One of the single most mystifying and frustrating things about scrolling through the Democrats’ response to President Donald Trump’s speech last Tuesday night was the outpouring of support for Texas Rep. Al Green and – this was the really hard part, the criticism that more Democrats should have followed Green’s example or that they didn’t do something equally mischievous. Sorry, but from the single most basic pragmatic view – stuff that matters to get votes and then enact policies – actions like Green’s protest and the Democrats’ support not only do nothing to move the ball but always invite a fumble. Were that not bad enough, Democrats have no guiding light, nothing concrete, no principle on which to organize. “Trump opposition” or even “The Resistance” is not a movement, nor cause. It is not something to believe in. And it’s really past time for Democrats to have figured this out after the November spanking. They need rebranding. They need to give Americans a reason to dream for more.
Before we get to planning something around which to build an identity, it’s best to finish off what’s been a disastrous week for Democrats (Though the SCOTUS did put the Trump administration back a step.) Let me just set aside all partisanship momentarily to note that people – including Americans – don’t really like awkward pauses or needlessly embarrassing protests, especially in a staid or respectful forum like the US Congress. Remember how you felt upon hearing the “You lie!” scream directed at Obama? How about MTG yelling at Biden? So why would you think that moderate swing voters would feel any differently about Green? Moreover, the little signs look like bingo cards and reek of pettiness, even lack of imagination. As a group, they are not doing this right. Despite this very very obvious fact, influencers on social media the next day lionized Green and chastised other Democrats for not finding their own means. But this isn’t a purity test, nor is it one of brute strength. No, it’s a skills exam designed to measure how quickly one gets from beginning to end. If your actions don’t move you forward, they suck – no matter how pure your motivations, no matter how daring your actions.
So what do Democrats need to do? I am not as good at building up a plan as I am knocking the sh*t out of the current configuration. But they do need a brand. They need what amounts to a “Project 2026” but with a cooler name, update the graphics – I am being serious. This would only work if it is founded on no more than three simple things and at least two of those three better relate to Americans’ economic health, since the economy is near the sole driver of politics nowadays, at least in the mushy middle. I support our transgendered community 100% – but for every tweet, interview, in which I see trans-athletics debated, I want to see two segments on the hourly wage of that trans-teen athlete makes at her first job because the Democrats raised minimum wages (Which elevates all hourly work). Rightly or wrongly, Americans vote for their economic best interests. If you are going to lose, do so with a massive plan to improve Americans’ economic well-being. And it has to be simple.
Such a plan would have to consist of something akin to, “1. Bigger pay checks, 2. Better schools, 3. Easy healthcare” and call it the three-step path to “A Country with Community” or something equally inane and banal, yet catchy, I am literally making this up as I go so don’t expect it to be good. Allow yourself to think about what might come out of a three day weekend organizing conference, not my actual examples.
Moving on, once they have some kind of “brand” it’s best by far to actually buy into it, heart and soul. Start thinking about various ways to move money down the ladder to grow pay – Bernie is particularly good at this (Minimum wages, unions, higher scales for overnight, or four hour shifts… ), set out exactly how you want to improve schools (National baseline requirements for teachers, web-based programs to partner with schools across the country… ) And then “Easy Healthcare” – something tying every single American to an entry point into the system, an obvious starting block. I don’t know. Literally, I do not know. I don’t know the cool brand name, I don’t know the first three steps, I don’t know how to implement the first three steps – I only know that what I’ve set out above is better than what they’re currently doing, which is essentially nothing. Distributing little hand signs before a speech doesn’t count.
Oh, and it’s not like I am asking anyone to reinvent the wheel. There are Democrats out there doing exactly what needs to be done – they just need broader support and a much more focused message. Rep. AOC just offered to go to any deep red district whose GOP Rep. wasn’t holding townhalls to avoid voters and she would talk to them. She even noted they might not agree on anything but thought it worthwhile to meet with them. As summarized by Grok, Ocasio-Cortez stated:
“Listen, if your representative is not doing a town hall, give me a ring… I’ll say it right here, right now: if a deep red Republican district wants to have an honest conversation, even if it’s with someone they disagree with, I’m willing to do that.”
