Democrats know how to govern; there’s no two ways about it. Democrats created Social Security, the Minimum Wage, Unemployment Compensation, the GI Bill and dozens other programs that created the great American Middle Class and generations of prosperity.
Republicans created the Great Depression, the Savings and Loan Crisis, Watergate, Iran/Contra, the Great Recession and, not least of all, 9/11, whose aftermath has been absolutely catastrophic – on a global level.
So when it comes to government, it’s clear that Republicans are no damn good. But they’ve been great at winning elections – ya gotta hand it to them. Democrats, on the other hand, are great at governing. But when it comes to winning elections… well, not so much.
Here’s my take on it: Democrats’ approach is generally intellectual, with logical, fact-based argument on issues. Republicans? They’re about, simply, survival. It’s “Vote Republican… or die.” And it works well enough for them to win, despite the incompetence, corruption or sheer stupidity. (See Tommy Tuberville.)
Governing is logical. Elections should be… but they’re not. At least not anymore. I’ve said for years that “emotion trumps logic, and tribe trumps everything.” That’s exactly what played out in the 2024 elections – elections which quite possibly might be the last legitimate elections we see in our lifetimes, by the way.
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I think the 800-pound gorilla in the room that few people are talking about is branding. In short, branding is how you “feel” about a product – it’s the gut-instinct that really drives decision-making and it’s not a conscious thing.
Democrats really don’t get this. Trust me – I’ve tried talking to them and they look at me as if I have three heads. But they’d better start getting it – and fast – or we’ll all be even more fucked that we are already.
I contend that building a winning brand will be a three-step process:
- Identify your target audience, an audience that comprises over 50% of the American population.
- Formulate issue positions and messaging that appeals to your target audience.
- Identify, recruit, train and promote brand ambassadors who “speak the language” of the target audience. I’m talking “rockstars” here, and you know one when you see one. They’re out there. We just need to find them… and get them the exposure they need.
How do you do this? You can start by asking first, not telling. Jonathan Stone, a brilliant political mind I’ve had the pleasure to know, has summed up the problem perfectly: “Democrats listen… with their mouths.”
This must end. Now.
Governing is logical. Elections should be… but they’re not. At least not anymore.
Rehabilitating the Democratic brand won’t easy. And if it can/should be done, it won’t happen overnight. There’s been a lot written about how Democrats underperformed in the social media space in the 2024 elections. Without minimizing the importance of social media one iota, let me say right here that if you have a brand that doesn’t connect with your audience, all the exposure in the world won’t help you.
You’ve got to build the brand first. Otherwise, you’re shooting yourself in the foot by reinforcing branding that doesn’t work.
So… what to do? Like… right now?
My contention is that Republicans win on “tribe.” They do this by making those opposed to them “other,” in one way or another. Well, we can do the exact same thing, and it’s something we can do immediately. We don’t need to wait for the inauguration. We don’t need to wait for Congressional hearings (if they even happen.) We don’t need to wait for the chaos, disruption and fear that will be the inevitable result of MAGA policy.
We can start tomorrow. And the beauty of it is that we don’t have to lie, mislead or exaggerate. All we need to do is tell God’s honest truth and it should be enough to freak the shit out of anybody with half a brain.
Let’s try it on for size:
Tulsi Gabbard (National Intelligence Chairman): Oh, you mean the one who was (and might still be) member of a cult that literally worships the ground the leader walks on, including eating his toenails? Or the one who is suspected of being a Russian mouthpiece by defending mass-murdering dictator Assad in Syria? Or the one who’s spreading Russian disinformation on Ukraine? You know, “Aloha” means both “hello” and “goodbye.” Let’s see if Republicans have the guts to say the right “aloha,” and not put this wacko in charge of America’s deepest secrets.
Got it? Let’s try a few more:
Pete Hegseth (Sec’y of Defense): Oh, the Christian Supremacist who wants the Bible to be the law of the land? Or is he the Fox News host who paid off a woman who accused him of sexual assault? Answer: He’s both! A dessert topping and a floor wax! (For you youngies out there, that’s from a very old SNL episode.)
Pam Bondi (Attorney General): Oh, is she the Florida Attorney General who dropped the case against Trump University after Trump gave her an illegal $25,000 campaign contribution? Or was she the Florida Attorney General who was a 2020 election denier? Take a guess. Either way, you’re right!
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (Sec’y of Health and Human Services): Oh, is he the anti-vaxxer who said his college grades got better after he started taking heroin? Or is he the one who claimed that COVID-19 was part of a “government plot” to “enslave Americans?” Or is he the one who dumped a dead bear cub in Central Park? No… wait. Isn’t he the one with a dead worm in his brain?
You get the idea. Any time a Republican comes up in conversation, you need to ask,”Oh, is he/she member of the party that wants to [fill-in-the-blank]?”
There are lots of possibilities here: The party that wants to take your Social Security money and “invest” it? The party that wants to rob you of your health care? The party that wants to force women to bear the child of their rapist? (P.S. – They’re already doing that.) Or are you talking about the party who thinks billionaires should make even more money? Or is this the party that thinks child sex-trafficking qualifies you to be Attorney General?
Republicans are really, really weird, yes. Drive it home. But they’re worse than weird – they’re fucking dangerous. How dangerous? Well, like it or not, we’re about to find out.
I think Walz hit on the “weird” thing accidentally, but if executed properly, I think it could resonate. In any event, I think it’s a start as a way to “other” Republicans, something that’s worked very well for them when it comes to Democrats.
So let’s get creative. And let’s all have a good laugh at them… while there’s still something to laugh about.
