Not only are they playing small to win over this imaginary centrist voter, they’re not even offering them anything of value! Where’s the aspiration? The moon shots? I AM that mystical, magical voter Carville and co are making millions trying to pander to. This document offers nothing to me.
Equal rights should be a given. I know America isn’t there yet, I get it. But the left should have that as a pillar, a sort of “are you kidding me; of course we’re for equal right rights!” piece to the platform. Trans kids in sports? Literally two people object. Let the kids play, ffs! People also forget that restricting players by gender also means that 1000s of cis girls currently playing on boys teams in rural areas will be locked out. And just to entertain a cynical POV, all HS sports are tryout-based. Want to make sure your kid makes the cut? Make sure they’re putting in the work. Bathrooms? Our only concern should be that people wash their hands.
Also, no one wants to read a 59-page policy paper. Facts tell, stores sell. If you can’t fit it on a bumper sticker, you need new messaging. The GOP has, for better or worse, mastered this.
Good housing, good roads, good healthcare… for *everyone.* This isn’t hard.
Thank you for your post. Very informative. I’ll be having a conversation with Mr Carville in January. I’ve printed the 59 page report & I hope he addresses a few questions the report has raised. 👍
Perfectly said, Lawrence. If protecting queer and trans lives is seen as a liability, then the liability isn’t the message. It’s the party that’s lost its compass.
If the DNC abandon trans people (or possibly the larger LGBTQ+ community) that would be a critical mistake. The fact of the matter is, at the national level elections are often won on somewhat razor thin margins. The trans community is about 1% of the adult population. The larger lgbtq+ community is somewhere between 5% and 10% of the population. What do they think the effect of alienating that entire block of voters will be. Not only that, LGBTQ+ individuals (especially the trans people) are much more likely to vote than the general population (which you can see from the US Trans Survey).
They are playing electoral politics for the centrists in about the dumbest way possible.
I am convinced they do not want to win for some reason beyond the scope of what anyone here can likely determine. It’s the only thing that makes sense (even with how much it doesn’t seem to make sense to us). I know for sure the Democratic Party is not and will very likely never be a progressive party. It’s time to put energy and effort into a longterm strategy to build an opposition party to MAGA authoritarianism and white supremacy outside of the Democratic establishment.
I endorse this argument as a straight, white senior who has fought since I was a teen for everyone different from me to have the same opportunities and treatment as me.
Same here! Senior but NOT againg gracefully because I'm tired of the shit going down and I'm reenergized, because they have awakened the Young Lion inside me that's always fought bullies, embraced ALL my brothers and sisters regardless of color, race, sexual identification or religious/non-religious beliefs who are good humans, forever protecting kids and animals, no questions ask! People, BOTH parties have been so compromised and infliltrated by sucklings of the Corporate Oligarch Teats, we just need to call them what they have become, the UNdemocratic Party and the UNrepublican Party, TWINSIES!!! Carvel is an ancient relic who is out of touch and still fighting with a plastic knife in an AR-15 gun fight! It ain't gonna work, Greatgrandpa, have some more applesauce and play Bingo! I am so disgusted by what hippocrites the so-called leadership of the UNdemocratic party are, that memo Lawrence writes about throwing gays and trans lives under the bus for votes is just another slide into the bizzaro-world alternate universe we have morphed into. How fucking UNdemocratic was it when the UNdems didn't even bother to have a real convention, no discussion, no fight, just annote someone as the UNdemo candidate picked by the brainless trust current UNdemocratic ruderless Cabal. The American voters saw through that shitshow and it a) pissed them off ; b) showed them UNdems couldn't be trusted bc they lied about Biden's health and state of mind; c) Schumer, Pelosi and the rest of the over the hill Baby Boomers Club once again pushed aside young emerging leaders, alienating a whole lot of young folks, especially young males; d) their message to the voters and platform was a clusterfuck of trying to give everybody some kind of preferential "gift" if elected, nebulous and unfocused. Pick the 3 most important issues, not to the party BUT TO THE PEOPLE, get your shit together and develop an inclusive, concise and honest strategy, and FIRE YOUR GROSSLY INCOMPETENT POLITICAL CONSULTANTS! People need to vote for good candidates, vote out arrogant/evil assholes starting at the local levels, because change is NOT coming from the top, and reclaim either or both parties from Project 2025 loyalists and the Tech-Bro Billionaire Space Race Set. Only then will things get better and truely turn around.