This comment was made in the context of discussing GOP-led proposals, such as an $880 billion cut to Medicaid, which she argued would provoke public backlash and push Republicans to dodge constituents.
.@AOC: "Listen, if your representative is not doing a town hall, give me a ring… I'll say it right here, right now: if a deep red Republican district wants to have an honest conversation, even if it's with someone they disagree with, I'm willing to do that." pic.twitter.com/jcWg6yVBmr
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) March 7, 2025
For purposes of the outreach to red districts, brand it as “We’re Buying Coffee” or something – inviting Republican voters, aka “Americans,” to just talk – calm the tone down beforehand with some quirky invitation. Or do it 10 times better than I just laid out – just do it.
And there are others. Bernie Sanders is going to red districts and just “districts” to talk to people upset about government cuts and the slouch toward autocracy. Rep. Jasmine Crocket, Swalwell, Raskin, and Sens. Murphy, Kelly… the list isn’t endless, nor even all that long. Try to conjure up a Democratic senator that has been making news lately with something important – lasting. It is not possible. (Incidentally, I might start a “Draft Sen. Mark Kelly for President” movement myself – lots of crossover appeal, American hero husband to Gabbie, astronaut, doesn’t sound like a politician, if you are a military test pilot who can land a space shuttle, you can probably handle issues as they come up in the White House.) The whole point is that something very simple must be done and be done everywhere, make it impossible to avoid and impossible to not consider. Bigger paychecks, better schools, easy healthcare – It should roll off people’s tongues and they should be able to see a logo and colors to help it stick. After all, when the tweet below hits a little too close, has a bit too much of a burn to it, you know the reason:
Democrats are resisting Trump by singing, interpretive dancing and, oh no, not another podcast pic.twitter.com/n5Np9rUirD
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) February 28, 2025
But brand it! The whole “Project 2025” became nearly ubiquitous in the 2024 campaign. So, find something akin to it – or even copy it but make it something that voters want. Put the three step plan above in place. Create a logo, a cool font, colors, give it an “X” account, put it on Instagram, drop stuff two times a day – hire a spokesman. I don’t care. I don’t know how to do these things, I only know how not to do them and that’s simply inaction of the type that got everyone here in the first place. The only thing worse is looking like dumbasses holding up little signs during a speech.
To the extent any of this helps the DNC or anyone, the bill is $2.5 million in consulting fees. My entire team took weeks to assess where things stood and… The sad part is that it took an hour and there are thousands better at this than me.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and on twitter-X at @JasonMiciak, and follow now on Bluesky.
Friends, we are struggling to make ends meet. It’s not just us, it’s industry wide. There are star hosts being bumped on MSNBC as we speak. (Joy Reid and Alex Wagner) So if you can afford a small donation or a monthly subscription, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Ursula
Al Green’s actions were perfectly in line with Republican ones during Obama and Biden speeches. It only invites a fumble because you have idiots like the 10 voting for censure who tut-tut people willing to fight.
So you are wrong. Al Green was right. Illegitimate occupants of an office also do not deserve deference. Trump is an illegal President because he not eligible to hold office.
As we speak? Surely there is enough fuel here for the know how guys in th eengine room to get going?
How about, starting by “threatening” to PRIMARY the DINO’s, that KEEP VOTING with Trump’s, Anti-Amerikan MOB!” Seriously, Dem’s MUST GET FIERCE….MOST of YOU, look LAME/WEAK! Jefferies “NEEDS to put a Progressive in CHARGE.”
