Stuart
02-09-2017, 02:00 PM
Written by Stuart Kiehl:
(See on OpEdNews here (https://www.opednews.com/articles/Democrats-Need-to-Learn-to-by-Stuart-Kiehl-Change_Democratic_Democrats_Democrats-Lose-170209-953.html).)
39150The Democrats will remain a failure and out of power unless they change their leadership, tactics and strategy.
Since the Dems don’t know the methods to gain power, or prefer not to use them, very little will change.
Why is it the republicans can block the Dems most of the time? They stole elections in 2000, and 2004. They obstructed Obama for eight years, he couldn’t even get a justice for SCOTUS! Nor would he make a two year temporary appointment to fill the seat. Why are the republicans successful out of power or in power, and the Dems not?
Isn’t there anyone on the Dem side that knows how to use the rules, make laws and get people elected? Why is it that the GOP at every juncture figures out HOW to win? They win, we lose.
Why is this so one sided?
The Dems are wimps, they do not know how to use strategy, or prefer not to be too pushy for fear of offending potential voters. The voters called for decisiveness. They voted for a strong but flawed candidate. They chose making a stand over the content. They chose strong but likely wrong. They will so choose the Dems if they are strong, but the Dems are too scared. The electorate feels this.
There is a solution.
Since Dems, can’t, won’t, or haven’t figured out how to gain power, then copy a system that has worked.
It is very simple. Do what the republicans do.
With all due respect to Michelle Obama, and I hope she runs for prez, the line I heard last night was, “when they go low, we go lower”. This may be distasteful to many, but we are not talking feel good Dem warm and fuzzies, we are talking about achieving power, which the Dems avoid because they may dirty their hands. Well, then, cry on the sidelines with clean hands and be steamrolled by the folks who simply do not care about your feelings, and who know how to use procedural rules, laws and anything else to their benefit.
From the legislative perspective, do as they do. Do as they have done. It is no coincidence that Karl Rove, Cheney and, now, Bannon won. They are ruthless, but they won.
THEY HAVE THE POWER.
Power means they can gerrymander, restrict voting, and count the votes on their machines. They manipulate the system to their ends, and their goal is power. Which the Dems do not have or know how to attain.
Before every and any decision of any kind, just ask one question: WWBD? What Would Bannon Do?
To gain power, an honest appraisal of the failure of the past and current Dem strategy, and a thorough house cleaning, is in order. The DNC was owned by Clinton. If we allow the same group, or a similar Dem Lite Cabal to run things we will get the same results. The very proof is the current political situation, this is not my opinion, it is a hard fact. The attitudes and behavior of the Dems and DNC resulted in dismal failures across the country. The Dems have misinterpreted or not understood how to achieve power, and if they don’t have the playbook, get a group to study what Cheney, Rove and Bannon have done. Then use the same tactics.
Quote by (President ?) Bannon: “Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That’s power”
This statement of his, and similar thinking and successful action, is the Dem opposition. Face it. Deal with it. Defeat it. The latter is missing in Dem thinking.
Use any and all rules, just ask, every time, every issue, WWBD? The public prefers steel to a wet noodle. The public wants the Dem legislators to stir up a storm, to be decisive, to bloody fight. The public gets it and has no respect for weak behavior. Thus, they wanted Bernie and Elizabeth Warren. Put their ilk in DNC and leadership roles and they will win. Not Cory Booker who sold out to big pharma, as did a bunch of other pathetic Dems. Make Alan Grayson head of the DNC. Replace Pelosi and Schumer. The public wants new leadership, direction and tactics.
Let us look at two parts of some additional solutions:
First, what the Democratic party can do, and, number two, public action.
The governmental institutions designed to make the machinery work in a reasonable manner are the following:
-For any change today, forget the Executive Branch of government, unless and until there is a break in the wall. And there eventually will be. Remember Watergate, another republican power grab.
-The Judicial Branch offers hope, but the ultimate arbiter is essentially deadlocked, (because of Dem weakness and GOP tactics, yes, again), so it depends on the ruling from the next lower court, and if there are conflicting lower but equal rulings then there is a problem. Going up the judicial ladder is an unknown at this point.
-Which leaves the Legislative Branch. In every other non-dictatorship country on this planet, the winner is the party or person who gets the most votes. Not in the US. (This can be changed by passing the National Popular Vote, NPV. Look it up. This is important). The party in the US which got the most votes by millions holds no power in ANY branch of government.
