The victory of smooth-talkin’ Glenn Youngkin over Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday has Democrats wringing their hands and looking under the couch cushions for excuses.
Thank you, again, Lucian. As social scientists have shown, time and time again, refuting a lie simply serves to cement it. I hope the Dems listen to your “fill in the blanks” messaging plan, it’s great. And simple. And the beauty of it is that every Dem can send the same message and appear unified, and let each of his or her constituents frame the message to suit. Keep the slogans simple. Go positive, go jingoist, or go home. (And I still think billboards in Kentucky should show Moscow Mitch with speech bubbles quoting his anti-Trump comments, and same for Lindsey Graham in South Caroline. Just a big close up of their faces and the words they have spoken, bigly!)
I remain baffled by why we call the larger legislation Build Back Better. While it has the virtue of being a Biden campaign slogan, it has the failing of not giving people something to identify with. Why is it not called the Families and Children's Act? Pre-K, health care, protecting our kids against climate change are, it seems to me, a whole lot more appealing than BBB. So why not have a name that describes the substance - aid for families and children. And then stop talking about whether it is a $1.85B or $3B price tag. What is in it is what is popular, not the price tag.
Another excellent article, Lucian. The problem we have here is that the modern Democratic party serves the role of the Washington Generals playing the Globetrotters. The paymasters for both parties is the same set of corporate interests. McAuliffe might have pointed out that Youngkin is deeply involved with a private equity firm that makes a habit of breaking unions and driving wages down, but he couldn't because he also has deep financial ties with the same firm. This is why progressives have been gutted in the national discourse; their funding comes from people, not corporations. Since Citizens United, we are in a continual election cycle with no breaks whatever. Every day there are polls and advertisements and campaigns. This shapes the discourse and adds to the sense of powerlessness and futility. Meanwhile the billionaires write the laws and push the agenda. It's hard to push back on your major contributors with any sort of conviction. Republicans have no problem tearing shit apart and lying about it while they are doing it, so the Dems who still care about pretense are at a disadvantage. Will this change? Maybe, but I am not holding my breath. Maybe 2020 was the last election we'll actually have. As Mark Twain wrote, "The judge he felt kind of sore. He said he reckoned a body could reform the old man with a shotgun, maybe, but he didn’t know no other way."
Excellent snapshot of the state of play in politics today. Another "tell" that corporations own Washington is the disappearance of drug prices from our national conversation. No one dares bring to up, not the Democrats anymore, not even media. Big Pharma is the biggest lobby in DC now and it gives handsomely to both sides. When a Big Pharma lobbyist hands you that check, it comes with a smile and threat: 'If you don't do what I want, your opponent in your next reelection campaign will get an even bigger one.'
I agree with Jennifer's comment below. "Protect Our Children" is brilliant! Think of the various blanks that can be filled in: climate (save this planet for our children), gun safety (protect our school children from assassins with long guns), public schooling (protect our children from ignorance), and so on. The "big tent coalition" will be able to fill in whatever blanks exist. Who could possibly be against OUR CHILDREN? !!! I love it!
The latest lie embraced by trumpanzees: arrest of the Pfizer CEO for child trafficking. When confronted by proof of misinformation, they say, “ You still believe main stream media (aka msm)?” My sister threw me out of her life for not buying into this crap—and she and her Trump worshippers can shut their ears, brains and eyes and go f&ck themselves.
The only way we will put a stop to B.S. is to PROSECUTE them for their many crimes—it would not have reached this point if Nixon, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush W, Trump, BANNON, Mercers, Prince’s/DeVos—all of them —had been brought to task. McCONnell and his Cabal walked all over Obama—and he turned the other cheek. Well, B.S. to that, too.
The term "pipsqueak" is deserving of a renaissance as much as any word in the English language. It has multiple, descriptive uses, equally applicable to folks like Youngkin and Kennedy (of Loosana), but also to Sen. Chuck ("that guy can't be from Brooklyn even though he sounds it") Schumer and members of the Squad. In fact, how about an expanded, plural use-- as in "Pipsquad?" More catchy than "build back better," anyway.
