I had not read this piece but wrote a similar sentiment from my own observations about what is taking place in America in the comments section of the New York Times. Interestingly, they didn't choose to print it. I thought, at the time, I might be over the top in explaining how the entire thrust of the MAGA movement is imposing the politics, culture and pre-dominance of the South onto all of America. Lo, and behold I came across your article and realized I'm not alone in my viewpoint. The Neo-Confederate War of Aggression will eventually either lead to civil war or secession because much of America wants no part of the ignorant, bigoted, racist culture of the South with its perverted and distorted Christianity. Thus we are a moment of great conflict. I personally hate everything about the South and being a Northerner have spent my life avoiding even travelling to it except for business.
The reality of trumps approval numbers is terrifying yet helps us be clear eyed. Anat, I know you do work with Sarah Longwell. Please, Please, PLEASE explain this to her. Her entire theory of change to end MAGA is based on Trump being way less popular. The Bulwark people need to operate with this reality.
I volunteer with Run for Something and only focus on candidates in MAGA controlled states. There are so many young people trying to make change in their repressive states.
This talk leaves me feeling both scared and more determined.
I appreciate you guys. I wish we could get your messaging out to large groups of young people. They need a different form though to connect with these ideas. It has to almost be fed to them in bite sized entertaining bits. I believe most would be hungry for the fresh thinking! For the clarity of thought. They just aren't exposed. and, definitely not in a way they can uptake or digest.
Great discussion and very insightful perspective about the ongoing attempt to control America by neo-Confederates, as well as the ways we misuse polls to understand voter opinions..
My question for you and Anat is, how do we stop this, and especially how to make the political conversation be about the fundamental split between wanting an America where everyone is equal, or the neo-Confederate one where a subgroup is special and runs everything?
Anat talked about Dem campaigns choosing the wrong messages to run on, looking at polls that make voter opinion seem fixed in stone when they aren't. But are campaigns even the right place for us to expect to make major changes in voter opinion? Changing opinions is a slow process and we need to take the long view in efforts to build support for important issues and values. At best it would be common messages pushed by many campaigns and not just over one cycle. A long term persuasion campaign seems more like a job for the national party itself, which of course it doesn't do. The rightwing does a much better job of focusing on their core issues and narratives, then creating emotional messages that move opinions 365 days/yr, every year, while the Dems stand around between major elections doing nothing. After all the constant attacks on the Democratic party and our values, no wonder the Dem brand sucks. Do you think Dem campaigns can change opinions, or if not how can we do it effectively? The current process seems pathetically inadequate.
One of the foundations of SCOTUS NOT dealing with State Constitutional violations is that maybe Amendment XI and "(wrongly) for sure" Hans v Louisiana removed from the Constitution "In all Cases ... in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction" but that is not so. See the pdf at https://usareset.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43 that debunks the lies.
Dem Pty Must Become a Centrist Party. I applaud Progressive Goals, but the Main Energy of the Dem Pty MUST BE CENTRIST to Form The Political Machine Necessary to Overcome the Moronic Maga Base, “Take Control of Both Houses” and Ultimately Create a Philosophical Balance in The Supreme Court in the next 10 or 20 years!!!
While I’m not in a position to contribute financially, I want to affirm my full support for the progressive work you’re advancing.
I also have a strategic proposal I hope you’ll consider. I’ve developed a framework designed to help the Democratic Party recapture the Independent Center—A Vital Segment Of The Electorate that’s been largely neglected for the past 20 years.
Without deliberate engagement, the party risks losing the civic energy that T’s unlawful use of military, judicial, and executive powers may be stirring. If we (the Democratic Party) do not confront our legislative shortcomings and as a result fail to regain control of both chambers (well over half the House and at least 60 Senate seats), we will be unable to stop the constitutional erosion T is actively, and to some degree successfully, pursuing.
NPR 2026/2028 (“And Beyond”) Framework builds on the legacy of Vice President Al Gore’s 1993 National Performance Review (NPR), “Which Aimed To Make Government Work Better, Cost Less, And Deliver Results The American Center Cares About AND Needs.” VP Gore’s NPR Streamlined Bureaucracy, Eliminated Outdated Programs, Introduced Performance Metrics and Customer Satisfaction Tools.
It was Bold, Data-Driven and Reform-Minded! Qualities We Must Now Revive and Expand!
A Modern Expansion)of “VP Gore’s NPR Legacy” must go further - "NPR 2026/2028" calls for a National "NPR" Expansion that embraces its "Open Independent Structure" - A Transparent, Modular Platform that Welcomes Principled Reform-Minded Independents And Centrists.
And another thing, the minute one suggests that the US Democratic Party do more organising and maintain better internal discipline, the howls about imminent gulags go up. Honestly, the Dem Party is awful, but a large part of its base is truly ineffable.
Michael’s analysis of the ‘Confederate’ nature of the current political and social crisis is spot on. I’m an observer from a land Downunder, and it has been obvious to me that for the last thirty years that the US conservative movement has been determined to roll back every gain made by the ‘people’ writ large. The real problem imo is the congenital political and ideological weakness of the US Democratic Party. Put simply, while all social democratic parties have their weaknesses and disappointments, the US Democratic Party is truly in a league of its own. Its performance has been simply terrible. It’s not fit for purpose.
