As unsatisfying as this may sound it may very well be a case of don’t interrupt your enemy while they make a mistake. For all intents and purposes this stupid shit last week was a wet fart, it accomplished nothing and has had minimal if any cultural impact. Had the Dems organized something it could’ve metastasized into a culture war issue resulting in it becoming something more notable. Trump thrives on attention good or bad, so unless necessary it’s better to ignore him.
Either that or the party is out of touch and internally gridlocked, regardless the effect is the same.
This is the strategy Democrats took and the result was a complete and total inability to resist Trump at any turn and the total destruction of the Administrative state.
Honestly this seems more like uninformed capitulative hand wringing, the exact kind which has resulted in Democrats being somehow less popular than Trump.
While I agree with you that in many ways it’s the way Dems have fucked up against Trump this isn’t one of them. Pretty sure fucking cholera is more liked than the dumbass fest that happened at the Whitehouse. Also let’s be honest here theres a good chance if they did do something beyond a couple statements against this shit they’d probably find some way to piss everyone off, probably by rolling out Chuck Schumer to say some stupid insane shit.
When it comes to Trump youve gotta know when to take Proaction, inaction, and reaction and which one is best appropriate. Frankly the best time to have dealt with Trump was the immediate aftermath of Jan 6th where he should’ve been drawn and quartered, now we are in a situation where we are waiting for the Reaper to do his good work.
Also let’s be honest here theres a good chance if they did do something beyond a couple statements against this shit they’d probably find some way to piss everyone off, probably by rolling out Chuck Schumer to say some stupid insane shit.
I mean, what you are describing to me is an insane level of capitulation, to the point I read it as consent. If this is going to be what the Democratic party represents, they don’t deserve voters and no one should vote for them. The strategy you are outlining is a blind alley strategy, in that there is no way back from it other then to reverse course entirely. Its deeply cynical, ineffective, and acts against Democrats ability to build back power long term. We can’t ignore the fact that both a) you are right in the sense that rolling over and showing their bellies is the strategy that Democrats have taken, and that b) this has been an utter and complete disaster and has only served to entrench and empower fascism.
And we see that this strategy has also been deeeply unpopular with voters. We only need to look as far as Mamdani and the DNC primaries to see everything about how mainstream Democrats have conducted themselves is very unpopular with their base. Democrats like Schumer are the least popular they’ve ever been, and if this:
now we are in a situation where we are waiting for the Reaper to do his good work.
Is the degree of political strategy you can come up in this moment, you probably shouldnt be in the work of politics.
Frankly what I’m describing is mostly focused on the federal level and specifically the old guard who I think are fundamentally incapable of dealing with Trump. On the state and local level that’s an entirely different question which varies wildly depending on regional factors, but for example Mamdani is extremely effective against Republicans in general since he is actually trying, it’s the same reason why the progressive caucus is able to somewhat bite back. Best that can be done as of now on the federal level is gridlock Congress, states and local should be actively fucking with the feds and any international shit IMO for example California should pull out of anything to do with the Olympics and schedule all the roadwork in LA while working to sabotage it further.
Also I was mostly sticking to the whole ralley thing, my bias against rallies, parades, and ceremonies cannot be overstated. It’s a blind spot that I am very aware of but I can’t really correct for since I see it as a form of braggartry, it’s to the point my friends joke that I would’ve skipped my own birth if it was possible hence why I was a C-section so it could be over with the fastest instead. Point is my default response to the concept of an oppositional ralley isn’t protest, counter rallies, or even statements it’s to call it profligate and to consider it a target rich environment.
I’m describing is mostly focused on the federal level and specifically the old guard
Totally agree and understand.
Mamdani is extremely effective against Republicans in general since he is actually trying
Agree but I think “rationalizing” this is missing why its effective.
whole ralley thing, my bias against rallies, parades, and ceremonies cannot be overstated. It’s a blind spot that I am very aware of
Same. I’ve worked as an organizer for decades and can’t stand these things. I’m very much so from the anarchist/ direct action tradition and have always and will always just prefer taking actions to address the issues we identify. If people are hungry, feed them; if people are unhoused, house them: you do not need to ask for permission.
