Trump the Chump
It’s time to shit-talk the president.
Congressional Democrats have had difficulty figuring out how to respond to Trump’s lawlessness, mendacity, stupidity, and cruelty. The democratic base wants them to talk tough, but the hard reality is that they have almost no formal power and lack a party leader. As a result, Trump has been left to torpedo his own presidency without meaningful democratic assistance.
As the mid-terms approach, however, the Democrats have an opportunity to refine their communications strategy. It seems like their main messaging effort will be around affordability. This is understandable. Voters are upset about inflation, and Trump has in fact made inflation worse with his war in Iran and his trade war. But affordability talk has real drawbacks, notably that there is not much Democrats will be able to do about affordability even if they win the election. Making empty promises to win elections is not a great long term strategy. To be clear, I am not opposed to affordability messaging – we are skating in front of the breaking ice, and whatever will help the dems win in November is fine with me. But I think there are some additional themes worth considering.
First and foremost: it’s time to shit-talk Trump. He is weak and stupid and he sucks at negotiating. He is being laughed at and manipulated by leaders all over the world. Putin is supplying Iran with intelligence and weapons that the Iranians are using TO KILL AMERICAN SOLIDIERS! Trump the chump does nothing about it. Putin gets Trump to broker a cease fire and prisoner exchange with Ukraine, and then violates the deal. Trump the chump just meekly takes it. Russia targets US companies operating in Ukraine. Trump the chump . . . bupkis. Trump is a blowhard and a coward. He constantly threatens Iran, then backs down. Now Trump is going to visit Xi, where he will undoubtedly make a point of demonstrating to the world how weak and manipulable he is.
Publicly belittling Trump is the best shot Democrats have at manipulating him into supporting Ukraine and standing up to Xi.
Second: Trump is a fool. Every president since Carter has known that attacking Iran was a mistake. Trump should have used economic pressure to get Iran to behave. Unfortunately Trump was too stupid to realize that Obama’s approach was best.
Third: focus on the tax dollars Trump is wasting on unpopular projects – his ballroom, the reflecting pool, ICE, the Iran war. Voters hate being played for suckers. Usually this fundamental psychological attitude works in favor of Republicans, who can use any government misstep, real or perceived, to fan voter resentment of democratic politicians who support using government to solve problems. Democrats don’t often get to pose as the party of fiscal rectitude, but Trump is giving them an opportunity.
Fourth: It is up to voters to stop Trump from doing even more damage to this country by putting Democrats in Congress.
This message has several advantages. It helps voters understand that Democrats currently lack the power to stop Trump from pursuing his unpopular policies. It avoids making promises that Democrats cannot keep. Running on affordability is problematic because Democrats will be on the hook for lowering prices, and they have no credible plan for doing this. Instead, they should emphasize that they will act as a check on Trump. This allows them to continue blaming Trump for the problems he will continue to create. And it gives Republican voters and Republican leaning independents permission to vote Democratic – not because they support the Democratic governing philosophy, but because they recognize that Trump is a dangerous incompetent and they support divided government. It makes the mid-terms a referendum on a highly unpopular president.
I don’t particularly like it, and I know for many it is off-putting, but I have through twenty years of blogging advocated turning it back in their faces: play the game by their rules. Use the same tactics, the same language, dog-whistles. We’re not going to save America if we don’t step off the curb, into the gutter and fight like they fight
Bless their hearts …
YES to Eric, NO to TenBears,
Totally disagree with Ten Bears. My assessment is that the American public and electorate are sick of and exhausted with the divisional politics that currently dominate the U.S. government. “My way or the highway. I’m right, and you’re wrong.” We have to keep in mind that the electorate is made up of two parties, which only account for about 25% each, while the majority is in the middle.
The general public wants action and solutions to major pressing issues that get addressed and last for longer than the next election.
Democrats should be laying out their proposed solutions and strategies right now with the notations: this is what we can do in 2026/27f we win the House; and this is what we can do if we win the House and Senate; and this is what we can’t do until we win the election in 2028/29.
Top of the list.
1. A comprehensive strategy to end the WAR in Iran (U.S. & allies).
2. A comprehensive strategy to end the WAR in Ukraine (U.S. & allies).
3. Development of a comprehensive, bipartisan immigration policy like the Dignity Act (H.R. 4393).
4. Small business (under 25 employees) assistance programs
5. Small family farms assistance programs.
6. Comprehensive tax reform focused on the middle class
7. Total release of the Epstein files
8. Comprehensive work on repairing international relations with NATO & allies
9. Many other issues, including healthcare, family assistance programs, and those affecting broad majorities of the public
10. Formation of a bipartisan commission to review and upgrade Congressional rules
@McJ,
I would add to that:
11. Eliminate the filibuster.
12. Expand the SCOTUS to 13 and mandatory retirement at 70.
J.P.
The public has been sick and tired of presidential candidates since 1960 except for 3 blips beyond 60% turnout. In 1960, 63.1% voter turnout, 1964 61.9% turnout, and 2020, 61.4% turnout. Kennedy, Johnson, and Biden. Everything else was less than a 60% turnout. Sixty-four years of not liking any candidate? Going to Iran was pretty stupid. It blew up the economy globally. We have a DA for a president. Arming Ukraine with weapons and no troops on the ground, why is this problematic? They are willing to fight for themselves.
My Grandmother could not speak English when she arrived from Italy. Not sure how she got in. Maybe my mom’s dad could speak English? Bipartisan agreement on letting educated people in from Nigeria, etc. The nation is kind of paranoid about color. Gotta be White, close to it, or rich. Healthcare was always fixable as long as the healthcare companies and medical workers agree to it.
Nice thoughts though.
Three times since 1960, the voting turnout was above 60%. Kennedy- 63.1% 1960, Johnson 61.9% 1964, and the winner! Biden 61.4% 202. Who would have thought Biden would get such a large percentage when everyone was badmouthing him.
I would think before we move on to the improvements (I agree), we need to fix some a voting practice of not voting. It would be interesting to know if the nonvoters were the ones complaining the most.