Where do we go from here?

[Carolina Fever]

Ignorant? Yep in some corners for sure. But, let's remember Trump stole market share from the Democrats. How is it that Trump took some voters who obviously should be voting for the Democrat simply by saying "he was fighting for them." Or worse, there's a huge number of voters who should be voting for Democrats who stay at home.

For some voters, being offered help to get that first home just may not mean much because they know they will never get one unless its public housing.

Being offered tax credits? May not mean much for the lower income or even the younger crowd unless its refundable (and who understands what that means?). Besides, when you're talking tax credits, that's Greek anyway. You need a tax man for that.

You want to reach Hispanic voters. You better talk in depth about small business. You want to reach small town America? You better talk small business. That's all they have. When do Democrats ever talk about small business in a way that voters realized that Democrats are thinking hard about it?

If you are a struggling American with weak credit and you want to work in this country then you have a huge problem just getting a ride to a job. Your cost of transportation is at least 200% more then non-struggling Americans. Do Democrats ever talk about that?

The Democrats aren't offering help that can be understood by many at the lower end. Or talking about it in ways so that those voters know Democrats are fighting for them. But dang, they sure heard that Trump was fighting for them.

And exactly what did Trump offer? What were his plans to make everything awesome for them? Anyone who thinks Trump is going to help all of those folks is a fool.

 

[UNCatTech]

Ignorant? Yep in some corners for sure. But, let's remember Trump stole market share from the Democrats. How is it that Trump took some voters who obviously should be voting for the Democrat simply by saying "he was fighting for them." Or worse, there's a huge number of voters who should be voting for Democrats who stay at home.

For some voters, being offered help to get that first home just may not mean much because they know they will never get one unless its public housing.

Being offered tax credits? May not mean much for the lower income or even the younger crowd unless its refundable (and who understands what that means?). Besides, when you're talking tax credits, that's Greek anyway. You need a tax man for that.

You want to reach Hispanic voters. You better talk in depth about small business. You want to reach small town America? You better talk small business. That's all they have. When do Democrats ever talk about small business in a way that voters realized that Democrats are thinking hard about it?

If you are a struggling American with weak credit and you want to work in this country then you have a huge problem just getting a ride to a job. Your cost of transportation is at least 200% more then non-struggling Americans. Do Democrats ever talk about that?

The Democrats aren't offering help that can be understood by many at the lower end. Or talking about it in ways so that those voters know Democrats are fighting for them. But dang, they sure heard that Trump was fighting for them.

So, take the trump approach and only have a concept of a plan but lie and tell them that you are fighting for them, when you are not? (Not disagreeing with you, this is just how it feels to me.)

I have no clue how trump was elected, never will understand.

But I thought that the dems did present some ideas to help small businesses.

Of course, I know a couple of republicans that didn't take the Business Covid stimulus (You know the one that MTG got almost $200K from) because of their pride. Exact quote: They don't take government handouts.

My niece made that same statement this past weekend. This is a 26 year old with no education, no job, no prospects, drug addict with a child who's father is dead. She needs all the help she can get and she's not going to take money from the government, because that's the bullshit she's heard from her stupid parents. I told her that we paid taxes to support programs to help society. That she should apply for anything that she can get to help her clean up, take care of her child, and get some kind of career training.

Of course, her parents, who are currently raising the child, are the same way, yet they didn't have a problem getting SS benefits after the father died in a car accident.

 

[BlueSmoke]

And exactly what did Trump offer? What were his plans to make everything awesome for them? Anyone who thinks Trump is going to help all of those folks is a fool.

Democrats fix things, GOP says no. Therefore, if Democrats can't breakthrough in the messaging game then the fool (your word) will vote for "no" or Trump's hope message (he said 'fighting for you" but I kinda think it was seen as hope in some quarters.

 

[hedge]

I think Bill Maher is on the money with a lot of his takes in both directions. I agree with him often even as someone with political beliefs that are quite a bit different than him

Yes, when he's peddling his schtick in the direction of liberals. When he focuses his much more vociferous "he gets it" insight and analysis towards repubs and, esp., Trump, I suspect you tend to tune out or find something else to captivate your attention. Like posting in here, maybe...

 

[BlueSmoke]

So, take the trump approach and only have a concept of a plan but lie and tell them that you are fighting for them, when you are not? (Not disagreeing with you, this is just how it feels to me.)

I have no clue how trump was elected, never will understand.

But I thought that the dems did present some ideas to help small businesses.

Of course, I know a couple of republicans that didn't take the Business Covid stimulus (You know the one that MTG got almost $200K from) because of their pride. Exact quote: They don't take government handouts.

