I am as thrilled as anyone about the election results and do not want to be Debbie Downer. However, I feel that too much of last night’s success was a result of external factors more than genuine enthusiasm about the Democrats. The Orange One and his minions spouting nonsense and the overturning of Roe v Wade being the primary factors.
The strength of DeSantis is concerning. He’s not as bad as the former guy, but that’s grading on a really steep curve. Consider the crap he’s pulled over the last couple of years and that he got almost 60% of the vote in Florida. Also consider how Tim Ryan’s quality messaging in Ohio wasn’t enough to defeat a terrible candidate like J.D. Vance. And then of course there is Georgia where Herschel Walker (HERSCHEL WALKER!) got almost 50% of the vote and there will be a runoff.
To succeed in 2024, the Dems need to continue making positive changes in people’s lives, but also figure out a way to dramatically improve how they are perceived. Maybe revisit George Lakoff and framing. Maybe steal some of the working class back because the Democrats are the ones actually improving their lives.
The Democrats should continue trying to invest heavily in renewable energy technologies and jobs, and not focus their comments on ending coal and oil. Those old and dirty energy sources will continue dying as clean sources keep becoming cheaper and cheaper.
And maybe find ways to make it easier to run a small business. I’m not anti-regulation, but there are many areas where bureaucracies can be paired back and procedures can be simplified. Something like Clinton’s “National Partnership for Reinventing Government” would help take some of the wind out of the sails of the false perception of the GOP as the party of small government.
I know I am preaching to the choir here and not saying anything new. While I am delighted to see the news about the former guy raging, it’s not enough. America is still on the precipice. I hope we can collectively come together to pull us back, and towards a more just and prosperous future for all Americans.
