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Must-Read over at Digby's Place: How They Do It - and what we must do to stop them [1]

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Date: 2023-09-20

Digby has picked up on a must-read piece by former GOP strategist Rick Wilson. He explains why Republicans win and Democrats lose, and what he has to say is well worth a read. (Sorry, Digby doesn’t have a link to Wilson’s post, but quotes from it.)

Republican political operators are raised on two rules. Just two. Rule 1: Just win, baby. Rule 2: Stay on message. If you have doubts about either of the rules, refer to the other rule.

Wilson gets into the details, including:

The “Just win” rule is precisely what it sounds like; victory is the only goal, and everything else is noise and distraction. “Just Win” is the rule that leads Democrats to wonder repeatedly why garbage-tier GOP candidates win in states and seats in which they should be competitive. It’s the reason the GOP will defend the indefensible until the last dog dies, whether policy or politician…. ...Democrats just can’t get to “just win.” They want to argue and persuade on policy, not personality and character. They want voters to be enlightened and engaged about the election with the glittery promise of 600-page legislative action plans and slide decks. It’s a sweet, if Panglossian, view of the American electorate. The Democrats are, as Bob Cesca tweeted this week, “We’re in this dangerously awkward place 1) where fascism is one election away, and 2) where regular voters don’t want to hear that fascism is one election away.”

emphasis added — More at the link

(Case in point — David Leonhardt reports Biden is backing away from describing the world as a battle between autocracy and democracy, let alone in US politics.)

AND

Stay On Message “Stay on message” reflects two big character traits of the GOP: a belief in hierarchy and a belief in consistency of message at every level of the political and media apparatus. (Spoiler: for the MAGA GOP, there is very little difference between the two divisions. The political and media space are wedded and interdependent.) If the Democratic party, its assorted power centers, interest groups, allies, friends, noisemakers, and donors don’t get on a set of clear, unified messages on three significant areas, there’s trouble ahead. In that case, they’re handing this election to Donald Trump.

emphasis added

Wilson pulls no punches. If Democrats think talking about policies alone are going to persuade voters to turn out, it ain’t gonna happen and it’s not going to be pretty.

If anyone doubts this, look at what’s already happening. It’s not going to get better. Republicans will do any and everything they can get away with to win. Lie, cheat, resort to threats and violence — because it’s always Rules 1 and 2 for them and nothing else matters.

Wilson goes on to lay out what Democrats must do:

Stay on message: this is about democracy and liberty. Make it undeniably clear that voting for Republicans will put both democracy and liberty in jeopardy. Don’t spend time talking about policies — keep talking about everything Biden has accomplished — and how Republicans will roll it all back and worse.

The press is pushing Biden’s age hard; push back hard that Trump is old too, in far worse shape, and a threat to America’s future. Make it a simple: Old versus Evil. Put aside any concerns of any kind you may have about Biden and focus on the fact that he has pulled off the most accomplishments for a Democrat since FDR.

Don’t react — go on offense.

I’ve had to paraphrase a lot here: READ THE WHOLE THING because Wilson paints a pretty convincing picture.

Digby doesn’t pull any punches either:

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/20/2194333/-Must-Read-over-at-Digby-s-Place-How-They-Do-It-and-what-we-must-do-to-stop-them

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