My niece made that same statement this past weekend. This is a 26 year old with no education, no job, no prospects, drug addict with a child who's father is dead. She needs all the help she can get and she's not going to take money from the government, because that's the bullshit she's heard from her stupid parents. I told her that we paid taxes to support programs to help society. That she should apply for anything that she can get to help her clean up, take care of her child, and get some kind of career training.

Of course, her parents, who are currently raising the child, are the same way, yet they didn't have a problem getting SS benefits after the father died in a car accident.

I am so sorry for your niece. That's a tough one.

To me, political messaging is similar to marketing a product. I will grant, you would have thought that enough voters would have seen thru Trump's lies. Which further indicates to me that Democrats have a real branding issue...........or rather their brand has eroded among some voters.

Get the messaging, marketing, and or brand fixed and their lies won't matter. Or their right wing media won't matter. At least I hope so.

 

[Ramrouser]

Yes, when he's peddling his schtick in the direction of liberals. When he focuses his much more vociferous "he gets it" attitude towards repubs and, esp., Trump, I suspect you tend to tune out or find something else to captivate your attention. Like posting in here, maybe...

I’ve been a fan of Maher since the 1990s. Even when I strongly disagree with him on many issues, I enjoy hearing from him since he presents his arguments in an interesting and entertaining way. I give him a listen because I consider him to be a fair arbiter of issues. Plus, his show is almost the only venue where conflicting issues can be discussed cordially and rationally.

 

[HeelYeah2012]

I’ve been a fan of Maher since the 1990s. Even when I strongly disagree with him on many issues, I enjoy hearing from him since he presents his arguments in an interesting and entertaining way. I give him a listen because I consider him to be a fair arbiter of issues. Plus, his show is almost the only venue where conflicting issues can be discussed cordially and rationally.

Exactly. Not sure how many different ways I can say the same thing to hedge: that I like Maher and his style, no matter which way he’s arguing at that moment.

 

[hedge]

Yeah, I do too. I think the difference b/w us is that I actually take things Maher says about libs to heart. I think the woke stuff is a loser politically, regardless of how I feel about it intellectually and morally. Quite a few of his criticisms of the left resonate with me. But it's pretty obvious that his far more vociferous criticisms of maga and Trump have not caused y'all to reconsider your opinion of it or him. Granted, you've given lip service to not "liking" Trump's style and language, blah blah blah, but Maher's substantive and scathing criticisms of Trump fall on deaf ears when you're watching. Your antennae quiver at the first hint of criticism of liberals in any regard, but when he turns to Trump, you tune out. Oh sure, you hear what he's saying, you may even nod and smirk, but it doesn't make any substantive impression on you. Again, you "like" Maher and think he "gets it" when he's criticizing the left. Everything else you just gloss over...

 

[hedge]

 

[Mulberry Heel]

I can't stand this find common ground stuff and stop being arrogant. How are you supposed to reach people that are some combo of selfish, greedy, racist, bigoted, sexist and just plain ignorant? There is no way any decent person with any intelligence at all would vote for Trump. Are the Dems supposed to cater to racists and bigots like the Pubs and MAGA do? It's like telling the Jews if they had only tried to find common ground with Hitler and the Nazis. I know it's not that extreme, but it's the same concept.

I'm also sick of it partly for the reasons you mentioned, but also for another reason: it's just so damned hypocritical. Liberals are told over and over that they need to "humble" themselves around conservatives, respect them at all times, listen quietly to what they have to say (and accept it as true), and not be so snooty or snobby or whatever. Yet conservatives are at least as arrogant, condescending, and self-righteous as liberals (and they're often in-your-face to boot), but not once since 2016 have I read that conservatives need to listen to liberals, respect their views, or be "humble" around them. Respect is supposed to be a two-way street, but apparently not when it comes to Trumpers. They can yell and call liberals names and threaten them and pretty much act like assholes around them all they want, but if liberals even mildly respond in kind (such as Biden's garbage remark, which wasn't even aimed at all Trumpers) they lose their shit and meltdown and call liberals arrogant and elitist and blahblahblah. It's gotten really, really old.

 

[CFordUNC]

I thought Bill Maher was a blowhard when I was balls deep in Republicanism, and I think he’s a blowhard now that I’m on other side. He’s not funny, not original, says little of substance, and panders in a way that would make many politicians blush.

 

[hedge]

By elite, I mean people in the 1%. I definitely don’t mean liberals, but there are a lot of liberals in that 1%.

What do you do with the liberals in that 1%? Seems like it would be kinda difficult to count them as allies when you're scorning the ultra rich as a class. Maybe you're not scorning them as a class (although maybe you are - are you?), but just in general how do you regard the financially elite (super elite) liberal class?

