Politics as usual is not cutting it
While Lisa Blunt Rochester sees things in this country as basically peachy, most of us know that we are in the midst of a crisis. Many DL readers realize that the current situation demands that we take a wholly different approach to politics and elections and that we cannot rely on languid, laissez-faire “leaders” like Lisa Blunt Rochester to formulate that different approach.
Rather, we need to step up ourselves and move the ball forward where we can with new ideas, new methods and new practices that can flow over and around obstacles like our congressional delegation. I see evidence of this flow in organizations like Delaware United, Justice Democrats and Network Delaware. These groups are not organized around a campaign or candidate, but around keeping energy and activity up between elections. They basically ignore the useless cogs like LBR in a way that I wish I could.
Similarly, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sketched out a new approach when noting that our swing voters are not “the middle” but people who never voted before. This fresh insight, although it seems obvious, is a bit of a revelation. But is it a revelation that we can make practical use of? I wrote the post below just after the mid-term elections. I’m revisiting it now because I wonder about the feasibility of using this “AOC scale” in the next election. I know many DL readers are also active in local campaigns, so I’d really like to hear from you in the comments.
What does ID’ing swing voters that are not “middle” but “passive” really look like? Did this sensibility animate any local races this past cycle? Which ones?
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What would it take for Democrats to stop chasing the mythical “center” and start putting some real energy into activating voters who would be inclined to vote for Democratic candidates on election day, but stay home instead?
My sense is that instead of “left, middle, right” we’d end up with a scale that looked something like this*.
0- Anti-Interested
1- Clueless Affinity
2- Passive Interest
3- Light Voter Level Interest
4- Semi-Regular Voter
5- Engaged Voter
6- Activist
The key would be to nudge everyone [every decent human, that is] up one notch on the scale. This has happened in the past, but it has always been ad hoc. The Obama campaign, for example, moved scores of voters on or two notches on the scale. [Likewise, the horrible Clinton campaign kicked millions of Ds down two notches.]
Also, Trump has worked to turn Dem 4’s (Semi-Regular Voters) into 5’s (Engaged Voters) and 5’s into 6’s – but is the pipeline being fed? Or are Dems like Carper, Pelosi, and Schumer intentionally stopping up the wide end of the pipe with garbage?
We can’t afford to continue to rely on ad hoc events to move people up the scale. It needs to be an ongoing program.
*I know that campaigns use a 1-5 scale for GOTV efforts and when canvassing. This is similar but more interested in the likelihood of voting, not a gauge of feelings about a particular candidate.
Going to push back a bit. The notion among progressives that the center is a myth is a little absurd in my opinion. Go to any Delaware suburban sub division and they aren’t marching around their grass lawns asking to end systematic racism or advocating intersection femism. They went a good school system, low taxes a safe neighborhood and a tolerant society for the most part. They don’t like guns but they feel their husbands should be able to go hunting. They are pro choice but find late term abortion repulsive, think there is racism but think affirmative action is unfair; do not believe in raising taxes are their teacher salary to let real
Low income kids go to school for free when they can barely afford to send their kids to UD. Sometimes the progressive bubble is really a bubble but the proof is in the pudding. Carper best back Kerri handily. The progressive did not win the 2016 open congress race here and well John carney and Chris coons are well coons and carney. I think progressives need to get out of the bubble stop being self rightous about everything and stop being social warriors. Concentrate on the economic issues and issues that really matter to voters. Otherwise you will always stay in that small bubble
And all those comfy folks in their suburban subdivisions will eventually wake up to the destruction, only then it will be too late.
Stay comfy, my friend.
I been hearing about them waking up for years. Hasn’t happened. Local issues when raising kids don’t change. Sorry man, angry and keep losing elections.
Sorry man, asleep and keep killing the planet.
You’re asleep at the wheel and arguing that sleep is important.
