Given that Democratic messaging since Obama has been, at best, weak and at worst, actively driven core constituencies into the GOP what should their core message be in 2026 and beyond?8



*Working on the assumption that we'll have free and fair elections in 2026 and 2028 . . .

5/31/2025 6:58:46 AM

In 2026 you run on anti-corruption and a return to government norms. Forcing this insane admin to comply with the law. I think people are getting sick of the constant tests of the judiciary, Congress mostly ignoring its oversight duties, the $Trump coin. If I’m a Dem, I’m asking “what did Donald agree to in order to get that Qatari jet?” Literally every time a camera is nearby.

In 2028 I think you need a more substantial platform. It’s too far away to get too detailed IMO. Assuming no black swans, the economy and immigration will be key issues as they have been in the recent past. They also happen to be two of the most volatile areas for this current Admin, they’ve made big promises in these areas while also being incompetent dipshits. Seems like Dems might have a chance to run on “clean up on aisle 47.”

5/31/2025 7:29:18 AM

"We know we fucked up in various ways over the last decade+, we're sorry, and we want to get back to Making America Great Again. We will do it with an unapologetically strong commitment to the values that the Democratic party has always espoused, but we'll also learn from where Republicans and Republican voters have turned out to be right as well, and integrate that into our platform going forward."

something along these lines I think would go a long way with the American public.

^ of course justice SHOULD be done (so i'm not saying we should just look the other way on all that trump/maga have done), but the best way to defeat corruption at this point may be to wash it out with an overwhelming message of Goodness and a focus on our future, rather than wallowing in the stagnant muck of grievance and revenge. that strategy has clearly failed.


[Edited on May 31, 2025 at 7:53 AM. Reason : I want a 10x victory https://twitter.com/kenwarner/status/1712214815307977031]

5/31/2025 7:38:57 AM

I think the corruption has to be pointed out, but the public is famously indifferent to corruption if they don't think it impacts them. Corrupt political bosses successfully ran American cities for decades and the public -- in many cases -- loved them for it.

So I'm not sure the corruption angle alone works.

5/31/2025 9:52:43 AM

exactly my thinking too. that's why I suggested the contrition angle. it's easy to argue all day long decade after decade about which side was more corrupt. we've gotten nowhere with it, just wasting our precious time and energy over and over and over again. But there's not much room to argue when somebody says that they were wrong and want to be better. People respect and admire that. That's the kind of leadership that resonates and makes us all great again.

[Edited on May 31, 2025 at 10:09 AM. Reason : let's reclaim the m word]

[Edited on May 31, 2025 at 10:19 AM. Reason : just a ramble. not sure if it's right or not. if i'm wrong lmk]

5/31/2025 10:04:36 AM

Dems ran on combatting Trump 45 corruption in 2018 and won 40 seats in the House. I think you are right that the contrition should be a part of it. They should lead with policies that will clean up their act too. Stock trading ban for Congress is the obvious one (very popular with voters from all parties).

I do not think this is a strong enough platform for a presidential campaign, those election years need to have much more of a vision. It could be pretty effective for mid-terms.

5/31/2025 12:30:50 PM

Quote :

"Dems ran on combatting Trump 45 corruption in 2018 and won 40 seats in the House."

fair point. we were very much in the thick of the "how the hell did trump get elected" hysteria then, plus of course the opposing party tends to do well in midterm elections.

Quote :

"They should lead with policies that will clean up their act too."

love it.

Quote :

"I do not think this is a strong enough platform for a presidential campaign, those election years need to have much more of a vision."

why not both dot gif. i'd say that there's an above 50/50 chance that AI related job losses are going to start rolling in pretty significantly by the time 2028 primary season arrives. perhaps a vision to help solve those issues would be prudent...

this conversation segment highlights a relevant messaging (and just as important, policy) issue the dems must confront as well



[Edited on May 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM. Reason : ps op since you're new here fyi https://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=654569]

5/31/2025 1:47:05 PM

I went back and looked at 2018 briefly because I do think it is the most relevant corollary. Dems picked up 41 seats in the house and won the popular vote in the house by 8.5 points, the biggest seat gain in the House since the mid terms right after Watergate was getting started. Dems lost two seats in the Senate (extremely favorable map to the GOP?) so it’s not like it was across the board victory. Trump’s corruption was a major issue, but there were others, for instance the House GOP had just failed at another crusade to repeal ACA/end pre-existing conditions protections.

5/31/2025 8:25:35 PM

I might be able to successfully identify losing strategies, but I don't know a winning strategy. To me, the correct binary choice has never been more self-evident.

This narrative that Democrats aren't speaking to young men in ways they can understand only serves to underscore how pathetic this generation is. They are self-selecting these insane sources of validation.

People used to always tell me I would get more conservative with age and having to pay taxes. I find the exact opposite to be true. I started conservative from upbringing and environment, but at least had a good sense of right and wrong instilled and an appreciation for history and a respect for intelligence. We have to play these stupid games on all these ridiculous alternative platforms and spoon-feed the shits what should be obvious?

"Don't forget to like and subscribe" is right. . .

5/31/2025 8:43:22 PM

I think contrition is misguided, inside the beltline wonk thinking

It’s based on the understanding the the parties are coherent entities that have persisted for decades— which is true

But voters don’t perceive parties are coherent entities the way people who actually follow politics do. Being contrite reminds voters of past failings more than it portrays authenticity.

Whoever becomes the front runner should own the Image of the party and essentially just pretend like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris never existed, that the democrat party was born yesterday. Look how much Kamala stumbled for example to explain why she was or was not like Joe Biden. She should have just owned the party— and let’s not forget she actually came close to winning.

Besides this, focusing on the populist aspects of the party platform are key, authenticity is key. If we have someone like Pete Buttigieg as the nominee, he should fully embrace being a nerd and talking like a nerd. Hillary should have embraced being a lifelong politician — hell yeah she started learning politics in high school, doing activism, studying the law— why wouldn’t you want this? She can’t relate to normal people— good because her brain is filled with nerdy foreign policy facts.

6/1/2025 12:09:57 AM

Quote :

" We know we fucked up in various ways over the last decade+, we're sorry, and we want to get back to Making America Great Again. We will do it with an unapologetically strong commitment to the values that the Democratic party has always espoused, but we'll also learn from where Republicans and Republican voters have turned out to be right as well, and integrate that into our platform going forward."

co-opting the mantra of the fascists is a horrible, godawful suggestion

Republicans and Republican voters haven’t been right about anything. ever.

6/1/2025 5:49:56 PM

Almost.

6/1/2025 6:00:41 PM

Shes right. Making sports for everyone is a great message. There’s agreeable and fair ways to do it— California actually had a good system (multiple winners). Let people compete. Give people a reason to work harder.

Quote :

"Simone Biles & @Simone_Biles You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead I... You bully them... One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!! Riley Gaines @@Riley_Gaines_•4h Comments off lol To be expected when your star player is a boy x.com/mshsl/status/1... "

6/6/2025 8:53:29 PM