"Here’s the TRUTH on how to win 2024 in a landslide: stop talking about Joe Biden & start talking about our own vision. The dirty little secret is that Biden isn’t even the one who’s in charge. The people we elect to run the government aren’t the ones who actually run the government right now. It’s the managerial class in the deep state. We blew the 2022 midterms because we acted like a bunch of partisan hacks spewing poll-tested platitudes about the “failed Biden agenda.” Well, we should expect the same fate in 2024 unless we level up & actually articulate what we stand *for.* I’m doing my part. 
"
Vivek R
The Truth is that he's right. Not just for the GOP, but also for the DFL. Neither side is spending a lot of time laying out a positive vision for the next administration. What's amazing is that it's not that hard. Come up with a list of 5-10 things that you will tackle in your term, provide specifics about how you will tackle those things, and explain the benefits of those things.
I don't think Vivek will win this time around, I'm not even sure if I'd support him right now, but he has managed to balance some of the positive attributes of Trump (as a campaigner) , with a much better focus on policy and messaging, and without all the baggage. We need more candidates like him going forward.
11 comments:
Vivek is among my top three choices, but I don't really want to vote for him. I just have more problems with the rest of them...not all problems necessarily disqualifying flaws, as some just don't seem to have any chance of garnering support necessary to win the primary. Despite the current gap between them, I still believe it'll be either Trump or DeSantis, either of which I'm quite cool with supporting in the general. There's been a number of columns I've seen which speak negatively of Vivek and he's addressed quite a few points brought up about him...not necessarily in a totally convincing way, though that doesn't mean anything yet. The kid's sharp, but not ready yet.
I'm still dead set against the thought of any leftist winning the general, so even if the worthless Chris Christie wins the primary, I'd have to hold my nose far more tightly than I did for Trump when he ran against Hillary. Yet I don't know that he wouldn't be a big step up from whomever the Dem candidate will be. He's that loathsome to me.
It’s the managerial class in the deep state.
"It’s the managerial class in the deep state."
"IT'S THE MANAGERIAL CLASS in the DEEP STATE."
"IT'S THE MANAGERIAL CLASS IN THE FROTHING AT THE MOUTH CONSPIRACY THEORY HOME OF WILDLY WACKO PEOPLE DEEP STATE."
Why do you all not just stop, when they start with the crazy? Don't you recognize that it makes you all into accomplices of conspiracy theorists, when you treat them as if they're not insane? That it makes your whole side out to be entirely out of touch with reality?
As to what the Democrats stand for, however poorly:
Abortion decisions to be made by women and their medical advisors, not the state.
Adoption and marriage decisions to be open to LGBTQ folks, just like it is for CIS-folks.
An end to the oppression/demonization of fellow citizens.
An end to actually using impeachment as a political tool.
Responsible climate policies.
Responsible pollution policies.
Voting protections for minorities.
An end to gerrymandering (not all Democrats, but hopefully most).
Having responsible refugee policies where, if people are seeking safety from unsafe living conditions, that they are made welcome here (not all Democrats, but hopefully most).
Protecting unions and the working class people of the US.
Pushing the recognition that we are all one people, and our fellow citizens are not the enemy, unless they're actually promoting oppression or harm or ending protections for people and human rights.
Teaching actual history, even if it hurts the feelings of some people.
Teaching facts about LGBTQ folks and their humanity, even if it offends the religious sensibilities of some people.
For starters. I have no confusion about what the Democrats stand for, at least in theory. Because of the reality of hyper-partisan Congress, they don't always live up to those ideals, but it's clear what the ideals are.
"Why do you all not just stop, when they start with the crazy?"
While I don't like the phrasing necessarily, the reality is that the executive branch is effectively, if not actually, run by bureaucrats, not by the executive. The federal government is bloated, inefficient, and inefficient. What's crazy about trying to improve ROI for taxpayers?
"Don't you recognize that it makes you all into accomplices of conspiracy theorists, when you treat them as if they're not insane?"
