I'm an ex-New Yorker who moved away nearly 30 years ago but still pay (far too) serious attention to NY state politics and I am no fan of Chuck Schumer. My own view is he is in way over his head, that he relishes but does not relinquish the spot light and that he talks far too much to a point where his indiscretions become distractions. The old joke that the most dangerous place in DC is between Schumer and a microphone remains true. He's not a brilliant strategist--he recruited Sinema for the Senate and he thought both Warnock and Ossoff would lose in 2021 so he contributed few resources. I hope the Democrats soon turn over the reins of power to the next generation: Schumer, Pelosi, Hoyer, Feinstein and others all need to step aside for the Katie Porters, Pete Buttigiegs. Hakeem Jeffries and others...
Sorry but I respectfully disagree. What was she doing in Taiwan and Korea? That's foreign policy and the purview of the president, not the speaker of the house. Why was she not more involved in campaigning for Democratic candidates, some of whom are complaining that they got no support from the DNC (e.g. Christy Smith in California)? We already know that the progressives in the house--the squad and their like minded colleagues--won their elections in 2018, 2020 and 2022 completely without her help. In fact she supported the incumbents that they unseated. And she supports Henry Cuellar who more often than not votes with Republicans. She really needs to go.
Because Harris is a poor candidate and will never be POTUS. She won a Senate DEM seat in CA - not a difficult task. She was an effective Senator from CA but had not demonstrated the leadership or campaign skills necessary.
She doesn't have the charisma. And quite frankly doesn't come across as being totally comfortable in her own skin.
Katie Porter is a dynamo. She's incredibly gifted at simplifying really complicates issues and she's won 3 times in an historically red congressional district.
If she is such a bad candidate, how has she won elections for DA, AG, Senator and VP? Is that really so easy? As a Black woman?
I have seen her speak multiple times. She is a very charismatic speaker, at least in person. One of the issues is that her speeches are almost never televised.
She's getting Hillaried (Bad candidate, don't like her laugh, etc., etc., etc.).
I say this at the risk of verging on an unintended discussion of race, but I think it should be obvious that Biden chose Harris as his running mate at least partly because she was the "right face, right time" pick. Biden needed to pay back Jim Clyburn for saving his campaign, and George Floyd was killed in May 2020 just before the Dem convention. Biden needed to choose a woman of color for maximum Dem Party approval and enthusiasm, and Harris checked the boxes.
Lots of VP running mates have been chosen like this, or even imposed on the presidential candidate by Party leaders against his/her better judgment -- to represent a particular interest or deliver the votes of a particular constituency. What happens after the election -- the VP's actual role in the administration -- isn't part of the deal, and Harris likely knew what she was getting into. (Recall, for example, JFK being forced to accept LBJ as his running mate but then freezing LBJ out of the White House while he confided in and relied upon his brother, AG Bobby Kennedy.) Biden's closest confidante is Jill Biden, not Kamala Harris.
Nothing Harris has done as VP, when given the opportunity, has elevated her political prospects for the future. Her easy rise in CA to state AG and then Senator did not prepare her for this office; neither did it reveal what is now being acknowledged re: being uncomfortable in her skin and lacking charisma. No doubt being VP has been a frustrating experience for her, but that's politics.
Harris's moment likely has passed, particularly when other seasoned Dems in Congress and in Governors' offices are proving themselves on the national stage. I will not be surprised if one of them catches the public imagination and is propelled toward the White House on a new wave of enthusiasm before another presidential election.
Thank you for saying that Harrus does not seem entirely comfortable in her own skin. There was some thing about her that was just not genuine, especially her high pitched constant laughter. She was overly exuberant someway. I hope it’s not a racial issue; there is just something about her that is jarring or uncomfortable. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I totally supported her at the beginning of her campaign, but in the debate with Biden I did not understand her stance on the busing issue, saying, “I was that little girl on the bus.” Yet she was attacking him for being against federally mandated busing, I believe. There was just something off about the whole thing. Plus I don’t think you have to attack your opponents.
Very safe comment to make! Harris could not get thru the hearings, the vote, or the nomination! #2. There is little desire to enlarge the Supreme Court!
Probably because she isn’t as wired in to the national stage. That’s not to say she shouldn’t be. Is this a race issue? I don’t know. I suspect it is part of the equation.
Katie Porter is a dragon slayer. She takes corporate greed to task by its leaders. That affects big business, thus it is covered by some media. Not enough though.
Katie Porter was similarly left to twist in the wind by the House Dems when she needed campaign $$.
I heard Katie Porter say the other day that she herself rejected the extra money and wanted it directed to more competitive races. Hopefully that was not a mistake, but it does show off her selflessness.
Here’s the link to the pod version of Jon Stewart’s show when Porter appeared as a guest. She discusses the lack of House funding for her campaign. As with all things Jon Stewart, worth your time listening -- or watching if you have AppleTV.
Porter endorsed Nina Turner (not really a Democrat) over incumbent Dem Rep. Shontel Brown. This kind of thing is not going to win support from the party, and a ridiculous mistake, IMO.
Look at Underwood's record. She has accomplished more in her short time in Congress than many who have been there a helluva lot longer.
And if you want to see dragon-slaying, re-watch then-Senator Kamala Harris grilling Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.
Underwood & VP are as well. I’ve watched VPs examination of mutha*** Kavanaugh many times- just to get a serotonin boost.
Again, there’s a racial bias likely at play [because who do bigoted white men despise more than Hillary & Nancy? ANY black/brown woman in ANY position of power], and it’s about the money.💰
Porter’s wheelhouse is finance 💰.
When you slay Wall Street , e.g.,Jaimie Diamond, you get national attention. 👀
Steve, your read on the Democratic Party and Senator Schumer is compelling. It is extremely disappointing to know that Tim Ryan was denied the support that could have helped him win that Ohio Senate race. I have no doubt the election results were better than expected despite the inability of the Democratic Party to initiate an effective message and strategy. Living in Florida, I know how bad it could have been.
The only place I tend to disagree with you is your take on President Biden. You said recently that it is selfish for him to run again. That is too harsh an assessment. President Biden has done a remarkable job overall. He may or may not run again. I understand and appreciate how attractive a younger leaders (like Tim Ryan) would be to voters. I agree it is time for new leaders in the Democratic Party to take on the challenge of defeating the authoritarian power hungry elements of the Republican Party. But, I have seen nothing from President Biden but his tireless work on behalf of the Country. There is no evidence I have seen that would lead me to believe he makes selfish decisions. He deserves our thanks and our respect. I bet he will make the right decision about running when the time comes for that decision. Declaring he won’t run now makes no sense to me.
Finally, I want to thank you for the excellent job you did down here in Florida at the Florida Hospital Association Annual Meeting a few years ago. In the heart of twisted Trump country, the audience responded to your presentation with a standing ovation. That was no easy task at time when Trump was all powerful down here. It still makes me smile to think about your presentation and the feedback I received afterwards.
Years ago, I accidentally attended a Systems Thinking class. The original person registered came up sick and since we had already paid for the course I was allowed to take their place primarily because I didn’t have anything else scheduled. Oddly, that class has stuck with me and influenced my thinking in ways no other class I’ve attended. Essentially it taught me that a system, any system must be changed from within. But anyone within that system is part of the system and the longer they are part of the system they become more inclined to take actions that ensure the viability of the system rather than advocate for any significant changes to it. This leads to a dilemma. How the heck does one change the system while either not being a part of it or becoming a part of it? The solution the class presented is that one must “get in and then get out” because if you don’t then you get consumed by the system and it becomes very unlikely you will be successful at making any significant changes. This notion is why I personally support term limits. It is also why I believe we need significant leadership changes within the Democratic party. And I say this not because I believe or support in any way “both sideism”! I find the MAGA led party horrifying and dangerous. However, it does those opposed to the MAGA GOP no good to deny the point you’ve made. That is, half of Americans believe and support the GOP because they think the Democratic party policies will be more harmful to them than the MAGA GOP policies. Why is that? The answer cannot be they are all racist, anarchists, or not smart enough to know which side their bread is buttered. While many may fall into those categories, millions do not. I believe it’s because the long time Democratic leaders have become part of the system and they’ve lost touch with the people they represent whether it’s in NY, the Midwest, NC, CA, or AZ. The long time Democratic leaders whether they consciously know it or not have become part of the system and are more focused on sustaining the system than representing the voters. It’s not just their lack of support for Tim Ryan. It’s the corruption and cronyism and bad decisions that led to unnecessary losses in NY. It’s the lack of support from the national leadership for folks like Cheri Beasley, Mandela Barnes, Val Demings. We need fresh thinking and fresh thinkers. We need new leaders who haven’t been “infected” by our current system. Ugh. I don’t even sure where I’m going with these thoughts. I’m still working through them. I am certain though that we must have new leaders if we hope to see any significant changes to our current system. Otherwise, we are in serious danger of losing any influence at all on our current political system and will be stuck trying to survive the horrific decisions folks like MTG, Ron DeSantis, Paul Gosur, JD Vance, etc will be making for us.
