What's the road ahead? Not sure...but coming from a battleground...
Greg Landsman@GregLandsman
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Nov 14, 2024
~5 min read
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What's the road ahead?
Not sure...but coming from a battleground district and after a better than expected win in Ohio, I have a sense of what could be next.
10 lessons I learned from the election. 🧵👇🏼
Not sure...but coming from a battleground district and after a better than expected win in Ohio, I have a sense of what could be next.
10 lessons I learned from the election. 🧵👇🏼
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1) People are clearly frustrated with the economy and politics. Trump won big, picked up voters across almost every demographic, and folks cited the economy and immigration as top concerns. We have to meet them where they are.
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2) I do not believe people want the chaos, extremism or cruelty of the far-right. They don’t want the identity politics that both the far-right and far-left peddle in. They want us focused on them – whoever they are. They want normal, pragmatic leadership.
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3) I strongly believe that while people are frustrated and feeling left out, the answer is not to demagogue the other.
It’s not the fault of Hispanic voters, or Arab Americans, Jews, women, men, white, Black, and not trans kids. This is on all of us to fix – together.
It’s not the fault of Hispanic voters, or Arab Americans, Jews, women, men, white, Black, and not trans kids. This is on all of us to fix – together.
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4) Democrats need a clearer message.
➡️The system is rigged for the super wealthy & powerful and must be fixed
➡️Get prices down & use tax reform to help working people pay their bills.
➡️Care about everyone, everywhere. Show up with care & curiosity.
More in the weeds…
➡️The system is rigged for the super wealthy & powerful and must be fixed
➡️Get prices down & use tax reform to help working people pay their bills.
➡️Care about everyone, everywhere. Show up with care & curiosity.
More in the weeds…
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➡️More of my colleagues should stop taking corporate PAC money & be all in on fixing the economy with working people first. 100% of any new tax reform should benefit working people & small businesses. We should also tackle corporate greed & return competition to the marketplace.
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➡️It’s my bank account balance, stupid. The economy may be better, but bank accounts suck. People don’t have enough money to pay all their bills. Get prices down and use tax reform to help working people pay their bills.
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➡️Care about everyone, everywhere. Democrats need to show up in red areas and connect with those voters, too. I love all my constituents and they know that, whether they voted for me or not. Trump voters aren’t any more or less good than anyone else.
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5) We also have to do media that reaches everyone – beyond legacy media and do podcasts and jump on YouTube channels and shows. Even the ones that may be less friendly. When we go on them, be normal and speak honestly. Have some fun connecting with new audiences.
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6) We should always fight injustice and unfairness while understanding that identity politics is unpleasant for most people. We can do both without alienating people who might think It’s alienating. People hear it and, “I guess they don’t think very highly of me.”
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At the core of my values is fairness and working people, children and families, and what’s best for them. That should be our focus. That focus is pretty universal and it works.
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While some conservatives are focused on limited government, others are focused on culture war nonsense. That’s more government. Voters don’t want politicians telling them what they can and can’t do.
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And for some in my party, they may talk about working people, but it’s an add-on, not their core. Their core is the identity stuff. That’s what they’ve been peddling. So when they switch over to talk about working people, many roll their eyes.
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On trans issues, leave these kids alone. They need the same love and care that all kids need. Politicians should leave this stuff up to parents, local communities, and sports leagues, and focus on the bigger issues like the economy and immigration. Leave them alone.
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I’m Jewish and I don’t mind that people end public prayers with, “in Jesus name” or wish me Merry Christmas. But I don’t want anyone picking on me or messing with my family because we’re Jewish.
Leave people alone to do what they want. That’s America. That’s freedom.
Leave people alone to do what they want. That’s America. That’s freedom.
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Focus on building more housing, tax relief for working families and small businesses, pragmatic and effective border security, immigration reform and expanded legal pathways, and investing in public safety and helping communities fight gun violence.
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7) Democrats should serve as the firewall against Trump’s worst impulses AND find ways to work with Republicans on bipartisan solutions. But don’t scapegoat trans kids or immigrants.
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Focus on fixing the rigged economy, on workers and small businesses, on improving the balance in our bank accounts, and on ensuring our messaging and messengers are clear on the fact that we care about everyone…
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…boys and men as well as girls and women; black, white, Hispanic; young and those retired; people who don’t want kids as well as families with children. Solve problems with kindness and a new understanding of inclusivity.
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8) This is a moment for the center-left and center-right to step up. In my first term, it was the center-left and center-right that ensured we avoided a default on our loans, which would have been catastrophic.
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It was the same pragmatic middle that:
➡️ got a budget passed to prevent a government shutdown
➡️ passed national security and global aid package passed
➡️ avoided a default by lifting the debt ceiling
➡️ reauthorized the FAA
➡️ got a budget passed to prevent a government shutdown
➡️ passed national security and global aid package passed
➡️ avoided a default by lifting the debt ceiling
➡️ reauthorized the FAA
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9) Understand the moment and keep organizing. Find candidates and issues you can believe in, and be all in. None of us can fix it all, but we can find our passion and make a difference in our corner of this great nation.
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10) No one can tell you with any certainty everything will be okay or everything will be awful. It’ll be what we make of it. History is made by us, & if we stay in the fight, and focus on fixing things & making life better for one another, there’s a good chance things get better.
