Republicans are busy rigging the election. So what are we doing?

[Cyrano]

Red states, and specific areas of blue states, are being targeted by the Republicans each and every day. And we know exactly how they steal elections. "Scrubbing" voter roles. Closing voting sites and limiting the days on which people can vote. Demanding that voters present state issued IDs, to which many poorer people have no access. Blocking vote-by-mail and trying to destroy the US Postal Service. Deciding which precincts require votes to be "lost." Russian and Republican operatives and bots flooding social media with misinformation. Recruiting thousands of "poll watchers" whose sole purpose is to intimidate people at voting sites. And their own propaganda TV channel.

So what are we doing to stop it. The slogan GOTV ain't good enough. If someone had broken into your house, you'd call the police or perhaps try to physically stop them. But even though these Republicans-stealing-elections tactics are in the news almost daily, what the hell are we doing to counter it?

It's possible that Dems are doing much, but I for one, don't see it.

We all know that a huge blue turnout is needed to take the presidency and the senate. But given their all out effort to hold onto the levers of power, is a blue tsunami going to be enough? I really don't know. But what I do know is that Republicans are the enemies of democracy, our constitution and our freedoms. And it's past time for us to treat them as our deadly enemies and take steps to stop their theft of America. How? Let's hear your ideas on this.

[Doodley]

1. I agree, and Trump is putting in the groundwork to contest the election result. We need a

big spend to advertise these facts to the American people. We need Mike Bloomberg!

[Cyrano]

3. And we need more Dems like AOC who bitch often and loudly

We here have little to no power beyond our voices and writings.

Elected Dems need to use their positions to gain attention and get into the fight.

We also need a massive Democratic online effort using social media. So far, we've left that field open to the Thugs.

[oswaldactedalone]

2. We're busy

depending on Republicans against Trump getting the messaging right. Can someone explain to me why Dems suck at messaging? Republicans are vicious in their attacks and they frame their messages in simple terms.

Trump is the swampiest swamp creature in the history of American politics. He’s set up ad after ad for us and where is our messaging? Where are our pithy sayings that frame the election. Complain about pithy slogans all you want but they resonate with voters. We need to attack, attack, attack, and keep attacking.

I’m sick of McConnell, Trump, Pompeo, et al. running this country into the ground. Get with the program, Dems!

[CrispyQ]

7. Our side has ignored hate radio for over three decades and we still do.

It's like we don't believe in marketing. For decades we've let the repubs claim the narrative and frame the debate without any challenge whatsoever. Right wing lies that have gone unchallenged and are viewed as truth by too many Americans: The GOP is the party of God, the pro-life party, the party of family values, fiscally conservative, party of small government and personal responsibility. And they've successfully framed the dems as the tax and spend democrats. They've put more into marketing our side, than our side has.

[LenaBaby61]

9. Can someone explain to me why Dems suck at messaging?

A relative whose a psychiatrist told me that it's a 'left brain' thing with Dems.

For instance, if fat ass gets rid of mail in ballots, that means that our soldiers abroad don't get to vote. Yet, I haven't heard ONE thing about that. tRump says he loves our military? Uh yeah sure, you love them so much that you DON'T want them voting even though they defend our country with their lives. Secondly, tRump keeps saying that the economy was 'fantastic' before COVID-19. Uh no. Because of the trillions in tax cuts for the rich, the deficit was sent spiraling out of all control. But I've heard very few Dems mention the deficit spiraling out of control because of this. IF these two MASSIVE problem es belonged to Dems the party of putin (formerly the GOP) would be yapping out about it 24/7. Yes, I know that the mostly corporate media controls the airwaves, but come on .... WHY is it that the party of putin knows HOW to stay on message--stay on point--and in mostly lock step? Ms. Greenspan kept on and on about "Her emails." Yet that Cinese patent cow Ivanka and her creepy/thieving husband still use private emails, and all we get from the media about that is NOTHING. Pompeo the Hut is our SOS and look at what he's doing. Private emails, going around Congress to sell weapons to his buddies the Saudis and we still have crickets coming from mostly every quarter, even mostly from our side. Got Damn, that fat fuck grilled Hillary Clinton from his big fat, smug ass in the Congress about all of her 'wrongdoings' IE: Benghazi/her server and she was proven INNOCENT of all the party of putin tried to tar and feather her with, yet Pompeo the Hut and his Large Marge cake-eating wife CONTINUE to get a pass for their egregious "Let them eat cake" selves. anybody remember this:

That fat ass, law-breaking hypocrite and Large Marge need to be thoroughly investigated, but I don't think we'll be seeing that anytime soon if ever. Prove me wrong and do if you get all 3 branches of government post the 2020 GE Dems. Put egg all over my face. Make me eat some crow.