Excellent. And with your thoughts you are moving towards a better understanding of the decisions made in the midterms. You see, we can get stuck in systems of thought. Even if the system is working. But for whom? I find that the hardest decisions are made when one leaves the comfort zone. To a better place for the advancement of democracy. What is democracy? We must always return to the definition of it. By the way, it would be interesting to analyze what happened in New York. I was not surprised by Florida. I was disheartened by Georgia. And am baffled at Vance's win. Baffled that he and Jordan will bring divisions unknown. Divisions about who is an American.
I agree with most of what you have said. We need new leaders with fresh ideas and new approaches to problem solving. I find younger people tend to be more inclusive when it comes to differences.
Something I noticed about the leaders in Ukraine was their diverse age groups working together to save their democracy.
Agree. There is a giant ID ( as is ID , Ego Super-ego) out there voting and handing power over to a corrupt class. The democrats, while less lethal are also part of the problem--because they do not want to dismantle what serves them. I heard jason Shaats I from Hawaii speak and wow- we need young fresh senatorial blood. The young generation will come after the Dems so we should wake up and get ahead of it .
Actually from a systems thinking perspective I'm trying to understand where you mean "from within"? Input, throughput or output. I would think from within means changing to the throughput process, but that is not clear from your comment. Seems to me systems thinking would indicate that when the output does not meet hoped for specifications then you change the input or throughput through feedback.
Yes, that’s the same perspective I had before I took the class. But that’s the dilemma and the point of the class - any person within the system, once they’ve been part of the system for some length of time, begins to experience the system differently. Where once when they were seeing it from the outside and thought it needed significant changes, now they are part of the system, they begin to think those outside of the system just don’t understand how it works. And so rather than working to make the changes they once thought were needed they change their focus and start to work more on helping the outsiders understand why the system is just fine as it is.
It is my understanding that closed systems reinforce beliefs. Communism for me has always been an extreme example of this. Particularly the way it had an appeal to younger people. Then the power structure evolved towards the monstrous, transforming from within to the point that it is too late to get out because there is no clear vision of an alternative. In the case of the results of the midterms, and not the drastic example that I have entertained on Communism, the fact that the Democratic Party could win at the local, state and federal level reinforced the belief that democracy won. As Steve said in his essay, because of American voters. I want to question, though, Oprah Winfrey's endorsement and whether it led to John Fetterman's win. And here is how I am placing myself up to scrutiny. I do not have statistics on what age groups voted and how significant they were for Fetterman's success. Who watched Oprah Winfrey's Show? Who did she influence then? Who does she influence now with her current channel? Who cares for daytime TV personalities? Who cares about the personal success of an accomplished businesswoman as is Oprah Winfrey? I was stunned that she waited so long to speak up. Was she pressured to endorse him? Unless she saw Mehmet Oz as a candidate of value. The man she openly supported by introducing him to her audience and thus his entrance to daytime television. Could it have given her a sense of pride to have him winning a Senate position? Was she not also in the public eye when being considered as a candidate to run for the presidency? On the very kind of daytime and nighttime talk shows? UNLESS the timing in election outcomes benefit from this. I am positioning myself from a different perspective. Senator Schumer? He chose Pennsylvania over Ohio. Both these states have a name in politics. The Senator chose a through and through Democratic candidate. Tim Ryan was running the real bipartisan campaign. I'm brainstorming. Thank you, Carey.
One last thought. I agree with you that there should be term limits for politicians. I must acknowledge an excellent contribution days ago from a reader of The Warning. She spoke about mentorship and succession in an organization. About the importance of moving away by giving the opportunities to younger and capable new leaders. One amazing fact is how many young Arab and/or Muslim Americans were voted into office. And New York, the state I mentioned earlier today, would be much better served with an Asian American representation. Was not crime an issue not fully addressed by the Democrats there? Have not Asian Americans been the object of hate crimes in that state? Thank you again for giving way to these thoughts about a different vision for America. About a vision for younger Democrats.
The GOP talks to the Southerners + Mid westerners in short simple soundbites that play on their grievances and blame the Dems for their lot in life. It's not true, but it resonates and hooks them into the MAGA world. The along comes the Dem's with lengthy, (mostly) factual ramblings and all of the GOP supporters eyes glaze over. This isn't hard to figure out. A substantial portion of the population need to be communicated to in a 'dumbed down' fashion.
Think about it over 75 million people voted against their best interests, if that’s not a dumbed down population I don’t know what is. I have been saying for years now that our main problem is the education level, and by that I don’t mean what grade you finished, but how complex of a problem are you capable of solving. Our education system is failing to produce an educated electorate, who don’t understand what is good for them. Steve is right, this shouldn’t have been even close, 1% margins are an indictment, not a reason to celebrate.
Thank you for stating this so clearly, Dick M., "Our education system is failing to produce an educated electorate, who don’t understand what is good for them." Cause and effect.
I have been saying the same thing. I remember I was in texas when Ann Richards lost and I turned to my friend and said we re F*CKD. The gop will do everything in its power to keep its base uninformed . This train wreck was always coming, 45 accelerated it. The democrats need to get real and have a long game. agee with this Steve is right, this shouldn’t have been even close, 1% margins are an indictment, not a reason to celebrate
Regardless, people vote - and make all decisions - based on their hearts, guts and a bit crassly their genitalia. Humans never make decisions logically This is the fallacy trap
DEMs fall into when they run on policy. . Democracy and Abortion are heart and gut issues.
DEMs need to use policy to make compelling emotional arguments To tell stories - That's where they fail to connect.
Which is why Porter is brilliant She uses data to tell simple and compelling stories
Republicans don’t want educated constituents because they know they can’t win if people are educated. That’s why they try to control the local school boards and what is allowed in the curriculum. They are also in favor of charter schools over public schools.
So very true. Our flawed education system does not promote critical thinking skills or serious introspection about our society and our current political system. While I’m generally optimistic by nature, this election has given me cause to worry. How do you get millions of people, who voted against their own self interest, to change their minds in future elections. Do you place your trust on the next generation to make things right (despite the proliferation of social media and the short attention span of so many of our youth). Do you try to re-educate our current population, and how? Are we relegated to pressing the fear button as the Republicans have? Our democracy is messy, but we need to fix it, not nix it. I am hopeful that our collective wisdom will find a way to steer us back on our path.
Not sure I agree about the education system. I have seven siblings and we all came out of the same education system. We are one Trumper, One former Trumper, One moderate, and five Democrats, one who ran as a Republican judge for years. The one Trumper and one former Trumper stayed in small town Kansas; the rest of us branched out to more cosmopolitan areas including California and TX.
I’m sitting angry here in Ohio. Not because I repeatedly transferred money from my teachers retirement into Ryan’s campaign because he had to rely on the blue voters in Ohio to help fund it up until the last day.
I’m angry because the statehouse is filled with red seats, the administration offices all have red doors. We’ve got a heartbeat bill waiting to become a total ban on abortion, and I dedicated my life to teaching in public education which is the new frontier for GOP demolition crew.