“The notion among progressives that the center is a myth is a little absurd in my opinion.” “Carper best back Kerri handily.” – D’dude
Carper maybe a “centrist” in office, but he postured as a progressive in the 2018 election. With his million$ in the war chest, decades of name rec’ and the protection of the NewsJournal, it’s hardly surprising that the “center” went for the “progressive” they knew as opposed to the one they did not.
“The notion among progressives that the center is a myth is a little absurd in my opinion.”
The myth is not that the center exists, of course, there are a handful of clueless idiots who have no opinion on current events. The myth is that you can win elections by finding and targeting these morons with a message watered down enough for them to grasp.
That strategy has been tried and failed countless times. That strategy not only fails to win over the clueless idiots, but the watering down of the message depresses turnout among people who WANT to vote for the Democrat.
Jason I have to disagree with you. The success of the Democratic Party in Delaware where I think only 6 other states can match (control of both bodies and governor) is that the Dems here are pretty moderate. While bordering states have had bout witth Republican Governors (looking at you NJ and MD) DE has remained pretty blue. Maybe its not as progressives as you like but its not conservatives running govt either.
” its not conservatives running govt either.”
Yeah, it is. You mean it’s not arch-conservatives (Repubs) running government. Delaware’s Democrats equal most blue-state Republicans.
No, Hard no dude. Republicans don’t directed money towards underserved school, pass gun control legislation (yes Ennis screwed some it up buts like 120) pass ERA, get pro choice stuff done, get expungement legislation for juviniles done, I could go on.
Sometimes I think some of you are stuck with this whole “machine” way of getting elected that it annoys you. However with an honest look at the agenda in Dover its hard if not absurd to call it Republican like. Cmon now
No. Alby is right. Delaware is no guide. On their records, Coons, Carper, and Carney could easily have been elected as R’s if that party wasn’t even more screwed up than ours is.
Anyway… to the larger point of the post, using a “Liberal, Center, Conservative” lens, and thinking “centrist” can help you win elections is just consultant hackery.
You’ve ignored my point that it is ultimately worse than ineffective – it is harmful – because the policy concessions made to win a vanishingly small demographic are clearly not worth it when balanced against the steep decline in engagement among higher value segments.
“with an honest look at the agenda in Dover its hard if not absurd to call it Republican ”
Not if you remember what Republicans were like before Reagan. It’s the same agenda; neo-lib Democrats are just for a slower pace of privatization.
The Democrats you like support charter schools, government opacity, the police…look, I could go on all day and you’ll still miss the point, because you’re operating under some fantasy about Republicans winning elections in Delaware again someday.
You don’t get what you don’t ask for. Are you so afraid of “progressive” positions, supported by a majority of Americans, that you won’t ask for them?
Thanks for the comment. I don’t want to reply from my phone. I’ll reply later today.
The dude abides and I agree, it’s a good analysis of where we are now in Delaware. Concentrate on economic issues, it hits home for the average Delawarean and it’s were progressive issues can win. As for the alleged Dems Coons, Carper and LBR a primary is about all we can do, they are every bit as much property of the rich as any Republican and will not change.
Interesting to note a new organization (to me) has hired uber progressive Sarah Fulton (congrats!) – check out their Board of Directors and Advisory Board members.
https://spurimpact.org/board/
Mission: We are a Delaware nonprofit organization formed in 2018. The mission of Spur Impact is to be the premier hub developing, engaging, and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders by fostering connections with people, nonprofits, and businesses to promote growth personally, professionally and philanthropically.
My LinkedIn notice yesterday: Congratulate Sarah Fulton for starting a new position as Associate Director Of Development at Spur Impact Association
Spur Impact Association – Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
web.dscc.com/Business-Consulting-Services/Spur-Impact-Association-6649
Spur Impact Association | PO Box 25208, Wilmington, DE, 19899 | Innovincent LLC is a Delaware-based strategic management consulting firm
“Rather, we need to step up ourselves and move the ball forward where we can with new ideas..”
Just shut up and dribble
Someone is having a bad day.
Pull up a chair, and pour me a glass of your thoughts.