However, I guess I don’t see the connection between visibility politics and your broader thesis. I mean its not like Schumer is avoiding visibility politics (which I think is you’re suggesting to be the reason why Mamdani has been effective?). Schumer is doing a form of visibility politics, but one which entirely misses the issue. What is winning or moving the ball down the field is resistance politics, which you seem to be advocating against at a national level, because your argument is that the Schumer’s of the world aren’t competent at it, so they shouldnt try.
As unsatisfying as this may sound it may very well be a case of don’t interrupt your enemy while they make a mistake. For all intents and purposes this stupid shit last week was a wet fart, it accomplished nothing and has had minimal if any cultural impact. Had the Dems organized something it could’ve metastasized into a culture war issue resulting in it becoming something more notable. Trump thrives on attention good or bad, so unless necessary it’s better to ignore him.
Either that or the party is out of touch and internally gridlocked, regardless the effect is the same.
This is the strategy Democrats took and the result was a complete and total inability to resist Trump at any turn and the total destruction of the Administrative state.
Honestly this seems more like uninformed capitulative hand wringing, the exact kind which has resulted in Democrats being somehow less popular than Trump.
While I agree with you that in many ways it’s the way Dems have fucked up against Trump this isn’t one of them. Pretty sure fucking cholera is more liked than the dumbass fest that happened at the Whitehouse. Also let’s be honest here theres a good chance if they did do something beyond a couple statements against this shit they’d probably find some way to piss everyone off, probably by rolling out Chuck Schumer to say some stupid insane shit.
When it comes to Trump youve gotta know when to take Proaction, inaction, and reaction and which one is best appropriate. Frankly the best time to have dealt with Trump was the immediate aftermath of Jan 6th where he should’ve been drawn and quartered, now we are in a situation where we are waiting for the Reaper to do his good work.
I mean, what you are describing to me is an insane level of capitulation, to the point I read it as consent. If this is going to be what the Democratic party represents, they don’t deserve voters and no one should vote for them. The strategy you are outlining is a blind alley strategy, in that there is no way back from it other then to reverse course entirely. Its deeply cynical, ineffective, and acts against Democrats ability to build back power long term. We can’t ignore the fact that both a) you are right in the sense that rolling over and showing their bellies is the strategy that Democrats have taken, and that b) this has been an utter and complete disaster and has only served to entrench and empower fascism.
And we see that this strategy has also been deeeply unpopular with voters. We only need to look as far as Mamdani and the DNC primaries to see everything about how mainstream Democrats have conducted themselves is very unpopular with their base. Democrats like Schumer are the least popular they’ve ever been, and if this:
Is the degree of political strategy you can come up in this moment, you probably shouldnt be in the work of politics.
Frankly what I’m describing is mostly focused on the federal level and specifically the old guard who I think are fundamentally incapable of dealing with Trump. On the state and local level that’s an entirely different question which varies wildly depending on regional factors, but for example Mamdani is extremely effective against Republicans in general since he is actually trying, it’s the same reason why the progressive caucus is able to somewhat bite back. Best that can be done as of now on the federal level is gridlock Congress, states and local should be actively fucking with the feds and any international shit IMO for example California should pull out of anything to do with the Olympics and schedule all the roadwork in LA while working to sabotage it further.
Also I was mostly sticking to the whole ralley thing, my bias against rallies, parades, and ceremonies cannot be overstated. It’s a blind spot that I am very aware of but I can’t really correct for since I see it as a form of braggartry, it’s to the point my friends joke that I would’ve skipped my own birth if it was possible hence why I was a C-section so it could be over with the fastest instead. Point is my default response to the concept of an oppositional ralley isn’t protest, counter rallies, or even statements it’s to call it profligate and to consider it a target rich environment.
Totally agree and understand.
Agree but I think “rationalizing” this is missing why its effective.
Same. I’ve worked as an organizer for decades and can’t stand these things. I’m very much so from the anarchist/ direct action tradition and have always and will always just prefer taking actions to address the issues we identify. If people are hungry, feed them; if people are unhoused, house them: you do not need to ask for permission.
However, I guess I don’t see the connection between visibility politics and your broader thesis. I mean its not like Schumer is avoiding visibility politics (which I think is you’re suggesting to be the reason why Mamdani has been effective?). Schumer is doing a form of visibility politics, but one which entirely misses the issue. What is winning or moving the ball down the field is resistance politics, which you seem to be advocating against at a national level, because your argument is that the Schumer’s of the world aren’t competent at it, so they shouldnt try.