One thing you notice with Trump rallies is this idea that they’re the slobs fighting against the snobs and the slobs have more fun—they’re not hobbled by political correctness (liberals may say that’s because they just want to be openly bigoted, but Trump fans truly believe they’re not bigoted, they just don’t like having their language policed by their betters), they’re not consumed by elite worries like eating the right foods or wearing the right fashions, they’re not consumed find Trump amusing (for some reason) and go to be entertained while liberals go to rallies to be orated to by boring focus grouped politicians.
Much of that characterization is wrong (try insulting rural folk and see who enforces speech codes) but our side could certainly benefit from having more fun and making our efforts entertaining. Fighting battles with pre-Trump tactics isn’t going to work.
My experiences at the last two No Kings rallies were quite entertaining. The frog costumes alone were enjoyable, and everyone seemed to be having a fine time. Lots of music and dancing going on. Plenty of speechifying but no ranting and raving to be seen.
I think you are dead on about the open bigotry on the right. They seem to be quite upset to be reminded that racism isn't cool, and that the US isn't perfect.
I'm not entirely convinced that hope is more powerful than anger, given the past miserable decade.
And I think anger needs to be central to the 2028 democratic campaign. Anger at Republicans for everything they've inflicted on the rest of us. Anger at the needless death and suffering. Anger at their blatant cheating and rigging of the political system. All of that is widespread and entirely justified.
It could be just me, but a campaign that doesn't at the very least acknowledge that anger and promise actual accountability (and, yes, fucking punishment) and tries to run on good vibes only is just going to piss me off more.
The Democrats have really bad Nice Guy Syndrome. I want elected Democrats that hate Republicans at least as much as Republicans hate the rest of us.
I still maintain that Kamala Harris's campaign momentum faltered when the Grima Wormtongue Democratic Campaign consultants convinced them to stop making fun of the Trump campaign as 'weirdos' who were obsessed by their petty grievances and hatred of We the People not doing things they approved of.
We were smiling, we were happy, we were mocking them to their faces.
There is NOTHING Authoritarians fear more than ridicule.
Worse, all too many of the Dem consulting class (looking at YOU 'Third Way' ) are dead certain that the way to victory lies with pushing 'Republican-Lite' policies.
The Republicans assiduously support and listen to their base; the Democrats routinely underbus theirs. Then they blame us for 'lack of excitement'
The Dem consulting class is about 15 years behind voters in their idea of "electability". It's why Graham Platner steamrolled Janet Mills-anger is actually a big part of his campaign, and a clear willingness to not back away from a fight.
“In retrospect, Kamala’s Joy Campaign was a mistake, the 2028 Democratic nominee needs to be angry. JD Vance surely will be angry.”
Angry, and lonely. Everyone does hate Vance, which is why my early pick for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination is Marco Rubio. He's been tucked away at the State Department, far removed from Trump's most unpopular decisions (unlike Vance), sucking up to the Supreme Leader and making few if any enemies among The Base...
Right! Of course, the last Republican presidential candidate with any charisma at all was Ronald Reagan. That's why I think any candidate the Democrats nominate will be elected in 2028, but I have no guess at all as to who the lucky winner will be...
Ruh-roh! That's exactly the reason I have no faith in Schumer or Jeffries. I'm one of those lifetime Democrats who tells pollsters that they don't trust the party, but will continue to vote Dem because the GOP has been taken over by right-wing nut jobs. If Cheney or Fetterman were on the ballot, though, I would have to reconsider my position...
Especially now that there IS some hope...SOMETHING feels different. This administration feels weaker than I could have expected...The SENSE that I get is that we know we are not in a position to strike right now, but that once the power dynamic tips JUST A LITTLE, we will go in for the kill on SO many levels and on so many fronts. We are at the edge of a precipice...One of two things will happen...We will either go over the edge into oblivion, or we'll get SO close to it that we will be spooked out of apathy and into action. The Billionaire class has NO IDEA how hard we are going to come for them when we get power back, and any billionaire apologists in democratic leadership will suffer the same fate as the fuckers they cover for...It just feels like SO MANY important pieces are in place or being put in place right now. This year and a half has not been 'passive'...Even a shift in the gestalt is a kind of movement and I'd argue an essential first step that everything else grows from
I do like the idea of hope. That's why I implore people to jump their voter suppression hoops right now...especially in unreconstructed state-based regimes of terror.
Now also keep in mind...a lot of the people who hate us also have hope that the minorities they hate will be destroyed. It's our job to outnumber them at the polls.
Right on all counts. Dems do need to be angry, but channel it at the right people, like trump and his regime, and channel it to bring about something better for the nation. They also need to express joy, in spite of the bad things that trump's regime is doing to the nation. Mostly, they need to bring back hope that we will build back better, as VP Harris said.