I'm saying this as a Dem, Lawrence. White male Dems who are thinking this is a winning formula tend to be of a certain age. Much like sellouts and disappointments like Glenn Greenwald, Bill Maher, Matt Taibbi and Ezra Klein, they are pining for a time where they could be kingmaker. As opposed to the out-of-step has-beens who refuse to acknowledge the world has moved on without them.
Their "strategy" is for an America that no longer exists. Calling them out and ignoring any "advice" is the vital first step for meeting the moment. The minority groups who count us deserve no less.
NOT acceptable, just incase anyone was asking, lime we need to ask, no more janky deals that just suck to read in history, this has got to be a victory like no o e has ever experienced, if we dont include everybody, how the hell can we help anybody. just saying, we cant be affraid of our humanity while we stand against injustice and democracy. arent we all humans being? sorry... had a thought
They don't want to change the status quo. They don't have any ideas, let alone any original thoughts, they're all stuck in the 80s in some fucked up fever dream, just like trump. Anyone not white, male, 'straight,' and xtian is a threat to that...especially anyone who has the audacity to point it out, the truth tellers are often also the marginalized, fuck them all. They're past their use by date. Listen to the marginalized people, every single group of people that has been shut out, and stomped on by the system, those with lived experience, past and present, for our future is at stake. These guys have passed their use by date, let's put them out to pasture.
What a great essay Lawrence!! You said exactly what the Democrat party needs to hear so clearly and decisively. The frustration that I feel with our party is it's reluctance to take a moral stance and just hold it. We need our leaders to stand for something. Period! Right vs wrong. Moral vs immoral. All this focusing on consultants and wishy washy stands so we don't offend the other side equals not standing for anything!! Enough!!
Damn you make a lot of sense. I’m a moderate. I think the whole republicans do a good job of making it like being for trans rights your against women. You’re woke. They try to paint trans as weird being around children. That’s what they do on Fox News they make it that. Like they always talk about drag queens reading to kids. Why are they doing that is the question. So these polls consultants see that and they get nervous. I’m sure you saw the they them ad for Trump. How’s that working for Americans now???
I think if you misgender you shouldn’t be villafied for it. There’s a difference in making a mistake not knowing a pronoun and overly trying to misgender. If I see someone is trans I will say her if that’s the gender they prefer. Some trans still prefer him. And sometimes if you get a pronoun wrong you’re not anti trans. I don’t know what some people identify as. But I fully support the trans and gay movement. It’s sad to me when you see Trans isolated. All trans people want to do is feel included and have rights. The moderates can’t allow republicans to bamboozle them about politics. So you are right. Trans in sports took over trans rights which was a joke. Like to say well Trans are in sports see they aren’t good people be anti trans. That was just ignorant. So the issue became in the media trans are in sports get them out. And it became trans bashing. When the issue should’ve continued to be trans rights. I think Democrats could’ve done a better job of bringing it back to that.
Let’s support gay people and trans people. But let’s make sure we recognize and take care of the trans phobia in the gay community against trans people. It does happen.
And as Democrats let’s make sure we continue to fight for trans rights and gay rights. I think Kamela got bad information when they didn’t think it would be a good idea for mayor Pete to be her vice president running mate. It might have cost her the election. I think next election cycle that won’t happen again and Democrats will pick the best candidates and not think about sexual orientation.
This is why I left the Democratic Party and changed my affiliation to independent. A lifetime of voting democratic, donating to candidates and the DNC and volunteering and now I’m a persona non grata because of Dems greed and cowardice. Time and time again the Dem party has thrown Trans people under the bus, including my own Senators and they don’t even bother to respond to my calls and emails anymore. Then, when I dare to say this out loud I’m attacked by centrist Dems as being a myopic disloyal traitor to all things good and holy. Just done with them. Trump has taken away my rights, my healthcare, my future, my safety and my security all while Dems stood by and watched. No thanks Dems, I’ll watch it all burn before I support a Party with zero integrity and honor.
Lawrence, How the fuck do the UNdems think this OK, acceptable and a "winnable" strategy? How out of touch are these self-important delusional morons? I want the names of their Political Strategists, bc their are either grossly incompetent or in bed with the Tangerine Palpetine! Nobody Gets Left Behind, regardless of race, religion, LGBTQ or ethnicity!
Bruh, I am going to assume you are addressing them and not me. Indeed, we cannot eat ourselves and finger point. My argument is that is what Plouffe, Axe, and Carville are doing by trying to throw LGBTQIA+ folx under the bus. Demonizing queer people and leaving us undefended is not an inspiring strategy, nor, I would argue, will it be effective.