Why? Because the Dems do not fight like the GOP. The result? Eight years of Bush; the following eight years of obstructionism and a stolen Supreme Court justice; and now we have a maniac at the helm, still supported by 45% of the people!
The media has been, and is being, manipulated and monopolized successfully by the republicans. This subject is vital and key, but not the topic of this discussion.
Between essentially controlling the media, (over 80% of talk radio is conservative !), and using procedural rules, creating new voter restrictions, counting the votes, and knowing how to win in congress, whether in power or not, the republicans have soundly defeated the weak Dems in all structures of power.
2018 has 20 something Dem senators up for reelection, so number wise they are at a disadvantage. And if the Dems don’t change their methods for choosing candidates, or destroy them the way they did Sanders, the GOP will still hold power. This June, a number of elections will take place, let us hope there will be new Dem thinking and action to improve the chances for victories.
What can the public do? A few ideas:
-EVERY day call your Senator and congressional rep. Be polite, tell them you vote, and state your views: i.e.: VA, ACA, Social Security and Medicare-leave them alone!
Have friends or family in RED STATES do the same. Every day! Have them protest in front of local congressional offices
Demand paper ballots and hand counting! At the local, state and national level. Demand this in the daily call. The Netherlands just initiated this.
Write letters to the local papers
Join organizations, Indivisible, etc
Speak at any permitted public setting, before city council meetings etc
Talk at professional, sports, social group etc settings
Send a donation to your favorite group, even $10.
Create or participate in social media groups
Run for office
Make up your own bumper stickers: Illegitimate, NPV NOW, Resist, No, Trump=Putin, Impeach, You’re Fired, etc
Demand your state reps approve the National Popular Vote initiative!
Do your own action, but DO SOMETHING. And pass it on
Power can be changed by public actions and legislative fortitude, which has been sadly missing by the Dems. Judicial decisions will play a part, but the heavies are the public actions and congressional spine.
Of course, the media is essential. They gave the guy a pass, never called him a liar, and destroyed Bernie. Unless there is new Dem leadership. tactics and strategy, the Dems will remain powerless.
Time for a change, Democratic Party. If not, I suspect there will be a new party in some form.
Stuart Kiehl
(See on OpEdNews here (https://www.opednews.com/articles/Democrats-Need-to-Learn-to-by-Stuart-Kiehl-Change_Democratic_Democrats_Democrats-Lose-170209-953.html).)
39150The Democrats will remain a failure and out of power unless they change their leadership, tactics and strategy.
Since the Dems don’t know the methods to gain power, or prefer not to use them, very little will change.
Why is it the republicans can block the Dems most of the time? They stole elections in 2000, and 2004. They obstructed Obama for eight years, he couldn’t even get a justice for SCOTUS! Nor would he make a two year temporary appointment to fill the seat. Why are the republicans successful out of power or in power, and the Dems not?
Isn’t there anyone on the Dem side that knows how to use the rules, make laws and get people elected? Why is it that the GOP at every juncture figures out HOW to win? They win, we lose.
Why is this so one sided?
The Dems are wimps, they do not know how to use strategy, or prefer not to be too pushy for fear of offending potential voters. The voters called for decisiveness. They voted for a strong but flawed candidate. They chose making a stand over the content. They chose strong but likely wrong. They will so choose the Dems if they are strong, but the Dems are too scared. The electorate feels this.
There is a solution.
Since Dems, can’t, won’t, or haven’t figured out how to gain power, then copy a system that has worked.
It is very simple. Do what the republicans do.
With all due respect to Michelle Obama, and I hope she runs for prez, the line I heard last night was, “when they go low, we go lower”. This may be distasteful to many, but we are not talking feel good Dem warm and fuzzies, we are talking about achieving power, which the Dems avoid because they may dirty their hands. Well, then, cry on the sidelines with clean hands and be steamrolled by the folks who simply do not care about your feelings, and who know how to use procedural rules, laws and anything else to their benefit.
From the legislative perspective, do as they do. Do as they have done. It is no coincidence that Karl Rove, Cheney and, now, Bannon won. They are ruthless, but they won.
THEY HAVE THE POWER.
Power means they can gerrymander, restrict voting, and count the votes on their machines. They manipulate the system to their ends, and their goal is power. Which the Dems do not have or know how to attain.
