Thanks Nancy for a clear and powerful call to action. Your message is exactly what Texans and Americans need to hear. . . grounded, populist, and people-first. And I don’t fight so much for myself, but rather I fight for the future my children deserve.
Brilliant synthesis on the need for economic populism! The point about Democrats being afraid to knock doors and meet voters where they are is exacly what costs elections. When the mesaging avoids class-based framing, it leaves a vacuum that Republicans fill with culture war noise. Real economic grievances become coded as something else entirely.
I would add that candidates need to center children as part of the conversation. In the absence of an agenda around children, culture wars fills the void.
Love the enthusiasm. But it's not enough. Talking to people does work, but knocking on doors would require hundreds of thousands, if not more, people doing that.
I like your insistence on repeating the messaging. That's exactly what it will take. Folks need to hear the messaging multiple times, probably per week. From multiple people.
The only genuine issues or topics that Republicans can truly be truthful with and take ownership over are: racism & hatred. Everything else should be included as part of the messaging. Everything else.
Imagine a person's personal interests, work, family issues, health, etc comprising different parts of that person's brain. Racism and hatred can also occupy part of that person's brain.
Just for argument's sake: imagine there are exactly 100 "issues" floating around in that voter's or eligible voter's brain. Ninety-eight of those issues should be tally marks in favor of Democrats (e.g. wages, robust health, parks, environment, animal welfare, public schools, guns, etc.). The other two tally marks, racism and hatred, can be tallied in favor of Republicans. Over time, maybe...just maybe, that voter or eligible voter will decide that the 98 issues is greater reason to vote Dem, and angrily reject Republicans. ALL Republicans; in every race for every office.
For instance, currently, Dem governor candidate Gina Hinojosa seems to be fixated on the current governor's corruption. I think she also mentioned medicaid the other day. Hinojosa, every Dem candidate, and every left-wing activists should be repeating messaging: (1) highlighting ALL Republican and conservative shenanigans, criminality, corruption, fraud, betrayal. Any Republican corruption case should be attributed to the entire Republican caucus; and (2) the alternative Dem policy or goal* (that is based on progressive ideals).
*Note: Simply because Republicans or the local media reporter asks the Dem candidate or activists about immigration or trans' atrocities does NOT mean the Dem needs to keep those stupid Republican culture war issues in the public discourse and defend some of the most vile and core Republican "bogey men". It's better to go on the offensive and respond with: "Yeah, Republicans just love to distract regular folks away from their corruption. Our public schools could have 8 students per teacher. Each neighborhood could have public parks. We could have bike trails everywhere. Instead, we get corporate welfare, pollution, and unhealthy Texans."
Or whatever. Just don't let Republicans and corporate media control the narrative. Don't let, as you wrote, Republicans to define Dems and define what the real issues are.
I have never ever had a Republican knock on my door and I live in a purple district. People work. I don’t answer to the door when it is someone I don’t know. Get a message that grabs people: they already have abortion, so what life/death gut wrencher do the Dems have?? C’mon!!
Do you vote in primary elections? And if you do, which primary is it, Democratic or Republican? If it is Democratic, and every time, Republicans know that of course. I do not answer my door either but when I knock on doors I leave lit and talk to doorbells. For exercise I walk the neighborhood so people see me too, so gradually I am hoping to get them to vote. Have a neighborhood party, even in front of your house or party room if in an apt. Get to know people!!!!
Thanks Nancy for a clear and powerful call to action. Your message is exactly what Texans and Americans need to hear. . . grounded, populist, and people-first. And I don’t fight so much for myself, but rather I fight for the future my children deserve.
Brilliant synthesis on the need for economic populism! The point about Democrats being afraid to knock doors and meet voters where they are is exacly what costs elections. When the mesaging avoids class-based framing, it leaves a vacuum that Republicans fill with culture war noise. Real economic grievances become coded as something else entirely.
I would add that candidates need to center children as part of the conversation. In the absence of an agenda around children, culture wars fills the void.
Seeing Children: Why the Family Frame Isn’t Enough https://open.substack.com/pub/brucelesley/p/seeing-children-why-the-family-frame?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Love the enthusiasm. But it's not enough. Talking to people does work, but knocking on doors would require hundreds of thousands, if not more, people doing that.
I like your insistence on repeating the messaging. That's exactly what it will take. Folks need to hear the messaging multiple times, probably per week. From multiple people.
The only genuine issues or topics that Republicans can truly be truthful with and take ownership over are: racism & hatred. Everything else should be included as part of the messaging. Everything else.
Imagine a person's personal interests, work, family issues, health, etc comprising different parts of that person's brain. Racism and hatred can also occupy part of that person's brain.
Just for argument's sake: imagine there are exactly 100 "issues" floating around in that voter's or eligible voter's brain. Ninety-eight of those issues should be tally marks in favor of Democrats (e.g. wages, robust health, parks, environment, animal welfare, public schools, guns, etc.). The other two tally marks, racism and hatred, can be tallied in favor of Republicans. Over time, maybe...just maybe, that voter or eligible voter will decide that the 98 issues is greater reason to vote Dem, and angrily reject Republicans. ALL Republicans; in every race for every office.
For instance, currently, Dem governor candidate Gina Hinojosa seems to be fixated on the current governor's corruption. I think she also mentioned medicaid the other day. Hinojosa, every Dem candidate, and every left-wing activists should be repeating messaging: (1) highlighting ALL Republican and conservative shenanigans, criminality, corruption, fraud, betrayal. Any Republican corruption case should be attributed to the entire Republican caucus; and (2) the alternative Dem policy or goal* (that is based on progressive ideals).
*Note: Simply because Republicans or the local media reporter asks the Dem candidate or activists about immigration or trans' atrocities does NOT mean the Dem needs to keep those stupid Republican culture war issues in the public discourse and defend some of the most vile and core Republican "bogey men". It's better to go on the offensive and respond with: "Yeah, Republicans just love to distract regular folks away from their corruption. Our public schools could have 8 students per teacher. Each neighborhood could have public parks. We could have bike trails everywhere. Instead, we get corporate welfare, pollution, and unhealthy Texans."
Or whatever. Just don't let Republicans and corporate media control the narrative. Don't let, as you wrote, Republicans to define Dems and define what the real issues are.
I have never ever had a Republican knock on my door and I live in a purple district. People work. I don’t answer to the door when it is someone I don’t know. Get a message that grabs people: they already have abortion, so what life/death gut wrencher do the Dems have?? C’mon!!
Do you vote in primary elections? And if you do, which primary is it, Democratic or Republican? If it is Democratic, and every time, Republicans know that of course. I do not answer my door either but when I knock on doors I leave lit and talk to doorbells. For exercise I walk the neighborhood so people see me too, so gradually I am hoping to get them to vote. Have a neighborhood party, even in front of your house or party room if in an apt. Get to know people!!!!
Yep