I am angry with my fellow/sister Buckeyes. Where are they? They came out in masses 10 years ago to defeat Gov. Kasick and his red platoon’s SB2 that would have destroyed collective bargaining for teachers, police, and firefighters. We --Ohioans pushed back and beat the red machine. Where are these people now?
And now I’m wondering where is the Democratic Party? Have they abandoned Ohio?
I live in SC (a totally lost cause) so I put my dollars where I felt they were most needed. I thought Tim Ryan was one of the most compelling and important candidates in the entire election. I’m just an ordinary citizen with no insider knowledge, where the hell were the Ds supposed election gurus???? Look what happened….. Vance!!!!! It’s like the Ds threw the race, a travesty IMO.
Yes, Joe Cunningham. He was a one term Congressman before Nancy Mace got her fangs into him. You want to talk about a scary scary woman (btw, I am a woman & feel qualified to say it!!!!!) Joe ran for Gov but never had a chance. We are (almost) a totally red state. We only have Senator Clyburn. You want to talk depressing……
Thank goodness my kids live in the Northeast (NYC a& CT) I get back every possible chance I can. 6-8 eight weeks here in Charleston is about the shelf life for me.
Yes, and a lost cause in your public education system. Ellen Weaver (no master’s in Ed leadership? Yet)winning the state superintendent of Ed likes the idea of school choice and learning pods and micro-schools----no standardization in SC! Consequently no equity in education. I hate to be a conspiracist, but I really wonder if there isn’t a plan to undermine education in order to control the culture? Certainly in SC students can drink the red koolaid if there is not a strong public education system to hold schools accountable. I’ve read that she doesn’t like the “bureaucratic red tape.”---that accountability thing that public schools do to protect students and to provide standardized teaching and learning outcomes.
Ugh. You live in a beautiful state, Jay. Sorry to be so down on the education system.
I lived in Connecticut before retiring here. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have moved here. It has gotten far worse. The supposed Moderates from the Northeast have all turned into rightwing wackos.
I am from out west and gave more to Tim Ryan than any other candidate this cycle. On this thread there are so many bashing democrats who as they fall in line with Steve who, let’s face it was a Republican sharing the drown the beast, anti-government regulation team that has been at the center of Republican orthodoxy. So perhaps take a moment to understand where the criticism is coming from.
This meme that states Democrats struggle with strategy against the sublime master of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, was created and supported by MAGA. When one party needs 61 votes to pass their “yes” agenda and the other only needs 40 to achieve their “no” agenda the playing field is dramatically shifted in favor of the “no” team.
Ok. I would guess Schumer is a good man, but this party barely won and has problems that they seem blind to. Schumer must step down. As you say, the Dems are old, or getting older and it is past time for a new vision and new voice. Understand I write this as a boomer. Throughout the last few years, especially this election cycle, I have been critical of the Democrat leadership, for their lack of vision. That Ryan lost should be a wake up call.
I live in a red, gerrymandered state, the Democrat party has done nothing for this state. Many of us are discussing how we can make a difference, without them, National, state and local. We have had enough and have decided at this point we have nothing to lose. But, it is not just where I live. I read from others in the Midwest and the feeling is mutual. I get the problems living in a gerrymandered state, it is the stated reason for every loss. I just believe you move to be more creative, to use imagination, become curious and develop a “what if” attitude. I don’t believe Schumer is the one to do this.
Exactly. Why are Democrats on this thread, so willing to fall in line with talking points created by “ former” Republicans? Do they not understand that Never Trumpers are still Republicans in their core values.
I think many of these former republicans have done much to help save our Republic by speaking loudly and clearly about the dangers their former party poses. Many of these former republicans are why we didn’t lose our democracy in this midterms. I am a lifelong Democrat but I am grateful for the former republicans help.
There are 2 types of former Republicans. There are the Nicole Wallace type that have had a true epiphany and see the world through the resulting new lens. Then there are those of the Joe Scarborough type, who are honestly appalled by Trump’s behavior, but yearn for the small government, low taxes, & minimal regulations that further the inequality in America. They constantly tell Democrats what the should be doing. The advice is always to adopt Country Club Republican values and policies.
You are absolutely correct that all former Republicans helped to remove trump and I’m grateful for their votes or non-votes. But I’m irked of lectures from people who first enabled Trump and then from their new “moral” position lecture Democrats on the dangers of AOC. Steve fits somewhere between the two types. His Aaron Sorkin like rants on the dangers of looming fascism are eloquent and effective. But slipping into both sideism is annoying.
Democrats are on this thread because it has the best content available, the exchange amongst is invigorating in a safe, welcoming format, and there are Democrats my age who have enjoyed working with those across the aisle over the years.
I wasn’t asking why Democrats are replying. I was asking why they so easily support Republican talking points (or phony polls produced to suppress the vote), when in fact this last election produced amazing results when struggling against needing 61 votes to pass their agenda while Republicans need only 40 to say no to everything
Completely agree. It’s why Indiana is so gerrymandered, as Susan Mackey points out. “The Party” is only focusing, for the most part, on the coasts and “swing” states. Investment would have led to a Ryan win, and a likely chance of a McDermott win in Indiana. Lack of investment to push a message that counters the bile being presented in the Midwest leads to a guaranteed loss. People can’t engage when they can’t hear an alternative.
I think you're right we need a younger generation taking over, but I simultaneously feel like the moment we are in is so precarious, I'm hard pressed to let go of the experience we do have on the bench, all of whom are aging. I will vote blue no matter who, because the R party has so disgraced itself, I don't expect to vote for them again in my lifetime. Biden, for instance....despite his approval figures, has a huge deep well of experience and relationships and he's done quite well in the presidency, with narrow margins and taking over a big mess. I love several of the next generation of leaders....Tim Ryan, Mayor Pete, and some senators and congress people I think have huge talent and are great senators and congresspeople...... Katie Porter ! But are any of these people electable to the presidency in a general election? I don't know. I'm watching and waiting, and nervous. I would totally vote for any number of them, very happily, if they are on the ballot. But will enough others? I don't know. I will vote for Biden if he's on the ticket....he has done a good job with tough circumstances, and a large part of that is temperament, character, experience and relationships all over the world. Schumer does some cringy things, and I don't think as much of him as I do Nancy Pelosi, who is very skilled. So---overall, I both support the next generation moving into positions of power...we have a deep bench of great talent. But I'm also nervous about turning loose of those who know what they are doing and are skilled negotiators.... at THIS moment.
I am a New Yorker, I sat next to Chuck Schumer on a plane once. 6 hours from NY to LA. At the end of the journey I was convinced the man is in a game or maze that he cant see his way out of. I think the last 5 years the spotlight has been on the insanity of the GOP. Time to clean house in our party. The conclusions the Democtatic party makes about its sucesses feel like they are from a 1985 playbook. The party has a lot of promise , it does need a spring cleaning. They should have invested in TIM RYAN. I agree with Steve. Its only a matter of time until the spotlight and be on the Democratic party and we should not be defensive or resistant to a cleanup on aisle D. While I am at it . Amy Klobuchar would do a better job.
Yes, Chuck Schumer and the Dem establishment deserve little credit for the election result. That mostly goes to the candidates and the people who voted. But I’m not sure that the umbrage that was expressed in the comments is adequately reflected here, Steve. It was directed at your equating Schumer (whom you quiet well describe above) as equivalent to the Rep leadership. Whatever his faults, Schumer doesn’t deserve that comparison. Thanks for fostering such a respectful, healthy dialogue. Great group here. ✌️
I just need to ask a couple of questions for clarification about Tim Ryan's campaign. Please note: I personally donated what was for me a lot of money to Ryan's campaign, and mainly his, along with Val Demings -money I will now need to pay off in the future. 1. Did Tim Ryan make a public statement that he thought Biden should not run for a second term/ was too old? 2. Did Tim Ryan decline an offer to have Biden campaign for him in Ohio? (The minimal research I did on these questions turned up with 'Yes' answers.) 3. Did these choices that Tim Ryan made affect the outcome of his campaign? If Ryan criticized Biden's age and failed to note his achievements and declined to have Biden, THE POTUS, campaign for him, this may have affected the pro-Biden voter block and sadly, the outcome of that election. I despise JD Vance. I am a huge Ryan fan and very disappointed, but I want to bring this up for discussion, as I don't know if my questions are even accurate. Thank you, Steve Schmidt, and all here for this forum and meaningful discourse.
