This article is another instance of Brock's having provided a series of observations and a logic, so to speak, that is immediately convincing yet not obvious. Excellent reflection and expression. I wish I had even a glimmer of hope that this advice will be followed. Maybe it will be by others besides the old guard that Brock characterized here. Hope so.
Mike I think that is a great identification of the problem with mainstream media and suggestions for Democratic politicians. The only problem I see is that every Republican knows their stories and framing by heart because the stories are amplified on right-wing media. They don’t need to coordinate to get their stories straight. There is no equivalent ecosystem for Democrats. I guarantee that most of them couldn’t articulate what you said about the Federalist Society. They might vaguely recognize it if someone else said it. Democrats need some kind of coordinated training in countering BS generated in the right-wing media with the truth.
THANK YOU MIKE BROCK ! FINALLY such an excellent presentation of how to make Democratic talking points on OFFENSE NOT DEFENSE. This should be a required seminar for every single spokesperson for democratic and anti-administration talking points. Quit the explaining and get to the opposition and fight fire with bigger flames.
Like when they asked every Dem about Ossoff's 'travel with Natalie' comment. The best answer is just "That's just weird. -shrug- Anyhow..." and pivot back to message. Get money out of politics, put money in your pocket. Keep it simple!
You'll have to take my word on it, but I'm raucously applauding while standing alone in my living room. I only wish I could tape a printed copy on the office door of every Democratic elected official, candidate and staffer up and down the east coast. Bravo.
Dems failed to recognize the point in time, decades ago, when the GOP abandoned the liberal order--consensus through investigation and debate-- and so failed to recognize that the GOP had shifted from compromise to fight. Dems still operate under compromise-idealism, believing in a set of unwritten rules for political sportsmanship, while the fash ruthlessly consolidate power, from the local GOP committee, to the Supreme Court, and now the entire government itself.
Thank you. One of those essays where you suddenly understand what's been hiding in plain sight all along. Of course that's what's wrong with Democrats- they have never understood or accepted that this is a war, not a conversation.
Mike, you had me laughing (not haha laughing) after your first two paragraphs because, even though I'm an engineer and not a comms guy, 50 years of observation showed me exactly what you wrote. I had joked with a friend that there is a thing I call "Rick's rule of ten million," which is that nothing is considered true unless the public has heard it ten million times.
Maybe that's an exaggeration. But maybe not.
As for all the rest -- your five rules and the right way to respond to the bad-faith tricks -- I completely agree. And it's important to emphasize that the correct responses are not tantamount to imitating the right's bad-faith behavior: it's a countermove to neutralize their aggression.
It's not a question of "They go low, we go high" -- we are not talking about low vs high, we are talking about how to make the attack impotent. In football terms, it's not just defending a pass, it's intercepting it and running it back.
I especially appreciate your retelling of the Harry Reid-Mitch McConnell story vis-a-vis the judiciary, one of the most important cases of Democratic fumbling in this century. Letting McConnell steal the Scalia seat was Obama's biggest mistake, and one that I fear the Democrats still haven't learned from.
This is how one becomes "a fighter" for liberal democracy.
I really like this article. Straight to the heart.
This article is another instance of Brock's having provided a series of observations and a logic, so to speak, that is immediately convincing yet not obvious. Excellent reflection and expression. I wish I had even a glimmer of hope that this advice will be followed. Maybe it will be by others besides the old guard that Brock characterized here. Hope so.
Mike I think that is a great identification of the problem with mainstream media and suggestions for Democratic politicians. The only problem I see is that every Republican knows their stories and framing by heart because the stories are amplified on right-wing media. They don’t need to coordinate to get their stories straight. There is no equivalent ecosystem for Democrats. I guarantee that most of them couldn’t articulate what you said about the Federalist Society. They might vaguely recognize it if someone else said it. Democrats need some kind of coordinated training in countering BS generated in the right-wing media with the truth.
THANK YOU MIKE BROCK ! FINALLY such an excellent presentation of how to make Democratic talking points on OFFENSE NOT DEFENSE. This should be a required seminar for every single spokesperson for democratic and anti-administration talking points. Quit the explaining and get to the opposition and fight fire with bigger flames.
Yes yes yes! Excellent.
This is such a good plan for Democrats. I hope that Democrats in charge see this article. Thanks!
Like when they asked every Dem about Ossoff's 'travel with Natalie' comment. The best answer is just "That's just weird. -shrug- Anyhow..." and pivot back to message. Get money out of politics, put money in your pocket. Keep it simple!
You'll have to take my word on it, but I'm raucously applauding while standing alone in my living room. I only wish I could tape a printed copy on the office door of every Democratic elected official, candidate and staffer up and down the east coast. Bravo.
Dems failed to recognize the point in time, decades ago, when the GOP abandoned the liberal order--consensus through investigation and debate-- and so failed to recognize that the GOP had shifted from compromise to fight. Dems still operate under compromise-idealism, believing in a set of unwritten rules for political sportsmanship, while the fash ruthlessly consolidate power, from the local GOP committee, to the Supreme Court, and now the entire government itself.
Mike,
Thank you. One of those essays where you suddenly understand what's been hiding in plain sight all along. Of course that's what's wrong with Democrats- they have never understood or accepted that this is a war, not a conversation.
Mike, you had me laughing (not haha laughing) after your first two paragraphs because, even though I'm an engineer and not a comms guy, 50 years of observation showed me exactly what you wrote. I had joked with a friend that there is a thing I call "Rick's rule of ten million," which is that nothing is considered true unless the public has heard it ten million times.
Maybe that's an exaggeration. But maybe not.
As for all the rest -- your five rules and the right way to respond to the bad-faith tricks -- I completely agree. And it's important to emphasize that the correct responses are not tantamount to imitating the right's bad-faith behavior: it's a countermove to neutralize their aggression.
It's not a question of "They go low, we go high" -- we are not talking about low vs high, we are talking about how to make the attack impotent. In football terms, it's not just defending a pass, it's intercepting it and running it back.
I especially appreciate your retelling of the Harry Reid-Mitch McConnell story vis-a-vis the judiciary, one of the most important cases of Democratic fumbling in this century. Letting McConnell steal the Scalia seat was Obama's biggest mistake, and one that I fear the Democrats still haven't learned from.
A short version is - don’t complain and don’t explain.