I'll throw my 2 cents of criticism in here

[bigtree]

107. the more we keep harping that Dems don't have a message, the more that becomes the cw

...no matter what Democrats are saying.

Look at the polls, and tell me what more Democrats are supposed to be doing to move that needle further?

I've never seen an incoming president polling weaker, and it's on EVERY key issue of his agenda, most in double digit disapproval.

I mean, where is this success in messaging supposed to manifest itself in an off-election year than against the policies of the opposition?

I could see questioning their messaging if there was some kind of increase in support for Trump, but what he's doing is wildly unpopular.

More than that, I question why anyone needs Democrats to convince them of the danger of Trump and republicans? So far, it looks like the public doesn't need much prodding, and Democrats are on the right side (the popular side) of most every issue.

And btw, personally, I don't have any problem getting the 'message' from our Democrats who are fighting the budget where they work. I don't need them to act out for me. I don't need them to hold performative rallies and yell things at me that I already understand.

People need to come to grips with the fact that no party does well when their opposition holds ALL branches of government. And, if I can be candid without anyone feeling I'm pointing at them, I don't feel that this community has used this platform to do enough to promote the things Democrats are actually doing and saying, that is until there's some internet meme, remark, or post deliberately circulated to poke at the party that's just so irresistible to share here among Democrats working to support the party.

I don't begin my day dreading what Democrats are doing, as much as I worry about republicans. It's not just that they're not in charge, but I don't have as short a memory as to forget that Democrats absolutely excel in the majority, and the nation always prospers -economically, socially, in our foreign policy and national defense.

I recognize that millions of other voters didn't bother to oppose Trump, but I don't blame Democrats we elected for that idiocy. There couldn't be a clearer choice between parties, on everything. What's the actual messaging on that?

How do you say Trump and his republican party is a danger? Trump is a danger, look! Look at them. Not hard. We're already doing that, so...

I posted the Dems rapid response here and it was treated like it had cooties. It became a platform for grousing about the party, at one point, leaving me to wonder just what is going to satisfy everyone, or anyone complaining?

They don't seem to be even posting advocacy that matches their concerns and interests stated. It's really hard to believe that there's something out there that Democrats haven't already been saying. Even harder to believe these same critics would bother to promote that, not even on the platform they have available to them. I don't believe it.

Bottom line. I come here to support Democrats.

I don't come here to publicly criticize elected Democrats. I use my phone for that, knowing full well that they're not very likely to read me here.

But we can see who is the beneficiary of all of the anti-party grousing: We are, not elected official, but DUers who come here to advocate for the party; as well as others we should want to attract and keep in our fold, and not just in election season.

This free-for-all criticism of Democrats we disagree with isn't going to candidates. It's more likely just repelling people away from the party, from our elected officials, from our candidates, and often from the site.

It promotes cynicism here about Democrats, and it's basically an invitation to apathy. We're not so much of a think tank as a message board, and I think we often forget to put our best foot forward here for the ONLY party that represents the interests and needs of Americans.

You can call that cheer leading, but promoting the interests of Democrats in winning elections and in advancing legislation isn't my only interest. It's just my only interest on this public forum. I don't believe it's politically effective or prudent to air our own party's dirty laundry in the middle of a campaign or a political fight.

Now that we have a game show host as president there's been this hue and cry for performative politics from Democrats to match the performative politics from Trump.

If all we expect out of these legislators is to entertain us, than we'll get nothing more than entertainers as candidates.

These elected officials are in politics both because they care about the issues, and because they are intellectually prepared for the task.

That expertise or knowledge doesn't always come with razzle/dazzle, and it's a damn shame more people are turning away from taking the time to listen to and understand issues that don't always comport with soundbites and short tweets.

I'll stop there. Thanks for the thread.