WTF has been going on with Hakeem Jeffries? I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s trying to disappear into Witness Protection but come on! He is smart, articulate, comes across both in person and on TV as dynamic and forceful (or used to) yet we barely hear from him. He’s got zero interest in (or if he does knows it ain’t gonna happen) becoming President himself so he’s a natural choice to be the “Face of the Party.” That’s the first thing that has to happen. SOMEBODY with clout and backing of most elected leaders and donors has to grab the goddam reigns and then do what you say. Lay out a straightforward, plain language agenda.
Creating a simple message isn’t that hard. And if something doesn’t seem to be getting through then recognize it and try something else. Americans agree with Democratic positions on most things. Wages. Reasonable common sense gun control like background checks. Access to healthcare. Lowering the cost of living. Yes, equal rights and opportunity for all matter but most of us worry like hell how to make it through financially every month. We are scared as hell of a major injury or illness and the fact that even with health insurance we can be bankrupted. We want to be safe in our homes and if we go out in public, and if we have kids or grandkids that those kids can go to school and not get murdered by some asshole with a gun. People want good roads and bridges that won’t collapse.
People WANT the services govt. provides, but of course they don’t want to pay for it. Or any more than they absolutely have to. The money is there but it’s concentrated in too few hands because for four decades (plus) it’s been funneled to increasingly few people. Education is vital to being able to succeed in life and that has been steadily eroded. (On purpose by the GOP) With education comes opportunity, and that’s what most Americans believe in and want – a fair and equal shot at being able to earn a living and with it a home, the ability to take a vacation now and then and being able to retire with some security.
What they do NOT want to hear about is all this Trans stuff. I’ve known gay people since I can remember as my uncle was gay. He was a complete, stuck-up asshole but his partner Fred was a really nice guy. I’d know gay people in school too. It was tough for them and just as for blacks and other minorities they had to put up with so much unfair shit I’ll never “get” how much so. But in large part because of sports Trans stuff is eating up way too much of the fucking conversation. I don’t have a problem with transgender men who complete a sex-change and have settled into hormone therapy that makes them functionally women. I do have a problem with those who play sports but are still guys competing against women. In most sports they simply have an unfair advantage. That’s a fact. Democrats have spent way too much time and political capital defending it. I know I’m going to get flamed for having written that but you can’t help people who actually are of one gender trapped in the wrong body to transition if you don’t have power – and a solid hold on it. We let the GOP turn it into a weapon of mass distraction. Just like we did with “Defund the Police.”
The bottom line is what has been stated already. Elections are won and lost mostly based on how people are doing, and/or feeling when it comes to the economy. They want to know someone is fighting to get them a fair wage, to keep businesses/corporations from SCREWING them, that education is free or at least affordable so they/their kids can have a fair shot. They believe in a set of ‘rules of the road’ that apply to everyone, or at least the majority of Americans do. There is a disturbingly high percentage of people who think opportunity is for white males only (straight of course) but as I said the majority of Americans believe in equal OPPORTUNITY for all. Even for helping out those who’ve fallen on hard times or need a little assistance to get and hold a job. That last one is tougher because it involves some nuance and we are too dumbed down as a country, and most people have too much to deal with to grasp and deal with nuance.
But first and foremost we need a charismatic leader who can start making the simple points that have been talked about. The GOP is openly putting it’s “junk” on the table with a big wooden mallet like the comedian Gallagher used in his act. We need someone willing and able to, every time Trump and the GOP does it pick that thing up and SMASH them flat. If the DNC wants to concentrate on voter registration and mobilization then fine. However if you don’t give people something to vote FOR that’s wasted money and effort. So for god’s sake will SOMEBODY with real gravitas that can be seen and liked (or at least paid attention to) step the fuck up and LEAD?
A simple thing that everyone can do right now is to write a postcard this week which we will all mail on March 15 and should reference the “Ides of Trump.” Use your sharpest wit to write your sincerest ill wishes that might pierce Donald’s famously thin skin. The White House should be inundated with thousands of post cards. If you have appropriate ones left from the last election, use them. Send to:
President (for now) Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500