 

[Peppers49]

I'm also sick of it partly for the reasons you mentioned, but also for another reason: it's just so damned hypocritical. Liberals are told over and over that they need to "humble" themselves around conservatives, respect them at all times, listen quietly to what they have to say (and accept it as true), and not be so snooty or snobby or whatever. Yet conservatives are at least as arrogant, condescending, and self-righteous as liberals (and they're often in-your-face to boot), but not once have I read that conservatives need to listen to liberals, respect their views, or be "humble" around them. Respect is supposed to be a two-way street, but apparently not when it comes to Trumpers. They can yell and call liberals names and threaten them and pretty much act like assholes around them all they want, but if liberals even mildly respond in kind (such as Biden's garbage remark, which wasn't even aimed at all Trumpers) they lose their shit and meltdown and call liberals arrogant and elitist and blahblahblah. It's gotten really, really old.

This is why the premise of Maher’s monologue is so stupid. I feel comfortable saying that the average Republican voter is much more likely to use hostile language towards democrats than the other way around, but because Maher heard someone talk about calling Republicans dumb, democrats are somehow the ones that need to take a look in the mirror and reevaluate how they view the other side. That’s not even factoring in how many Republican politicians from the local/state level all the way up to Trump are outwardly aggressive towards democrats. They can cry me a fricking river if they get their feelings hurt when they’re on the receiving end of the vitriol.

To add to this: there is plenty of content out there poking fun at democrats for being extra “woke” or tone deaf that is actually funny. Maher does not contribute to that. Even when he’s making fun of conservatives his humor is terrible. No idea how anyone finds him funny.

 

[altmin]

https://www.jezebel.com/were-not-even-pretending-to-care-anymore-are-we

We’re Not Even Pretending to Care Anymore, Are We?​

I don’t know if sexual assault allegations have ever mattered in our society in a meaningful way. But as our president-elect goes on a victory tour with an entourage of allegedly abusive men, it’s clear they don’t matter, right now.​

 

[Carolina Fever]

This is why the premise of Maher’s monologue is so stupid. I feel comfortable saying that the average Republican voter is much more likely to use hostile language towards democrats than the other way around, but because Maher heard someone talk about calling Republicans dumb, democrats are somehow the ones that need to take a look in the mirror and reevaluate how they view the other side. That’s not even factoring in how many Republican politicians from the local/state level all the way up to Trump are outwardly aggressive towards democrats. They can cry me a fricking river if they get their feelings hurt when they’re on the receiving end of the vitriol.

Everything they do is out of fear, hate, spite, ignorance, racism, bigotry and greed. Nothing they do is out of kindness, love, and equality for all. Yet, the Dems are supposed to try to find common ground with them. To find out what their supporters want and cater to them. Screw them.

 

[Ramrouser]

Yeah, I do too. I think the difference b/w us is that I actually take things Maher says about libs to heart. I think the woke stuff is a loser politically, regardless of how I feel about it intellectually and morally. Quite a few of his criticisms of the left resonate with me. But it's pretty obvious that his far more vociferous criticisms of maga and Trump have not caused y'all to reconsider your opinion of it or him. Granted, you've given lip service to not "liking" Trump's style and language, blah blah blah, but Maher's substantive and scathing criticisms of Trump fall on deaf ears when you're watching. Your antennae quiver at the first hint of criticism of liberals in any regard, but when he turns to Trump, you tune out. Oh sure, you hear what he's saying, you may even nod and smirk, but it doesn't make any substantive impression on you. Again, you "like" Maher and think he "gets it" when he's criticizing the left. Everything else you just gloss over...

Actually, I think a lot of his humor against Trump and conservatives is funny as hell. I can laugh ay myself and my side, especially since hr’s fair about it.

 

[Ramrouser]

I thought Bill Maher was a blowhard when I was balls deep in Republicanism, and I think he’s a blowhard now that I’m on other side. He’s not funny, not original, says little of substance, and panders in a way that would make many politicians blush.

How did you switch sides so effortlessly? Are you an opportunitist like Scarborough or Nicole Wallace? You know your new “friends “ will never accept or trust you. So you’re a man without a Country.

 

[CFordUNC]

How did you switch sides so effortlessly? Are you an opportunitist like Scarborough or Nicole Wallace? You know your new “friends “ will never accept or trust you. So you’re a man without a Country.

How did I switch sides so effortlessly? Because I have immutable principles. I believe that character, honor, and decency are the most important qualifications any leader can possibly have above all else. Period, point blank, full stop. Without those three characteristics, nothing else matters to me. In my book, the Republican Party lost every bit of character, honor, and decency forever by enabling and supporting someone like Donald Trump over the last 8 years.

