People are super pissed
Hardly anyone in Washington D.C. seems to really get that
Author’s Note: Thank you for subscribing to On Democracy! Every post is free but your paid upgrade is crucial to helping me continue my work and is deeply appreciated. Your paid subscription supports it all!
Everyone I know has had enough of this shit
I had the privilege of being one of the organizers for a demonstration outside the John Cochran Veterans Affairs Medical Center here in St. Louis yesterday. An astounding 500 people showed up lining both sides of the street waving signs and chanting for almost two hours as cars honked and cheered us on.
I talked to dozens of people who came from across eastern Missouri and Illinois to this protest and one thing was consistent in every conversation.
They’re pissed the fuck off.
I’m talking enraged.
They have just absolutely had enough of the outrageous shit coming out of D.C. They are disgusted by the way Republicans are allowing Musk and Trump to destroy the government. They are angry that Elon Musk is dismantling the civil service and attacking good people while still rolling in money and smearing people online. They are furious at how our Republican elected members of Congress and the Senate like Ann Wagner, Eric Schmitt, and Josh Hawley are ignoring them and hiding out from their own constituents.
But, that wasn’t all. They’re also pissed at Democrats. That’s the part that should wake some people up in Washington D.C.
What are you even doing right now?
Seriously, what are the Democrats in D.C. doing? I know that every time I criticize the Democrats I hear from folks saying that we have to be unified and support “our team” but, y’all, seriously…what the fuck?
I have been talking with professional political operatives, former elected officials, and consultants all week and no one to a person can connect the dots to the fecklessness and chaos from the Democratic leadership. No one can come up with a rational explanation to why Chuck Schumer and several of his colleagues voted to pass this disgusting Continuing Resolution.
All we hear is “shut down…chaos…destroy the government…worse…something something…we will get blamed…something…Hobson’s Choice…something…gotta go!”
Just say “NO!” How hard is that?
I want to understand their reasoning. All of the excuses like they were afraid to be blamed for a shut down. They were concerned that it would give Trump and Musk more free rein to destroy things. On and on. I hear them.
However…they are doing all of that right fucking now!
The entire CR is one big rubber stamp saying “Fuck You” to veterans, scientists, federal employees, and all of us. It passed with 9 Democratic Senator’s votes.
If feckless needed a picture that would be it.
Why are they afraid of wielding power?
We have power. They refuse to use it. I will never understand the Democratic aversion to using power ruthlessly and without mercy.
Always with the bipartisanship hand wave. Always with the ‘we are willing to work with our colleagues across the aisle.’ THEY AREN’T! Stop fooling yourselves.
Here is what I would have done. Make it clear to the Republicans that if they want Democratic votes they have to negotiate in good faith with Democrats. They have to come, sit down, and offer something that they want.
Here is how I would demonstrate that. Not a press conference. Not a five paragraph statement.
The Negotiating Table
I would show it to the entire world by setting up a negotiating table, chair, and a rug right in the Capitol Rotunda. Then place one chair across, facing it, with a sign on the table that says “Reserved for Republicans.” Then I’d establish a rotation of Democratic Senators pulling 2-hour shifts and a 24-hour livestream of watching them sit there, read books, do paperwork, and just hang out...waiting for Republicans to negotiate.
There would be a sign behind it and a continuous banner on the livestream counting the time that we sit there waiting for Republicans to negotiate with us. If the government closes down we run a second clock of how long the “Republican Shutdown” lasts and a counter of how much money its costing taxpayers.
Twenty-four hours a day, seven-days a week. Hang it around their damn necks visually and clearly. It’s a simple message; Democrats are more than happy to negotiate with the party in power, they just have to swing by and sit down any time.
Stop being afraid to fight the messaging battle visually and viscerally. Go on offense. Put them on the defensive for once. Make them explain why they won’t negotiate. Make them explain why they shut down the government while Democrats are sitting there in the Capitol eager to open it back up with maybe five simple demands.
Stop playing their game! Use your power.
But most of all…folks better figure out soon that out here….we are pissed and our patience is running out.
Big Sunday Show tomorrow
We will be livestreaming On Democracy | Sunday right here on Substack for the first time tomorrow! We’ve got an incredible show including Rosa Brooks, law professor, journalist, author and commentator on foreign policy, U.S. politics and criminal justice. The featured interview is with former Presidential candidate, Vermont Governor, and DNC Chairman Howard Dean.
Don’t miss it tomorrow at 11:00 am ET/ 8:00 am PT right here, on the On Democracy YouTube channel, or my social media handles!
Yes to it all. The GQP is evil; the democrats in office are largely invertebrates, and actually I feel better than I have in many weeks - because yes, WE THE PEOPLE are pissed. Outraged. And we will need to be, to claw back our country, the world’s safety and our rights. I’ve no doubt that they will be shocked by the power of the sleeping giant that true Patriots are. Veterans. Scientists. People who understand what the Constitution is: a noble promise we haven’t yet fulfilled. But I think now it’s our turn. They think the game is over but actually it’s finally beginning 🤗
I really appreciate your vision of how to fight back! When watching podcasts and reading comments we mostly talk to our own people (I’m assuming). At the negotiating table in the Rotunda, it would be hard not to have coverage from other media sources. Screenshots of the coverage could be plastered on billboards around the country.
Many Americans are afraid to say what we think out loud. Why shouldn’t we be? We are afraid for our physical safety. Legal, financial, career, and other retributions loom large. When I was 18, I could take the risk. Now, not so much. Finding a way to preach to the sinners (and not the choir) so that they can be informed is really important!