Not only are they playing small to win over this imaginary centrist voter, they’re not even offering them anything of value! Where’s the aspiration? The moon shots? I AM that mystical, magical voter Carville and co are making millions trying to pander to. This document offers nothing to me.
Equal rights should be a given. I know America isn’t there yet, I get it. But the left should have that as a pillar, a sort of “are you kidding me; of course we’re for equal right rights!” piece to the platform. Trans kids in sports? Literally two people object. Let the kids play, ffs! People also forget that restricting players by gender also means that 1000s of cis girls currently playing on boys teams in rural areas will be locked out. And just to entertain a cynical POV, all HS sports are tryout-based. Want to make sure your kid makes the cut? Make sure they’re putting in the work. Bathrooms? Our only concern should be that people wash their hands.
Also, no one wants to read a 59-page policy paper. Facts tell, stores sell. If you can’t fit it on a bumper sticker, you need new messaging. The GOP has, for better or worse, mastered this.
Good housing, good roads, good healthcare… for *everyone.* This isn’t hard.
Thank you for your post. Very informative. I’ll be having a conversation with Mr Carville in January. I’ve printed the 59 page report & I hope he addresses a few questions the report has raised. 👍
Perfectly said, Lawrence. If protecting queer and trans lives is seen as a liability, then the liability isn’t the message. It’s the party that’s lost its compass.
If the DNC abandon trans people (or possibly the larger LGBTQ+ community) that would be a critical mistake. The fact of the matter is, at the national level elections are often won on somewhat razor thin margins. The trans community is about 1% of the adult population. The larger lgbtq+ community is somewhere between 5% and 10% of the population. What do they think the effect of alienating that entire block of voters will be. Not only that, LGBTQ+ individuals (especially the trans people) are much more likely to vote than the general population (which you can see from the US Trans Survey).
They are playing electoral politics for the centrists in about the dumbest way possible.
I am convinced they do not want to win for some reason beyond the scope of what anyone here can likely determine. It’s the only thing that makes sense (even with how much it doesn’t seem to make sense to us). I know for sure the Democratic Party is not and will very likely never be a progressive party. It’s time to put energy and effort into a longterm strategy to build an opposition party to MAGA authoritarianism and white supremacy outside of the Democratic establishment.
I endorse this argument as a straight, white senior who has fought since I was a teen for everyone different from me to have the same opportunities and treatment as me.
Same here! Senior but NOT againg gracefully because I'm tired of the shit going down and I'm reenergized, because they have awakened the Young Lion inside me that's always fought bullies, embraced ALL my brothers and sisters regardless of color, race, sexual identification or religious/non-religious beliefs who are good humans, forever protecting kids and animals, no questions ask! People, BOTH parties have been so compromised and infliltrated by sucklings of the Corporate Oligarch Teats, we just need to call them what they have become, the UNdemocratic Party and the UNrepublican Party, TWINSIES!!! Carvel is an ancient relic who is out of touch and still fighting with a plastic knife in an AR-15 gun fight! It ain't gonna work, Greatgrandpa, have some more applesauce and play Bingo! I am so disgusted by what hippocrites the so-called leadership of the UNdemocratic party are, that memo Lawrence writes about throwing gays and trans lives under the bus for votes is just another slide into the bizzaro-world alternate universe we have morphed into. How fucking UNdemocratic was it when the UNdems didn't even bother to have a real convention, no discussion, no fight, just annote someone as the UNdemo candidate picked by the brainless trust current UNdemocratic ruderless Cabal. The American voters saw through that shitshow and it a) pissed them off ; b) showed them UNdems couldn't be trusted bc they lied about Biden's health and state of mind; c) Schumer, Pelosi and the rest of the over the hill Baby Boomers Club once again pushed aside young emerging leaders, alienating a whole lot of young folks, especially young males; d) their message to the voters and platform was a clusterfuck of trying to give everybody some kind of preferential "gift" if elected, nebulous and unfocused. Pick the 3 most important issues, not to the party BUT TO THE PEOPLE, get your shit together and develop an inclusive, concise and honest strategy, and FIRE YOUR GROSSLY INCOMPETENT POLITICAL CONSULTANTS! People need to vote for good candidates, vote out arrogant/evil assholes starting at the local levels, because change is NOT coming from the top, and reclaim either or both parties from Project 2025 loyalists and the Tech-Bro Billionaire Space Race Set. Only then will things get better and truely turn around.
Yup, yeah and yes.
