The thing about the Republicans and the oligarchs…they are willing to play the long game. The abortion wedge issue started in the 70s. They worked for decades to capture SCOTUS. They worked years to get Citizens United across the finish line. Meanwhile, Democrats work in two year cycles.
Because we’re not zealots. While we’re watching our children grow up and spending time with family and friends, and trying to become better humans, the republicans are meeting and scheming every night in some church or American Legion hall. We need to start paying our effective organizers.
We also don’t have a good non-religious replacement for community-building. A lot of churches are a whole social life and community in addition to the religious aspects, plus a captive audience that can be influenced to both believe and take action in certain ways. We’re too fragmented.
That's why taking it all back is important not to mention that thing called THE CONSTITUTION!!!!!!!!
Still trying to go high when Reps go low, I suppose
If the sources behind Thomas Frank's 'What's the Matter with Kansas?' (2004) are to be believed, the abortion issue traces back even further into the 50s. IIRC from the book, abortion only became a wedge issue in the first place because of the GOP merge with trad Christianity in 50s Wichita.
I’ve read a lot of books on the topic and it seems that it really hit the ground running in the late 70s with the movement to elect Reagan. They needed a wedge issue to push evangelicals away from Jimmy Carter.
Totally fair! The overall point is absolutely valid and extremely frustrating. Watching the establishment Dems play games in days when the GOP plays games in decades is deeply defeating. Honestly, for the lot of us, it's just proof that the Dems don't care enough to put real effort in.
Dems are the sucker fish on the shark.
Exactly.
Correct…
Democrats also have the EC to deal with, which has ALWAYS favored conservative states. We also have a purity problem where GOP tend to ALWAYS vote red no matter who it is. It's always going to be easier for Republicans.
Then we’re truly screwed?
Exactly. And they can play the long game with the economy too. By that I mean they will scoop up all the things at rock bottom prices and wait it out. They profit from recessions and war. Weirdos.
Yes, this! They've been doing this for 40+ years & most of it has been out in the open, no hiding, no shame. And as progressives, we're still on our heels operating from a place I fear in which we'll never recover.
And that cycle is: 1) Surrender ("compromise") 2) Apologize (shift further right) It's not so much an organized political party as a white flag production and vigorous waving syndicate. 🤦♀️
Exactly! His first term I read an article about Putin plays the long game & it chilled me to the bone.
Read about Why Democrats Don't Fight The Class War needs to start inside the Democratic Party biggovernment.substack.com/p/why-democr...
The GOP is always putting party over country. But the dems' "let everything fall apart so we can win the next election" attitude also places party over country. And they wind up losing both.
Do we have such a wedge issue?
So true
💯 Democracy in chains... Really since the beginning, concerted efforts since slavery was challenged, then "intellectualized" since the 50s.
Yes
Yes
When your goal is greed and false truths it is very easy to to okay the long game.Toeing the line is apparently no longer in fashion. No one cares if you have morals or common sense and actually care about the country.They only care about who you hate the most.
Hell, an historian could probably make the case that they've been plotting this since FDR.
There was actually a plot to kidnap FDR out some such.
This is absolutely the truth.
Democrats trust the Constitution. Republicans, at least the ones since Obama was elected, don’t expect to be bound by the Constitution or any other rules or laws.
Democrats trust decorum, norms, and social contracts. So blindly that they can’t handle the reality that the rules are optional now.
Going high while these assholes go low obviously isn't working. I'll agree with you there. Now it's time to also go low, but I don't think the dems are capable of such a thing. Even as we are losing democracy.
I think that's the most frustrating thing. Add in that because the Democratic party is a truly big tent party, it NEVER accomplishes the things that the majority of the people want. We are constantly dealing with "Blue Dog" Democrats (they're now rebranding as "centrists") who sabotage things.
The primary objective of the political right is to monopolize power and wealth of the country. Instilling servility in the population, they've gutted public education, crushed organized labor movements through campaigns of force and propaganda and weaponized right wing medias against its enemies .
The right wing goal is nothing short of complete ownership. Christian nationalists, tea party activists, white supremacists are the tools they use to agitate discord, distrust and seperation among the lower classes to prevent their unity, while the rich divide the countries wealth and capital.
and the Heritage Foundation have been working behind the scenes for decades.
So has Putin.
I’d like to know how they are financed. Is it all donations?
Yep
I saw this for years and knew how important to have a Democrat president to pick the SCOTUS justices because of abortion, citizen’s united and our freedoms. Koch brothers set sights on GOP state legislatures elections and up federal levels. Biden needed to set SCOTUS years to Europe 15.
