This is a really important post because, given the slightest opportunity, the allegely liberal-biased media will cover stories like this the way the GOP wants them to.
Semafor's Ben Swift recently tweeted this out, which gave the game away.
"Democrats are looking to.... swiftboat, if that's still the word Trump on his age"
AYFKM? The media rules for this election are, apparently, that Republicans get carte blanche to not only mention the fact of Biden's age, but also to make all sorts of insinuations not based on fact that will be treated credibly by the media. Even though some of it requires ignoring Biden's actual record which belies any notion that he is a doddering old fool. "Doddering old fool who travels to war zones, backs up our international lallies exactly as they should be, rope a dopes GOP Congressman at his SOTU, etc."
HOWEVER, Semafor Ben tells us that any Democratic effort to highlight that Trump is less than 4 years younger than Biden and plenty doddering himself... will be treated by the media as a swift-baoating, i.e., as a shady political smear campaign.
I hope Pro Publica has some reporters they can put onn the Mike Johnson beat, because my sense is that there is a lot there, not particuarly hidden, and maybe he can be buried under an avalanche of true and appaling stories the same way Thomas has been.
Chris Hayes did a "banality of evil" spot where he focused on Jeffrey Clark, nondescript little guy looking awkward standing there in his underwear while the FBI executed a search warrant at his home - but someone who was a key player in Trump's coup attempt and who has become a right wing twitter celeb tweeting out monstrous stuff. I think Mike Johnson is like that, right down to the nondescript name and appearance.
Brian, another home run. MAGA Ayatollah or just MAGAyatollah needs to be on every Democratic politicians lips when speaking of the new speaker.
While many Republican's can be credited with upholding the constitution in 2020, I found it disconcerting at how many of them witnessed to their faith being front and center in their considerations to hold the line on Trump's coup efforts. I kept wondering, where was the line between church and state for these people? Was there a line for many of those Republicans?
We can't stop hammering the GOP re Trump, but we have to stop differentiating MAGA from "mainstream" GOP. Make them all answer for the GOP's UNANIMOUS embrace of a Christian nationalist. Accuse them of wanting a Christian theocracy. Dems can do this while still being proud of their own religion. Dems certainly can talk about the influence of their religion on their life while firmly stating that it would be "dangerous to our democracy and our country for me to prosletize in my public position or try to force my religious beliefs on you. If in my role as a public servant, there is ever a a conflict between the constitution and my beliefs, the Constitution wins every time."
Republicans falsely accuse Dems of being socialist all the time. Dems should have no qualms of stating the far truer accusation that the GOP promotes and many want Christian nationalism. Call them all theocrats. Make the GOP pay every single day.
I was really struck by Becca Balint’s motion to censure Marjorie Taylor Greene. Just hearing the long, long list of insane things MTG has said over the years was shocking, even though I knew she’d said all those things. They need to do this with Mikey J. The media (and social media) has already had a field day with listing the ABSURD track record of this guy, and I think it needs to be tied around every republican’s neck for the next year. THIS is the guy “moderates” voted for--the guy who wanted to criminalize gay sex (I think on Pod Save, Dan just said “criminalize sex” which is even better messaging and literally true) and used tax dollars to build a Noah’s Arc tilt-a-whirl or some shit. Blast it over tiktok especially, since apparently that’s the only way people see things now.
Brian, you're so on point on media strategy. When I used to watch the Sunday shows back in the Obama days (ugh who can stomach them, I can't anymore) I would marvel at the message discipline of Republicans determined to tear him down and block his agenda. Democrats just don't seem to have the ability or will to match the GOP hit for hit. Maybe as you say they just prefer to float above the fray. I admire your tenacity however in pushing Dems to grow a pair and get their hands dirty with the real work of politics. I hope your message gets through to Jeffries and the Biden admin. Maybe gift them a few free subscriptions to your newsletter?
It’s maddening. Beyond Brian’s critique, we should WANT to be able to say that Rs were rejected because they are threats to democracy. We need to make it clear that there’s no path there for them. It’s the only hope we have of eliminating the threat they will otherwise continue to pose even after T is gone from the stage.
In the spirit of the Big Tent (RIP) I do think Jeffries is an improvement *on the level of partisan conflict* over Pelosi. He really does seem to have a deep disdain for the party in its MAGA formation that Pelosi lacked, and he draws on it. But he's still attracted to the siren song of the chips and science act....
