Trump is really good at one thing — dominating the media. Every day there’s a new issue, carefully calculated to outrage and distract Democrats. Creating outrage works. How many days were various “sharpie diaries” on the rec list and trending on Twitter?
Trump will continue to pound, pound, pound the same shit until 11/20. Let’s not forget that Trump dominated the media in 2016 as well, while most Dems took the polls to mean we could count on a win. We were not assertive, let alone aggressive. Aggressive WON. Trump is counting on Dems to remain largely somewhat complacent, content to voice outrage, and to not attack a sitting president… ‘cause we’re respectful of the office, and nice guys, to boot. Let us not make the same mistake twice. The result for Trump’s strategy is that outraged Democrats spend more time responding, saying basically, “OMG! Lookit what he’s said NOW!!!” And DISTRACTING EACH AND EVERY responder from, for example, moving along in their surfing to other activities… such as following up on other issues, checking on the Democratic campaign activities, discussing varying issues for each person’s own favorite candidate, sharing viewpoints, discussions about how to include, for example, voters we lost last time who are NOW ready to vote Dem this time but need some outreach to happen (see, e.g., recent diaries by Kossack “Nonlinear”), and finding other ways to re-assert more and better control over their/our own lives. We must get away from being continuously, persistently in reactive mode. Sure, Trump needs to be challenged for his ongoing, remarkably consistent builshit, but don’t think for a New York second he gives a shit which issue he employs to dominate the media, or what Dems say about him — that ship sailed long ago. But Dems are IMO consistently on their heels, when we COULD BE constructing a unified narrative on our own that has some meat on it, and put Trump back on HIS heels. A House Resolution with massive Democratic support at all levels would energize Dems in a critical way that I believe is needed. And being in reactive mode is NOT THE SAME AS ATTACKING.
The apparent move forward on impeachment activity is great. But there is a lack of coalition, a lack of unified energy, some of which is inherent in having (small “d”) democratic rather than authoritarian-driven minds. Comes with the territory. So we must be assertive, and aggressive would not hurt one bit. I suggest we take the gloves off. Properly, with gusto.
I suggest Democrats in all the current forms of activity coalesce to create a House Resolution condemning Trump for literally trying to turn the Republican Party into a dictatorship within the democracy-guarantors of the United States Constitution. God knows there are plenty of examples every day that await being put forth in evidence of this effort, including especially full-frontal attacks on ANY REPUBLICAN WHO DOES NOT VOICE SUPPORT FOR TRUMP. This flies in the face of basic democracy. But this effort needs to get WAY beyond DailyKos and even MSNBC (and CNN). (Democratic policy shops can shape the language.) A House Resolution, specifically condemming (or censoring?) President Trump by name, with leadership from Speaker Pelosi, AOC, support from lame-ass Senators like Chuck Schemer, et al.; candidates Joe Biden, Liz Warren and her campaign who I’m sure would enthusiastically sign up, and Bernie if he wants, ditto Kamala, and the entire current roster of Democratic Presidential candidates, other Democratic House members, such as Elijah Cummings, John Lewis, Jerry Adler, Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell (I’m e-mailing this to my Representative Barbara Lee), and as many Congressional Democrats as possible to loudly voice or “sponsor” such a Resolution, including reaching out to the Clintons. I suggest the wording should have input from Pelosi’s Democratic Caucus staff, and in the strongest terms that can be agreed upon by the above folks and whoever else can be tabbed to join up. The point is it has to be an official Congressional House Resolution, with the terminology above as the sharp point of the arrow. It has to show unity and it has to show resolve and initiative… and it should contain a gesture to the hundreds of frustrated Republicans in both the Congress and the Executive Branch (the Cabinet staffers who are being “outed” by Trump slaves who are actively suppressing voices of dissent in the Republican Party). The HEADLINE of the Resolution could be something like “Republicans: Had enough? Do You Still Have Freedom of Speech In Your Own Party? Do you have to look both ways before speaking? Stand up! Come join the Dems whose voices are not stifled by a dictator-in-the-making.” My reading tells me there is major frustration and discord among millions of Repubs, and it is growing. We can hit Trump right where he lives.
Yes, there’s plenty of time left. But let’s start this NOW. Get all the above people involved with it, take some time, and formalize it and introduce it in the House for a vote. Take the vote; give Repubs a chance to stand up in public for democracy. Get DNC chair Perez’s buy-in and funding. Buy huge air-time to get it out on TV, including FoxNews. Word it like an invitation to Republicans to return their lives to democracy.
Listen, millions of swing voters, lean Dem voters, independents and youngsters (the kinds of folks Rachel Bitecofer tweets about) are ready to commit to ANY DEMOCRAT, but they need something solid from the Democratic Party at large they can hang their hats on. Let’s get busy.