Democratic politicians need to act like they are trying to win popularity contests by being populists

[ProfessorPlum]

not "obeying the norms" contests. Not "sanity" contests. Not "adult" contests.

Popularity contests. FDR wasn't a flaming radical - but he knew how to cast himself in the hero's role and ally himself with normal people.

Copy that just a little bit. I don't know why this needs to be spelled out. Even the precious donors should be able to understand that elections need to be won before anything good happens.

[yellow dahlia]

1. Some of it seems so obvious.

I ask - where is our FDR? He was smart and savvy. He was intellectually rigorous and rigorously aware. He was sophisticated and affable. I am not an FDR biographer, so my observations are limited. But it seems to me one of the things that made him successful as the leader of our country during fraught times was that he was multi-faceted. He wasn't cookie cutter. IMHO

[stopdiggin]

2. gosh who would have thought of this ...

such handy and useful information! I'm sure all the Ds (who have obviously never considered .. ) will now trot right out there ....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

a list please - of all the politicians who have decided to run on a platform of alienating the common man .. ? We'll wait.

[stopdiggin]

3. second take

and if was suppose to be some sort of endorsement of a Fetterman style .. ? Casting aside norms, (or 'adult', or 'sanity'?) Perhaps we're talking more - - Tlaib - - Bobert - - MTGreen - - RobertFitz K Jr.? (like these people are really taking hold ... changing the course ... )

Gosh this is gonna be fun! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[ProfessorPlum]

5. maybe you could provide a list of all of the branches of government Democrats control. I'll wait

[stopdiggin]

6. and of course Fetterman will turn that corner for us.

You might say we have difference of opinion here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[ProfessorPlum]

7. Fetterman, for all of his weird unknown motivations, WON

by campaigning as a populist. Many other politicians do the same, including AOC, Bernie Sanders, FDR, the late great Paul Wellstone.

[stopdiggin]

8. populism is one thing

but your original OP began by nattering around ..
"not "obeying the norms" contests. Not "sanity" contests. Not "adult" contests."

Sorry - but 1) I happen to think that sanity is relatively important in our elected officials. With current events seeming to provide more than ample ...
and 2) FDR was a long, long way from the slouching incoherent mess that is Fetterman - who does nothing more than demonstrate in bold letters, why the election of 'novelty' candidates is almost certainly a losing proposition.

But - enjoy him while you can! - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

[ProfessorPlum]

9. OF COURSE sanity is important. More than anything. I voted for the sane candidate in the last election

but that's not the thing to emphasize/rely on exclusively when it comes to winning elections.

[Voltaire2]

4. Unfortunately the leadership is risk averse and will continue the game of 'not as bad as those guys'.

E. Warren said it best: Go Big or Go Home.

[WarGamer]

10. Talk about enhancing Medicare... raising SS benefits...

Child Care credits... real programs to lower cost of living.

Eventually... Guaranteed Income.