So far, you're batting 0.00 on identifying conspiracy theorists, but that's OK.
"That it makes your whole side out to be entirely out of touch with reality?"
Reality. The reality is that our DFL run urban areas are in decay (to put it nicely), the education system (controlled by liberals) is turning out thousands/millions of children who can't read or do math, and the federal government spends vastly more money that it can ever take in. I'm sorry if I don't like this reality. It's too bad you'll settle for and defend this reality as the best the DFL can do.
"Abortion decisions to be made by women and their medical advisors, not the state."
Abortion at ant time, any place, for any reason, and for everyone regardless of age, paid for by the state.
"Adoption and marriage decisions to be open to LGBTQ folks, just like it is for CIS-folks."
Refusing to allow adoption providers freedom of choice, conscience, and religious liberty.
"An end to the oppression/demonization of fellow citizens."
Unless they're white, conservative, middle/upper class, or Christian.
"An end to actually using impeachment as a political tool."
Now That y'all failed to convict Trump through impeachment, you do a 180 and claim you don't want impeachment for political purposes. FYI, I've been vocal that it is a mistake to impeach Biden because regardless of the evidence provided it will appear is if it's just political retaliation and following the lead of the DFL.
"Responsible climate policies. Responsible pollution policies."
Undefined, and funneling billions to DFL cronies and donors.
"Voting protections for minorities."
As if this doesn't exist at the federal level right now. How about simply, protecting the integrity of the voting and election process?
"An end to gerrymandering (not all Democrats, but hopefully most)."
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,ha. ROFL.
"Having responsible refugee policies where, if people are seeking safety from unsafe living conditions, that they are made welcome here (not all Democrats, but hopefully most)."
As opposed to what Biden has now with millions of people crossing our borders without us even knowing what their status is.
"Protecting unions and the working class people of the US."
Which, of course, conflicts with the green items above.
"Teaching actual history, even if it hurts the feelings of some people."
Like the 1619 project?
"Teaching facts about LGBTQ folks and their humanity, even if it offends the religious sensibilities of some people."
No wonder black children can't read or do math in such alarming numbers.
"For starters. I have no confusion about what the Democrats stand for, at least in theory. Because of the reality of hyper-partisan Congress, they don't always live up to those ideals, but it's clear what the ideals are."
It's probably more accurate to say that you have no confusion about what you think the DFL stands for, rather than to present your hunches as representing the DFL in it's entirety.
While I don't like the phrasing necessarily, the reality is that the executive branch is effectively, if not actually, run by bureaucrats, not by the executive.
Instead of just a soft endorsement of crazy conspiracy theories, why not try to actually support them with, you know, data and stuff?
Again, YOUR SIDE must learn to STOP with the leaning into crazy conspiracy and casually supporting them as if they're not insane and wholly unsupported. This is dangerous, unhealthy and just irrational.
There is no deep state. Those who cite it need to be rebuked and removed from the public sphere as out of touch with reality. Those in the GOP who accept such claims need to be rebuked by the more rational conservatives, if any remain (and I'm sure they do, in spite of the appearance/reality that the party has become dominated by the crazies.)
This is hilarious. I, too, laughed out loud at the "gerrymandering" bit. That's a scream coming from a modern progressive with a history of lying (as seen in the list itself!). I hope to address a few points myself (likely all of them, because I can't help myself when stupidity is just sitting there like that) when time allows. Right now, I'm just doing a drive-by.
The Truth is that he's right. Not just for the GOP, but also for the DFL. Neither side is spending a lot of time laying out a positive vision for the next administration.
I agree with THAT point, that the GOP is not laying out ANYTHING of significance beyond demonization of their fellow citizens and often, even those in their own party. "We Hate Democrats who are socialists and anti-god and hate the US" is not a winning strategy, although it does a lot to appeal to the worst part of the GOP base and gin up their fears and distrust.
