So...what exactly is the plan?

[writerJT]

I hardly ever post, but I just can’t get something out of my mind and haven’t been able to do so for several weeks now. I have asked people around me this same question and I’m always met with the same kind of reponse—some version of “I hadn’t thought of that, but what IS being done?”

We were told that if we lost the election, it would likely be the end of American democracy.

This was not an election that was going to decide where we draw the line for tax policy, education subsidies, or some farm bill. No, we were told this was, quite plainly, likely the last election we would see in America if we lost.

We were told our institutions, norms, and entire jurisprudential history were at stake, and if we lost we would lose it forever.

In short, we were told that the question on the ballot this year was an existential one. Would we survive or would we perish? We were told if we lost that surely we will perish.

Well, we lost.

And what is being done about it now? What exactly is the plan of action?

The very same people in elected positions of power who told us all of those things will show up at the inauguration and applaud when he takes the oath and then they will go to a luncheon, and then they will go send out fundraising emails.

The very same people in powerful media postions who told us all of those things will cover the inauguration and will continue to repeat those things over and over again. They will get their clicks and their views.

What is the plan? What are we supposed to be doing and who are we supposed to be following as our country teeters on the edge of complete destruction? (Or so we were told.)

This guy is a dangerous lunatic. A lot like Bush jr, a lot like MORE like Nixon. But that’s probably as bad as it’ll get. And it can be opposed through the normal channels of politics and the courts just like it was for those two previous dangerous, corrupt presidents. And if I’m wrong, if it’s really not opposable via those normal methods, then why the hell isn’t anybody doing ANYTHING differently?

AS USUAL, IT’S ALL ABOUT FUNDRAISING, IT’S ALL ABOUT VIEWS AND CLICKS.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. You're on your own, which, depending on your outlook, can be terrifying or freeing.

[leftstreet]

2. Hopefully the plan isn't 4 years of Trump Bad Oh Noes !!

But somehow I suspect...

DURec

[haele]

7. The problem is the constant chaos and nihilistic re-directs.

One tactic can work for some problems, but the opposite might work for others.
And tactics to protect critical institutions will often require situational components to build and bolster each other, so it's crucial to know what you need to defend against before you can plan.

Unfortunately, facing a "just burn it all down" opposition is like a tornado bearing down on you without a storm shelter nearby.

Project 2025 basically runs the Constitution and the Federal Compact through a shredder and rebuilds them into a Heritage Foundation business plan. Citizenship and Social Compacts mean nothing to the wealthy sociopaths behind the plan and the incoming Administration.

Only power and money matters, and they're playing a Zero-Sum game to find out who's going to King of the Hill once they can dispense with the presence of elected leadership. And the GOP in Congress as well as the Judiciary - and *rump don't have very much political power once elections don't matter.

That's what we have to plan against.

Haele

[Boomerproud]

8. The OP has a legitimate question and you have a legitimate answer.

I appreciate you both.

[Frasier Balzov]

3. Can the plan be to focus?

Trump is going to throw so much chaos at the country that it will be important to prioritize what to fight him most vigorously on.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Hell if I know.

[0rganism]

5. The plan was "win the election ". Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there's a "plan B"

If the original plan seems more like an end-goal and you start thinking, "hey, achieving an end-goal isn't really much of a plan," well congratulations, you're correct. However, that was indeed the "plan" and there's no "plan B" -- at least, not one I've ever seen.

So yeah, we're pretty much fucked. Watching a bunch of powerful important people we used to respect bend the knee to TSF is a special early part of getting fucked. This will be an exceptional fucking, some say the most thorough fucking ever in recorded history, should such a thing even exist after said fuck is complete.

[Cirsium]

6. We are being played

We are being played, from every direction. "Are you worried about Trump? Send money right away!"

If MAGA were actually stopped, the gravy train would be over for a lot of our "friends."

I am reminded of a "hot mic" moment back in 1968 at the Democratic convention. Mayor Richard Daley: "The police are not here to create disorder, they're here to preserve disorder."

Of course they are. It's a matter of job security.

