Liberal leaders say they have a plan for a new, more effective anti-Trump resistance in 2025

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 12:46 PM EST, Sun December 22, 2024


CNN — The question has loomed over Democrats and their allies since Donald Trump was elected to a second term: Do party leaders and liberal, pro-democracy activists have the juice to launch a passionate, organized opposition to Trump and the Republican congressional trifecta?

The early takes, in the days and weeks after the election, were gloomy, bordering on defeatist. But less than a month now before Trump’s second inauguration, a picture is emerging of Resistance 2.0. It’s out with the “pink pussy hats” and often performative pop culture gesturing and in with strategic confrontation, from the halls of Congress to the courts and, when called for, the streets.

That, at least, is the plan.

“We don’t have rose-colored glasses. This is going to be a hard fight. They are more organized than they were last time. The landscape has moved further to the right in many ways in terms of the governmental balance of power,” said Skye Perryman, the leader of Democracy Forward, a left-leaning legal organization. “But there are real opportunities with both where the American people are on issues as well as with where the judicial landscape is.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/22/politics/resistance-trump-liberal-groups/index.html

[ColinC]

1. Pure unfiltered Economic populism is the only plausibly realistic plan

Anything outside of that is a path deeper into autocracy/ oligarchy

[Bluetus]

2. This is not complicated. Eat the rich.

Trump is selling the top jobs to billionaires, who intend to use those positions to make themselves even richer.

It could not possibly be any more clear.

The American people get this, and they are completely at odds with the Beltway mentality and the corporate-controlled media. This is why there has been such gnashing of teeth about the American response to the killing of Brian Thompson, CEO of UHC. Nobody is advocating vigilante justice, but the American people DO want justice nonetheless, and that's what the Beltway doesn't understand.

Economic justice is the winning issue, and it will be a winner every day for the next 4 years because economic INJUSTICE is what the Trump mobsters are going to be trying to accomplish every day.

We have to put this into tangible terms:

* Windfall profits tax
* Top tax rate of 70%, just like it was 1965-1981 when America built the strongest middle class ever
* Break up monopolies
* Hold social media operators accountable for disinformation
* Take half the money raised from that top tax bracket to reduce the debt and the other half to solidify Social Security fund into the 22nd Century and pay for 4-year college or trade school for all students that demonstrate aptitude and commitment
* Etc.

We have to sell a real plan, not just oppose Trump.

[Hugin]

13. Yep, we're back to the chicken-in-every-pot politics of the 1890's.

It’s appalling how dumbed down it has become.

[FBaggins]

4. That's a plan for 2026... not for the next year

Those are issues to run on for the next election - particularly where they can draw distinctions with whatever policies the new administration actually enacts.

But "resistance" when we're in the minority and all the public can do is express disagreement - has to be legal/procedural roadblocks (lawsuits and filibusters) and trying to pick off small numbers of republicans on key votes.

[ColinC]

5. Fair point!!

[Bluetus]

6. NO!!!!! We need to be hammering these economic fairness issues RIGHT NOW

Every day between now and 2026.

That's the problem. Democrats no longer think in terms of principles and values. They think only of campaigns, then disappear for 18 months.

We have to sell this stuff every damn day.

[ColinC]

8. I mean... we can do both, right?

[Bluetus]

11. I'm not sure what you mean

We can't take 18 months off and then start thinking about campaign messages, each free agent candidate picking and choosing their own messages, and also sell a clear set of values every day. If you know a way to do that, I'm all ears.

[ColinC]

12. The point the other poster was making is taking on litigation, fighting authoritarian/ horrifying policy, etc

Essentially prioritizing the immediate material fight against undemocratic and criminal elements. But I think you can do that and not put the messaging on hold, as you point out, as well.

[Bluetus]

15. Yes, I suppose.

Certainly the work of people like Marc Elias is vital to our survival. But "we" don't do that, that is to say, few of us are in a position to do that.

But we are ALL in a position to interact with our politicians and demand/encourage them to fundamentally change the way they have been approaching things. We will not win with a grab bag of narrow special interest issues. The issue that is at the heart of the anger felt by the majority of Americans is economic unfairness. And Trump's cabinet of billionaire crooks is bringing that into focus for everyone. We MUST grab this opportunity. We may not get another chance as clear-cut as this.

[Yavin4]

7. Bezos is throwing a $600 million wedding AND he gets a tax cut?

Democrats need to go after the rich.

[ColinC]

9. Hard to do when they're paying a lotta the bills tho...

[marble falls]

3. Better this than the plans for self immolation and tickets to other nations a lot talk about here.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

10. ok. good

[Qutzupalotl]

14. This article gives me hope.

“…we can't simply engage in mass mobilizations every time there's a new issue or program we're opposed to.” Good. Those are largely performative and ineffective anyway.

I am hopeful that we have learned the lessons of the past, including not counting on a white knight to save us. We have to do the fighting ourselves, and wisely.