"Authoritarians do not need everyone to support them. They need everyone who opposes them to remain divided." Adam, you defined the Democrats' challenge. Trump doesn't have to get his people in line. He only has to sow division among us Democrats. Sadly, we have historically fallen for his crap. Not This Year! Not in September, October and November -- whenever we are able to vote (especially early!). We will Vote Blue No Matter Who!!! As you concluded: "If enough Americans refuse to give Trump that advantage, we will defeat Trumpism." Amen!
I also left the Republican Party—am now registered as Unaffiliated —I wanted to leave the all important option of voting for the candidate who I feel is best for myself and my fellow humans—which, “surprise” is always the Democrat! I love your comment “the Democratic Party is a welcoming party”—indeed it is—much like being an Episcopalian-we welcome all!
No religious argument, but Episcopalians actually do welcome all! This is not all encompassing but-here goes: LGBTQ+ individuals and women can be ordained at all levels, including as priests and bishops. Members are encouraged to express doubts and have diverse personal theological views—it is okay to say hey—I am not sure if I completely agree with this-which “usually” leads to healthy discourse. Unlike the Catholic Church, any baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, are welcome to participate in Holy Communion.
Yes indeed! I have done some reading about the different branches—my mind is blanking, but there is both a Lutheran and Methodist subgroups that are all-welcoming. And I certainly do not mean to disparage anyone’s religion!
Thank you for the update. As a Floridian I researched all candidates on the ballot even local school board. Quite the difficult decision but I wasn’t going to give up. 😁
It's worth noting that Byron Donalds is a former Democrat, having switched parties in 2010 and aligning with the Tea Party. Florida's primaries saw the voters rebelling against the past several years, with the biggest upset being progressive Angie Nixon soundly defeating Alex Vindman for the Dem nomination in the race for Marco Rubio's former Senate seat, which is now held by Ashley Moody. At the local level in my county (Sarasota), voters flipped the school board from Moms for Liberty conservative to the Dem-supported candidates. That's a very big deal, considering that Trump won the county by 18 points. Whatever happens in the midterms, it's clear that most people are just fed up and want a return to something more civil and more normal.
This is good news indeed. It’s so good to see former Republicans running for Democratic seats. Everything that is happening politically is because of Trump! The pendulum swings back sharply, and this is all proving that finally people are regaining or maintaining their backbones and speaking up finally. Let’s hope it continues. Let’s hope we see the overthrow of this administration very soon. I can’t wait till they’re voted out.
If Jolly gets specific about helping the people who have been screwed the last few years, as well as keeping his core beliefs, he might even win. People who have lost health care, snap benefits, been marginalized for being women or gay, will be listening for more than small government-unless that means showing respect to all people-even to people who haven’t been very nice recently. But it can’t be bull shit. Because people are tuned in to bull shit these days.
I fully agree with making/keeping the Democratic Party a very big tent and working with and for those who have the same core beliefs: adherence to the Constitution; finding ways to make healthcare, food, education, and voting as accessible as possible; doing what can be done LEGALLY to bring accountability to lawbreakers; and, repairing our broken immigration system to keep us secure and to treat immigrants with due process and dignity….Not a definitive list, for sure. Getting into to nitty gritty debates on policies and procedures can wait till we are in charge of the government. What none of us prodemocracy folks want is division over whether someone used to be a Republican or whether they use (D) or (DSA) on their bios. Show us your record, your stated positions over the recent years, your proposals and priorities.
This is why I signed up! Love the article and the honest well-thought-out assessment. I'm a Democrat and appreciate that the party includes people with very different beliefs and values, but consistently, I hope and believe, a common belief at the core in democracy and that which is right, fair, honest, ethical, moral, and respectful of differences.
Husband and I are Democrats. We have liked David Jolly for a while now. We have donated to his campaign, have a sign in our yard, and early voted for him in the primary. We are hopeful that he could win.
This will be an interesting governor's race in Florida. Good for Mr. Jolly! Let's pray he succeeds! Florida is the land of retirees and where republican golden boys presidential certainties go to dim like ron de santes and marco rubio. They became trumpites and he darkened their reputations. Thanks Adam for leaving the republican party of your own free will!
Holy cow, 1.5 million MORE Republicans than Democrats in Florida?! It’s a wonder there are ANY elected Democrats there. They’re gonna need a lot of Independents, and temporary allies, to get anywhere. During this Trumpian era, stamping out authoritarianism is Job One, and we’re lucky to have people like you and David Jolly to stand with us and help us do it.
That's all I'VE been saying since Trump 1.0: We need to save the country first, then debate the fine points of policies once we're in the White House, AND have the majority in Congress. We have not been in a normal political cycle since the Obama administration.
Besides, once the Dems are in power again, there will be SO MUCH deconstruction and restoration to do to our government AND over physical projects erected or "redecorated" by Trump. Plus, we'll need to procecute, procecute, procecute and hopefully jail all the idiots responsible for criminal behavior while in office. Priorities must be set, and announced to the American people (with regular updates on the White House web site) and via the media -- we need to see "spines" again. We need to feel that firm, intelligent, compassionate hands will have taken back the wheel from the asylum inmates. We'll need to feel some immediate relief from high prices and soaring utility and housing costs. Any meaningful change that can last and that will show that we have a federal government that gives more than two shits about the people they serve, is all that we'd need to restore enough faith that our country will get better and eventually heal.
"Authoritarians do not need everyone to support them. They need everyone who opposes them to remain divided." Adam, you defined the Democrats' challenge. Trump doesn't have to get his people in line. He only has to sow division among us Democrats. Sadly, we have historically fallen for his crap. Not This Year! Not in September, October and November -- whenever we are able to vote (especially early!). We will Vote Blue No Matter Who!!! As you concluded: "If enough Americans refuse to give Trump that advantage, we will defeat Trumpism." Amen!