It’s easy to form a long game plan when the end goal is to benefit a small number of individuals with an identical common cause. Not so easy when the goal is to benefit an entire diverse society that is often fickle, impatient, and quick to turn on each other.
The GOP represents groups who know how to close ranks and stick together. If the Dems seem chaotic it’s because they represent a chaotic population who can not seem to come together for a common goal. Dem voters keep blaming dem reps but those dem reps are a reflection of their constituents.
We need to get tougher 👍
Spot on Jess...and now they have it, or close to it, they will not suddenly grow a conscience, adopt ethics, or soften their hearts.
Exactly. Where's the Democrat Federalist Society? Our wedge issues? Our podcast bros and podcast ladies? Our international collaborators? Nothing, just vibes. I'm not optimistic.
The Dems are torn between Polling/Consultants and Donors. They don't really stand for anything much. For example, Medicare 4 All is whispered by voters, hardly ever by Congress Critters. Now if this were a Republican principal they'd shout it from the rooftops day and night, no matter who hated it.
No, they were willing to break laws in buying influence with corrupt attorneys ( the Federalist Society ) and then putting them in position to put on courts and then buy influence with congress members they knew could be manipulated to approve and ignore the corruption by paying for elections.
True, this ^^^
Reagan was the first to push the ball in the long game. I'm happily not from your country, but I have said for decades that it started with Reagan. The more I see, the more I get proven correct.
Yes !!! I always get frustrated when Democrats run for office here in Missouri, when they fail to achieve the office they disappear. Lucas Kunce seemed an exception, he was everywhere Sadly, I haven't seen much of him lately. Hate to say it, but Dems need to campaign ALL the time even after winning.
Democrats have to come in and fix the shit that the Republicans broke
It's not "republicans". It's the entity that now possesses the gop. It used to own slaves. It caused the depression. All the wars. It's the greed of the oligarchs.
Jess, I'm a big fan of yours and I get your frustration but you need a different frame. The "Dems are incompetent" frame is trendy with leftists but it's an R frame and will kill us all. analogue.com/link/george-...
Sadly that’s true
Watch this Video and Repost this on every platform. Every American should be there for our country. Be an Al Green! SHOW UP!! America needs you!! If you have to, sleep in your car or camp out. Carpool. Get there!! youtu.be/B3ct1ckEhZs?...
I remember going to an opening session of MO House in 2012ish, dems on floor milling around, gop goose marched in formation. Kept waiting for zieg heil. Alpha and omega.
It’s kind of impressive. Republicans convinced people who were evangelical Christians (and had made that their whole identity) to literally completely abandon Jesus’ teachings in their entirety over the course of 40 years.
It’s not that they are willing too it’s more like they can afford too. Republicans have turned the White House into a Whore House
Jess, many don’t understand WHY #billionaires are so driven to fund #bans on activities like #abortion that do no harm to others. They push #culturewar bans to divert citizens from protesting THEIR endless grifting. We can’t protest #billionaire #taxbreaks when we’re fighting for our basic rights!
#DopeDems
At this point, I’m not even sure Democrats are working at all
Dems need to harness the anti-billionaire sentiment and campaign to overturn citizens united to stop the corrupting influence of money in politics. A majority is already in favor of a constitutional amendment which can GOTV for Dems in state & federal elections.
Exactly! Also the long game: In a journal article written in 2005, Donald M. Nonini, Professor Emeritus Sociocultural Anthropologist at UNC, makes the case that the USA has been a kleptocratic oligarchy for years. www.jstor.org/stable/23175...
Unlike GOP/oligarchs, the Democrats were not saddled with unpopular ideas/policies (cut taxes on rich, cut regulations on rich) that repel voters. Unable to win fair & square, GOP/oligarchs created the right-wing propaganda machine to manipulate voters. Dems have to find a way to beat propaganda.
To be clear @piperformissouri.bsky.social I agree with you that GOP/oligarchs are masters at using wedge issues to manipulate voters. Just adding they feed the wedge issues into their propaganda machine, which began growing from talk radio, then Fox "News" & now many sources on TV & internet.
100% And the think tanks are scattered and unaligned; media is too insular; there is no overarching strategy; DNC needs a 50 state plan, etc.
Democrats constantly evolve while the GOP cannot.
First, we need to consider whether the Dems are actually the party of democracy. And then reconfigure (out with the old who refuse to progress), and rebrand. Are we an All America party? The American party? The Constitution party?
I believe that JFK wanted to label AIPAC as a foreign agent. Now it owns both sides of US government.
But Republicans also have incredible party discipline. Unfortunately, Democrats pick at each other and don’t do the work. As a county chair, I walked often precincts alone during the last election cycle, but now everyone has a criticism.