But I just don't see that to be true for the Democrats. We're offering plans for improvements and support and promotion of human rights. Now, you may not AGREE with those policies - clearly you don't - but you can't say we're not articulating a plan that we consider a positive plan. And while I'm not the biggest fan of Biden, he's accomplished an AMAZING amount of positive change - that is, implementing policies that have widespread, popular support in the nation - and that, in the midst of an obstructionist GOP.
Consider:
"1. Passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to increase investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport and national broadband internet, as well as waterways and energy systems. [Which is usually the very easiest sort of work to get done, and yet Trump never did it, even with the Democrats wanting to see it happen!]
2. Helped get more than 500 million life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans through the American Rescue Plan.
3. Stopped a 30-year streak of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that created enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole and provided funds for youth mental health.
4. Made a $369 billion investment in climate change, the largest in American history, through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
5. Ended the longest war in American history by pulling the troops out of Afghanistan. [and yes, it was a messy exit... but we opposed to that war in the first place - this war that the GOP started and Trump never ended, or Obama, for that matter - said all along that one of the reasons of not starting that war was there would be no good way to end it...]
6. Provided $10,000 to $20,000 in college debt relief to Americans with loans who make under $125,000 a year.
7. Cut child poverty in half through the American Rescue Plan.
8. Capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act...
10. Achieved historically low unemployment rates after the pandemic caused them to skyrocket."
And read more. He's accomplished a huge amount of good policy that is improving our economy and nation.
https://www.upworthy.com/joe-biden-s-23-greatest-achievements-as-president-of-the-united-states-so-far
That you don't like our policies doesn't mean that they're not helping or that we don't have positive policies we're promoting. Indeed, I always invite the GOP to join with us in making even more positive policy changes. Maybe starting with ensuring women's right to make their own medical decisions about pregnancies with federal legislation.
"Instead of just a soft endorsement of crazy conspiracy theories, why not try to actually support them with, you know, data and stuff?"
This seems like a shape excuse to get you out of the position you appear to hold. I'm simply going to conclude that you have chosen not to look at Vivek's plan, and the data he offered.
"Again, YOUR SIDE must learn to STOP with the leaning into crazy conspiracy and casually supporting them as if they're not insane and wholly unsupported. This is dangerous, unhealthy and just irrational."
Especially when the things your side labels as "conspiracy theories", ends up being true.
"There is no deep state. Those who cite it need to be rebuked and removed from the public sphere as out of touch with reality. Those in the GOP who accept such claims need to be rebuked by the more rational conservatives, if any remain (and I'm sure they do, in spite of the appearance/reality that the party has become dominated by the crazies.)"
This is quite the radical approach to free speech. Remove the 1st amendment rights of those who say things you don't like. FYI, I don't necessarily like the term "deep state" as it does conjure up images of nefariousness that I'm not sure exist. But to deny the reality that the federal bureaucracy is anything but a bloated, self serving monstrosity that needs to be trimmed down is simply ignoring reality.
"I agree with THAT point,"
Yes, you seem to for an entire paragraph. Ten you boldly contradict yourself as if you think no one will remember your point from only a paragraph before.
The DFL "platform" is to demonize the GOP, that's it. Promote unlimited abortion, unlimited immigration, unlimited tax increases, and promise every interest group whatever it takes to buy their votes.
Pointing out a few things passed, although not implemented or demonstrated as successful, isn't exactly a blueprint for the future.
The entire summary of these "accomplishments" can be summarized by "Spend trillions of money we don't have, raise taxes to fool people into believing that we can afford this stuff.".
6. You do realize that there has been precisely ZERO actual debt relief provided, so claiming that it has been been "provided" is demonstrably false.
It's amusing when Dan cherry picks things that mostly haven't actually been accomplished, and parades them as if they have. It's also amusing when he blames the GOP for everything, acknowledges that many of these "accomplishments" were "bipartisan", then gives Biden sole credit for everything.
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