This morning, driving to work, I listened to Mississippi Public Radio airing a current interview with a senior official in the national Democratic Party. Asked what he recommended to his colleagues and candidates in next year’s elections, the gentleman offered a scripted, rehearsed reply: “Well, we could litigate…recommend Congressional tax relief…..they asked me to make a speech at……”
Lord, have mercy. He had no clue, reminding me of James Carville’s initial disastrous faux pas, stating that Democrats should just “play possum” (!) until Trump burns himself out and Americans wake up to the colossal mistake of having put a transparently incompetent Chief Executive again in the Oval Office.
Not useful. None of this is wise advice, so we are on track for yet another humiliating presidency, staffed by Trump’s picked henchmen, unless some of the less-radical but media-savvy younger Democratic strategists prevail with what most 8th graders know: Get on as many national media as possible, throw very heavy coin at the blitz, and keep doing this for the next three years, if Trump lasts that long in office. Pound the message home!
We must have health care at reasonable cost, be able to buy food and supplies without taking out loans, and access to lower cost credit so more of us can purchase homes. And here’s HOW:….. Shout solutions!
Only by drenching all markets with the urgent message that WE HAVE THE SOLUTION!! for these monetary and welfare issues will Democrats succeed in coming elections beyond short term, reversible gains. Get your faces and voice out there daily, ladies and gentlemen, that’s what wins elections.
If we see and read about you enough, you’re fairly decent looking, and speak coherently and precisely to address what actually matters to the voting public, you will win. Sticking to traditional election plans which the majority of voters never hear about - do you actually monitor ongoing litigation in DC as much as sports scores?
Most U.S. voters do not have college degrees – 40% at best estimate have schooling beyond middle or high school. Of those who do possess them, not enough vote consistently to sway elections; some have actually bought into Trumpism in all its disastrous ramifications.
The current Supreme Court majority, having abdicated all pretense of upholding Constitutional balance in government, has anointed this presidency with super-regal powers, which the incumbent wallows in and pushes for more.
Meanwhile, over 80 men have been burned to death in small boats in the Caribbean, running drugs to America as a way to feed their families under dictatorship. Hegseth’s “Department of War” has abandoned interception as deterrence and “kill ‘em all!” is now the MO.
Ukraine continues to gallantly resist Vladimir Putin’s desire for a restored Russian hegemony, and incredibly, the American President after months of protracted kow-towing, says he “has no idea what Putin is doing….” and has bowed to all the Kremlin’s demands, in expectation of making considerable post-war profit, once the smaller nation is carved up.
In Mississippi, alas, well over 60% of citizens have zero education beyond the minimum required to graduate 12th grade or gain a GED. Reliable polls still show at least 30% of Americans adhere to the hard core MAGA story line, despite more than ample evidence that it includes racism, tolerance for corrupt officeholders who may throw some crumbs our way, and blatant indifference to suffering of “working poor” households where parents scramble to buy children’s shoes.
The mystery is why so many of these very voters still support Donald Trump ardently, clinging desperately to a chimeric fairytale of Big Daddy who promises all but delivers only embarrassment and disaster.
We love to believe in simple, hero-provided solutions, but resist anything requiring a look at hard reality or change. A more educated public is key, but there is need for action NOW, as the slip-slide away from democracy accelerates.
Democratic would-be’s, GET IN THE NEWS daily, weekly, constantly, overwhelmingly. Or accept more of the same.
Linda Berry is a Northsider.
