From CNN:
The agreement presented to Trump was no milquetoast, meet-you-half-way bargain. In fact, it would have begun to unwind
the reforms of the Civil Rights era, which reset the parameters of legal immigration law as a way, at least in part, of redressing decades of racially biased guidelines and quotas.
And yet, in presenting the "Gang of Six" deal as some kind of half-measure -- and not the generational overhaul it would truly represent -- Democrats are risking something more precious than any policy particular: allowing the very terms of the debate to shift right without acknowledging the magnitude of their concession.
Every year, I seem to ask the same question as the previous one: With Republicans dominating the news, the strategy, and re-framing every debate in their terms, where the hell are the democrats?
Seriously. Some of these folks may be tweeting their disgust with the current state of affairs, but a tweet is, lets face it, bullshit if it’s not a news item and not sustainable.
It’s the equivalent of sending an email to someone because you don’t want to go to the effort of actually picking up the phone — and you can, at least, say you did something.
When the tables were turned, and Obama was in office (and, for that matter, Clinton), the GOP was front and center, having multiple press conferences with the entire party behind whomever was speaking. They were forceful in their condemnation of whatever it was Obama and Clinton proposed.
They dominated the conversation — even as a minority party.
Pelosi and Schumer still believe they can strike a deal with a man who lies out of both sides of his mouth, insults and bullies everyone who disagrees with him, and enjoys humiliating and beating down his opponents. And their efforts at grabbing the spotlight consist of one press conference about the dreamers back in SEPTEMBER.
Here’s an idea: Get a set, or whatever you want to call it.
Democrats find multiple ways to pull defeat out of potential victory. Either they get some backbone, start screaming loud and consistently, or let those who are willing to do it start another party that isn’t afraid of doing their fucking jobs. Period.
YOU CANNOT BE HEARD IF YOU’RE NOT WILLING TO SHOUT.
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12:00 1/16/18
Funny. When I was on Kos 10 years ago there was a healthy debate about our party. The idea that we should support without criticism is inane. Take a look at the other side. The Tea Party came in forcibly criticizing their party and eventually became a big part of the conversation.
Unfortunately, they and their party are monsters on the wrong side of nearly every issue.
...and when I say I don’t see Democrats in the media, I’m not talking about one person here or there, like Durbin or Feinstein, actually doing what the rest should all be doing.
Or Schumer showing up on the Late Show, by himself.
Or any of these people making statements — BY THEMSELVES.
I’m talking about unity. Consistently. Big crowds get attention. If all (or, for God’s sake, most) the elected Democrats would stand together, call more press conferences, create more initiatives with clever, catchy, strong names (i.e. “Contract with America”, instead of “A Better Deal”) be more combative on the talk shows, and demand to be heard, rather than being so polite, we’d get more coverage. Big mouths get heard.
THE REPUBLICANS GOT TOGETHER IN LARGE GROUPS TO CONDEMN CLINTON ALL THE TIME.
Dole or Gingrich in front, everyone behind him. It ALWAYS got news coverage because they made everything a big event, whether it was or not. The Republicans did this CONSTANTLY during Obama. The Democrats rarely every did it during GWB. This is a pattern, not an anomaly.
I’m in public relations, and I can tell you our party is not getting its message heard. They are being drowned out. And that’s on them, not on being the minority and conceding to that kind of defeat.
WE ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF NEARLY EVERY ISSUE, BUT CONCEDE OUR TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT TO THE RIGHT. WHY?