That is my understanding of Ryan's campaign as well. I was rooting for him, but he tried to walk too fine a line IMO. And he fell off because of his own mealy-mouthed shenanigans. The Democrats could have helped but seem to have been rejected by Ryan's campaign of going it alone. And who knows, maybe we are both mistaken. I am one vote out here in flyover country with no inside political knowledge.
Edit: Is anyone else compelled to correct spelling and/or grammar errors when you find one?
Thank you, Wendy, I really hope we get more feed back on these questions. If Tim Ryan said he wanted to go it alone, there shouldn't be so much backlash about Dems not giving him support (if he was not a team player). Many of us gave him support, but maybe he could have been more wise in his campaigning because it is a system...and then make changes once elected.
I get wanting to go it alone without help from the Democratic party. I am a liberal thinker in life, but I do not identify as a Democrat. They are just the closest thing I have to representation. A problem I see is one person who rejects a bigger community has a much harder (and self-imposed) road to making changes from the outside looking in.
It’s true humans are hardwired to be inspired. Unfortunately we get what we settle for in life and the new aspiration seems to be a boring politician, one who will do a bunch of stuff and then tell us about it.
Like it or not, the psychological phenomenon of Trumpism has been to lower the bar so we’re willing to settle for not crazy”
Just like after the pandemic was officially declared over, (medical experts would disagree on the over part) there seems to be a high interest in getting back to “normal” aka boring. For the most part, the short attention span of American citizens and its inflicted apathy is the contributing factor to broken politics and broken media.
We can’t change those things unless we’re willing to take responsibility for how unengaged we are. We have no right to hand the keys to our house over to a bunch of lunatics over a 40 year period of time and complain they trashed it.
I prefer action plans to counter what we find ourselves being harmed by. Blaming others for our shortcomings as citizens simply perpetuates the problem.
Everyone can have a small actions every day collectively, will make an impact:
You shouldn’t pay for the paper and then the book.
Go to independent journalism on Substack, subscribe to credible individuals, compare, and contrast .
Write to the advertisers. Judd Legume has had some great lists on popular information.
I have a standard form letter I sent to them to let them know I won’t buy their product given how they’re supporting unethical inhumane, stances, buy politicians, and or papers.
I can easily afford a Tesla, but I would never consider buying one. Fruit from the poison tree.
To simplify it all: every dollar you spend is a vote for the world 🌎 you want to live in.
I’d love to hear what other people do in small actionable steps of daily living to be conscious citizens of the planet, the global community, and an American .
Thanks very much Steve for clarifying your position from the previous post. While my objection was a narrow point (agreeing with most of the other content there) , it was important to me and I appreciate your feedback and feel I understand your position better now. Your perspectives and willingness to interact is what make this group valuable to me.
For a midterm election with terrible inflation and anxiety about the economy, the Democrats did well, mainly by emphasizing saving democracy and the right to choose (messages the mainstream media punditry declared a mistake). I'm not a big Schumer fan, but Nancy Pelosi is the most effective Speaker in my (long) memory - she has kept a coalition together the vast majority of the time despite their differences, and delivered big legislative wins. I agree that the torch must be handed to the next generation, but gradually and with respect to the elder statesmen and stateswomen who have come this far. Being younger is not better per se. In some cases (i.e., Pelosi) age really does mean wisdom.
I know how much Steve admires and supports Tim Ryan. What isn't mentioned in any of these essays is that Tim Ryan publicly rejected President Biden and the rest of the party during the debate. Is it any surprise the party didn't offer more support?
Lastly, the head of the DNC is Jaime Harrison - hardly a doddering old man. Did he just let the party stalwarts over age 70 decide where funds should be spent, or did he engage in strategic thinking? I'm not going out on much of a limb to say it's the latter.
I appreciate what you have stated here, Andrea, "I agree that the torch must be handed to the next generation, but gradually and with respect to the elder statesmen and stateswomen who have come this far. Being younger is not better per se. In some cases (i.e., Pelosi) age really does mean wisdom." We can ideally have a spectrum of people of all ages, races, genders/identifications etc. representing us in the U.S. with 'quality of their candidacy' as the #1 criteria.
There were some of us who were able to engage with Jamie on Twitter. I admit we were critical and asking for answers. First he made fun of us, telling us we were funny. Then listed things that he had done which were improvements. While it seems improvements might have been made, I still question his position.
My understanding is: Schumer as SML has its own funds to distribute to Dem Senate candidates; Sean Patrick Maloney is Chair of the House committee that distributes its money to Dem House campaigns. The DNC is a private, assumed not for profit, entity. Jaimie Harrison distributing money from the DNC is separate from, eg, Schumer.
Interesting to talk of nuance and what I call ‘holding the tension of opposites’. We ALL have those in us. For this girl from NJ, my issue is their lack of connection to the rest of the world.
Chuck Schumer is one of those. He looks as if he would be wise, but never says anything very insightful. His reaction during the insurrection was also very telling. I wish folks in DC would understand the reality of what this father in Kansas said to me a while ago in an interview I did for GE about the quality of products in America:
‘I feel like I have to run to stay even. My father bought refrigerators that lasted 30 years and now, they don’t work after 3. My wife had to take a job and we have to get someone to watch the kids. I don’t feel like a good provider any longer’.
To me, that man will remain the poster child for ‘The End of the Middle Class’. His sadness and humiliation has probably hardened into resentment by now, and I don’t blame him. DC FOLKS need to take their noses out of their own playbook and recognize that these are not statistics. These are people.
Well, this commenter agrees with you on just about everything. So much so that it’s a little scary. Always have since the first time I saw you in MSNBC with Nicole Wallace.
In my opinion, Barack Obama saved the day when he came out of his cave and joined the campaign trail. I’m pretty sure he gets full credit for saving us, possibly, from having Herschel Walker in the senate with his pilot comment. It blows my mind that the Democrats keep their #1 weapon at bay until the last couple weeks of the election cycle while we have to hear Trump 24/7/365.
Schumer and Pelosi are skilled politicians and masters of the Washington game. Mitch McConnell, too. I’m sure they are nice people. The only mandate out of this election, and the last several, is that the American people are sick and tired of politics as usual. The game they play hasn’t worked for so many of us for so long. The octogenarians running congress need to go and, thank God, the only thing the voting public hates worse are anti-democratic crackpots.
I too had wanted Pelosi out in favor of a younger House leader. But then she did an outstanding job handling the Republicans this past session and she owned trump during his administration. Her political instincts and ability to keep her side united are outstanding. While I agree with Steve enthusiastically, I think we need to respect the wisdom of party elders as we get younger.
I absolutely agree that the win was NOT a result of Schumer, but in spite of him. I have been wondering, "where is my party" for years. And I am a Boomer looking for young leadership. Who would you suggest as we go forward,?
I'm an ex-New Yorker who moved away nearly 30 years ago but still pay (far too) serious attention to NY state politics and I am no fan of Chuck Schumer. My own view is he is in way over his head, that he relishes but does not relinquish the spot light and that he talks far too much to a point where his indiscretions become distractions. The old joke that the most dangerous place in DC is between Schumer and a microphone remains true. He's not a brilliant strategist--he recruited Sinema for the Senate and he thought both Warnock and Ossoff would lose in 2021 so he contributed few resources. I hope the Democrats soon turn over the reins of power to the next generation: Schumer, Pelosi, Hoyer, Feinstein and others all need to step aside for the Katie Porters, Pete Buttigiegs. Hakeem Jeffries and others...