Pres. Obama wore a fucking tan suit, and that was criticized by many on the right and by many in the corporate media until the cows literally came home. Ronald Raygun was seen wearing a tan suit in a few photos. Same goes for Bill Clinton. Yet Pres. Obama was the only one criticized heavily for wearing a tan suit. I wonder WHY 🤔 tRumpcaronavirus is literally MURDERING PEOPLE, and lying about it DAILY about it, and all we get from this corporate media is "Oh Dear, oh Dearie me what ever are we going to do as the nation's death toll reaches 100,000." Like you hear many say "If Pres. Obama had done 1% of what tRumpcaronavirus has done, he'd have literally been by the mostly corprate media and by the party of putin ...." Let me stop THERE. FILL in the blank.

This shit is so frustrating. ALL I can do is rely on is the Divine and the law of averages to take care of tRumpcaronavirus/his crime syndicate family and the party of putin led by rotten-ass, evil, thieving MoscowMitch. Don't get me started about his wife MoscowChow. I need some Almond Milk now, because my stomach is bubbling after all this spewing

[Doodley]

24. Agreed 100% There is no reason for Democrats to suck at messaging.

[RainCaster]

4. My approach is one on one, and subtle

I deal with the people I know who still love the Cheeto Tweeter.

Who:
My red-neck red-voting sister-in-law who lives in a Hispanic neighborhood and hates that they are different from her.

My children's friends who I still see on Facebook. They used to come over daily during middle and high school, but now are grown. They still post truly stupid shit praising DFT and the awful things he does. Only because that is what they see from the Russian bots.

Folks I used to work with and made the mistake of friending on Farcebook

How:
Private, gentle messages showing the danger (and stupidity) of such viewpoints, using logic and truth.
I never criticize them, but only the viewpoint(s) they are espousing.
Sometimes, I give a reminder that anything on the internet is forever.
Sometimes, a reminder that their next employer could research their public views and postings.

[colsohlibgal]

5. We Better Do What's Necessary To Win Big

We need to vote no matter what. In States with vote by mail get those mailed. In States without that put on your mask and go vote. We have to vote in such numbers to overwhelm the cheating.

If this Stupid Tyrant wins....well we had a mostly nice run but we may then descend into fascism.

[hamsterjill]

6. We aren't doing enough in my opinion

Especially on the social media lies that are being spread. When I bring this up on DU, I typically get pummeled as if mentioning the existence of this somehow perpetuates the lies.

I’m not here to perpetuate the lies being spread, but they are being spread and people are buying it hook, line and sinker because no alternative is being distributed.

We ignored it in 2016 and it was a mistake. Now the idiot press secretary Kelly whoever (I don’t even bother learning their names any more) is staging press conferences with One America participants.

First of all, the Dems need to step up and force Facebook, Twitter, et al to delete posts that are obviously manipulated content and hate speech. If they can’t get the social media giants to self-police, at least the act of trying will draw some attention to an effort by Dems to get correct information spread.

Rant over...

[Cyrano]

10. Russian interference in 2016 was 100% through social media

We've let the Russians and the Thugs own this propaganda vehicle. No way they should be beating us here. Except that they, using their bots, have no respect for truth, decency or doing whatever it takes to fuck up peoples minds and corrupt their beliefs.

In case anyone forgot, high tech is science. And those who claim to spit on science are currently the best at using it. This is a field we should own. It's past time we got into gear and do what we're good at. Facebook, Twitter, et. al. aren't going to change their ways and we can't change them. So I'll tell you what. Let's use them and let's show our enemies that we can outdo them at their own game.

Am I suggesting that we use it to spread propaganda and lies? No. I'm suggesting that we use the weapon they most fear. Truth. Widespread, unlimited, unmitigated truth posted anywhere and everywhere as often as possible.

[Doodley]

25. Agreed. Democratic lawmakers are complicit if they stand by and let it happen.

[lame54]

8. I'm replying to your post w/o reading the body

[Cyrano]

11. Love Canada. But if we give up here, Canada is next.

Look at WWII for guidance. Once the fascists controlled the "fatherland," they attacked their neighbors. Canada may provide a safe refuge for a while. But not in the long run.