[Falcon101]

9. Party Elders Don't Care

For two years, we heard about how Trump will destroy democracy. So what is our party doing about it as you ask? Well Schumer is calling for an extended vacation for the Senate after he gives another useless speech in an empty Senate chamber as he talks about his friends on the other side of the aisle. Pelosi is playing around in Europe. Democratic Senators are making the rounds on CNN and MSNBC offering nonsensical blather. Biden is in hiding as he has not even talked to the public or held a press conference since the election. Harris is deciding whether to run again so that she can make the Democratic Party even more irrelevant, so in essence just looking out for herself. Jeffries is making some boring ass speech on the House floor where no one is listening. The old people in the party are making sure that they retain control of the Legislature so that they can continue losing more seats in the future. So to answer your question, our party is worthless and simply like to lie to us about how they want to fight on our behalf. All I can say is that do not look to me for any future donations or efforts. Maybe they can find themselves a couple of Musks to provide the funding and perhaps provide an accounting of how where they spent all that money they received.

[thucythucy]

31. I'm curious.

What would you do, if you were a party leader?

What would you do tomorrow, aside from making "boring speeches" and "making the rounds on CNN" and "playing in Europe?"

[Lulu KC]

42. Playing in Europe while recovering from surgery? N/t

[republianmushroom]

10. ...what IS being done?" Well you can buy a card now, and show you are now

a card carrying "Democrat".

[KT2000]

11. A first step

Is to support MA Senator Markey. He talked with Lawrence about how the RFK mess is a distraction from the fact that people are losing access to healthcare, it is too expensive, and private equity firms are looting our healthcare system as we speak. We have to speak up and force the media to discuss that rather than the idiocy of RFK who is arguing against established science.

We can select and amplify the messages from our still awake Democratic politicians. Not much but that is what we have now.

[JoseBalow]

12. I am looking for a leader to lead me

I don't know who that is, but I am damned sure it isn't the media. I don't have the answers, but I am good at following instructions and helping others.

If someone knows who will best lead us through this, please let me know. If you tell me how, I will do my best to help.

[Mr.Bee]

13. Stop Consuming

They refer to us as 'consumers' instead of 'citizens'
I say Stop Consuming and Necessities only!

[TBF]

15. Agree -

shopping only encourages them.

Who is "them"? The oligarchy that controls us.

[Mr.Bee]

17. My New Years Resolution

Thank You.
My New Years Resolution (and everyone can join me),
is to stop consuming, stop splurging, stop treating.
I plan to buy only necessities.
I wish we could start a national movement not to buy anything that supports Darn Old Trump, his team or his donors!

[electric_blue68]

19. Sorry, but as a poorish person I'm going to continue buying the few modest fun stuff (many, but not all) art & craft...

related) to help keep me sanie-ish, while I fight worry about losing my housing & meals supplied by potentially threatened Medicaid, plus SS, and Medicare.

Steadfast Liberal Democratic voter since '71, sometime political campaign volunteer, often single issue supporter as well, and very occasionally political art creator/designer.

I'm not giving up the modest rewards, and creative outputs I've earned.

[TBF]

23. I really hope Musk leaves SS and Medicare/caid alone,

but he has already started on Veterans - cutting a ton. It's awful.

I am glad you can at least have some peace with doing your arts & crafts. I lose myself in books, so I completely understand. I am keeping Kindle but cutting other Amazon purchases and picking things up locally instead.

[electric_blue68]

24. Yeah, I Saw the Vet Services cuts. Awful! Books, and TV work for me, too

[Silver Gaia]

38. What cuts to VA services are y'all talking about?

How can "they" actually be making cuts before they are in power? Or do you mean proposed cuts? I would seriously like to know because I am married to a disabled veteran and I've heard nothing.

[electric_blue68]

40. Ah, probably -proposed- cuts. But keep your eyes open - posably they'll try w new Congress

Try to enjoy the holidays as best you can...

I, too, have worries about other potential cuts; doing my best to enjoy the lights, ✨️ decorations, xmas 🎄 trees etc stuff I love, and get 🥰 togthers.

[TBF]

44. Proposed cuts - my dad is a disabled war veteran (Vietnam era) -

so I watch for these kinds of stories.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/11/21/musk-ramaswamy-proposal-slash-spending-could-include-va-medical-services.html

It's also in Project 2025 but quite cryptic - they talk about the need to "recategorize" veteran's disabilities. Which makes me very nervous.

[Silver Gaia]

45. Thanks for clarifying. Appreciated.

I thought surely you meant proposed cuts, and those being based on the crap that's in Project 2025. I pay close attention, which is why I asked. We shall see what comes of this... I am heartened by the message sent to Trump and Musk by Congress last night. Wary and watchful, but looking for rays of sunlight in the midst of all the doom and gloom.