Agree except for Pelosi
Pelosi needs to turn the official reigns over and guide in the background
Agree
Sorry but I respectfully disagree. What was she doing in Taiwan and Korea? That's foreign policy and the purview of the president, not the speaker of the house. Why was she not more involved in campaigning for Democratic candidates, some of whom are complaining that they got no support from the DNC (e.g. Christy Smith in California)? We already know that the progressives in the house--the squad and their like minded colleagues--won their elections in 2018, 2020 and 2022 completely without her help. In fact she supported the incumbents that they unseated. And she supports Henry Cuellar who more often than not votes with Republicans. She really needs to go.
Why do people always mention Katie Porter but not VP Harris or Rep. Lauren Underwood?
Because Harris is a poor candidate and will never be POTUS. She won a Senate DEM seat in CA - not a difficult task. She was an effective Senator from CA but had not demonstrated the leadership or campaign skills necessary.
She doesn't have the charisma. And quite frankly doesn't come across as being totally comfortable in her own skin.
Katie Porter is a dynamo. She's incredibly gifted at simplifying really complicates issues and she's won 3 times in an historically red congressional district.
If she is such a bad candidate, how has she won elections for DA, AG, Senator and VP? Is that really so easy? As a Black woman?
I have seen her speak multiple times. She is a very charismatic speaker, at least in person. One of the issues is that her speeches are almost never televised.
She's getting Hillaried (Bad candidate, don't like her laugh, etc., etc., etc.).
Hillary was a terrible cabdydate. If she had been herself instead of allowing political consultants to run the show, she might have won
Your comment proves my point. She wasn't terrible, but her media coverage certainly was.
I say this at the risk of verging on an unintended discussion of race, but I think it should be obvious that Biden chose Harris as his running mate at least partly because she was the "right face, right time" pick. Biden needed to pay back Jim Clyburn for saving his campaign, and George Floyd was killed in May 2020 just before the Dem convention. Biden needed to choose a woman of color for maximum Dem Party approval and enthusiasm, and Harris checked the boxes.
Lots of VP running mates have been chosen like this, or even imposed on the presidential candidate by Party leaders against his/her better judgment -- to represent a particular interest or deliver the votes of a particular constituency. What happens after the election -- the VP's actual role in the administration -- isn't part of the deal, and Harris likely knew what she was getting into. (Recall, for example, JFK being forced to accept LBJ as his running mate but then freezing LBJ out of the White House while he confided in and relied upon his brother, AG Bobby Kennedy.) Biden's closest confidante is Jill Biden, not Kamala Harris.
Nothing Harris has done as VP, when given the opportunity, has elevated her political prospects for the future. Her easy rise in CA to state AG and then Senator did not prepare her for this office; neither did it reveal what is now being acknowledged re: being uncomfortable in her skin and lacking charisma. No doubt being VP has been a frustrating experience for her, but that's politics.
Harris's moment likely has passed, particularly when other seasoned Dems in Congress and in Governors' offices are proving themselves on the national stage. I will not be surprised if one of them catches the public imagination and is propelled toward the White House on a new wave of enthusiasm before another presidential election.
Thank you for saying that Harrus does not seem entirely comfortable in her own skin. There was some thing about her that was just not genuine, especially her high pitched constant laughter. She was overly exuberant someway. I hope it’s not a racial issue; there is just something about her that is jarring or uncomfortable. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I totally supported her at the beginning of her campaign, but in the debate with Biden I did not understand her stance on the busing issue, saying, “I was that little girl on the bus.” Yet she was attacking him for being against federally mandated busing, I believe. There was just something off about the whole thing. Plus I don’t think you have to attack your opponents.
I’d like to see Harris on the SCOTUS, if it’s expanded
Very safe comment to make! Harris could not get thru the hearings, the vote, or the nomination! #2. There is little desire to enlarge the Supreme Court!
Probably because she isn’t as wired in to the national stage. That’s not to say she shouldn’t be. Is this a race issue? I don’t know. I suspect it is part of the equation.
Katie Porter is a dragon slayer. She takes corporate greed to task by its leaders. That affects big business, thus it is covered by some media. Not enough though.
Katie Porter was similarly left to twist in the wind by the House Dems when she needed campaign $$.
Katie Porter is magnificent!
I heard Katie Porter say the other day that she herself rejected the extra money and wanted it directed to more competitive races. Hopefully that was not a mistake, but it does show off her selflessness.
Here’s the link to the pod version of Jon Stewart’s show when Porter appeared as a guest. She discusses the lack of House funding for her campaign. As with all things Jon Stewart, worth your time listening -- or watching if you have AppleTV.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-problem-with-jon-stewart/id1583132133?i=1000584767012
Porter endorsed Nina Turner (not really a Democrat) over incumbent Dem Rep. Shontel Brown. This kind of thing is not going to win support from the party, and a ridiculous mistake, IMO.
Look at Underwood's record. She has accomplished more in her short time in Congress than many who have been there a helluva lot longer.
And if you want to see dragon-slaying, re-watch then-Senator Kamala Harris grilling Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.
No doubt!
Underwood & VP are as well. I’ve watched VPs examination of mutha*** Kavanaugh many times- just to get a serotonin boost.
Again, there’s a racial bias likely at play [because who do bigoted white men despise more than Hillary & Nancy? ANY black/brown woman in ANY position of power], and it’s about the money.💰
Porter’s wheelhouse is finance 💰.
When you slay Wall Street , e.g.,Jaimie Diamond, you get national attention. 👀
Because money.
Yes! And she is barely winning in California of all places!
Orange County GOPers were a wee bit pissed off , so She got a wee bit gerrymandered
Yes!
👏
Could not agree more!
Steve, your read on the Democratic Party and Senator Schumer is compelling. It is extremely disappointing to know that Tim Ryan was denied the support that could have helped him win that Ohio Senate race. I have no doubt the election results were better than expected despite the inability of the Democratic Party to initiate an effective message and strategy. Living in Florida, I know how bad it could have been.
The only place I tend to disagree with you is your take on President Biden. You said recently that it is selfish for him to run again. That is too harsh an assessment. President Biden has done a remarkable job overall. He may or may not run again. I understand and appreciate how attractive a younger leaders (like Tim Ryan) would be to voters. I agree it is time for new leaders in the Democratic Party to take on the challenge of defeating the authoritarian power hungry elements of the Republican Party. But, I have seen nothing from President Biden but his tireless work on behalf of the Country. There is no evidence I have seen that would lead me to believe he makes selfish decisions. He deserves our thanks and our respect. I bet he will make the right decision about running when the time comes for that decision. Declaring he won’t run now makes no sense to me.
Finally, I want to thank you for the excellent job you did down here in Florida at the Florida Hospital Association Annual Meeting a few years ago. In the heart of twisted Trump country, the audience responded to your presentation with a standing ovation. That was no easy task at time when Trump was all powerful down here. It still makes me smile to think about your presentation and the feedback I received afterwards.
Bruce Rueben
Years ago, I accidentally attended a Systems Thinking class. The original person registered came up sick and since we had already paid for the course I was allowed to take their place primarily because I didn’t have anything else scheduled. Oddly, that class has stuck with me and influenced my thinking in ways no other class I’ve attended. Essentially it taught me that a system, any system must be changed from within. But anyone within that system is part of the system and the longer they are part of the system they become more inclined to take actions that ensure the viability of the system rather than advocate for any significant changes to it. This leads to a dilemma. How the heck does one change the system while either not being a part of it or becoming a part of it? The solution the class presented is that one must “get in and then get out” because if you don’t then you get consumed by the system and it becomes very unlikely you will be successful at making any significant changes. This notion is why I personally support term limits. It is also why I believe we need significant leadership changes within the Democratic party. And I say this not because I believe or support in any way “both sideism”! I find the MAGA led party horrifying and dangerous. However, it does those opposed to the MAGA GOP no good to deny the point you’ve made. That is, half of Americans believe and support the GOP because they think the Democratic party policies will be more harmful to them than the MAGA GOP policies. Why is that? The answer cannot be they are all racist, anarchists, or not smart enough to know which side their bread is buttered. While many may fall into those categories, millions do not. I believe it’s because the long time Democratic leaders have become part of the system and they’ve lost touch with the people they represent whether it’s in NY, the Midwest, NC, CA, or AZ. The long time Democratic leaders whether they consciously know it or not have become part of the system and are more focused on sustaining the system than representing the voters. It’s not just their lack of support for Tim Ryan. It’s the corruption and cronyism and bad decisions that led to unnecessary losses in NY. It’s the lack of support from the national leadership for folks like Cheri Beasley, Mandela Barnes, Val Demings. We need fresh thinking and fresh thinkers. We need new leaders who haven’t been “infected” by our current system. Ugh. I don’t even sure where I’m going with these thoughts. I’m still working through them. I am certain though that we must have new leaders if we hope to see any significant changes to our current system. Otherwise, we are in serious danger of losing any influence at all on our current political system and will be stuck trying to survive the horrific decisions folks like MTG, Ron DeSantis, Paul Gosur, JD Vance, etc will be making for us.