A D Politician who did this correctly was Obama who quickly and successfully defined Romney as an unfeeling super capitalist and Romney was never able to fully recover. Rs have never forgiven that, but that’s what you have to do if you hope to win. Nothing the Obama campaign said was untrue nor out of bounds, but it was tough, and they were unrelenting. How Ds have forgotten this lesson is beyond me. They either grow a spine or they will lose everything at the federal level in ‘24. The consequences of that will be dire.
Yes! I actually had a digression about that, but it required belaboring all the differences between "defining your presidential opponent" and "defining a speaker of the House" and why the latter is harder, so I just cut it. But it does show how important cementing an impression of an opponent is.
When it comes to cementing an impression of Mike Johnson, I hope Democratic politicians and campaigns can make hat of his podcast
If I remember correctly, when the Obama campaigners tried to tell swing voters about Paul Ryan's draconian "Roadmap for America's Future," many found it to be unbelievable. At least with publicly available audio of Mike Johnson, the Democrats can put that on blast as a cudgel
I remember that campaign very fondly. It was fun to watch. Romney was a parody of elitist rich guy, a weak opponent however. He didn't stir up the crazies to turn out for him. What the hell happened in 2016 that Dems couldn't make voters see Trump for the lying cheating thug he is? The other side just did a better job smearing Hillary. Their attempts to smear Biden are weak but still need to be batted down. And for Christ sakes the Dems need to do a better job to tear down Trump!
Maybe it was a product of a media environment that doesn’t exist anymore, and maybe my memories of the 1990s are colored by nostalgia. But I remember Clinton’s political operation making Gingrich an emblem of right-wing extremism and effectively hanging him around Republicans’ necks. Johnson presents an at least equally good opportunity, because his particular brand of wingnuttery gives us a great opportunity to remind everyone about the most unpopular thing Republicans have done over the last four years--overturning Roe. He should be forced over and over again to say why he thinks 12-year-olds should be forced to give birth.
Gingrich might've been a little easer because he was such a megalomaniac. But totally agree. And Johnson will have an opportunity to shut down the government within his first month!
True, and Johnson is more obscure than Gingrich was in 1994--by which time he’d already helped lead revolts against Jim Wright and George H.W. Bush.
On the other hand, Johnson is also a more obvious religious zealot than Gingrich. And religious zealotry strikes me as even more electorally poisonous in today’s meaningfully more secular America than it was in the 1990s.
I don’t know how democrats can reasonably make Johnson out to be a loon when republicans are also spending their time smearing Biden over laptops and the like. The whole thing to a minimally-politics-follower voter can look like a bunch of mud slinging where both sides are equally dirty. It’s difficult to cut through the noise with even more noise, but it doesn’t pay to be silent about the nonsense either.
Hey Within Scope, I share some of the concern noted in your post. For my money, the Reps deal in conspiracy and supposition. The MAGA Ayatollah Mike Johnson is on the record. Facts are not smears. The Reps have given Dems plenty of fodder with which to fight with nary a failed fact check in sight. Keep it truthful and it isn't a smear or even partisan. It is executing their duties as civil servants leading the nation.
I totally agree with this sentiment. Not to rehash 2016, but I know many voters who stayed out home at least partially due to their belief that Clinton was corrupt herself. Maybe not as dirty as Trump, but still too dirty.
If she couldn't shake that impression here in Hawaii, it surely was worse in the mainland.
Please don’t take this wrong. I’ve been reading your messages (and have even subscribed) because initially I wanted to rebut your criticisms of Biden and Democrats. All I’d been thinking is...at a time like this! when democracy is at stake - when there is no one else putting into action what Americans have been needing for 40+ years.
But I am beginning to understand your anger.
And though I cringe at reading about the awful things some of these GOP stand for, I KNOW they have to be called out. And I wonder is that the reaction of MANY people who prefer to stand above the fray. That immediate reaction to “name-calling” being negative and “not willing to get along.”
We are too docile. We are not making “good trouble”?
Republicans are getting cold feet about supporting the Democrat and Sinema led effort to pass a resolution that would allow for bulk promotion of military officers.
Shouldn't the Democrats be eager for this fight? Make Republicans filibuster the promotions and then jam that down their throats.
Yes. But also, it would be nice if over the last 15 years the leaders had built a senate majority that would respond to the Tuberville blockade by changing the filibuster rules and mowing over him.
This is a really important post because, given the slightest opportunity, the allegely liberal-biased media will cover stories like this the way the GOP wants them to.