"far too many men on the left have an issue with this"
Too many on the left have an issue with a lot of things, frankly. The idea that no one can have any joy in their life as long as others are oppressed (and in far left land everyone is either oppressed or oppressor) is a big reason IMO the politics get almost no traction outside Jacobin readers. Even if you have sympathy for the cause, people hate being lectured and even *more* hate being blamed for issues over which they have no real control (like the manner in which land was appropriated in this country, to name just one). To the extent that those at MAGA rallies seem to be having a good time, it's underpinned by a seething, not-totally-inappropriate rage at the failures of our political and professional elite to care for the country and do what's best for it, instead of what's best for them. So, speaking for myself, joy is a hard sell-I can't be really joyful while incompetent misanthropes try to shred my country, it feels false, but I can have HOPE that things will be better (like the old Obama poster said!)
I've been focusing on the future lately in a very deliberate way. Nine years ago my dad died, then the pandemic hit, then mom died a couple of years after that. I've made mistakes and have been dragging them around with me, feeling unable to act other than directionless survival. Not that I've been in deep, dark greif the entire time, but I do feel like I've finally laid that down. Like I've woken up from something. And now I remind myself the way is forward. The past is indeed behind me, and my actions must be guided by future plans. My mistakes must be rectified, learned from, and then put to bed. But I no longer feel overwhelmed by them.
I hadn't really put a word to this yet, but it is 'hope.' I hadn't felt it about myself in a long while.
Here's to you Mr Robinson, enjoy the rest of the festival!
Thank you! We're back in PDX now, but some day will do the full two weeks (perhaps when the kid is in college). We did get to close with David Byrne, which was a treat for me!
I’ve heard his show is amazing, but haven’t made it yet.
Thanks for your shining a spotlight on my emotion of hope, it had been so long since I felt that way about my future.
But I do.
If you haven’t spent time on the WWOZ streaming platform, I suggest it to everyone who enjoys New Orleans music. It’s particularly great during the holidays, if you like holiday music but are sick of the same 200 tracks on repeat that you hear eveywhere.
"...imprisons him in a dismal hell hole through a set of actions arguably more legal than Trump’s mass deportations." LMAO.
One thing you notice with Trump rallies is this idea that they’re the slobs fighting against the snobs and the slobs have more fun—they’re not hobbled by political correctness (liberals may say that’s because they just want to be openly bigoted, but Trump fans truly believe they’re not bigoted, they just don’t like having their language policed by their betters), they’re not consumed by elite worries like eating the right foods or wearing the right fashions, they’re not consumed find Trump amusing (for some reason) and go to be entertained while liberals go to rallies to be orated to by boring focus grouped politicians.
Much of that characterization is wrong (try insulting rural folk and see who enforces speech codes) but our side could certainly benefit from having more fun and making our efforts entertaining. Fighting battles with pre-Trump tactics isn’t going to work.
And just maybe we shouldn't insult rural people either.
My experiences at the last two No Kings rallies were quite entertaining. The frog costumes alone were enjoyable, and everyone seemed to be having a fine time. Lots of music and dancing going on. Plenty of speechifying but no ranting and raving to be seen.
I think you are dead on about the open bigotry on the right. They seem to be quite upset to be reminded that racism isn't cool, and that the US isn't perfect.
I'm not entirely convinced that hope is more powerful than anger, given the past miserable decade.
And I think anger needs to be central to the 2028 democratic campaign. Anger at Republicans for everything they've inflicted on the rest of us. Anger at the needless death and suffering. Anger at their blatant cheating and rigging of the political system. All of that is widespread and entirely justified.
It could be just me, but a campaign that doesn't at the very least acknowledge that anger and promise actual accountability (and, yes, fucking punishment) and tries to run on good vibes only is just going to piss me off more.
The Democrats have really bad Nice Guy Syndrome. I want elected Democrats that hate Republicans at least as much as Republicans hate the rest of us.
Tim Walz is a nice guy. But when I want someone to figuratively beat the piss out of that circus freak Vance, I’ll take strong over nice any day.
Yeah, exactly. Like I said, I want elected Democrats who hate Republicans like Republicans hate the rest of us.
I still maintain that Kamala Harris's campaign momentum faltered when the Grima Wormtongue Democratic Campaign consultants convinced them to stop making fun of the Trump campaign as 'weirdos' who were obsessed by their petty grievances and hatred of We the People not doing things they approved of.
We were smiling, we were happy, we were mocking them to their faces.
There is NOTHING Authoritarians fear more than ridicule.
It also for a moment demonstrated strength and a “we are the fun ones” vibe. Then they dropped it and here we are.
Yeah. The Dems have terminal Nice Guy Syndrome.
Worse, all too many of the Dem consulting class (looking at YOU 'Third Way' ) are dead certain that the way to victory lies with pushing 'Republican-Lite' policies.
The Republicans assiduously support and listen to their base; the Democrats routinely underbus theirs. Then they blame us for 'lack of excitement'
The Dem consulting class is about 15 years behind voters in their idea of "electability". It's why Graham Platner steamrolled Janet Mills-anger is actually a big part of his campaign, and a clear willingness to not back away from a fight.