Excellent. And with your thoughts you are moving towards a better understanding of the decisions made in the midterms. You see, we can get stuck in systems of thought. Even if the system is working. But for whom? I find that the hardest decisions are made when one leaves the comfort zone. To a better place for the advancement of democracy. What is democracy? We must always return to the definition of it. By the way, it would be interesting to analyze what happened in New York. I was not surprised by Florida. I was disheartened by Georgia. And am baffled at Vance's win. Baffled that he and Jordan will bring divisions unknown. Divisions about who is an American.
Outstanding! Your course was valuable -- not only for you, but also for us. Thank you.
I agree with most of what you have said. We need new leaders with fresh ideas and new approaches to problem solving. I find younger people tend to be more inclusive when it comes to differences.
Something I noticed about the leaders in Ukraine was their diverse age groups working together to save their democracy.
Agree. There is a giant ID ( as is ID , Ego Super-ego) out there voting and handing power over to a corrupt class. The democrats, while less lethal are also part of the problem--because they do not want to dismantle what serves them. I heard jason Shaats I from Hawaii speak and wow- we need young fresh senatorial blood. The young generation will come after the Dems so we should wake up and get ahead of it .
Well said.
Actually from a systems thinking perspective I'm trying to understand where you mean "from within"? Input, throughput or output. I would think from within means changing to the throughput process, but that is not clear from your comment. Seems to me systems thinking would indicate that when the output does not meet hoped for specifications then you change the input or throughput through feedback.
Yes, that’s the same perspective I had before I took the class. But that’s the dilemma and the point of the class - any person within the system, once they’ve been part of the system for some length of time, begins to experience the system differently. Where once when they were seeing it from the outside and thought it needed significant changes, now they are part of the system, they begin to think those outside of the system just don’t understand how it works. And so rather than working to make the changes they once thought were needed they change their focus and start to work more on helping the outsiders understand why the system is just fine as it is.
It is my understanding that closed systems reinforce beliefs. Communism for me has always been an extreme example of this. Particularly the way it had an appeal to younger people. Then the power structure evolved towards the monstrous, transforming from within to the point that it is too late to get out because there is no clear vision of an alternative. In the case of the results of the midterms, and not the drastic example that I have entertained on Communism, the fact that the Democratic Party could win at the local, state and federal level reinforced the belief that democracy won. As Steve said in his essay, because of American voters. I want to question, though, Oprah Winfrey's endorsement and whether it led to John Fetterman's win. And here is how I am placing myself up to scrutiny. I do not have statistics on what age groups voted and how significant they were for Fetterman's success. Who watched Oprah Winfrey's Show? Who did she influence then? Who does she influence now with her current channel? Who cares for daytime TV personalities? Who cares about the personal success of an accomplished businesswoman as is Oprah Winfrey? I was stunned that she waited so long to speak up. Was she pressured to endorse him? Unless she saw Mehmet Oz as a candidate of value. The man she openly supported by introducing him to her audience and thus his entrance to daytime television. Could it have given her a sense of pride to have him winning a Senate position? Was she not also in the public eye when being considered as a candidate to run for the presidency? On the very kind of daytime and nighttime talk shows? UNLESS the timing in election outcomes benefit from this. I am positioning myself from a different perspective. Senator Schumer? He chose Pennsylvania over Ohio. Both these states have a name in politics. The Senator chose a through and through Democratic candidate. Tim Ryan was running the real bipartisan campaign. I'm brainstorming. Thank you, Carey.
One last thought. I agree with you that there should be term limits for politicians. I must acknowledge an excellent contribution days ago from a reader of The Warning. She spoke about mentorship and succession in an organization. About the importance of moving away by giving the opportunities to younger and capable new leaders. One amazing fact is how many young Arab and/or Muslim Americans were voted into office. And New York, the state I mentioned earlier today, would be much better served with an Asian American representation. Was not crime an issue not fully addressed by the Democrats there? Have not Asian Americans been the object of hate crimes in that state? Thank you again for giving way to these thoughts about a different vision for America. About a vision for younger Democrats.
The GOP talks to the Southerners + Mid westerners in short simple soundbites that play on their grievances and blame the Dems for their lot in life. It's not true, but it resonates and hooks them into the MAGA world. The along comes the Dem's with lengthy, (mostly) factual ramblings and all of the GOP supporters eyes glaze over. This isn't hard to figure out. A substantial portion of the population need to be communicated to in a 'dumbed down' fashion.
Think about it over 75 million people voted against their best interests, if that’s not a dumbed down population I don’t know what is. I have been saying for years now that our main problem is the education level, and by that I don’t mean what grade you finished, but how complex of a problem are you capable of solving. Our education system is failing to produce an educated electorate, who don’t understand what is good for them. Steve is right, this shouldn’t have been even close, 1% margins are an indictment, not a reason to celebrate.
Thank you for stating this so clearly, Dick M., "Our education system is failing to produce an educated electorate, who don’t understand what is good for them." Cause and effect.
Which is precisely why the GOP has been systematically dismantling are public education system
I have been saying the same thing. I remember I was in texas when Ann Richards lost and I turned to my friend and said we re F*CKD. The gop will do everything in its power to keep its base uninformed . This train wreck was always coming, 45 accelerated it. The democrats need to get real and have a long game. agee with this Steve is right, this shouldn’t have been even close, 1% margins are an indictment, not a reason to celebrate
Regardless, people vote - and make all decisions - based on their hearts, guts and a bit crassly their genitalia. Humans never make decisions logically This is the fallacy trap
DEMs fall into when they run on policy. . Democracy and Abortion are heart and gut issues.
DEMs need to use policy to make compelling emotional arguments To tell stories - That's where they fail to connect.
Which is why Porter is brilliant She uses data to tell simple and compelling stories
Republicans don’t want educated constituents because they know they can’t win if people are educated. That’s why they try to control the local school boards and what is allowed in the curriculum. They are also in favor of charter schools over public schools.
So very true. Our flawed education system does not promote critical thinking skills or serious introspection about our society and our current political system. While I’m generally optimistic by nature, this election has given me cause to worry. How do you get millions of people, who voted against their own self interest, to change their minds in future elections. Do you place your trust on the next generation to make things right (despite the proliferation of social media and the short attention span of so many of our youth). Do you try to re-educate our current population, and how? Are we relegated to pressing the fear button as the Republicans have? Our democracy is messy, but we need to fix it, not nix it. I am hopeful that our collective wisdom will find a way to steer us back on our path.
Not sure I agree about the education system. I have seven siblings and we all came out of the same education system. We are one Trumper, One former Trumper, One moderate, and five Democrats, one who ran as a Republican judge for years. The one Trumper and one former Trumper stayed in small town Kansas; the rest of us branched out to more cosmopolitan areas including California and TX.
How sad but true this is. Also I believe those voters in Florida and the Midwest are very swayed on Fox . That’s all they listen to
I’m sitting angry here in Ohio. Not because I repeatedly transferred money from my teachers retirement into Ryan’s campaign because he had to rely on the blue voters in Ohio to help fund it up until the last day.