Semafor's Ben Swift recently tweeted this out, which gave the game away.
https://x.com/semaforben/status/1716766114808566162?s=20
"Democrats are looking to.... swiftboat, if that's still the word Trump on his age"
AYFKM? The media rules for this election are, apparently, that Republicans get carte blanche to not only mention the fact of Biden's age, but also to make all sorts of insinuations not based on fact that will be treated credibly by the media. Even though some of it requires ignoring Biden's actual record which belies any notion that he is a doddering old fool. "Doddering old fool who travels to war zones, backs up our international lallies exactly as they should be, rope a dopes GOP Congressman at his SOTU, etc."
HOWEVER, Semafor Ben tells us that any Democratic effort to highlight that Trump is less than 4 years younger than Biden and plenty doddering himself... will be treated by the media as a swift-baoating, i.e., as a shady political smear campaign.
I hope Pro Publica has some reporters they can put onn the Mike Johnson beat, because my sense is that there is a lot there, not particuarly hidden, and maybe he can be buried under an avalanche of true and appaling stories the same way Thomas has been.
Chris Hayes did a "banality of evil" spot where he focused on Jeffrey Clark, nondescript little guy looking awkward standing there in his underwear while the FBI executed a search warrant at his home - but someone who was a key player in Trump's coup attempt and who has become a right wing twitter celeb tweeting out monstrous stuff. I think Mike Johnson is like that, right down to the nondescript name and appearance.
Brian, another home run. MAGA Ayatollah or just MAGAyatollah needs to be on every Democratic politicians lips when speaking of the new speaker.
While many Republican's can be credited with upholding the constitution in 2020, I found it disconcerting at how many of them witnessed to their faith being front and center in their considerations to hold the line on Trump's coup efforts. I kept wondering, where was the line between church and state for these people? Was there a line for many of those Republicans?
We can't stop hammering the GOP re Trump, but we have to stop differentiating MAGA from "mainstream" GOP. Make them all answer for the GOP's UNANIMOUS embrace of a Christian nationalist. Accuse them of wanting a Christian theocracy. Dems can do this while still being proud of their own religion. Dems certainly can talk about the influence of their religion on their life while firmly stating that it would be "dangerous to our democracy and our country for me to prosletize in my public position or try to force my religious beliefs on you. If in my role as a public servant, there is ever a a conflict between the constitution and my beliefs, the Constitution wins every time."
Republicans falsely accuse Dems of being socialist all the time. Dems should have no qualms of stating the far truer accusation that the GOP promotes and many want Christian nationalism. Call them all theocrats. Make the GOP pay every single day.
I was really struck by Becca Balint’s motion to censure Marjorie Taylor Greene. Just hearing the long, long list of insane things MTG has said over the years was shocking, even though I knew she’d said all those things. They need to do this with Mikey J. The media (and social media) has already had a field day with listing the ABSURD track record of this guy, and I think it needs to be tied around every republican’s neck for the next year. THIS is the guy “moderates” voted for--the guy who wanted to criminalize gay sex (I think on Pod Save, Dan just said “criminalize sex” which is even better messaging and literally true) and used tax dollars to build a Noah’s Arc tilt-a-whirl or some shit. Blast it over tiktok especially, since apparently that’s the only way people see things now.
Make it a censurepalooza. Censure the speaker!
Cenception!
Brian, you're so on point on media strategy. When I used to watch the Sunday shows back in the Obama days (ugh who can stomach them, I can't anymore) I would marvel at the message discipline of Republicans determined to tear him down and block his agenda. Democrats just don't seem to have the ability or will to match the GOP hit for hit. Maybe as you say they just prefer to float above the fray. I admire your tenacity however in pushing Dems to grow a pair and get their hands dirty with the real work of politics. I hope your message gets through to Jeffries and the Biden admin. Maybe gift them a few free subscriptions to your newsletter?
Wow...Even one of the best Democratic message framers -- Hakeem Jeffries -- cannot see the fear-of-facism forest for the legislative goodies trees.
It’s maddening. Beyond Brian’s critique, we should WANT to be able to say that Rs were rejected because they are threats to democracy. We need to make it clear that there’s no path there for them. It’s the only hope we have of eliminating the threat they will otherwise continue to pose even after T is gone from the stage.
In the spirit of the Big Tent (RIP) I do think Jeffries is an improvement *on the level of partisan conflict* over Pelosi. He really does seem to have a deep disdain for the party in its MAGA formation that Pelosi lacked, and he draws on it. But he's still attracted to the siren song of the chips and science act....
I mean the Chips and Science Act is not bad...
A D Politician who did this correctly was Obama who quickly and successfully defined Romney as an unfeeling super capitalist and Romney was never able to fully recover. Rs have never forgiven that, but that’s what you have to do if you hope to win. Nothing the Obama campaign said was untrue nor out of bounds, but it was tough, and they were unrelenting. How Ds have forgotten this lesson is beyond me. They either grow a spine or they will lose everything at the federal level in ‘24. The consequences of that will be dire.
