20 Comments

abigail Tracy had some good strong points about the media world and how Biden particularly did not take advantage of it, being too 'pure'. BUT she spoke a bunch of B.S. about the Democrats' policy. and Reed, you too about the 'great sucking sound' of globalisation. True, BUT have you bothered to notice the amount of on-shoring and private investment in manufacturing in the US that Biden's policies and legislation have got, in the past two years? Billions in investment and jobs (often in red states, where the legislators take credit for the impact of the bills they voted against.)

So yes, Biden did not brag enough, and Harris did not defend their economic policy as well as she should have, but it's simply not true that the policies were bad. Bidenomics ended the 'trickle down' myth that Reagan and his successors have followed, and that Trump and Musk are going to bring back in spades.

The Dems' policies were very much geared to the little guy. Abigail echoed the complaint of youth that they don't have health care - BUT under Biden-Harris, the number of Americans WITH health care is the highest it has ever been (and way higher than it is about to be under Trump when they gut the Affordable Care Act.)

Solve the problem of the low-information voter with Fox poisoning, but don't add to the misinformation while you're at it.

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Remember that reed is a republican who still worships reagan and if you read history and documents released in 2014, reagan, Oliver north, Rupert murdoch, we're the laying out of strategy to start the lying to America. He does not have any room to preach at anyone. He helped start the Trump train

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I was 4 years old when Reagan was elected. 8 when he was reelected. I do remember those Sundays, though, when they’ve have me to the White House to ask my opinion on Soviet defense policy.

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I had a feeling you were just a little guy back then. Good grief. Not sure of all the squalling I am reading. There is indeed a lot of poisoning going on. Let's just not poison ourselves. As always, thanks Reed.

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The Democratic Party must have new leadership if things are going to change. It has to be the party of the people, and that is going to require leaders who are not in the pockets of corporations and billionaires. Right now, I like the voices of AOC and Jasmine Crockett. They are young fearless fighters. That is what we need to bring life back to a demoralized party who feel fear and hopelessness. We need righteous voices to lead and inspire.

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I would just like someone to speak the truth. We lost simply because people in this country don't pay attention, don't do research and just vote how they are feeling in the moment. Our media environment is fractured in a way that most aren't hearing anything we say. Reckoning? They said the same after 2004. By 2006 we won back both houses and in 2008 elected our first black president. All that has to happen now is for them to see what they have wrought and they will be voting for Democrats immediately thereafter.

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I live in Wisconsin, am Chair of the Democratic County Party in Ozaukee County . We were one of only four counties in Wisconsin that did not go more red..we actually moved 1.6 points more blue. Our folks worked hard and beat one of the worst Republican State Senators in Wisconsin.

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I’m tired of trying to find something or someone to blame. Too many people did not vote and there is no explaining the deprived reasons that MAGAmaniacs tolerate their leader. This is what 1/3rd of our country is. It is

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Fucking sad

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How to tell them, then? Particularly when they seem to be incapable of listening.

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I sent my 42 yr old son emails of links to read with the goal of helping him be a more informed voter. He refused to discuss the topics raised, and in fact, used whataboutism and denial and then put downs and told me to 'eff off'. I blocked him from all social media and my phone. Have not spoken with him since a month prior to the election.

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The right wing media has more influence and the American Oligarchs more power. They pushed a narrative of grievance with Trump. I think the dumbing down of the electorate has more to do with Trump's narrow win. They quickly forgot Jan 6th, the classified docs, and apparently enjoyed stories about sharks, batteries, Palmer's putter and fellating a microphone. Sure, dems can take some blame, but I put MORE blame on the sheer ignorance and racism of too many Maga morons.

It could also be that the guy who claimed it was 'rigged' against him got help from Putin/Musk and used all that voter suppression to his advantage to 'rig' it for himself. So no, I won't put ALL the blame on democrats.

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Exactly. By all rights, by everything I believe in, the imposter Republicans should be dead and buried. Stop thinking they are or should be - they are not - stop raging (like 90% of Substack) and get to work. Have the conversations, go back to grass roots strategies and organizing, which Dems used to own. Marketing 101: a) demonstrate value; b) don’t let the competition define your product. Importantly, with all the focus on the chaos in DC, and low turnout in state races in 2025, take a page out of the Rove manual and invest some money and steal some seats.

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The issue I see is that Democratic leadership would have to take 4 steps that they're wholly incapable of/unwilling to do:

1) Dump their current leadership ranks and appoint new leaders who have won in red states, and/or those who possess actual communication skills.

2) Dump their ineffective, tone-deaf 7-figure strategists, who work exclusively in DC or NY, and who literally have zero idea what actual people want/need from government. There are grassroots activists who've spent (unpaid) years on the ground mobilizing voters. Hire them.

3) Drop the incrementalism strategy...it's both ineffective and cynical.

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My apologies sir

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Never mind.

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To paraphrase General Patton, this is what he might have said about fighting Trumpism:

“I'D RATHER HAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN FRONT OF ME THAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEHIND ME.”

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For me, right now, Robert Reich makes more sense. He also has 637 comments. Interesting. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-billionaire-takeover-and-the

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The Sliver spoon Ike and his buddies really knew how to use American bodies to feed the war machine. So many lessons not learned. “Send in another Division.”

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“It’s the economy…” blah, blah, blah. Democrats should embrace the power of fiat currency, educate all Americans on the source of our economy (spoiler alert, it’s not the f’n market), and crush republicans by providing national resourcing strategically by focusing on voters’ lives. I completely agree with your assessment here! Damn the f’n neofascists, neoliberals and billionaires, full speed ahead MOFOs!!

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