[magicarpet]

26. That is a very powerful weapon at our disposal - but we refuse to use it to our detriment.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

14. Pretty sure the 2028 election will follow the Putin plan.

We need to make it clear that MAGA's goal is to return to a time before there was a middle class. It's why they won't raise the minimum wage, or cap a maximum wage. Their cries of Socialism!, coupled with their racist tactics, likely because of a majority wanting a national Healthcare system.

Everything is done to subvert the middle class. Including taking away pensions in favor of 401K's.

[Mike 03]

16. Great OP and thoughtful, worthwhile replies!

Bookmarking and kicking

[B.See]

18. A little early to be telling us what WON'T happen,

don't you think?

Btw, correct me if I'm wrong, but it ALMOST sounds as though you're suggesting Democrats lied to the American people about the existential threat MAGA poses to democracy itself, in order to raise funds.

???

[Oneironaut]

20. For Trans and LGBTQ+ people, Trump feels apocalyptic.

He's going to permanently take away our rights.

[LisaL]

21. We are up the creek without a paddle.

NT

[hamsterjill]

22. It's about the Democratic party not being willing to face the vileness of the Republican party toe to toe.

Many of us here have been saying that for years. "Democrats are going to have to learn to fight Republicans like Republicans fight Democrats". Then, we get chastised with "when they go low, we go high" and other absolute bullshit.

You don't reason with a bully. You don't expect him to play fair. You don't wait for him to come to his senses. You knock the shit out of him at every opportunity and destroy the bastard before he destroys you. Metaphorically, of course.

I'll probably get alerted, and so be it. But this is why we are at the point we are at. And yes, it's all already lost because of this.

[ForgedCrank]

25. We sit

back and watch congressional Republicans sabotage Trump for 4 years, just like last time. Then we get out the mops and brooms when he's gone.

[questionseverything]

27. If they end the power of the American dollar around the world

As the Saudi s and Russia want we are screwed.

[doc03]

28. We are told every election it is the most important

election ever. They tell us they will cut SS, Medicare, Medicade, the ACA etc. Did the wolf come this time or will it just be same bullshit in
2028? I kind of think the public just gets tired of it and tunes it out. I haven't watched a news program since the election. Just like today I read a CNN reporter said he was sorry they never covered problems with Biden's age. That is all the fuck they talked about was Biden's age.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

35. I don't think the "I'm sorry" is about age, I think it is about mental capacity.

[doc03]

41. Mental capacity my gawd if he listened to Trump, he is far worse than Biden nt

[Blue Full Moon]

29. Crickets

[The Wandering Harper]

30. my plan

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins

I'm not great at summarizing and it's lengthy,
so I'll present the title of each section with my favorite sentence or passage from that section.

1. Trust yourself
If you don’t want to read this article now and instead take a good walk, do it.

2. Find others who you trust
I promise I’ll head towards practical resistance strategies. But the emotional landscape matters a great deal. Hannah Arendt’s “The Origins of Totalitarianism” explored how destructive ideologies like fascism and autocracy grow. She used the word verlassenheit — often translated as loneliness — as a central ingredient. As she meant it, loneliness isn’t a feeling but a kind of social isolation of the mind. Your thinking becomes closed off to the world and a sense of being abandoned to each other.

3. Grieve
After Donald Trump won in 2016, we all saw colleagues who never grieved. They didn’t look into their feelings and the future — and as a result they remained in shock. For years they kept saying, “I can’t believe he’s doing that…”

4. Release that which you cannot change
Unaddressed, this desire to act on everything leads to bad strategy. Nine months ago when we gathered activists to scenario plan together, we took note of two knee-jerk tendencies from the left that ended up largely being dead-ends in the face of Trump:

Public angsting — posting outrage on social media, talking with friends, sharing awful news
Symbolic actions — organizing marches and public statements

The first is where we look around at bad things happening and make sure other people know about them, too. We satisfy the social pressure of our friends who want us to show outrage — but the driving moves are only reactive. The end result wasn’t the intended action or an informed population. It’s demoralizing us. It’s hurting our capacity for action. Public angsting as a strategy is akin to pleading with the hole in the boat to stop us from sinking.

5. Find your path
One pathway is called “Protecting People.”

6. Do not obey in advance, do not self-censor
(a thought not directly from the article,
but I see a lot of "we can't do anything" kind of thinking around here,
and it looks to me like a kind of obeying in advance)

7. Reorient your political map
How we position ourselves matters: Are we interested in engaging with people unhappy with the regime — whether because they love the current institutions or are unhappy with Trump’s policies on them? Are we able to tell a story that explains how we got here — and do political education? Or are we only interested in maintaining ideological purity and preaching to our own choir?