I had not read this piece but wrote a similar sentiment from my own observations about what is taking place in America in the comments section of the New York Times. Interestingly, they didn't choose to print it. I thought, at the time, I might be over the top in explaining how the entire thrust of the MAGA movement is imposing the politics, culture and pre-dominance of the South onto all of America. Lo, and behold I came across your article and realized I'm not alone in my viewpoint. The Neo-Confederate War of Aggression will eventually either lead to civil war or secession because much of America wants no part of the ignorant, bigoted, racist culture of the South with its perverted and distorted Christianity. Thus we are a moment of great conflict. I personally hate everything about the South and being a Northerner have spent my life avoiding even travelling to it except for business.
The reality of trumps approval numbers is terrifying yet helps us be clear eyed. Anat, I know you do work with Sarah Longwell. Please, Please, PLEASE explain this to her. Her entire theory of change to end MAGA is based on Trump being way less popular. The Bulwark people need to operate with this reality.
I volunteer with Run for Something and only focus on candidates in MAGA controlled states. There are so many young people trying to make change in their repressive states.
This talk leaves me feeling both scared and more determined.
I appreciate you guys. I wish we could get your messaging out to large groups of young people. They need a different form though to connect with these ideas. It has to almost be fed to them in bite sized entertaining bits. I believe most would be hungry for the fresh thinking! For the clarity of thought. They just aren't exposed. and, definitely not in a way they can uptake or digest.
Great discussion and very insightful perspective about the ongoing attempt to control America by neo-Confederates, as well as the ways we misuse polls to understand voter opinions..
My question for you and Anat is, how do we stop this, and especially how to make the political conversation be about the fundamental split between wanting an America where everyone is equal, or the neo-Confederate one where a subgroup is special and runs everything?
Anat talked about Dem campaigns choosing the wrong messages to run on, looking at polls that make voter opinion seem fixed in stone when they aren't. But are campaigns even the right place for us to expect to make major changes in voter opinion? Changing opinions is a slow process and we need to take the long view in efforts to build support for important issues and values. At best it would be common messages pushed by many campaigns and not just over one cycle. A long term persuasion campaign seems more like a job for the national party itself, which of course it doesn't do. The rightwing does a much better job of focusing on their core issues and narratives, then creating emotional messages that move opinions 365 days/yr, every year, while the Dems stand around between major elections doing nothing. After all the constant attacks on the Democratic party and our values, no wonder the Dem brand sucks. Do you think Dem campaigns can change opinions, or if not how can we do it effectively? The current process seems pathetically inadequate.
One of the foundations of SCOTUS NOT dealing with State Constitutional violations is that maybe Amendment XI and "(wrongly) for sure" Hans v Louisiana removed from the Constitution "In all Cases ... in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction" but that is not so. See the pdf at https://usareset.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43 that debunks the lies.
Dem Pty Must Become a Centrist Party. I applaud Progressive Goals, but the Main Energy of the Dem Pty MUST BE CENTRIST to Form The Political Machine Necessary to Overcome the Moronic Maga Base, “Take Control of Both Houses” and Ultimately Create a Philosophical Balance in The Supreme Court in the next 10 or 20 years!!!
While I’m not in a position to contribute financially, I want to affirm my full support for the progressive work you’re advancing.
I also have a strategic proposal I hope you’ll consider. I’ve developed a framework designed to help the Democratic Party recapture the Independent Center—A Vital Segment Of The Electorate that’s been largely neglected for the past 20 years.
Without deliberate engagement, the party risks losing the civic energy that T’s unlawful use of military, judicial, and executive powers may be stirring. If we (the Democratic Party) do not confront our legislative shortcomings and as a result fail to regain control of both chambers (well over half the House and at least 60 Senate seats), we will be unable to stop the constitutional erosion T is actively, and to some degree successfully, pursuing.
NPR 2026/2028 (“And Beyond”) Framework builds on the legacy of Vice President Al Gore’s 1993 National Performance Review (NPR), “Which Aimed To Make Government Work Better, Cost Less, And Deliver Results The American Center Cares About AND Needs.” VP Gore’s NPR Streamlined Bureaucracy, Eliminated Outdated Programs, Introduced Performance Metrics and Customer Satisfaction Tools.
It was Bold, Data-Driven and Reform-Minded! Qualities We Must Now Revive and Expand!
A Modern Expansion)of “VP Gore’s NPR Legacy” must go further - "NPR 2026/2028" calls for a National "NPR" Expansion that embraces its "Open Independent Structure" - A Transparent, Modular Platform that Welcomes Principled Reform-Minded Independents And Centrists.
It's not about left-center-right.
Antonia Scatton has a good post on this that explains it much better than I can - https://reframingamerica.substack.com/p/the-center-v-left-argument-is-bs
This one from Scatton is also worth reading - https://reframingamerica.substack.com/p/better-to-have-fought
Another item along these lines is this Charting The Way Forward podcast episode - https://chartingthewayforward.buzzsprout.com/2415376/episodes/18334521-we-can-rebuild-all-of-this-feat-terrance-woodbury
And another thing, the minute one suggests that the US Democratic Party do more organising and maintain better internal discipline, the howls about imminent gulags go up. Honestly, the Dem Party is awful, but a large part of its base is truly ineffable.
Michael’s analysis of the ‘Confederate’ nature of the current political and social crisis is spot on. I’m an observer from a land Downunder, and it has been obvious to me that for the last thirty years that the US conservative movement has been determined to roll back every gain made by the ‘people’ writ large. The real problem imo is the congenital political and ideological weakness of the US Democratic Party. Put simply, while all social democratic parties have their weaknesses and disappointments, the US Democratic Party is truly in a league of its own. Its performance has been simply terrible. It’s not fit for purpose.
Your discussion valuable again. Helping meld other books I’ve read on post-civil war, post-reconstruction to the 1960s.
Too many parents still teach hate to their children, now with malign ‘influencers’ taking this further.