Here's the historical dilemma we face. Think back to the Conservative talking heads of our childhood, William F. Buckley, et al.
The common man was a blue collar union guy. Not the Harvard grad.
Reverse the roles, you get DeSantis a Harvard man trying to replace an uneducated phony like Trump who made his bones by convincing like morons that Obama was a Muslim.
Get this, two days ago I returned from Europe. In our shuttle bus were 6 pilots, three who were proud of not being vaccinated!
Solid commentary. Thank you sir. Be aware that the United States is in transition from long term domination of the Baby Boomers to the millennials. It is unlikely the country wants a 81 year old candidate for president or a 78 year old ex president trying for a come back. Mr. Trump is not Grover Cleveland. Much of the strain in public life will fade as the pandemic fades as well. The real issue in 2024 will be deep credit debt, rent, and growing evidence of global warming. Two, maybe three good floods in Texas and some serious heat, think 100 degree days in December and everyone will want to move on, not relive MAGA times or Bidens decent but exhausted presidency. Democrats have Gavin Newsome and Republicans have Greg Abbott. Who foresaw the coming of Jimmy Carter in 1976. Ford looked like an easy winner. in 2024 the youngest of the boomers will be 60 and already moving toward retirement. CRT is a flash point but like all flashes it will glow for a short time and fade away. Democrats should scream about wages, rent, floods and too much heat and maybe a few words about an aging Taylor Swift? All the republicans have is stoking prejudice? That wont pay the bills. Finally Democrats do best when they seem the less disagreeable option.
On a completely different note: why is Mr. Bannon not behind bars yet? If the Dems allow his contempt of court no Republican will ever agree to a summons again and what little is left of the rule-of-law will be yet again assailed.
Thank you, again, Lucian. As social scientists have shown, time and time again, refuting a lie simply serves to cement it. I hope the Dems listen to your “fill in the blanks” messaging plan, it’s great. And simple. And the beauty of it is that every Dem can send the same message and appear unified, and let each of his or her constituents frame the message to suit. Keep the slogans simple. Go positive, go jingoist, or go home. (And I still think billboards in Kentucky should show Moscow Mitch with speech bubbles quoting his anti-Trump comments, and same for Lindsey Graham in South Caroline. Just a big close up of their faces and the words they have spoken, bigly!)
I remain baffled by why we call the larger legislation Build Back Better. While it has the virtue of being a Biden campaign slogan, it has the failing of not giving people something to identify with. Why is it not called the Families and Children's Act? Pre-K, health care, protecting our kids against climate change are, it seems to me, a whole lot more appealing than BBB. So why not have a name that describes the substance - aid for families and children. And then stop talking about whether it is a $1.85B or $3B price tag. What is in it is what is popular, not the price tag.
Another excellent article, Lucian. The problem we have here is that the modern Democratic party serves the role of the Washington Generals playing the Globetrotters. The paymasters for both parties is the same set of corporate interests. McAuliffe might have pointed out that Youngkin is deeply involved with a private equity firm that makes a habit of breaking unions and driving wages down, but he couldn't because he also has deep financial ties with the same firm. This is why progressives have been gutted in the national discourse; their funding comes from people, not corporations. Since Citizens United, we are in a continual election cycle with no breaks whatever. Every day there are polls and advertisements and campaigns. This shapes the discourse and adds to the sense of powerlessness and futility. Meanwhile the billionaires write the laws and push the agenda. It's hard to push back on your major contributors with any sort of conviction. Republicans have no problem tearing shit apart and lying about it while they are doing it, so the Dems who still care about pretense are at a disadvantage. Will this change? Maybe, but I am not holding my breath. Maybe 2020 was the last election we'll actually have. As Mark Twain wrote, "The judge he felt kind of sore. He said he reckoned a body could reform the old man with a shotgun, maybe, but he didn’t know no other way."
Excellent snapshot of the state of play in politics today. Another "tell" that corporations own Washington is the disappearance of drug prices from our national conversation. No one dares bring to up, not the Democrats anymore, not even media. Big Pharma is the biggest lobby in DC now and it gives handsomely to both sides. When a Big Pharma lobbyist hands you that check, it comes with a smile and threat: 'If you don't do what I want, your opponent in your next reelection campaign will get an even bigger one.'
