Commenters to this website often lament that too many opinion columns predict Trump’s imminent downfall over his latest scandal, yet it has yet to come. But, while some of us do believe there are still things that might tear him down, we know there are people who certainly can. You.
By the very act of coming to Raw Story, you’ve proven both a need and the ability to absorb the latest political news. That makes you an asset, and your country has never needed assets like you more, at least not in our lifetimes. We need you to volunteer to help with whatever effort it takes to get the current regime out of office, and direct your efforts at all levels of government, any age, profession, and from any political bent but dead red.
I take pride in never referencing myself in columns, but on this, it might be worth noting that I just took my own advice. Instead of merely writing to a national audience, hoping to strengthen a winning message, I also just offered to help my local Dem running for Congress, hoping to unseat a Republican in a “pink-purple” district. There has never been a better time and never one with fewer excuses.
Amidst all the bad news we’ve endured lately, there is some real good news on this front.
For one, it’s literally never been easier. You can do invaluable work from your phone, laptop, whatever, in your home, or walk miles canvassing, donating money yourself, soliciting donations of money from others, writing letters to the editor, and attending local events. Time to do more than vote, more than just send money; it’s time to pick a challenger and expend the effort to upend MAGA, or spend the next two generations living with the consequences. It is that bad, and you who regularly read and comment know it better than anyone.
In brutal honesty, this is a unique time, in a unique country, born of unique promise, a dynamic in which winning is the only line of defense, losers not only lose but have never lost more, and in ways we’re only beginning to feel.
And thus, though this might hurt some of the stronger progressives here — including this guy — it’s time to set aside all qualms we have with anything approaching purity. The only “pure” position of any use this cycle is unfiltered opposition to MAGA. When and if — because it’s now an “if” — Dems regain a measure of power, we can fight hard as to the proper progressive priorities, from affordability and pro-business moderates, healthcare advocates, to climate change heroes, to defending all things DEI, regaining all lost ground on women’s rights, on racial justice, and our LGBTQ community, to reaffirming leading the world in science, attacking monopolies, the list is endless. But holding fast to progressive purity hurts when up again MAGA impunity.
Now it may get rough; some might not like this. But I strongly suggest that if you find yourself still amidst primary season, as I do, pick the leader with the most money, name recognition, power — the one most likely to defeat a MAGA opponent. Hold your nose if they don’t match your priorities in anything other than beating the MAGA on the ballot. It is that bad. We no longer have the luxury of picking anyone but the “best,” and the only definition of “best” right now is the one most likely to win.
What good is prioritizing climate change or racial justice if your candidate never gets into office because your purple district doesn’t align with your wonderful values? We will never get justice in any form, from bullets in protesters to billionaires billeting in the White House, not until MAGA is stopped. So, if you’re sick of hearing about the next scandal taking Trump down, the one that never comes around, you’re up. If you are not in a purple district or state, if you’re in a district that is hopelessly lost (or even very safely won), find a competitive race and adopt it. Our tech makes it as if you’re across the street from the campaign office, and believe me, they’ll appreciate you.
“Winning” can only come about by balancing two means of attack. First, we must maximize the Democratic vote. We need Democrats voting in percentages unseen in generations. Second, we must reach the last 20 percent of this country that is moderate enough to vote either way, and relentlessly reach out with the only message they want to hear. They have been left behind economically.
For the first group, true blue, note that without them showing up to possibly vote for a moderate, uninterested in their enlightened progressive priorities, beating a MAGA with anyone at least ensures those priorities remain viable and not vitiated. For the second group, and it pains me to say this as much as it does for you to read it, set aside the deep progressive values for one race. Instead, merely mention that Trump left that moderate behind long ago.
These are the independents who elected Trump on the promise that he’d decrease prices on day one — yet polls make clear that no issue infuriates Americans more with Trump than inflation. It’s their number one issue. Note to them, 1) It’s getting worse, 2) He has no plan, and 3) Even if he had a plan, he lacks all competence to get it done.
He promised to stay out of foreign wars — America First — then started one, and we’re not winning. At a billion a day, he immediately made your life more expensive, yes, gas prices, groceries, but don’t forget the billions that could’ve gone to healthcare.