I'm saying this as a Dem, Lawrence. White male Dems who are thinking this is a winning formula tend to be of a certain age. Much like sellouts and disappointments like Glenn Greenwald, Bill Maher, Matt Taibbi and Ezra Klein, they are pining for a time where they could be kingmaker. As opposed to the out-of-step has-beens who refuse to acknowledge the world has moved on without them.
Their "strategy" is for an America that no longer exists. Calling them out and ignoring any "advice" is the vital first step for meeting the moment. The minority groups who count us deserve no less.
I hope that the consultants’ ghastly memo will gather dust and be ignored by the party.
NOT acceptable, just incase anyone was asking, lime we need to ask, no more janky deals that just suck to read in history, this has got to be a victory like no o e has ever experienced, if we dont include everybody, how the hell can we help anybody. just saying, we cant be affraid of our humanity while we stand against injustice and democracy. arent we all humans being? sorry... had a thought
They don't want to change the status quo. They don't have any ideas, let alone any original thoughts, they're all stuck in the 80s in some fucked up fever dream, just like trump. Anyone not white, male, 'straight,' and xtian is a threat to that...especially anyone who has the audacity to point it out, the truth tellers are often also the marginalized, fuck them all. They're past their use by date. Listen to the marginalized people, every single group of people that has been shut out, and stomped on by the system, those with lived experience, past and present, for our future is at stake. These guys have passed their use by date, let's put them out to pasture.
What a great essay Lawrence!! You said exactly what the Democrat party needs to hear so clearly and decisively. The frustration that I feel with our party is it's reluctance to take a moral stance and just hold it. We need our leaders to stand for something. Period! Right vs wrong. Moral vs immoral. All this focusing on consultants and wishy washy stands so we don't offend the other side equals not standing for anything!! Enough!!
Damn you make a lot of sense. I’m a moderate. I think the whole republicans do a good job of making it like being for trans rights your against women. You’re woke. They try to paint trans as weird being around children. That’s what they do on Fox News they make it that. Like they always talk about drag queens reading to kids. Why are they doing that is the question. So these polls consultants see that and they get nervous. I’m sure you saw the they them ad for Trump. How’s that working for Americans now???
I think if you misgender you shouldn’t be villafied for it. There’s a difference in making a mistake not knowing a pronoun and overly trying to misgender. If I see someone is trans I will say her if that’s the gender they prefer. Some trans still prefer him. And sometimes if you get a pronoun wrong you’re not anti trans. I don’t know what some people identify as. But I fully support the trans and gay movement. It’s sad to me when you see Trans isolated. All trans people want to do is feel included and have rights. The moderates can’t allow republicans to bamboozle them about politics. So you are right. Trans in sports took over trans rights which was a joke. Like to say well Trans are in sports see they aren’t good people be anti trans. That was just ignorant. So the issue became in the media trans are in sports get them out. And it became trans bashing. When the issue should’ve continued to be trans rights. I think Democrats could’ve done a better job of bringing it back to that.
Let’s support gay people and trans people. But let’s make sure we recognize and take care of the trans phobia in the gay community against trans people. It does happen.
And as Democrats let’s make sure we continue to fight for trans rights and gay rights. I think Kamela got bad information when they didn’t think it would be a good idea for mayor Pete to be her vice president running mate. It might have cost her the election. I think next election cycle that won’t happen again and Democrats will pick the best candidates and not think about sexual orientation.
This is why I left the Democratic Party and changed my affiliation to independent. A lifetime of voting democratic, donating to candidates and the DNC and volunteering and now I’m a persona non grata because of Dems greed and cowardice. Time and time again the Dem party has thrown Trans people under the bus, including my own Senators and they don’t even bother to respond to my calls and emails anymore. Then, when I dare to say this out loud I’m attacked by centrist Dems as being a myopic disloyal traitor to all things good and holy. Just done with them. Trump has taken away my rights, my healthcare, my future, my safety and my security all while Dems stood by and watched. No thanks Dems, I’ll watch it all burn before I support a Party with zero integrity and honor.
They don’t realize no one wants MAGA lite.
Lawrence, How the fuck do the UNdems think this OK, acceptable and a "winnable" strategy? How out of touch are these self-important delusional morons? I want the names of their Political Strategists, bc their are either grossly incompetent or in bed with the Tangerine Palpetine! Nobody Gets Left Behind, regardless of race, religion, LGBTQ or ethnicity!
Bruh, I am going to assume you are addressing them and not me. Indeed, we cannot eat ourselves and finger point. My argument is that is what Plouffe, Axe, and Carville are doing by trying to throw LGBTQIA+ folx under the bus. Demonizing queer people and leaving us undefended is not an inspiring strategy, nor, I would argue, will it be effective.