[lame54]

12. I'm in cali

[roamer65]

20. If Dump steals it again, NY and New England will be Canadian provinces within 2-4 years.

Probably MI as well.

Canada would definitely want NY and New England.

1. Economic boost.
2. Land bridge to the Maritime provinces, bypassing Quebec.

[BannonsLiver]

13. If you're going to push defeatism at least offer a solution.

All I see in the OP is hand wringing and a give up mentality. Lots of that going around the last couple of days for some reason.

[Cyrano]

15. If I had a solution, you'd have seen it

And I've posted a couple of ideas throughout this thread that you evidently haven't read.

But while I sit here wringing my hands and mentally giving up, let's hear some constructive ideas from you on how to beat the pricks we're up against.

[Thunderbeast]

14. Eric Holder and Stacy Abrahms are focused on this.

Holder's organization is the National Democrratic Re-districting Committee. Abrams chairs a group called Fair Fight.

Both groups fight for impartial election reforms.

[Hortensis]

16. My idea is you could go find out what we as a party, governments at

all levels, and many private individual and organizations are doing. Unfortunately, most of the organizations involved can't use amateur volunteers, or that would be a way of contributing to this part of the battle. Probably most take monetary donations to the cause.

So, at least learning what they're doing in order to explain some of it to others? In addition to reading about the relatively few new developments covered by typical news sources course. Access to subscription journals focusing on these subjects will be required to follow properly.

Following any of it, though, quickly gets extremely difficult due to its complexity, not helped by the reality that virtually everything takes place over months and even years, during which conditions are also in flux with old factors losing importance, new critical ones arising, etc.

But maybe come back now and then over the next weeks and months with some insights and updates?

[Cyrano]

17. My greatest insight is that we can't lose this November's election

There is nothing more important. We must, must take the presidency, as well as the senate.

The senate will probably be a close call, but if The Creature "wins," or more likely steals the election, America is over. At that point, access to subscription journals, and what individuals and organizations are doing won't really matter much.

We all understand he's insane. But, given another term, the destruction he will impose on the world may well be beyond repair.

[Hortensis]

19. Another huge contribution would be expressions of appreciation for

the many professionals battling on many front lines to win this election. Whose ENTIRE LIVES are currently devoted to winning.

Expressions of pride and confidence to anxious people who have no idea anything's being done would help build electoral strength for party -- to offset the disinformation erosions constantly worked at by very clever enemies foreign and domestic. They need people to believe we're helpless against their unstoppable armies, and right up to the day we stomped they into the mud they'd still be claiming great victories for themselves.

After all, no confidence and expectation of failure in people who lack moral commitment in the first place means they're probably not going to bother voting. That's why they swamp the nation with propaganda from thousands of sources claiming we're ineffectual failures.

More than that, some regardless of leanings react by voting with those they imagine will be the winners, just because they want to be on the winning side. That's why they swamp the nation with propaganda from thousands of sources that we're helpless to stop the Republicans.

Unfortunate that it can come down to weaknesses like those, but confidence wins elections.

[LanternWaste]

18. Isn't actively searching for that a much better investment of time...

"It's possible that Dems are doing much, but I for one, don't see it."

Isn't actively researching that very question a much better investment of time over mere supposition of simply alleging "current efforts ain't good enough"?

[malaise]

21. When as many as are pissed off right now decide you are history

you are history. Fuck all ReTHUGs - they are going down. Take it to the bank that even more people will be pissed by November 3rd.

[Stuart G]

22. There will be ....."Huge Blue Turnout"...Trump will lose big.

..Rigging an election means it has to be close to ..."rig it." It won't be close...Not a chance !!

Why? 2. reasons:

1...Trump's response to the "Covid Epidemic" has been disastrous.
2...Trump's lies are so bad that most people are just sick of them. By "most" 58 to 60%..Trump has come to the door to sell the tonic one too many times. Lots bought the first time, and fewer bought the next time. But, Trump has come to the door 22 times...a few too many for ..most of us. So 33% buy the tonic on the 22nd time Trump comes to the door.
But 66% will not buy and the reason is that 66% are totally sick of Trump coming to the door...22 TIMES..!!!

[malaise]

23. Great post

I've lived through rigged elections and when we snapped, we sure snapped.