Using their only real leverage to extract some concessions: good.
Messaging like they’re desperados in a gunfight with Trump when he barely remembers their names, instead of using the moment to effectively communicate to voters a narrow pro-worker agenda guided by deep principles and not data firm triangulated bullet points: bad.
Publicly talking about giving up before they get anything at all, because they have no spine: bad.
Not publicly talking about doing whatever it takes, and instead trying to approach Trump and radiating weakness the entire time they do it: bad.
Not making Trump send his designated negotiator to come to them, like someone with leverage does: bad.
Inevitably folding before they get anything of substance: bad.
Do you remember when Democrats briefly tried to message to the youths on social media and recorded that terrible “choose your fighter” montage because video games, and all it served to do was communicate how deeply out of touch they are at a Pokemon Go to the polls level? They even roped AOC into it. I’m confident she thought it was a terrible idea but went along with it to make nice and maybe because she was just happy they were trying literally anything. And then it disappeared immediately because of the above and they just gave up completely after that? And now poor 110-year-old Bernie is out there trying to engage with voters practically single handedly, except when AOC joins him, while the animated corpse of Chuck Schumer imagines he’s playing 8D chess but coming across like Milton from Office Space.
As was the case last time a government shutdown was talked about, Trump wants the shutdown! Using their leverage to shut the government down could be great for Trump and bad down democrats. There is a risk that you are ignoring by saying these things.
Fact is, since the last time the government shutdown was talked, Trump’s approval ratings have absolutely tanked. Would that have happened if Democrats used their power and to get some concession? It’s entirely possible Schumer made the right decision last time to not shut the government down.
Now in this case, Trump has done something that is in no way defensible and democrats should be rallying around shit talking Trump. But instead, we completely ignore Trump’s bullshit and complain about party leaders.
How about instead of complaining about Democrats not using their tiny amount of leverage that very easily could backfire, we instead do something that will hopefully result in Democrats gaining more seats and giving real leverage.
Edit: just to drive the point home, Trump was at -1 according to economists when Schumer decided not to shut the government down in March. He went down to -10 within the month. He’s at -17 today.
If the government was shut down, all bad things would be blamed on democrats and Trump would have his scape goat.
Let me break it down.
Using their only real leverage to extract some concessions: good.
Messaging like they’re desperados in a gunfight with Trump when he barely remembers their names, instead of using the moment to effectively communicate to voters a narrow pro-worker agenda guided by deep principles and not data firm triangulated bullet points: bad.
Publicly talking about giving up before they get anything at all, because they have no spine: bad.
Not publicly talking about doing whatever it takes, and instead trying to approach Trump and radiating weakness the entire time they do it: bad.
Not making Trump send his designated negotiator to come to them, like someone with leverage does: bad.
Inevitably folding before they get anything of substance: bad.
Do you remember when Democrats briefly tried to message to the youths on social media and recorded that terrible “choose your fighter” montage because video games, and all it served to do was communicate how deeply out of touch they are at a Pokemon Go to the polls level? They even roped AOC into it. I’m confident she thought it was a terrible idea but went along with it to make nice and maybe because she was just happy they were trying literally anything. And then it disappeared immediately because of the above and they just gave up completely after that? And now poor 110-year-old Bernie is out there trying to engage with voters practically single handedly, except when AOC joins him, while the animated corpse of Chuck Schumer imagines he’s playing 8D chess but coming across like Milton from Office Space.
Bad example, Milton basically won Office Space.
All those things are bad… in your opinion.
As was the case last time a government shutdown was talked about, Trump wants the shutdown! Using their leverage to shut the government down could be great for Trump and bad down democrats. There is a risk that you are ignoring by saying these things.
Fact is, since the last time the government shutdown was talked, Trump’s approval ratings have absolutely tanked. Would that have happened if Democrats used their power and to get some concession? It’s entirely possible Schumer made the right decision last time to not shut the government down.
Now in this case, Trump has done something that is in no way defensible and democrats should be rallying around shit talking Trump. But instead, we completely ignore Trump’s bullshit and complain about party leaders.
How about instead of complaining about Democrats not using their tiny amount of leverage that very easily could backfire, we instead do something that will hopefully result in Democrats gaining more seats and giving real leverage.
Edit: just to drive the point home, Trump was at -1 according to economists when Schumer decided not to shut the government down in March. He went down to -10 within the month. He’s at -17 today.
If the government was shut down, all bad things would be blamed on democrats and Trump would have his scape goat.
https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker