"Painting a liberal opponent as "soft on crime" helped Sen. Ron Johnson squeak out a victory over Mandela Barnes"
... and, while Barnes certainly didn't help matters with his DTP ties (even if they were mostly implied), it was primarily a matter of the Republicans painting him as "soft on crime".
There is legitimate debate as to how "soft on crime" DTP really is -- when the Squad voted against bills to beef up Capitol Police after Jan 6, it's pretty clear that preventing another attack isn't at the top of their to-do list -- but I haven't seen any reason to think Barnes himself is "soft on crime".
I agree there is cynicism, I just don't think it's driven by things like gerrymandering or campaign spending or parliamentary or procedural matters so much as it is cynicism driven by substantive results (or lack of substantive results). So I can see a lot of voters saying "why bother voting, the cops still beat me up and health care is still unaffordable and I can't get decent housing" but I can't imagine a lot of them thinking "why bother voting, Democrats draw their districts just as badly as Republicans do" because the latter is more an inside baseball thing and the sort of people who know about it are more likely to know the context of it, whereas even a casual observer can tell if their life is improved in a meaninful way, or not.
I think many of us would like to see it dismembered and buried in landfills in four different time zones so that it can never be heard from again. But since it keeps hurting Democratic fortunes, we still need to talk about it.
Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff (Anton Walbrook): Clive! If you let yourself be defeated by them, just because you are too fair to hit back the same way they hit at you, there won't be any methods *but* Nazi methods! If you preach the Rules of the Game while they use every foul and filthy trick against you, they will laugh at you! They'll think you're weak, decadent! I thought so myself in 1919!- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Because there are still elements of the party, including here in NY who think it's a good idea.Also, as we'll see next Tuesday in Chicago's mayor's race, crime will be an issue and having the candidate most of us want to win having uttered that stupid phrase will ensure he doesn't.
I am so glad I ended a brief stay in Wisconsin nine years ago and moved to the progressive state of Florida.
Thanks for writing about this race, Stephen.
Michelle Goldberg at NYT has more on Protasiewicz and Kelly. He does not sound like a very nice fella.
Gift link https://www.nytimes.com/202...
I've been thinking about this statement ...
"Painting a liberal opponent as "soft on crime" helped Sen. Ron Johnson squeak out a victory over Mandela Barnes"
... and, while Barnes certainly didn't help matters with his DTP ties (even if they were mostly implied), it was primarily a matter of the Republicans painting him as "soft on crime".
There is legitimate debate as to how "soft on crime" DTP really is -- when the Squad voted against bills to beef up Capitol Police after Jan 6, it's pretty clear that preventing another attack isn't at the top of their to-do list -- but I haven't seen any reason to think Barnes himself is "soft on crime".
For someone who hates this "slogan" so much you sure like keeping it alive
If one Senate seat flips GOP in WI on Tuesday, they'll just impeach her if she wins anyway.
But, but, Stephen, she believes in a woman's right to make her own decisions!?!?!Oh my....
Waukesha alone is the whitest, most racist suburb you'll find anywhere.
I agree there is cynicism, I just don't think it's driven by things like gerrymandering or campaign spending or parliamentary or procedural matters so much as it is cynicism driven by substantive results (or lack of substantive results). So I can see a lot of voters saying "why bother voting, the cops still beat me up and health care is still unaffordable and I can't get decent housing" but I can't imagine a lot of them thinking "why bother voting, Democrats draw their districts just as badly as Republicans do" because the latter is more an inside baseball thing and the sort of people who know about it are more likely to know the context of it, whereas even a casual observer can tell if their life is improved in a meaninful way, or not.
It’s “Most Benevolent Overlord” in this house.
I think many of us would like to see it dismembered and buried in landfills in four different time zones so that it can never be heard from again. But since it keeps hurting Democratic fortunes, we still need to talk about it.
All due respect, I think cops murdering POC and us not doing anything about it does more harm than nitpicking over words.
"She Who Must Be Obeyed"?
From one of my all-time favorite movies:
Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff (Anton Walbrook): Clive! If you let yourself be defeated by them, just because you are too fair to hit back the same way they hit at you, there won't be any methods *but* Nazi methods! If you preach the Rules of the Game while they use every foul and filthy trick against you, they will laugh at you! They'll think you're weak, decadent! I thought so myself in 1919!- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
I believe that the horse is dead, KB. I'll let you know if I change my mind.
When a slogan hurts efforts to stop that and puts Republicans into power, you call it out.
Because there are still elements of the party, including here in NY who think it's a good idea.Also, as we'll see next Tuesday in Chicago's mayor's race, crime will be an issue and having the candidate most of us want to win having uttered that stupid phrase will ensure he doesn't.