I’m angry because the statehouse is filled with red seats, the administration offices all have red doors. We’ve got a heartbeat bill waiting to become a total ban on abortion, and I dedicated my life to teaching in public education which is the new frontier for GOP demolition crew.
I am angry with my fellow/sister Buckeyes. Where are they? They came out in masses 10 years ago to defeat Gov. Kasick and his red platoon’s SB2 that would have destroyed collective bargaining for teachers, police, and firefighters. We --Ohioans pushed back and beat the red machine. Where are these people now?
And now I’m wondering where is the Democratic Party? Have they abandoned Ohio?
I live in SC (a totally lost cause) so I put my dollars where I felt they were most needed. I thought Tim Ryan was one of the most compelling and important candidates in the entire election. I’m just an ordinary citizen with no insider knowledge, where the hell were the Ds supposed election gurus???? Look what happened….. Vance!!!!! It’s like the Ds threw the race, a travesty IMO.
I think you had a really good democratic candidate too. why people did not vote for him. I do not understand
Yes, Joe Cunningham. He was a one term Congressman before Nancy Mace got her fangs into him. You want to talk about a scary scary woman (btw, I am a woman & feel qualified to say it!!!!!) Joe ran for Gov but never had a chance. We are (almost) a totally red state. We only have Senator Clyburn. You want to talk depressing……
Ugg up here in NY I was thinking he did bummer
Thank goodness my kids live in the Northeast (NYC a& CT) I get back every possible chance I can. 6-8 eight weeks here in Charleston is about the shelf life for me.
Yes, and a lost cause in your public education system. Ellen Weaver (no master’s in Ed leadership? Yet)winning the state superintendent of Ed likes the idea of school choice and learning pods and micro-schools----no standardization in SC! Consequently no equity in education. I hate to be a conspiracist, but I really wonder if there isn’t a plan to undermine education in order to control the culture? Certainly in SC students can drink the red koolaid if there is not a strong public education system to hold schools accountable. I’ve read that she doesn’t like the “bureaucratic red tape.”---that accountability thing that public schools do to protect students and to provide standardized teaching and learning outcomes.
Ugh. You live in a beautiful state, Jay. Sorry to be so down on the education system.
I lived in Connecticut before retiring here. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have moved here. It has gotten far worse. The supposed Moderates from the Northeast have all turned into rightwing wackos.
Next door in Indiana. I understand
I am from out west and gave more to Tim Ryan than any other candidate this cycle. On this thread there are so many bashing democrats who as they fall in line with Steve who, let’s face it was a Republican sharing the drown the beast, anti-government regulation team that has been at the center of Republican orthodoxy. So perhaps take a moment to understand where the criticism is coming from.
This meme that states Democrats struggle with strategy against the sublime master of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, was created and supported by MAGA. When one party needs 61 votes to pass their “yes” agenda and the other only needs 40 to achieve their “no” agenda the playing field is dramatically shifted in favor of the “no” team.
That’s a really good question. Seems like they have been absorbed into the Trump- Fox cult
Ok. I would guess Schumer is a good man, but this party barely won and has problems that they seem blind to. Schumer must step down. As you say, the Dems are old, or getting older and it is past time for a new vision and new voice. Understand I write this as a boomer. Throughout the last few years, especially this election cycle, I have been critical of the Democrat leadership, for their lack of vision. That Ryan lost should be a wake up call.
I live in a red, gerrymandered state, the Democrat party has done nothing for this state. Many of us are discussing how we can make a difference, without them, National, state and local. We have had enough and have decided at this point we have nothing to lose. But, it is not just where I live. I read from others in the Midwest and the feeling is mutual. I get the problems living in a gerrymandered state, it is the stated reason for every loss. I just believe you move to be more creative, to use imagination, become curious and develop a “what if” attitude. I don’t believe Schumer is the one to do this.
My rant for the morning.
It's the DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Exactly. Why are Democrats on this thread, so willing to fall in line with talking points created by “ former” Republicans? Do they not understand that Never Trumpers are still Republicans in their core values.
I think many of these former republicans have done much to help save our Republic by speaking loudly and clearly about the dangers their former party poses. Many of these former republicans are why we didn’t lose our democracy in this midterms. I am a lifelong Democrat but I am grateful for the former republicans help.
There are 2 types of former Republicans. There are the Nicole Wallace type that have had a true epiphany and see the world through the resulting new lens. Then there are those of the Joe Scarborough type, who are honestly appalled by Trump’s behavior, but yearn for the small government, low taxes, & minimal regulations that further the inequality in America. They constantly tell Democrats what the should be doing. The advice is always to adopt Country Club Republican values and policies.
You are absolutely correct that all former Republicans helped to remove trump and I’m grateful for their votes or non-votes. But I’m irked of lectures from people who first enabled Trump and then from their new “moral” position lecture Democrats on the dangers of AOC. Steve fits somewhere between the two types. His Aaron Sorkin like rants on the dangers of looming fascism are eloquent and effective. But slipping into both sideism is annoying.
Democrats are on this thread because it has the best content available, the exchange amongst is invigorating in a safe, welcoming format, and there are Democrats my age who have enjoyed working with those across the aisle over the years.
I wasn’t asking why Democrats are replying. I was asking why they so easily support Republican talking points (or phony polls produced to suppress the vote), when in fact this last election produced amazing results when struggling against needing 61 votes to pass their agenda while Republicans need only 40 to say no to everything
Kumbaya Training 😁
Completely agree. It’s why Indiana is so gerrymandered, as Susan Mackey points out. “The Party” is only focusing, for the most part, on the coasts and “swing” states. Investment would have led to a Ryan win, and a likely chance of a McDermott win in Indiana. Lack of investment to push a message that counters the bile being presented in the Midwest leads to a guaranteed loss. People can’t engage when they can’t hear an alternative.
Good rant
I think you're right we need a younger generation taking over, but I simultaneously feel like the moment we are in is so precarious, I'm hard pressed to let go of the experience we do have on the bench, all of whom are aging. I will vote blue no matter who, because the R party has so disgraced itself, I don't expect to vote for them again in my lifetime. Biden, for instance....despite his approval figures, has a huge deep well of experience and relationships and he's done quite well in the presidency, with narrow margins and taking over a big mess. I love several of the next generation of leaders....Tim Ryan, Mayor Pete, and some senators and congress people I think have huge talent and are great senators and congresspeople...... Katie Porter ! But are any of these people electable to the presidency in a general election? I don't know. I'm watching and waiting, and nervous. I would totally vote for any number of them, very happily, if they are on the ballot. But will enough others? I don't know. I will vote for Biden if he's on the ticket....he has done a good job with tough circumstances, and a large part of that is temperament, character, experience and relationships all over the world. Schumer does some cringy things, and I don't think as much of him as I do Nancy Pelosi, who is very skilled. So---overall, I both support the next generation moving into positions of power...we have a deep bench of great talent. But I'm also nervous about turning loose of those who know what they are doing and are skilled negotiators.... at THIS moment.
I 100% agree. Thank you for the points you have made here today.
I am a New Yorker, I sat next to Chuck Schumer on a plane once. 6 hours from NY to LA. At the end of the journey I was convinced the man is in a game or maze that he cant see his way out of. I think the last 5 years the spotlight has been on the insanity of the GOP. Time to clean house in our party. The conclusions the Democtatic party makes about its sucesses feel like they are from a 1985 playbook. The party has a lot of promise , it does need a spring cleaning. They should have invested in TIM RYAN. I agree with Steve. Its only a matter of time until the spotlight and be on the Democratic party and we should not be defensive or resistant to a cleanup on aisle D. While I am at it . Amy Klobuchar would do a better job.