The big reason they're able to do that, as seen below. Meanwhile we Democrats have trouble understanding why our candidates are always asking us for money.
Dem voters work in two year cycles. You can’t expect continuous change for the better without giving them the votes to do so. Moving the goalposts every election cycle got us here.
it's a very long game. Here is a long piece I wrote on just the most recent crop of thought leaders in this movement. But it goes back even further to Nick Land, and James Buchanan (not the president) and even further and further if you keep digging. it's a very long game but this is the end.
If that.
And sadly we only have a couple 2 yr cycles at most to stop ‘em!
So very true.
Yep, and once something is settled (they think), they lose interest and move on.
Actually all the oligarchs are Democrats.
And ignore local levels.
Dems need new leadership now.
Thought you might like to read this: dailyyonder.com/qa-adam-fris...
Gonna be raw and honest with my feelings here: this is why I don't think we're going to see a return to the values of a liberal western democracy in my lifetime. Sure, maybe one day, after a lot of struggling, but I don't think many of us will live to see that same sort of long term victory.
I mean, do we even want a liberal democracy back. Liberalism is rooted in capitalism. Restoring it doesn't actually address the diseased root. Maybe it is time for some socialism and abundance based thinking.
I want a system wherein the power of governance comes from the will and consent of the people. Ideally this system would not be built on hate or segregation, something like "all men are created equal." Idk, don't let my bad brain day detract from action. Hope is something you give yourself I guess.
My point is that going back to the system before it was broken leaves the same flaws in place. The house is on fire already. Maybe we throw some more fuel on it to burn it down faster, then clear the rubble (Guillotines will be useful) and create something new based on the mutual well being of all.
Yeah, two years: 1992 and 2008.
This is true.
If that. They react to the narrative instead of being a part of it.
spot on.
True and they do it so politely. A strongly worded letter isn't going to do it anymore. Imagine if the Dems all reacted like AOC or Jasmine Crockett?
The other thing about Republicans is, they all fear Trump. Without that fear to keep them in line, Trump would be in prison now.
I don’t like their politics, but I admire their long game.
Sadly very true
And they had target practice in other countries. But we didn't pay attention 😔 bsky.app/profile/week...
💯😔
Sadly, Dems continue to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The party needs to be rebuilt, starting at the top.
Dems chase every pretty butterfly that comes within sight. Republicans big game hunt and don't get distracted by the squirrels in the underbrush.
Right now, Dems aren't really working at all.
It's diabolical how the GOP plot and scheme. So cheesy and blatant it's like a shitty straight to video movie. I still can't believe so many Americans are fooled by their antics...
Indeed. This didn’t happen suddenly the Republicans began planning a counter offensive in the 70s … it worked. It took years. They took over school boards and library boards. They got elected to local city councils. Then they moved up into state legislatures and into the federal structure.
Truth... and here we are...
I hope you decide to run for office in your state. I bet you’re more dialed in on the issues affecting rural America than most your state legislators. Fight on! ✊
You're right.
Probably because the other side really is a cult. 😣
The propaganda is strong.
Exactly. And in the end, they ARE as out of touch and elitist as accused. Tell the Dino Dems to sit down. Feed the fires that will burn this shit down.
They will spend a couple billion on ads that 60% of the population doesn't see, and another 30% ignores. Do they fund a vetting program to weed out fake Dems? Not a dime.
Have you seen the Hulu series #MrsAmerica ? I am going to rewatch. Some very significant through lines from late 70s to today. The evangelicals joining against the ERA. The gaslighting, power, and control of the group members. And of course the marginalization of women, POC, and LG(BTQ)
No, but I was born and raised an evangelical
Hard to see it all unfold, and to see them become the thing they warned us about.
Extra bonus points that can be redeemed with your therapist if you were Assemblies of God.
😁😂🤣🥲🤧
Really good show on the history of all this, and amazing cast. Cate Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly - perfectly cast. May be time for a rewatch :).
The Heritage Foundation united different groups of ideology for the common good of their movement. Gun rights pro life rights and extreme Christian ideology just to neam a few. Under one umbrella they became very strong.
It is exhausting to have to combat lies, propaganda, corruption, and hate constantly. The Republican Party has taken $79 TRILLION from the 99% to give to the rich & are stealing more. They want everything & they have brainwashed followers to believe this is ok. They are evil & it is exhausting.
So true...
It’s important to understand what this means. Even if the Dems are able to defeat the whole of Trump & MAGA GOP this is the actual threat that ensures cycle repeats itself all over again. A newer better weaponized Fairness Doctrine that eviscerates this negative societal influence in our lives
The Fairness Doctrine had nothing to do with media ownership.