8. Get real about power
Power will need to emerge from folks no longer obeying the current unjust system.

9. Handle fear, make violence rebound
They were young people who took a sarcastic response to regular police beatings. They would joke amongst each other, “It only hurts if you’re scared.”
Their attitude wasn’t cavalier — it was tactical. They were not going to grow fear.

10. Envision a positive future
I don’t feel certain, and I’m not predicting we win. But we’ve all now imagined storylines about how bad it might get. We would do ourselves a service to spend an equal measure of time envisioning how we might advance our cause in these conditions.

[Justice matters.]

32. It will take a MASSIVE DEPRESSION to return to the FDR-era salvation.

When the lower classes will lose everything they will want to get out of their misery.

For the actual well-offs, like paid pols and the upper class of a few millionaires and billionaires, they will then see their wealth taxed as they should have never been lowered.

That is, if there are no natural extermination events and no nuclear war (MAD) which are more and more possible.

We are a sick species.

[La Coliniere]

33. Unfortunately, until the party gerontology relinquishes power there will not be the kind of plan needed to

fight the fascists. True fighters like AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Eric Swalwell, Jaime Raskin, and some senior fighters like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and whoever else has fire in their bellies, need to form a true opposition that counters daily all the shit the felon and MAGA leaders throw at us. They need to hold daily press conferences to highlight each outrageous plan, cut or tactic MAGA puts forth. Calls for protests, boycotts, strikes, whatever it takes to attack their most dangerous intentions. They need to coordinate daily messaging that is echoed by everyone in the party, from top to bottom. They need to help create a progressive media to counter the ubiquitous right wing bullshit that has polluted the minds of so many Americans. They need to get in front of the cameras, saturate the media (tv, radio, podcasts), with a constant message of opposition and offer solid Democratic policy solutions for the public to understand. Unfortunately, none of this is happening and it’s demoralizing to the base. There could be a powerful plan of opposition, but it needs a strong central leadership to coordinate the strategy, and it’s not happening. We, the voters have to exert pressure on Democratic holders of power to get them to change and implement the kinds of plans needed to be effective in stopping the damage MAGA is intent on accomplishing. Plan? There could be, but the will needs to be there.

[Drum]

34. Midterm elections.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

36. I'm not sure that any Democratic leader said it was a sure thing. Yes, a thing that Trump no doubt longs for. Yes,

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2024, 04:07 AM - Edit history (1)

a thing that is much more likely than it has ever been in the USA before. And is even a 1 in 20 chance something that we should not have warned about, as if it is a grave possibility?

Now, we hope it turns out that everyone does enough to help us avoid having Trump or Vance becoming the next Strongman Authoritarian Ruler; Authoritarian Populism?

Those that were pretty certain it would happen, now hope that they were wrong, and will gladly eat crow.
Those that feel like it would be poetic justice for it to come true so that they could say "how could you have been so stupid, we all warned you", realize that it would be a Pyrrhic victory and hope they don't ever get to use those words.

[lees1975]

37. If Trump really were an existential threat to American democracy...

...then the prosecution of charges against him for insurrection would have moved forward quickly. Don't tell me the justice department could not have flown its presidential flag high enough to get court dates, choose favorable judges, publicize its evidence and get this thing to trial a couple of months after Congress handed them a mountain of evidence. I've read through that Congressional investigation report more than once. If that couldn't have convicted him in a court of law, then there would be legitimate reason to claim there is no justice in this country.

Had he been found guilty of insurrection, according to the constitution, he could not have run for office again, and the GOP would be left trying to figure out. among their various assorted failures who have done nothing but hang on his coattails, who their nominee would be.

And as soon as the Supreme Court issued its ridiculously anti-Constitutional presidential immunity ruling, the Democrats would have broken the filibuster, and packed the court like they should have done when we had majorities in both houses during the first half of Biden's term. The fact that they did not do this will go down as a historic mistake. If we do lose our democracy as a result of these failures, that's where history will put the bookmark.

[Meowmee]

39. No comparison between orange psycho and anyone before that such as Nixon etc..

If you can’t see that, take another look at what has happened since he was first installed in power. I posted about it somewhere else on a thread a few weeks ago after the election.

[betsuni]

43. Democrats cannot tell the future, aren't gods or superheros, they're politicians. It's your country. Americans did this.

But no, blame Democrats! They're not human! It's all their fault, they promised to save us! (um when?) Get started early suppressing the midterm vote! Take no responsibility! I hate you, mommy! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!