The Politics Thread

[te.]

Because Biden is obviously not doing well healthwise. By the time they finally got around to adressing that, the primaries had already been done and they were more or less stuck with Harris, despite her not being a strong candidate (again, has it passed people by she was at the bottom when she did her presidential candidate bid?). There's a reason why the Democrats were sniffing around Michelle Obama for a bit when Biden first stepped down.

They screwed themselves unfortunately in thinking they could just "Reagan" it. But the internet and social media has changed everything since then - you can't hide when someone's sundowning. 

[BetterForgotten]

We lost, but it's time to look forward to the next midterms and how we can mitigate some of this sh!t, and empower better voter participation from the party so we don't find ourselves always losing ground.

This needs to inspire some serious reckoning within the Democratic party and what the plan is to counter this MAGA domination and lay the groundwork for 2028. 

[DramatistDreamer]

I hate to sound apocalyptic but I had this awful feeling that many people will lose their lives. Like his first term. There needs to be a serious reckoning in America.

[JaneAusten]

Can we agree the party leadership needs a shakeup and fresh blood?  I am looking at numbers in my own state where democrats usually win by double digits.  It's right now with over 90% of the vote in, less than 5%.  And places like New York, Virginia, and even California, has also seen a shift in the popular vote to the right, which is helping Trump build a popular vote lead he's never had.

[DRW50]

I think there were a number of factors. 

I think many were ready to hang Biden out to dry if not for the midterms. He held on as a result. And I'm sure he had some decent private polling on his behalf (although I remember some claim that some polling was kept from him - I don't know). He just started to very visibly struggle in front of the camera in the last few years. Trump also began opening up wide polling leads.

Maybe if he had stayed in he would have rallied support. I'm sure there are some voters who would have voted for him that didn't go for Harris. But he would have likely walked into what was already being spun as a landslide, as everything - the economy, immigration, the media, Trump's shooting, Israel/Gaza - was going against him and the party. 

There were claims - again I don't know how valid they are - that many party leaders wanted Biden out but did not want Harris. They wanted the open primary, as the press also wanted. And Harris was the choice Biden wanted in order for him to agree to drop out. 

If they had done that then they would have been accused of sidelining a black woman, and the VP, which would have looked awful. Should they have tried? I don't know. I don't know if Newsom or Shapiro or whatever other Democratic action figure of the moment would have made a difference. 

I think in many ways this election was unwinnable. And, as @JaneAusten said, Harris became a sacrificial lamb.

Three things the party needs to do is try to set up their own media ecosystem, try to connect with more non-white voters, and try to connect with male voters.

Again, that's easy for me to say, not to figure out. I can't just say "go on Rogan" or "go on that neckbeard's podcast." And I don't think the party should try to go in a more sexist direction. But something has to change. In 2024 we were still having images of the VP nominee going around hunting to try to show us what a manly man he was. That didn't work in 2004 either.

It's also easy for me to talk about outreach to non-white voters, but I think there must be some type of middle way between what we often have now with the Democratic Party - the Politico article I posted days ago about the Latino vote in Bucks County mentioned how the party was much more top down than the GOP.

And as mentioned, they need to find a strong message that is about them and not in reaction to Republicans and find a media voice that will allow their message to be heard, instead of always being overshadowed by Trump or other extremists.

It's so easy for people, me included, to get very politics-brained and see every two years as another set of cards to lay out. It's life and death and has to be treated that way. Every nominee and every vote on another piece of legislation to put us into the ground. But it can't just be about opposing. Democrats need to get their own ideas together and try to get them to break through.

The GOP spent decades manipulating the public into accepting their identity and enabling it. Democrats don't have decades, as I don't even know if the planet has decades left, but they need to take this time in the wilderness to start punching back and finding what threads they can. And yes I know how glib that sounds. I just don't know how else to put it.

There are a lot of people in leadership or quasi-leadership who just float around, always looking for a camera, rather than having anything to offer to the party in 2024. 

I think they also need to overhaul their social media entirely...the meme culture is often very cringe and something that only Trump gets away with. That culture is often used for voter participation, and it shouldn't be.

I think it's almost inevitable. Many of us are, after all, seen as "the enemy within." And a lot of people will never care until it happens to them. 

Edited November 6, 2024 by DRW50

[wingwalker]

Only 15K behind now, with lots of vote outstanding in Wayne and Kalamazoo counties. 

[DramatistDreamer]

And please don’t blame Black women or Black voters, we are like the canaries in the coal mine, we always see the danger.

People decided to vote for a felon who, in the last days…mimicked a sex act in public on a microphone and Harris is the flawed candidate? Mkay.

[sivad40]

We black voters did our part. White women, Latinos, and Gen Z men didn't. , Rogan, and rest of social media redpillers have successfully converted the majority of the Gen Z men to the Republicans. 

[Maxim]

This is a nightmare. Like a literal nightmare. Even though I'm not living in the USA, I know what this will lead to. It will strengthen the homophobia and the far right mania that's arising around the world. My birth country just months ago accepted an anti LGBT law that forbids people to talk about being gay in schools. In 2024!!!! 

It made all kinds of gender and sexual orientation expression... Punishable.

I was counting on Harris winning... In my last hope that Europe will not be turning back to misery and hatred... 

Now even in Germany... I'm scared. I'm scared what the whole world is going to turn into. I'm scared that with time I'm going to lose my freedom and my rights too. We have far right winning here too lately and they are really disturbing me. Maybe some day me and my husband will not be allowed to even have a marriage anymore.

I don't know, but if this is allowed... This criminal to become the USA president... Then I don't know what else is going to happen in this wicked world.

I can't even post anything anymore. My heart is skipping and going arhytmic from all the stress. I am disgusted beyond belief. I am not working today... I will barely function.

God help us all. 

 

[DRW50]

I saw a tweet from someone who said the election reminded them black people have no real allies. I can see why. There was a story about a woman who went to Howard tonight with her dead mother's pearls because she wanted her mother to be part of such a dream come true. And now this was what she had to see.

@Maxim I'm sorry to hear about what's happening in your country. Not to make it all about me, or us, but we will likely be there soon.

[I Am A Swede]

The way things are going I fear that we're all headed in that direction....

I'm such a Debbie Downer today. I'm sorry for adding to the already depressing mood in here. 

[DRW50]

I don't think you're saying anything we aren't all thinking. Thanks for being caring as I am sure many are rightfully just damning Americans at this point. 

[Maxim]

I know... that all of you gave your all and fought for this TO NOT happen. And I am saluting you. You are my glimpse of hope in this wicked world. 

 

[DramatistDreamer]

The state where I reside voted blue in all of the highest levels (POTUS, Congress) but I feel like I invest and have gotten little to nothing in return. I am genuinely looking at where dual citizenship can take me at this point. I feel as if, the longer I stay here, the more stunted my prospects become. 

[Maxim]

I didn't expect this to break my heart like it did. I can't stop thinking of how IT SHOULD have been and what could have happened if the right one was chosen. I'm having trouble accepting that I woke up to this. Maybe it's time to tune out of the web, so I don't annoy anyone with how I'm feeling. It's worse enough. 

For the people who voted for him - you've now got yourselves a CRIMINAL in charge!