He hates the First Amendment
You’re still arguing on a point that I’m not concerned about.
When I plant my garden, I start with seeds, I use dirt from compost, I never buy my veggie plants. Starting from seed the plant adapts to its environment from the beginning. It takes more time but the work is less later. Democrats need to look at the entire season to understand the future.
But this is why it's so frustrating that people can come up with reasons to vote for them,and some how forget that they have been trying for decades to end Roe, ERA, SS, and to privatize everything. They finally caught their tail.
I'm ready for a new progressive 3rd party. Dem leadership is part of the problem-- it's time to move on.
They’ve got the money and tons of “conservative” think tanks.
To your point, Jane Mayer’s deeply researched book “Dark Money” talks about how the Heritage Fdn. worked for decades to get money into politics, try to upend the ACA, and preen conservative lawyers in law schools who would become judges. Dems didn’t know this was going on until her book came out!
How are orgs like the Heritage Foundation financed? All donations?
Here’s another article where Jane talks about other people funding these efforts: www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1...
Here’s a good article about the Koch brothers who help fund it: www.sej.org/publications...
Heritage people were so pissed at Mayer they targeted her personally, saying she had plagiarized, a false claim which she refuted, proved, and they backed down. The book just shows such a difference in Dem and Rep timelines. Dems are transactional; Repubs (like Putin!) play the long game.
“Mrs. America” on Hulu. Such a good re-telling of women’s issues in the 70’s and the long game the Republican Party is playing. Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schafly. Everyone should watch!!
The blueprints for the RĀPubliCON attack on democracy were laid out in the now infamous Lewis Powell Memo in 1971. The Heritage Foundation was formed contemporaneously in 1971 in accordance with the Powell Memo. scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/powellmemo/
The thing is that the republicans quid pro quo-ed and gerrymandered themselves into comfortable positions which they can sit back and plot. Oligarchs, well they have the luxury of long term planning. Not making excuses, but they are perfectly willing to be unethical and sans morality.
Very true.
And Dem aligned voters get frustrated after a single election doesn't give them everything they want.
You are correct but we're catching up in many places w/our aggressive renewal. I'm sensing their unraveling.
💯. We need to be like Rs, but with empathy.
Keeping Dems off base and reactionary allows them to move incrementally toward their goal of taking over the world. Pinky and the Brain live in Trump and Musk.
Hey… @kenmartin.bsky.social are you listening??? We did not defeat hitler by wearing pink suits, making crafts, and censuring our soldiers. Please start fighting back.
Bingo! 🎯 And we keep losing @kenmartin.bsky.social
Look how @repmoskowitz.bsky.social and the other 9 democrats censored @algreen.house.gov along WITH THE MAGA NAZI PARTY !!! They should all lose their seats in their next elections . Absolutely shameful and outrageous!!! When will they ever effing learn !!! F them 🖕🏼🤬
And now Trump basically has completely turned that upside down. The last thing he is doing is the long game right now. And that’s the reason why he’s going to fail.
Also, the Dems are very good at making concessions. They think they need to compromise to get things done. "We'll give you the Supreme Court if you promise to keep funding Medicare."
Yup the abortion issue. Thanks to the craven timid Pope Paul VI for giving them that one. Humana’s Vitae 1968.
All they have is time and money, because no one lines them.
Spot on as usual, Jess. Time for a new party? The Democrats are as far removed from the party of FDR as the Republicans are from ‘Ol Abe!” Today, it’s ProRussian oligarchs vs. The Rest of Us. Perhaps it’s time for a “Constitutional Party,” or a “We the People Party?”
All true.
What are the "wedge" issues for MAGA? What are the wedge issues for Reagan republicans? I really don't know and am actually curious... makes me wonder if the dems know, either...
If that. Dems can have house, senate, presidency and majority of supreme court and they will still look to give away concessions to republicans that they would never do for dems. All the while dems not cementing policies from reprisal that are fundamental to their platform.
Add to that the issue of geriatric and poor health candidates that are kept in place because certain members can't fathom passing the torch. Which as created problems on both sides of the aisle. Who remember RBJ clinging onto her seat in hopes of see a Hillary win that was not guaranteed?
Playing political chicken with their own party and ultimately giving away a seat to republicans. Specifically Trump. We saw the horrendous re-enactment of Weekend at Bernies with Feinstein being propped up in her severe decline in spite of how out of step she had become with her own constituents.
All because other older members and particularly individuals attached to a more centrist and to be blunt more conservative leaning cliche in the party could dictate her votes for her.
