Fighting over how progressive we can make the Democratic Party is a huge mistake...

[zaj]

... right now.

We need that push from the left, but it needs to be strategic, it needs to reflect regional norms, it needs to come with a sense of the moment.

Example: Guns
We should demand certain long resisted changes like Universal Background Checks, but...
We shouldn't demand universal litmus tests on assault rifles, because...
We should respect regional norms and values.

How can we wall start to adapt this sort of refined thinking in the face of our own preferences, our own biases, and our own energy?

[zipplewrath]

1. Stop nationalizing races

The key here is not to avoid fights over ideology. It is to keep them "local". The DCCC should have stayed out of the Texas primary. We should avoid relating local candidates to national issues and national leaders. The GOP tried to make the Lamb race about Pelosi. It didn't work. We need to be careful about making the races about Trump. They need to be about policies and about the local nature of those policies. That they are Trump policies will be well known.

[Demsrule86]

3. Our Revolution should stay out of it too...they run candidates who can't win the

district...our only chance is if Fletcher wins. The DCCC may have been heavy handed but they are right.

[zipplewrath]

4. Wait to be invited

I'd say for any national organization, stay out until invited. And be careful about invitations into primaries.

Fletcher needs to win, not arrange for opponents to lose. Fletcher needs to build support in the primary for when they get to the general election. You don't accomplish that by undermining the other guy. You do that by attracting a majority of the voters.

[Demsrule86]

7. Primaries often damage the eventual nominee...I will never understand why people are so obsessed

with primaries...they are but a means to an end...winning an election. And we are talking about red Texas here. Moser did funnel money to her husband's consulting firm, she did criticize Texas and moved back in order to run (seen as a carpetbagger). She is not a good candidate. Now I would vote for anyone in a general, but if Moser wins, we lose the seat in my opinion. If this primary ends up being as divisive as I fear, we may lose even if Fletcher wins at this point.

[zipplewrath]

9. Who chooses

Like I say, the thing about primaries is they should be an avenue for a candidate to attract voters and build a foundation for the general, not just make the case that the other guy is worse. So let a local politician build a local constituency and let the voters decide, because they're the ones voting in the general too. Having national organizations come in and try to convince the voters who they should choose ends up alienating alot of the people you need to win the general.

[Demsrule86]

10. Well that sounds great but we have outside groups influncing that choice...we voted under

Dean's 50 state solution...and won. Nominate people who can win.

[zipplewrath]

11. Who

Who does the nominating without primaries?

[rzemanfl]

2. There are no "regional norms and values" regarding military style assault rifles. n/t

[dameatball]

5. I also think we are overestimating a potential flood of GOPers deserting Trump

They have to continue to support him because they will lose both houses without his base. It would be a bloodbath. So they will continue to bail water as long as they can stay afloat.
Every Dem vote is going to be needed.

[beachbum bob]

6. there were many democratic leaning voters who voted for trump who now have huge regrets

PA-18 id proof positive of that. 35% of american voters will always support trump and his disastrous policies, the rest of america do not.

as for democratic party, we must maintain the big tent of all our democratic voters. NO f*cking ideological litmus tests ever...leave those for nazis, republicans and racists

[zipplewrath]

8. Yup

I'm fairly convinced that there is not an insignificant number of voters who either voted for him, or for 3rd party/write-in candidates that never thought for a minute that Trump would win. They won't readily admit it, but I suspect they will vote to "adjust" the current political outcome.