Dems: “We face these problems as a nation; here are detailed policies to address them.”
GOP: “SCARY COLORED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KILL YOU!”
Take-away: Until we find a way to reach the voters ‘guts’ instead of their brains, we will keep on losing.
Dems: “Let’s nominate this policy wonk… No, don’t worry about underwater approval ratings, or the fact that our opposition has spent the last 30 years vilifying her, sensible people will make sensible decisions and vote for her.”
GOP: “Hey, this guy draws big crowds! Such energy! Who cares if he doesn’t actually have any ability to govern?”
Take-away: Like the first point, we need candidates that engage the voters at more than just the intellectual level. But please, for the love of anything and everything that you hold dear, make sure they CAN govern when the time comes! Obama did this, and Warren can, so it’s not like we don’t have the talent pool!
Dems: “My opponent and I have differing views on this...”
GOP: “MY OPPONENT IS A DIRTY LYING LIAR WHO LIES!”
Take-away: “Going high when they go low” means that we aren’t challenging them on their falsehoods. The response to “Climate change is a hoax created by the Chinese” isn’t “My opponent and I have differing views...”, it’s “I’m sorry, but that is an outright lie. Why are you lying about this? Who is PAYING you to lie about this?”
Know thyself. Know thy enemies. Kick some ass, starting in 2018.