“In retrospect, Kamala’s Joy Campaign was a mistake, the 2028 Democratic nominee needs to be angry. JD Vance surely will be angry.”
Angry, and lonely. Everyone does hate Vance, which is why my early pick for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination is Marco Rubio. He's been tucked away at the State Department, far removed from Trump's most unpopular decisions (unlike Vance), sucking up to the Supreme Leader and making few if any enemies among The Base...
Rubio would lose even harder than Vance...He MIGHT be the only republican contender with LESS charisma than Vance.
Right! Of course, the last Republican presidential candidate with any charisma at all was Ronald Reagan. That's why I think any candidate the Democrats nominate will be elected in 2028, but I have no guess at all as to who the lucky winner will be...
If Schumer and Jeffries have their way it'll probably be Liz Cheney or fetterman.😣
Ruh-roh! That's exactly the reason I have no faith in Schumer or Jeffries. I'm one of those lifetime Democrats who tells pollsters that they don't trust the party, but will continue to vote Dem because the GOP has been taken over by right-wing nut jobs. If Cheney or Fetterman were on the ballot, though, I would have to reconsider my position...
Same. If either of those two are on the ballot (or God forbid they try to make a Manchin presidency a thing) it would be hard…
It's gonna be a zinger!
Especially now that there IS some hope...SOMETHING feels different. This administration feels weaker than I could have expected...The SENSE that I get is that we know we are not in a position to strike right now, but that once the power dynamic tips JUST A LITTLE, we will go in for the kill on SO many levels and on so many fronts. We are at the edge of a precipice...One of two things will happen...We will either go over the edge into oblivion, or we'll get SO close to it that we will be spooked out of apathy and into action. The Billionaire class has NO IDEA how hard we are going to come for them when we get power back, and any billionaire apologists in democratic leadership will suffer the same fate as the fuckers they cover for...It just feels like SO MANY important pieces are in place or being put in place right now. This year and a half has not been 'passive'...Even a shift in the gestalt is a kind of movement and I'd argue an essential first step that everything else grows from
I do like the idea of hope. That's why I implore people to jump their voter suppression hoops right now...especially in unreconstructed state-based regimes of terror.
Now also keep in mind...a lot of the people who hate us also have hope that the minorities they hate will be destroyed. It's our job to outnumber them at the polls.
Right on all counts. Dems do need to be angry, but channel it at the right people, like trump and his regime, and channel it to bring about something better for the nation. They also need to express joy, in spite of the bad things that trump's regime is doing to the nation. Mostly, they need to bring back hope that we will build back better, as VP Harris said.
The happy warrior isn't NOT angry...just sayin'!
The whole "that's my secret, cap. I'm always angry." Bit in the avengers was unintentionally prescient.
Anger faces outward, oddly enough, so does hope... Hopelessness OTOH faces inward.
Anger and hope are a tag team!
"far too many men on the left have an issue with this"
Too many on the left have an issue with a lot of things, frankly. The idea that no one can have any joy in their life as long as others are oppressed (and in far left land everyone is either oppressed or oppressor) is a big reason IMO the politics get almost no traction outside Jacobin readers. Even if you have sympathy for the cause, people hate being lectured and even *more* hate being blamed for issues over which they have no real control (like the manner in which land was appropriated in this country, to name just one). To the extent that those at MAGA rallies seem to be having a good time, it's underpinned by a seething, not-totally-inappropriate rage at the failures of our political and professional elite to care for the country and do what's best for it, instead of what's best for them. So, speaking for myself, joy is a hard sell-I can't be really joyful while incompetent misanthropes try to shred my country, it feels false, but I can have HOPE that things will be better (like the old Obama poster said!)
I've been focusing on the future lately in a very deliberate way. Nine years ago my dad died, then the pandemic hit, then mom died a couple of years after that. I've made mistakes and have been dragging them around with me, feeling unable to act other than directionless survival. Not that I've been in deep, dark greif the entire time, but I do feel like I've finally laid that down. Like I've woken up from something. And now I remind myself the way is forward. The past is indeed behind me, and my actions must be guided by future plans. My mistakes must be rectified, learned from, and then put to bed. But I no longer feel overwhelmed by them.
I hadn't really put a word to this yet, but it is 'hope.' I hadn't felt it about myself in a long while.
Here's to you Mr Robinson, enjoy the rest of the festival!
Cheers!
Thank you! We're back in PDX now, but some day will do the full two weeks (perhaps when the kid is in college). We did get to close with David Byrne, which was a treat for me!
I’ve heard his show is amazing, but haven’t made it yet.
Thanks for your shining a spotlight on my emotion of hope, it had been so long since I felt that way about my future.
But I do.
If you haven’t spent time on the WWOZ streaming platform, I suggest it to everyone who enjoys New Orleans music. It’s particularly great during the holidays, if you like holiday music but are sick of the same 200 tracks on repeat that you hear eveywhere.
*𝗧*𝗛*𝗜*𝗦* x a jillion!