Legislation doesn't matter in a dictatorship. The #1, #2, #3, #4 priorities have to be preventing Trump from becoming a dictator. Other than Pritzker, Newsom, and a handful of others what are Democrats doing about that? Step one is clearly, loudly raising the alarm.
I don't see Newsom doing much other than platforming right-wingers on his podcast and hiring a social media team that posts dank memes. Asking Charlie Kirk of all people for advice on trans legislation is abhorrent.
This was the most important speech of the year. He also didn't ask Kirk for advice. And he is delivering 5 House seats. 23 Democratic governors, 15 Democratic trifectas. Where is everyone else? www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wlO...
He's not delivering anything. It has to go to a popular vote first. He has very little control over whether it actually happens. Either he asked Kirk for advice or he already agreed with Kirk's transphobic position. I'm not sure which is worse but I know I won't vote for him in the primary.
Newsom said trans in sports was a matter of "fairness." Same thing Buttigieg said. Where's the Never Pete movement?
But he didn't stop there. He also said gender affirming care should be limited to people over 25. He's speed running down the slippery slope to the Republican position on this issue.
When did he say that? He did this: calmatters.org/health/2022/...
Yes, he did some good stuff back then, before he decided his Presidential campaign would do better if he kicked trans people around.
It was something he and Shawn Ryan agreed about on Ryan's podcast. www.erininthemorning.com/p/newsoms-bi...
Of course he has a role in getting it done. He is the one who proposed it. Built the legislative support. Then is the leading advocate and face of the effort to get the amendment passed.
Thank goodness for Newsom and Pritzker. Our almost VP Walz has been out holding meetings, as well. @chrismurphyct.bsky.social is out there, as is @aoc.bsky.social and @crockett.house.gov . But that’s a really small showing. ALL s/b loud about all the authoritarian things happening. Daily!
And now Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The good news is the cream is rising to the top. The bad news is the cream is very thin. Most Democrats are in hiding waiting to see where the winds blow when they emerge in 2026 or 2028. The problem is there may not be a 2026 or 2028 because of the cowardice!
I agree. Wes Moore has risen to the challenge, too. They should jettison political consultants who say - let them impl their agenda & we’ll win in ‘26. There’s no guarantee there will be a free & fair (or any) election in ‘26. They’re playing by old rules in an environment that no longer exists.
Pollsters are backward looking. Remember how bad the polling was on immigration? Then Van Hollen took the initiative and Trump's numbers have never recovered on immigration. Leadership matters. You can never imagine Schumer or Jeffries doing what Van Hollen did.
Agreed. I acknowledge they are smart men , but, their instincts and the strategic advice they’re getting is all wrong for this moment. After 7 mos that must be clear to them at this point. Again, I think the resistance shd have started in Nov because this was all spelled out in p2025..clearly.
Yep that makes it worse because they had the playbook in front of them. Newsom and Pritzker don't emerge as these stars in the summer if Schumer and Jeffries had been leading the charge since January.
Agreed. I read about Bills- nice in a normal session-this isn’t that. I will scream if I hear leadership has written 1 more “strongly worded letter”. Look to Pete Buttigieg for msging. Maybe Congr DEMS need 1 strong spox DAILY pointing out - soldiers in streets, Agencies being destroyed fr within.
They have some good communicators like Raskin, Crockett, Goldman, Murphy, AOC but none of them are in top House or Senate leadership roles. You need Schumer, Jeffries to lead the charge or step aside.
💯 and I tell them that in every phone call … several times a week. Why the DEM leadership wasn’t in conferences starting the day after the election est a strategy instead of public pronouncements “we will work across the aisle to find common ground” is a mystery. It shd have been full on obstruction
Jeffries' DC office doesn't even take phone calls (Schumer's does). What a joke 🤣.
I’ve gotten through to Jeffies staff many times. He and Schumer have had many successes, I’m sure, but, they are not the leaders for this time. And if they truly revere the Constitution & democracy they should step aside from their leadership positions- for the good of the country.