How did I switch sides so effortlessly? Because I have pride. There is nothing that I hate more than being lied to and to be treated like I am stupid. That is exactly what the Republican Party does every moment of every day. They lie about everything; nothing is too small or too trivial or too outlandishly ridiculous to lie about. Everything about the Republican party in its current state is a lie, and a damned bad lie at that. They treat their voters like they are the dumbest effing people on the planet, and their voters provide them correct over and over and over again. I have way too much pride for that.

How did I switch sides so effortlessly? Because the Republican Party completely abandoned every conservative ideal on which it claimed to stand. I'm a conservative. I believe in the rule of law. I believe in the sanctity of the United States Constitution. I believe in free markets. I believe in limited regulation of business and commerce, but also that we should heavily regulate environmental and worker protections. I believe in having the strongest, most powerful military in the world. I believe in America's role in standing up to foreign dictators and thugs, and crushing them when necessary. I believe in America's role as a keeper of peace through strength. I believe in supporting our democratic friends and allies abroad. I believe in the power of our geopolitical alliances and I believe that we gain just as much from their friendship as they gain from ours. I believe in keeping the government as small as possible when it comes to ensuring individual freedom and personal liberty. I believe that diversity is what makes America truly great, and that we need *both* strong, secure borders AND a humane, fair, and efficient system of legal immigration to ensure that the best, brightest, and hardest working in the world can come to the United States and make their lives *and* ours better by contributing positively to our economy and our society. I believe that as the wealthiest country in the history of the world, we should do everything that we can to ensure that we provide a helping hand up (and not a helping hand *out*) to the less fortunate among us. I believe that every able-bodied soul should work. I believe in free speech, even and especially when I don't agree with the speaker. I believe in the constitutional right to own guns, but as a responsible gun owner myself, I believe that we should have robust restrictions and guidelines that ensure that the wrong people can't buy and own guns. Most importantly, I believe in human dignity. I couldn't care less whether you're white, Black, Latino, Asian, straight, gay, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, agnostic, rich, poor, etc. I don't see people as their race or their ethnicity or their gender or their sexual preference or their religion or their wealth. I just see them as my fellow Americans, and human beings worthy of respect, kindness, compassion, and generosity. The Republican Party has abandoned each and every single one of these conservative ideals over the last 8 years.

Am I an opportunist? You mean as a completely anonymous politics nerd with a totally made-up username who posts on a boutique political forum in one tiny corner of the internet, am I opportunistically seeking some sort of praise or recognition or gain? Uhhhhh....no? I think that's the easiest way to answer that asinine question.

Will my new friends ever accept me? You know, that's a good question, but I guess I'll just have to point to the fact that they accepted me just fine when I was a member of this forum community 8 years ago and openly discussed how I was voting for Donald Trump in 2016, and then again when I stuck by my man and defended him during the early part of his presidency even when I knew internally that I was having a lot of doubt about him, before finally starting to realize in 2019 what a terrible person he is, and then ultimately switching sides in 2020.

Am I man without a country? I don't even know what that means, but I reckon I've got a country. Last time I checked, I'm still here, still proud to be an American, still proud to love my country even when (especially when) my preferred presidential candidate doesn't win an election, and still looking forward to cheering on President Trump's success (and hoping that I have a lot of success to cheer and a lot of crow to eat).

Hope that helps.

 

[Zoo_View]

Ignorant? Yep in some corners for sure. But, let's remember Trump stole market share from the Democrats. How is it that Trump took some voters who obviously should be voting for the Democrat simply by saying "he was fighting for them." Or worse, there's a huge number of voters who should be voting for Democrats who stay at home.

For some voters, being offered help to get that first home just may not mean much because they know they will never get one unless its public housing.

Being offered tax credits? May not mean much for the lower income or even the younger crowd unless its refundable (and who understands what that means?). Besides, when you're talking tax credits, that's Greek anyway. You need a tax man for that.

You want to reach Hispanic voters. You better talk in depth about small business. You want to reach small town America? You better talk small business. That's all they have. When do Democrats ever talk about small business in a way that voters realize that Democrats are thinking hard about it?

If you are a struggling American with weak credit and you want to work in this country then you have a huge problem just getting a ride to a job. Your cost of transportation is at least 200% more then non-struggling Americans. Do Democrats ever talk about that?

The Democrats aren't offering help that can be understood by many at the lower end. Or talking about it in ways so that those voters know Democrats are fighting for them. But dang, they sure heard that Trump was fighting for them.

Oh, BULLSHIT!

 

[hedge]

So you’re a man without a Country.

Sounds nice...