twitterized Democratic debates being the height of absurdity. If one picture is worth a thousand words, then go with it!
2
@Alan
Even better... show them VIDEOS of Trump making the most horrific statements about minorities and women. You have to make a dent in his base (which includes minorities and women) when they are reminded what this man stands for.
3
corvid is right, but there are more candidates besides Warren. It's early. Let's hear them out.
5
One must read nearly to the end of this article to find the salient point: the intended audience for these attacks on Trump are Democratic primary voters. Swing voters have nothing to do with it, to the extent that swing voters even exist nowadays. The base must be roused, and turnout will be everything.
What's instructive, I think, is that on one hand we have Elizabeth Warren, whose candidacy features a suite of important and defensible policy ideas; while on the other we have Joe Biden, whose candidacy beyond attacking Trump seems limited to nostalgia for the good old days that never were. Such contrasts are key when choosing a nominee.
34
@corvid
Recall Adlai Stevenson's words. He was the erudite Democratic presidential candidate, appealing to the intelligentsia. When assured by a supporter that he'd get the votes of all the "intelligent people," he replied, "Yes, but I'll need more than that."
Will Elizabeth Warren also need more than that? I think so.
46
@corvid, Exactly! The key to this election (and the reason for the 2016 loss) is voter turnout. There are more people who despise this president than his fervent base. You can bet they will turn out to support him, especially in those key battleground states. If we can get Democrat voters to turn out in those places, we'll end this nightmare. If a few more than 85K voters would have taken the time to show up in 2016, we wouldn't be having this conversation today. Let's hope people learned their lesson.
13
@AndyS
Up to Democrats to REMIND voters. Unfortunately, our Democratic leadership is not very good at public relations and they fail to capture media attention. It will be up to the Democrats on the "ground" to get the word out.
5