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Where are the Democrats? Who is going to stand up? [1]

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Date: 2024-12-19  

Like many, after the election, I turtled. Went back in my shell and tried to get over the shock in peace. I’m still scared of what’s coming, I’m not going to lie. On the high-up levels, the union of the public and private powerful as is happening, along with the kow-towing and ring kissing, and the lawsuits and investigations, portends something along the lines of a fascist dictatorship in democracy’s clothes. On a smaller level, my family relies on the federal government for things like funding special education in public schools, and if they attack all the legislation Project 2025 says they are going to, that funding could be gone soon, and with it my children’s already leanly-funded education. So, yeah, I’m worried. Thus far, I’ve seen nothing that makes me think I shouldn’t be, but it’s not just because of what the right is doing. It’s the absence of anything from the left that has me equally worried. Am I missing it? I mean, I looked for it — here, there, and everywhere—and haven’t seen much of anything but the occasional viral video. So in that spirit, three categories of question, below, and if there are answers, please share.

First, I can’t remember where I read it, but I was reminded the other day how in the immediate aftermath of Obama’s victory, Republican leaders met to set up their resistance strategy, and they weren’t shy about it. It didn’t work all the time, but it created an ethos that they haven’t moved away from since and I would argue has lead them to being the bullies and victors they are today. Have the Democrats done anything similar in the last few weeks? Are they hoping that Trump’s love of chaos will do their job for them?

Second, over the last few decades and in particular in the last decade, the right has created its own information ecosystem — a variety of networks, radio stations, podcasts, written media, influencers, content creators, etc., that has proven incredibly effective. By flooding all possible media, the right is making it impossible to get a message out, and we saw the outcome in this election. Meanwhile, the left seems to have relied first on the fairness of legacy media, and that strategy has failed miserably. I was glad to see the Harris-Walz campaign work harder in the online world in their campaign, but do Democrats have a plan to do something more?

[**UPDATE: A comment brought this Kos article to attention, and it’s encouraging with respect to question 2. HT: RandyM77**]

And last, even when on the defensive or in the minority, Republicans have always had a leader who commanded the media’s attention, like McConnell in opposition to Obama. I noticed Kamala just gave her first speech since the election, and I’m glad for that, and maybe Mayor Pete can be that person, but it would be nice to see a little something now. Who is going to be that person for the Democrats?

I know the common thinking right now is that we all have to work locally, from the bottom up, to fix this mess, but without any leadership or example on a national level, that task is that much harder. So, honestly, I’m just looking for a ray of light in this dark sky. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/12/19/2292749/-Where-are-the-Democrats-Who-is-going-to-stand-up?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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