The Democratic Party is a welcoming party. I left the Republican Party with John Anderson in 1980. I am glad to be a Democrat.
I also left the Republican Party—am now registered as Unaffiliated —I wanted to leave the all important option of voting for the candidate who I feel is best for myself and my fellow humans—which, “surprise” is always the Democrat! I love your comment “the Democratic Party is a welcoming party”—indeed it is—much like being an Episcopalian-we welcome all!
I don't want to start a religious argument, but I thought it was the Unitarians who welcomed all!
No religious argument, but Episcopalians actually do welcome all! This is not all encompassing but-here goes: LGBTQ+ individuals and women can be ordained at all levels, including as priests and bishops. Members are encouraged to express doubts and have diverse personal theological views—it is okay to say hey—I am not sure if I completely agree with this-which “usually” leads to healthy discourse. Unlike the Catholic Church, any baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, are welcome to participate in Holy Communion.
Not only them. Episcopal are known to do so. I think some Methodist churches too.
Yes indeed! I have done some reading about the different branches—my mind is blanking, but there is both a Lutheran and Methodist subgroups that are all-welcoming. And I certainly do not mean to disparage anyone’s religion!
Thank you for the update. As a Floridian I researched all candidates on the ballot even local school board. Quite the difficult decision but I wasn’t going to give up. 😁
Well written discussion of Florida
It's worth noting that Byron Donalds is a former Democrat, having switched parties in 2010 and aligning with the Tea Party. Florida's primaries saw the voters rebelling against the past several years, with the biggest upset being progressive Angie Nixon soundly defeating Alex Vindman for the Dem nomination in the race for Marco Rubio's former Senate seat, which is now held by Ashley Moody. At the local level in my county (Sarasota), voters flipped the school board from Moms for Liberty conservative to the Dem-supported candidates. That's a very big deal, considering that Trump won the county by 18 points. Whatever happens in the midterms, it's clear that most people are just fed up and want a return to something more civil and more normal.
This is good news indeed. It’s so good to see former Republicans running for Democratic seats. Everything that is happening politically is because of Trump! The pendulum swings back sharply, and this is all proving that finally people are regaining or maintaining their backbones and speaking up finally. Let’s hope it continues. Let’s hope we see the overthrow of this administration very soon. I can’t wait till they’re voted out.
If Jolly gets specific about helping the people who have been screwed the last few years, as well as keeping his core beliefs, he might even win. People who have lost health care, snap benefits, been marginalized for being women or gay, will be listening for more than small government-unless that means showing respect to all people-even to people who haven’t been very nice recently. But it can’t be bull shit. Because people are tuned in to bull shit these days.
Thank you Adam for another post packed with keen insights. Well done!
I follow you for articles like this one. Well stated.
I fully agree with making/keeping the Democratic Party a very big tent and working with and for those who have the same core beliefs: adherence to the Constitution; finding ways to make healthcare, food, education, and voting as accessible as possible; doing what can be done LEGALLY to bring accountability to lawbreakers; and, repairing our broken immigration system to keep us secure and to treat immigrants with due process and dignity….Not a definitive list, for sure. Getting into to nitty gritty debates on policies and procedures can wait till we are in charge of the government. What none of us prodemocracy folks want is division over whether someone used to be a Republican or whether they use (D) or (DSA) on their bios. Show us your record, your stated positions over the recent years, your proposals and priorities.
This is why I signed up! Love the article and the honest well-thought-out assessment. I'm a Democrat and appreciate that the party includes people with very different beliefs and values, but consistently, I hope and believe, a common belief at the core in democracy and that which is right, fair, honest, ethical, moral, and respectful of differences.
Husband and I are Democrats. We have liked David Jolly for a while now. We have donated to his campaign, have a sign in our yard, and early voted for him in the primary. We are hopeful that he could win.
This will be an interesting governor's race in Florida. Good for Mr. Jolly! Let's pray he succeeds! Florida is the land of retirees and where republican golden boys presidential certainties go to dim like ron de santes and marco rubio. They became trumpites and he darkened their reputations. Thanks Adam for leaving the republican party of your own free will!
I was very sorry to see Alex Vindman lose in Florida. He is another national hero!🇺🇸
Holy cow, 1.5 million MORE Republicans than Democrats in Florida?! It’s a wonder there are ANY elected Democrats there. They’re gonna need a lot of Independents, and temporary allies, to get anywhere. During this Trumpian era, stamping out authoritarianism is Job One, and we’re lucky to have people like you and David Jolly to stand with us and help us do it.
Every vote matters, and each voter chooses. It is too easy to lump it all as Republicans and Democrats and try to spread discord.
That's all I'VE been saying since Trump 1.0: We need to save the country first, then debate the fine points of policies once we're in the White House, AND have the majority in Congress. We have not been in a normal political cycle since the Obama administration.
Besides, once the Dems are in power again, there will be SO MUCH deconstruction and restoration to do to our government AND over physical projects erected or "redecorated" by Trump. Plus, we'll need to procecute, procecute, procecute and hopefully jail all the idiots responsible for criminal behavior while in office. Priorities must be set, and announced to the American people (with regular updates on the White House web site) and via the media -- we need to see "spines" again. We need to feel that firm, intelligent, compassionate hands will have taken back the wheel from the asylum inmates. We'll need to feel some immediate relief from high prices and soaring utility and housing costs. Any meaningful change that can last and that will show that we have a federal government that gives more than two shits about the people they serve, is all that we'd need to restore enough faith that our country will get better and eventually heal.