Before every and any decision of any kind, just ask one question: WWBD? What Would Bannon Do?
To gain power, an honest appraisal of the failure of the past and current Dem strategy, and a thorough house cleaning, is in order. The DNC was owned by Clinton. If we allow the same group, or a similar Dem Lite Cabal to run things we will get the same results. The very proof is the current political situation, this is not my opinion, it is a hard fact. The attitudes and behavior of the Dems and DNC resulted in dismal failures across the country. The Dems have misinterpreted or not understood how to achieve power, and if they don’t have the playbook, get a group to study what Cheney, Rove and Bannon have done. Then use the same tactics.
Quote by (President ?) Bannon: “Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That’s power”
This statement of his, and similar thinking and successful action, is the Dem opposition. Face it. Deal with it. Defeat it. The latter is missing in Dem thinking.
Use any and all rules, just ask, every time, every issue, WWBD? The public prefers steel to a wet noodle. The public wants the Dem legislators to stir up a storm, to be decisive, to bloody fight. The public gets it and has no respect for weak behavior. Thus, they wanted Bernie and Elizabeth Warren. Put their ilk in DNC and leadership roles and they will win. Not Cory Booker who sold out to big pharma, as did a bunch of other pathetic Dems. Make Alan Grayson head of the DNC. Replace Pelosi and Schumer. The public wants new leadership, direction and tactics.
Let us look at two parts of some additional solutions:
First, what the Democratic party can do, and, number two, public action.
The governmental institutions designed to make the machinery work in a reasonable manner are the following:
-For any change today, forget the Executive Branch of government, unless and until there is a break in the wall. And there eventually will be. Remember Watergate, another republican power grab.
-The Judicial Branch offers hope, but the ultimate arbiter is essentially deadlocked, (because of Dem weakness and GOP tactics, yes, again), so it depends on the ruling from the next lower court, and if there are conflicting lower but equal rulings then there is a problem. Going up the judicial ladder is an unknown at this point.
-Which leaves the Legislative Branch. In every other non-dictatorship country on this planet, the winner is the party or person who gets the most votes. Not in the US. (This can be changed by passing the National Popular Vote, NPV. Look it up. This is important). The party in the US which got the most votes by millions holds no power in ANY branch of government.
Why? Because the Dems do not fight like the GOP. The result? Eight years of Bush; the following eight years of obstructionism and a stolen Supreme Court justice; and now we have a maniac at the helm, still supported by 45% of the people!
The media has been, and is being, manipulated and monopolized successfully by the republicans. This subject is vital and key, but not the topic of this discussion.
Between essentially controlling the media, (over 80% of talk radio is conservative !), and using procedural rules, creating new voter restrictions, counting the votes, and knowing how to win in congress, whether in power or not, the republicans have soundly defeated the weak Dems in all structures of power.
2018 has 20 something Dem senators up for reelection, so number wise they are at a disadvantage. And if the Dems don’t change their methods for choosing candidates, or destroy them the way they did Sanders, the GOP will still hold power. This June, a number of elections will take place, let us hope there will be new Dem thinking and action to improve the chances for victories.
What can the public do? A few ideas:
-EVERY day call your Senator and congressional rep. Be polite, tell them you vote, and state your views: i.e.: VA, ACA, Social Security and Medicare-leave them alone!
Have friends or family in RED STATES do the same. Every day! Have them protest in front of local congressional offices
Demand paper ballots and hand counting! At the local, state and national level. Demand this in the daily call. The Netherlands just initiated this.
Write letters to the local papers
Join organizations, Indivisible, etc
Speak at any permitted public setting, before city council meetings etc
Talk at professional, sports, social group etc settings
Send a donation to your favorite group, even $10.
Create or participate in social media groups
Run for office
Make up your own bumper stickers: Illegitimate, NPV NOW, Resist, No, Trump=Putin, Impeach, You’re Fired, etc
Demand your state reps approve the National Popular Vote initiative!
Do your own action, but DO SOMETHING. And pass it on
Power can be changed by public actions and legislative fortitude, which has been sadly missing by the Dems. Judicial decisions will play a part, but the heavies are the public actions and congressional spine.
Of course, the media is essential. They gave the guy a pass, never called him a liar, and destroyed Bernie. Unless there is new Dem leadership. tactics and strategy, the Dems will remain powerless.
Time for a change, Democratic Party. If not, I suspect there will be a new party in some form.
Stuart Kiehl