Yes, Chuck Schumer and the Dem establishment deserve little credit for the election result. That mostly goes to the candidates and the people who voted. But I’m not sure that the umbrage that was expressed in the comments is adequately reflected here, Steve. It was directed at your equating Schumer (whom you quiet well describe above) as equivalent to the Rep leadership. Whatever his faults, Schumer doesn’t deserve that comparison. Thanks for fostering such a respectful, healthy dialogue. Great group here. ✌️
I just need to ask a couple of questions for clarification about Tim Ryan's campaign. Please note: I personally donated what was for me a lot of money to Ryan's campaign, and mainly his, along with Val Demings -money I will now need to pay off in the future. 1. Did Tim Ryan make a public statement that he thought Biden should not run for a second term/ was too old? 2. Did Tim Ryan decline an offer to have Biden campaign for him in Ohio? (The minimal research I did on these questions turned up with 'Yes' answers.) 3. Did these choices that Tim Ryan made affect the outcome of his campaign? If Ryan criticized Biden's age and failed to note his achievements and declined to have Biden, THE POTUS, campaign for him, this may have affected the pro-Biden voter block and sadly, the outcome of that election. I despise JD Vance. I am a huge Ryan fan and very disappointed, but I want to bring this up for discussion, as I don't know if my questions are even accurate. Thank you, Steve Schmidt, and all here for this forum and meaningful discourse.
That is my understanding of Ryan's campaign as well. I was rooting for him, but he tried to walk too fine a line IMO. And he fell off because of his own mealy-mouthed shenanigans. The Democrats could have helped but seem to have been rejected by Ryan's campaign of going it alone. And who knows, maybe we are both mistaken. I am one vote out here in flyover country with no inside political knowledge.
Edit: Is anyone else compelled to correct spelling and/or grammar errors when you find one?
Thank you, Wendy, I really hope we get more feed back on these questions. If Tim Ryan said he wanted to go it alone, there shouldn't be so much backlash about Dems not giving him support (if he was not a team player). Many of us gave him support, but maybe he could have been more wise in his campaigning because it is a system...and then make changes once elected.
I get wanting to go it alone without help from the Democratic party. I am a liberal thinker in life, but I do not identify as a Democrat. They are just the closest thing I have to representation. A problem I see is one person who rejects a bigger community has a much harder (and self-imposed) road to making changes from the outside looking in.
I entirely agree.
It’s true humans are hardwired to be inspired. Unfortunately we get what we settle for in life and the new aspiration seems to be a boring politician, one who will do a bunch of stuff and then tell us about it.
Like it or not, the psychological phenomenon of Trumpism has been to lower the bar so we’re willing to settle for not crazy”
Just like after the pandemic was officially declared over, (medical experts would disagree on the over part) there seems to be a high interest in getting back to “normal” aka boring. For the most part, the short attention span of American citizens and its inflicted apathy is the contributing factor to broken politics and broken media.
We can’t change those things unless we’re willing to take responsibility for how unengaged we are. We have no right to hand the keys to our house over to a bunch of lunatics over a 40 year period of time and complain they trashed it.
I prefer action plans to counter what we find ourselves being harmed by. Blaming others for our shortcomings as citizens simply perpetuates the problem.
Everyone can have a small actions every day collectively, will make an impact:
You shouldn’t pay for the paper and then the book.
Go to independent journalism on Substack, subscribe to credible individuals, compare, and contrast .
Write to the advertisers. Judd Legume has had some great lists on popular information.
I have a standard form letter I sent to them to let them know I won’t buy their product given how they’re supporting unethical inhumane, stances, buy politicians, and or papers.
I can easily afford a Tesla, but I would never consider buying one. Fruit from the poison tree.
To simplify it all: every dollar you spend is a vote for the world 🌎 you want to live in.
I’d love to hear what other people do in small actionable steps of daily living to be conscious citizens of the planet, the global community, and an American .
Thanks very much Steve for clarifying your position from the previous post. While my objection was a narrow point (agreeing with most of the other content there) , it was important to me and I appreciate your feedback and feel I understand your position better now. Your perspectives and willingness to interact is what make this group valuable to me.
👍
For a midterm election with terrible inflation and anxiety about the economy, the Democrats did well, mainly by emphasizing saving democracy and the right to choose (messages the mainstream media punditry declared a mistake). I'm not a big Schumer fan, but Nancy Pelosi is the most effective Speaker in my (long) memory - she has kept a coalition together the vast majority of the time despite their differences, and delivered big legislative wins. I agree that the torch must be handed to the next generation, but gradually and with respect to the elder statesmen and stateswomen who have come this far. Being younger is not better per se. In some cases (i.e., Pelosi) age really does mean wisdom.
I know how much Steve admires and supports Tim Ryan. What isn't mentioned in any of these essays is that Tim Ryan publicly rejected President Biden and the rest of the party during the debate. Is it any surprise the party didn't offer more support?
Lastly, the head of the DNC is Jaime Harrison - hardly a doddering old man. Did he just let the party stalwarts over age 70 decide where funds should be spent, or did he engage in strategic thinking? I'm not going out on much of a limb to say it's the latter.
I appreciate what you have stated here, Andrea, "I agree that the torch must be handed to the next generation, but gradually and with respect to the elder statesmen and stateswomen who have come this far. Being younger is not better per se. In some cases (i.e., Pelosi) age really does mean wisdom." We can ideally have a spectrum of people of all ages, races, genders/identifications etc. representing us in the U.S. with 'quality of their candidacy' as the #1 criteria.
There were some of us who were able to engage with Jamie on Twitter. I admit we were critical and asking for answers. First he made fun of us, telling us we were funny. Then listed things that he had done which were improvements. While it seems improvements might have been made, I still question his position.
Some clarity on committee funding is needed here.
My understanding is: Schumer as SML has its own funds to distribute to Dem Senate candidates; Sean Patrick Maloney is Chair of the House committee that distributes its money to Dem House campaigns. The DNC is a private, assumed not for profit, entity. Jaimie Harrison distributing money from the DNC is separate from, eg, Schumer.
Interesting to talk of nuance and what I call ‘holding the tension of opposites’. We ALL have those in us. For this girl from NJ, my issue is their lack of connection to the rest of the world.
Chuck Schumer is one of those. He looks as if he would be wise, but never says anything very insightful. His reaction during the insurrection was also very telling. I wish folks in DC would understand the reality of what this father in Kansas said to me a while ago in an interview I did for GE about the quality of products in America:
‘I feel like I have to run to stay even. My father bought refrigerators that lasted 30 years and now, they don’t work after 3. My wife had to take a job and we have to get someone to watch the kids. I don’t feel like a good provider any longer’.
To me, that man will remain the poster child for ‘The End of the Middle Class’. His sadness and humiliation has probably hardened into resentment by now, and I don’t blame him. DC FOLKS need to take their noses out of their own playbook and recognize that these are not statistics. These are people.
Well, this commenter agrees with you on just about everything. So much so that it’s a little scary. Always have since the first time I saw you in MSNBC with Nicole Wallace.
In my opinion, Barack Obama saved the day when he came out of his cave and joined the campaign trail. I’m pretty sure he gets full credit for saving us, possibly, from having Herschel Walker in the senate with his pilot comment. It blows my mind that the Democrats keep their #1 weapon at bay until the last couple weeks of the election cycle while we have to hear Trump 24/7/365.
Schumer and Pelosi are skilled politicians and masters of the Washington game. Mitch McConnell, too. I’m sure they are nice people. The only mandate out of this election, and the last several, is that the American people are sick and tired of politics as usual. The game they play hasn’t worked for so many of us for so long. The octogenarians running congress need to go and, thank God, the only thing the voting public hates worse are anti-democratic crackpots.
I too had wanted Pelosi out in favor of a younger House leader. But then she did an outstanding job handling the Republicans this past session and she owned trump during his administration. Her political instincts and ability to keep her side united are outstanding. While I agree with Steve enthusiastically, I think we need to respect the wisdom of party elders as we get younger.
Well said -thank you!
I absolutely agree that the win was NOT a result of Schumer, but in spite of him. I have been wondering, "where is my party" for years. And I am a Boomer looking for young leadership. Who would you suggest as we go forward,?