Yes! I actually had a digression about that, but it required belaboring all the differences between "defining your presidential opponent" and "defining a speaker of the House" and why the latter is harder, so I just cut it. But it does show how important cementing an impression of an opponent is.
When it comes to cementing an impression of Mike Johnson, I hope Democratic politicians and campaigns can make hat of his podcast
If I remember correctly, when the Obama campaigners tried to tell swing voters about Paul Ryan's draconian "Roadmap for America's Future," many found it to be unbelievable. At least with publicly available audio of Mike Johnson, the Democrats can put that on blast as a cudgel
I remember that campaign very fondly. It was fun to watch. Romney was a parody of elitist rich guy, a weak opponent however. He didn't stir up the crazies to turn out for him. What the hell happened in 2016 that Dems couldn't make voters see Trump for the lying cheating thug he is? The other side just did a better job smearing Hillary. Their attempts to smear Biden are weak but still need to be batted down. And for Christ sakes the Dems need to do a better job to tear down Trump!
Maybe it was a product of a media environment that doesn’t exist anymore, and maybe my memories of the 1990s are colored by nostalgia. But I remember Clinton’s political operation making Gingrich an emblem of right-wing extremism and effectively hanging him around Republicans’ necks. Johnson presents an at least equally good opportunity, because his particular brand of wingnuttery gives us a great opportunity to remind everyone about the most unpopular thing Republicans have done over the last four years--overturning Roe. He should be forced over and over again to say why he thinks 12-year-olds should be forced to give birth.
Gingrich might've been a little easer because he was such a megalomaniac. But totally agree. And Johnson will have an opportunity to shut down the government within his first month!
True, and Johnson is more obscure than Gingrich was in 1994--by which time he’d already helped lead revolts against Jim Wright and George H.W. Bush.
On the other hand, Johnson is also a more obvious religious zealot than Gingrich. And religious zealotry strikes me as even more electorally poisonous in today’s meaningfully more secular America than it was in the 1990s.
I don’t know how democrats can reasonably make Johnson out to be a loon when republicans are also spending their time smearing Biden over laptops and the like. The whole thing to a minimally-politics-follower voter can look like a bunch of mud slinging where both sides are equally dirty. It’s difficult to cut through the noise with even more noise, but it doesn’t pay to be silent about the nonsense either.
Hey Within Scope, I share some of the concern noted in your post. For my money, the Reps deal in conspiracy and supposition. The MAGA Ayatollah Mike Johnson is on the record. Facts are not smears. The Reps have given Dems plenty of fodder with which to fight with nary a failed fact check in sight. Keep it truthful and it isn't a smear or even partisan. It is executing their duties as civil servants leading the nation.
My concern is less of accuracy and more that accuracy doesn’t matter as long as it looks like everyone is dirty.
I totally agree with this sentiment. Not to rehash 2016, but I know many voters who stayed out home at least partially due to their belief that Clinton was corrupt herself. Maybe not as dirty as Trump, but still too dirty.
If she couldn't shake that impression here in Hawaii, it surely was worse in the mainland.
"Politics (doesn’t) drive the media; the media (drives) politics." When oh when we will get a DNC that understands and acts on that?
Please don’t take this wrong. I’ve been reading your messages (and have even subscribed) because initially I wanted to rebut your criticisms of Biden and Democrats. All I’d been thinking is...at a time like this! when democracy is at stake - when there is no one else putting into action what Americans have been needing for 40+ years.
But I am beginning to understand your anger.
And though I cringe at reading about the awful things some of these GOP stand for, I KNOW they have to be called out. And I wonder is that the reaction of MANY people who prefer to stand above the fray. That immediate reaction to “name-calling” being negative and “not willing to get along.”
We are too docile. We are not making “good trouble”?
Agree, 100%. Now, is there a place/meme/quote we can use and share on the socials that summarizes Johnson's craziness truthfully?
Very fair—defining a speaker of the house is much harder, but Democrats have to do it. I wish I had more faith that they will.
Republicans are getting cold feet about supporting the Democrat and Sinema led effort to pass a resolution that would allow for bulk promotion of military officers.
Shouldn't the Democrats be eager for this fight? Make Republicans filibuster the promotions and then jam that down their throats.
Yes. But also, it would be nice if over the last 15 years the leaders had built a senate majority that would respond to the Tuberville blockade by changing the filibuster rules and mowing over him.