There's a recurring theme in Democratic circles that I think is under-examined, that goes "if only the rules were fair our party would win bigly". It's part of a wider feeling of denial about the last few years. I think Nate is right to call this out, and we need a better plan.
https://twitter.com/Nate_Cohn/status/1398290263320170501
If you already can't imagine why people voted for Trump, or your thesis is some version of "they are evil", then you're not in a good position to think realistically about outcomes of future elections. You have to be able to confront the present before you can plan for the future
I turned in my prognostication card after two elections, but I am very grateful to the various candidates I worked with for giving me the chance to see Trump districts and meet Trump voters, and come away more confused and wary about my own political beliefs than when I started
A way to reframe the centrist/progressive divide is between Democrats who got into office with Trump votes, and those who didn't. That the former group is more politically moderate is interesting—you could imagine an alternate reality where the Squad came from deep red districts
The fact that left populism succeeded only in the most urban, educated, deep blue pockets of America should be a big red flag (no pun intended). As a practical matter I favor trying all the strategies in parallel that won Trumpy votes, whatever their ideological valence.
I'm afraid that the current situation has reduced Republicans to a cartoon right at the moment when we need to really understand them, not in order to empathize and feel a sense of national connection, but to beat the stuffing out of them in 2022 anywhere we can
Like if it turns out that non-college grads in deindustrialized cities don't care about student loan reform, but would really dig legalized weed, then replace the stars on Old Glory with marijuana leaves. Do whatever it takes. I would like to see more of an appetite for power
On an aesthetic level, a brand new State of Puerto Rico that then elects two Republican senators would be deeply satisfying. But on a personal level, I would really like us to win
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