Actually, Lucien, we need a candidate and you should be it.
I agree with Jennifer's comment below. "Protect Our Children" is brilliant! Think of the various blanks that can be filled in: climate (save this planet for our children), gun safety (protect our school children from assassins with long guns), public schooling (protect our children from ignorance), and so on. The "big tent coalition" will be able to fill in whatever blanks exist. Who could possibly be against OUR CHILDREN? !!! I love it!
The latest lie embraced by trumpanzees: arrest of the Pfizer CEO for child trafficking. When confronted by proof of misinformation, they say, “ You still believe main stream media (aka msm)?” My sister threw me out of her life for not buying into this crap—and she and her Trump worshippers can shut their ears, brains and eyes and go f&ck themselves.
The only way we will put a stop to B.S. is to PROSECUTE them for their many crimes—it would not have reached this point if Nixon, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush W, Trump, BANNON, Mercers, Prince’s/DeVos—all of them —had been brought to task. McCONnell and his Cabal walked all over Obama—and he turned the other cheek. Well, B.S. to that, too.
The term "pipsqueak" is deserving of a renaissance as much as any word in the English language. It has multiple, descriptive uses, equally applicable to folks like Youngkin and Kennedy (of Loosana), but also to Sen. Chuck ("that guy can't be from Brooklyn even though he sounds it") Schumer and members of the Squad. In fact, how about an expanded, plural use-- as in "Pipsquad?" More catchy than "build back better," anyway.
Here's the historical dilemma we face. Think back to the Conservative talking heads of our childhood, William F. Buckley, et al.
The common man was a blue collar union guy. Not the Harvard grad.
Reverse the roles, you get DeSantis a Harvard man trying to replace an uneducated phony like Trump who made his bones by convincing like morons that Obama was a Muslim.
Get this, two days ago I returned from Europe. In our shuttle bus were 6 pilots, three who were proud of not being vaccinated!
Have you seen Aaron Rogers explain his position?
JABBERWOCKY!!!
What do you mean by DeSantis trying to replace Trump? As to the pilots, I've known many, and superior intelligence is not a requirement to be one.
Running for POTUS, of course.
Amen!! Get smart.
Solid commentary. Thank you sir. Be aware that the United States is in transition from long term domination of the Baby Boomers to the millennials. It is unlikely the country wants a 81 year old candidate for president or a 78 year old ex president trying for a come back. Mr. Trump is not Grover Cleveland. Much of the strain in public life will fade as the pandemic fades as well. The real issue in 2024 will be deep credit debt, rent, and growing evidence of global warming. Two, maybe three good floods in Texas and some serious heat, think 100 degree days in December and everyone will want to move on, not relive MAGA times or Bidens decent but exhausted presidency. Democrats have Gavin Newsome and Republicans have Greg Abbott. Who foresaw the coming of Jimmy Carter in 1976. Ford looked like an easy winner. in 2024 the youngest of the boomers will be 60 and already moving toward retirement. CRT is a flash point but like all flashes it will glow for a short time and fade away. Democrats should scream about wages, rent, floods and too much heat and maybe a few words about an aging Taylor Swift? All the republicans have is stoking prejudice? That wont pay the bills. Finally Democrats do best when they seem the less disagreeable option.
This is 2 1/2 minutes from Politico Girl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDXDLZLgpyc
She is spot on!
On a completely different note: why is Mr. Bannon not behind bars yet? If the Dems allow his contempt of court no Republican will ever agree to a summons again and what little is left of the rule-of-law will be yet again assailed.
Excellent column!
I hear you … but there’s this pesky little line from the Cadet Prayer that keeps getting in the way…
‘Never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won …’😔
Does it bother anyone other than me that the coaching staff of both the Vikings and the Ravens are wearing camo, as if they were Army personnel?
Great letter! I’ve been saying forever the dems need to fight fire with fire. Beat ‘em at their own game!