[ethbr1]

The path to winning elections is by appealing to voters who can be swayed while keeping the base on board.

The problem with Democrats winning elections (since 2016) has been the ideological purity tests their social-left demands from candidates, rendering them toxic to independents.

It'd be nice if internet SJWs grew up and realized that winning elections with "don't ask don't tell" is better than losing elections with overly socially progressive platforms.

It feels like a large chunk of the party would rather lose an election smugly than win it with compromise.

Republicans since 2014 have been in somewhat of the same mutually exclusive bind, which is why Trump emerged as the primary candidate. Turns out reconciling mutually exclusive promises is possible if you're willing to say things without intending to do them and bank on charisma and a cult of personality.

Tl;dr - Democrats need to cure their case of SJW Tourette's. When someone asks a question about trans rights, say "I support equality for all Americans, because that's what our Constitution promises" and leave it at that.

[platevoltage]

This is basically a Bill Maher monologue. We live in a country where a pathological liar can turn less than a dozen people in the NCAA into a national issue, but you think the best way to counter that is march a robot out on to the mic to say "I believe we are all equal, vote for me". This is who those "Join the conversation" Pepsi ads that went over so well were designed for.

[ethbr1]

It's strawmaning the argument to imply that only a robot can choose what to dive into details on.

Democrats should be diving into the details on progressive economic platforms every chance they get, as wholly, messily, and authentically as they can.

But yes, they should refuse to jump on progressive social landmines their opponents lay out.

What's your alternative and better suggestion?

[platevoltage]

Going all in on Israel in 2024 WAS the social political landmine. A half-assed attempt at sorta kinda defending trans people wasn't.

[ethbr1]

So your offered alternative is {everything the same, except harder/softer? on Israel}?

[platevoltage]

Yeah dude. That's totally what you should have gathered from this exchange.

[ethbr1]

If I misinterpreted your suggestion, feel free to clarify.

Taking potshots is easy: putting down your own marker is hard.

[Zigurd]

I'll bet you a beer that the analysis after the midterms is going to be that Republicans shouldn't have capitulated to the tech bro neoreactionaries.

[ethbr1]

Depends which way control goes, which depends on the economy in November 2026 + redistricting outcomes.

And I'd say the excesses are equal part tech bro neoreactionaries + nativist Heritage / Project 2025 folks, each of which contributed their own toxic ingredients.

It's rapidly becoming apparent that Trump doesn't actually care about much ideologically and generally blows whichever way the last person in the room asked him to.