Thread by @RachelBitecofer

1. Gotta love this old video sent to me by @EthanMenaker on the verge of the 2006 midterms- which is the 1st of the negative polarized era (though had it not been for the 9/11 attacks, I believe due to the way that Bush Jr. came to the presidency that

2. the 2002 midterm would have been the very 1st of them. Although it is important to note that mass polarization (polarization among regular people) was just beginning to register, while elite polarization, after being hypercharged by Gingrich's efforts and the evolution of

3. partisan media was just really firing up. The 2006 cycle was also the last cycle in which @KarlRove took part, actively in electioneering after pioneering the strategy that is now staple in every single Republican campaign- described in this video as

4. "instead of targeting swing voters- rev up the base & attack the other side." The strategy proved remarkably efficient, but failed in 2006 & 2008 when all the energy to turnout was revved up naturally on the L. Rove left active electioneering to turn to a career as an analyst

5. but his strategy has endured, combining with the other innovations that helped the GOP become so efficient at winning elections they can no have corrupt presidents and vote against relief bills that even their own voters want and need. At least they HAVE been able to, bc by

6. and large, D's have not adjusted (until recently and even then modestly and not in full) to this MAJOR strategic difference.

The end result has been tragic for our democracy- pushing it to the bring of survival. But it also opens the Ds up RIGHT NOW to a huge opp. to adjust

7. its approaches its own electioneering, and to make a push using a totally different appeal/approach to persuasion messaging of the many millions of Americans who were either casting "casual" ballots for the GOP or were not voting & then watched in horror as white nationalists

8. urged on by much of the Republican Party & by a sitting President attempting to seize power & end democracy itself. We are sitting at the precipice of the greatest opportunity we will ever have to reshape our electioneering. This is the case that your support will be allowing

9. me to take to the Dem Party and hopefully help build a modernized electioneering system that can take the GOP on, certainly not by mirroring their disgusting tactics, but by modifying our own to insure we can be competitive and have a fighting change to hold Congress in 2022.