He promised to “drain the swamp,” and yet he just released more alligators and snakes amidst a muddy mangrove moat than we thought could fit. He is literally paying himself to be president in stock trades, foreign deals, crypto. He promised to lower taxes, but instead we’re all paying higher prices as a tax; only these tax dollars go to Elon, Ellison, Epsteiners, and the eponymous one himself, Trump.
For all of us making less than $100,000 a year, which is most of us, by far, our Trump tax has made living much, much more difficult. This is the Dems’ winning message because, yes, Trump has MAGAs that will commit seppuku in his name, but we’re not talking to them, don’t need to. We’re talking to those who thought Trump meant a better economy, and it certainly is for the Epstein class. The stock market is up. (For now, and due for a major fall), which does no good for the lives of your average young teacher, a nurse, a construction worker. They pay, he plays. Message that.
That is the formula. Go to the tried and true blue, and say, “If not you, who?” Right now, if you place pronoun priority ahead of healthcare, you’ll do little more than clear up the pronoun for the obituary. (And yes, as a long-time LGBTQ advocate, a daughter with transitioning friends, it hurts to say it — but it’s no less true.) If the strongest candidate doesn’t prioritize your progressive ideals enough, consider the total wrecking crew awaiting a loss. To tepid Trump voters? Speak the only language they know. Their economy, their healthcare, their job opportunities. They don’t care about trans rights; you’re not going to convince them to care. Don’t waste your time.
Good news. There’s no better time. Trump is reeling. GOP Congress feels the heat in all directions, looking at losses because they cannot cross Trump. He has never grabbed for or held more raw governmental power, but that weakens him politically amidst all but his true believers (And there are fewer of them by the day). Yes, redistricting will likely hurt, but it’s possible — with work, we’ll have caught them off guard, diluting red districts a bit too much in the wrong election, infrared to ultra-violet. We won’t know until we try.
It is worthless to say the current Democratic leadership has been basically useless. True as it is, for now, they’re at least better than the alternative. In some situations, the most progressive may be the most marketable — by all means, dive in, primary out the useless. But in those situations where only baby blue dogs have a chance, use every minute of midnight blue in you to fight anything red. It’s literally all we have.
Sick of reading columns about the latest Trump move sure to bring him down? Fine. Understandable. Wait no more and do it yourself, ourselves. There is no guarantee we’ll win, but we know what’s guaranteed with a loss: more corruption, more fascism, fewer rights, a nation so divided it’s hard to argue we’re one nation anymore.
I have read the comments and sympathize. And I’ve long said no scandal alone can bring him down, but an imploding economy might, especially if we push. I used to think that writing national pieces with inarguable arguments sufficed. No more. I just got involved in an out-of-the-way pink/purple district with the most powerful Dem in the primary — I know nothing about her priorities except she aims to defeat the MAGA opponent and has the greatest support.
Good enough.
Normally, that would be a civic sin. But this isn’t normal. It’s the only defensible thing. Instead of just keeping up to date on how Trump might be brought down (And don’t stop), let’s get to work doing it ourselves. Nothing is too small, and damn sure no effort too big.
It really is now or never. Let’s try now. Because “never” is already too close, perhaps too late. We won’t know without trying. We only know what happens if we don’t. But please, please, please, don’t let pride in purity supremacy make things worse. I’ve spent ten years as a Dem columnist and see it daily, people fighting over “I can out liberal you.”
Actually, the only measure of such right now is the one who wins against MAGA – the one who moved the needle. If done right, we will have time to fight progressive priorities down the line. Done wrong, we’ll never again see a line.
Commit to one degree more than what you’ve done before. No kings, true in ’76, and just as true 250 years later in the spirit of ’26. History is made by those who show up. So do. The world will be proud, and so will you.
Jason Miciak is a Rawstory Columnist at Large, Past Associate Editor at Occupy Democrats, an author, attorney, single parent, girldad. Newly associated with a Dem campaign. Please follow on Bluesky, and he can be reached at [email protected]
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