I think, I know how the Democrats can beat Trump in 2020: Decency.

[DetlefK]

It's all a matter of framing:

"Trump vs Democrats"

Not "Trump vs the democratic candidate" but "Trump vs all of the Democrats". Whoever the democratic candidate will be, he/she cannot match Trump in terms of personality-cult, so let's not even play that game.

"Trump vs Democrats"

On one side, we have the Democrats.
* Don't focus that much on the candidate herself/himself. Emphasize the party as a whole.
* Emphasize that the Democratic Party does have many different wings, yet how they work together in harmony. A big-tent-party for everybody.
* Emphasize the many policy-proposals and ideas the Democrats have. Flood the airwaves with proposed bills and statistics and numbers and calculations and references.
You want better healthcare? We're working on it.
You want more transparency? We're working on it.
You want to fight corruption? We're working on it.
You want lower taxes? We're working on it.

On the other side, we have Trump.
* Don't attack Republicans directly. Make Trump the face of the GOP. Make this election a referendum on Trump. And then portray the Republicans as enablers of Trump's worst impulses.
* Contrast Trump's insults with democratic calls for harmony, unity and moral decency. Yes... The Democrats MUST make a call for moral decency.
* Contrast Trump's lack of accomplishments with the democratic boatload of reforms and ideas and numbers. Paul Ryan was hailed a financial genius because he used numbers in his proposals. HIT THEM OVER THE HEAD WITH NUMBERS.





1. Voter subconsciously love politicians who get shit done. That's why Trump won: He promised to get shit done. Democrats must make it clear that they could get shit done if only the voters would let them. And they must make clear that Trump did not get anything done.

2. HRC's "Better together" accidently played into the grievances of people who are subconsciously racist: They heard "Better together" and understood that that their voices will be drowned out by other voices. (Voices of them Muslims and Latinos and gays...) Democratic messaging must make clear that all voices will be heard. By showing off their many ideas, the Democrats can show that they are a big-tent party.

3. Voters subconsciously love parties who have their house in order, who don't have infighting. Democrats should try to get Republicans on the record as enablers and abetters of Trump. Some will run away from Trump, and that will be the crack in the armor: Infighting.

4. Decency. People are tired of Trump. People want to go back to normal. People want a President where not every waking moment is occupied by the question "Oh God, what will he tweet next?"
Democrats must message that their government will be steady, stable and reliable.
Democrats must message that their candidate does not have sex-scandals and financial scandals in the closet.
Democrats must message that their candidate never did business with the mob.

The Democrats must message that there is such a thing as "presidential behaviour".






Not every republican voter is a Trumpist. Only 60 or 70% of republican voters are.

Imagine being one of those 30% or so of the republican voting-bloc. You want fiscal conservatism, you want national security, you want a good economy, you want an upright, scandal-free, respected President to be proud of.

And then you have the choice between the Democrats offering that... and for more years of Trump.

[lunamagica]

1. We had decency in '16. Problem is they cheat

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Decency: yes ; timidity: NO

We must relentlessly provide evidence of what Democrats will DO, and at the same time relentlessly provide irrefutable evidence of what Trump has DONE, so the contrast will be Unignorable.

[watoos]

3. I used your reasoning on a nice Trump lady,

who owned a local country store here in central Pa. The reason we talked politics is because she had a letter to the editor that I had written to our local newspaper posted on her wall. My letter talked about buying local and buying American products. After I had used your talking points on her she looked at me and said, you didn't vote for Trump did you? I politely answered no. She responded that her store has been doing great under Trump and then she laid it on me when she said, I couldn't vote for Hillary.

Republicans don't vote "for" something, they vote "against" something. Trump uses fear to motivate his voters.

[marble falls]

4. Its even simpler than that. All we need to do is show up at the polls.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Decency doesn't seem to be a selling point with the Trumpers.

They wouldn't keep supporting him if they actually thought decency was a necessary quality for a president.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. "Decency doesn't seem to be a selling point with the Trumpers."

It's a selling point for the sixty percent of Americans who tell pollsters they aren't.

[jrthin]

6. "Decent" people voted for Trump. Aren't we tired of being

on the high road alone. Trump superpower is that he doesn't care! We can win by growing a spine. Stop using highfaluting language to people whose hearts we want to touch. More of what Congressman Schiff did on the floor needs to show up...stop being the party of appeasement.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. No , "Decent" people did not vote for Trump.

With or without scare quotes.

[DetlefK]

9. I'm talking about demanding a return to decency.

Republicans love to be outraged about the oh so uncouth liberals, with all their free love and their rock'n roll.

Well, what if we take a look at republican morals? How moral is it to insult people, to lie, to be a bombast, to be a hypocrite, to cheat on loan-applications, to cheat on your wife...

[Squinch]

10. "Decent people voted for trump"?? Name three.

[MarvinGardens]

11. My Mom. My Dad. My sister in law.

I was disappointed in them, and I disagree with their choice, but they are decent people.

[SlogginThroughIt]

13. Well sorry to say that if they support him and this administration

Well sorry to say that if they support him and this administration, they are not decent people. And I have a sister in the same boat. They may not engage in the disgusting things this administration does but they support it. My sister and brother in law are the same. They are my family. But that alone doesn’t make them decent people. They can do all the good things they want but supporting the shit this administration does means they are not decent in my book. It is sad. But thats where I am at.

[Squinch]

14. There was nothing to recommend trump other than sexism and racism, so...

I get it. I have family members too. But this has taught me that they are sexist and racist. That precludes decency.

[MarvinGardens]

15. Another thing.

We're not going to agree about whether my family is decent.

Another related opinion I have is that it will not help us as a party to make a habit of telling Trump supporters that they are terrible people. Say it here to vent, sure, but it will not help to say it in mixed company or in a public forum. And I don't think the OP is advocating this BTW.

Upon hearing this insult, the ones who really are deplorable assholes will be even more motivated to vote for Trump in an "oh yeah?" doubling-down sort of way. The ones who are changeable certainly won't be motivated to vote for us upon hearing it.

[Squinch]

17. I'll conduct my relationships the way I choose, but thanks for your concern.

[jrthin]

12. I can't name one. But, that's what people keep telling me...for example, I'll hear

crap like this, "My friend is a really sweet and nice person, I don't get it, he/she voted for Trump." I don't know any decent person who'd vote for Trump or today's republican, yet I keep hearing people say there are some decent people who do vote that way. My point is, decency can be in the eyes of the beholder and are judged by the closeness of the relationship.

[Generic Other]

16. Maybe a new version of the "It's morning in America" ad

The idea of wanting to go back to normal. Not this mad cow drama we have been subjected to.

[Yavin4]

18. Nope. The goal is to get the dis-engaged to be engaged and vote.

Decency only goes but so far.