From Steve Schmidt

[PatSeg]

"The Republican party is an organized conspiracy for the purposes of maintaining power for self-interest and the self-interest of it's donor class. There is no fidelity to the American ideal or American democracy."

Lawrence O'Donnell read the quote several times last night on The Last Word. It really sums up the republican party perfectly.

[beachbumbob]

1. more words, so whats the action to be taken IF things go south? More words?

strongly worded letters??

[patricia92243]

3. What do you suggest?

[Mike 03]

4. I want to know too. This playbook has existed since probably the 1920s and

many theoretical books and philosophical papers have been written about how to defeat it, but in practice it hasn't been so easy.

[PatSeg]

8. I don't know what the answers are either

but clearly there are some serious flaws in our democracy. I suppose a good beginning would be to get money out of politics, but people have been trying to do that for an awfully long time and it seems it has gotten worse.

Meanwhile, there is the human element to deal with. There will always be people who will do anything to gain power and money. Sadly, they often are not held accountable. Anyone holding elected public office should be held to the very highest standards and there should be severe consequences for violating the public's trust. Unfortunately, they are the people who usually make the rules.

Democracy is still a work in progress.

[gab13by13]

20. I agree and disagree,

I am 73 and when I was a little boy my daddy told me Republicans are for the rich and Democrats are for the poor.

I went to a 4th of July parade in my little Pa. town back in the 70's. Riding in the parade in the back seat of a convertible was our Democratic Representative and our Republican Representative, sitting side by side.

What is happening today is different. I go back to when Obama was elected president and Republican leaders met and made a pact to obstruct everything that Democrats did. From that point on Republicans stopped debating differences of issues and started demonizing Democrats. Not talking about issues was perfect for their corporatist, power hungry strategy. All they had to do was push the narrative that Democrats are Socialists, communists, baby killers. With the help of the MSM their strategy works to this day.

The strategy to defeat what Steve Schmidt is talking about is to call them out for who they are and what they are doing. It's not about reaching out, it's about fighting them tooth and nail. All Democrats need to call this "rigged election" strategy for what it is, sedition.

Can you imagine a Republican politician and a Democratic politician riding down main street in the back of the same car on the 4th of July today?

[Chin music]

36. You can thank Karl Rove for that.

He more than anyone in my personal history developed this "Politcs is War" ideology. After Gore got robbed, the fix was in, and all of it since then has been skullduggery.
Used to be judges ran on/were non-partisan. Literally HAD to be to insure justice for all.
USED to be a lot of things like you describe above. I also blame AM radio for a ton of this and wonder why the Left hasn't crowd funded radio stations...one right after another until we start pushing back on THE TRUTH of the matters at hand.
Rich Ds aren't going to do that for us. Our future is in our own hands.
Air America 2.0 A LOT of good people came from there. Rachel Maddow and Al Franken being the finest results imho. But we also gained so many others too. Like Mr Hartmann. Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes....sigh.
We can do it again and we have every one of them and more who can give us direction. We have the funding mechanism in GoFundMe.

[CaptainTruth]

38. +1 Damn good post.

[paleotn]

57. Sums it up well.

There was a time when I'd never even think of questioning their dedication to democracy and the republic. Not anymore.

[beachbumbob]

7. If we are indeed faced with a totalitarian take over, you have choices going forward

not rocket science to figure them out.

I do KNOW my ancestors fought the British and fought the rebels

[Missn-Hitch]

59. Hear, hear!

[Bradshaw3]

12. As Schmidt said, this is a long-term electoral fight with all hands on deck

That includes Dems who hate Bernie, people on the left like AOC and repubs whom we have nothing else in common with.

Here's a clip where he talks about that:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017625014#post6

[Mme. Defarge]

2. Just saw the video.

There is simply no way to spin his assessment that will make me feel better. It is what it is.

[PatSeg]

5. Yes, it is spot on

Very direct and to the point. No wiggle room or nuance. The republican party is no longer a political party, it IS a conspiracy and it is undermining our democracy.

[wiggs]

6. Much like the Galbraith quote: The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest...

...exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

[PatSeg]

9. Oh, that is good!

A philosophy we've seen over and over again throughout history to justify all kinds of morally reprehensible deeds. Wars, eugenics, genocide, racism to name a few.

[Ilsa]

13. Ayn Rand managed to promote it well.

I blame much of the crassness of today's GOP on her.

[PatSeg]

19. Though that attitude has been

with us throughout history. She just reinforced and justified it for those who already were working toward their own selfish goals. Such people will find a place where they are most comfortable and in this time and place, it is the republican party.

[Hortensis]

47. Yes. The Koch types managed to inculcate her views and purge traditional

conservatism from the Republican Party.

I think a lot of young people may not realize it today, but conservatives naturally believe in altruism as much as liberals do, just a lot more confined to family and tribal groups and more limited beyond that. A big difference is a tendency to a darker view of humanity and that people will tend to do bad if not forced not to.

Libertarians highest principle is personal freedom, and they believe everyone taking care of himself and owing nothing to no one produces healthy and happy societies. They despise mandatory government altruism as doing the very opposite, as well destructive to personal freedoms of all.

Conservatives' dark view of human nature made them more inclined to be suspicious of unknown beneficiaries of programs that sent their money far and wide -- and sure far more than were must be slackers, becoming fertile ground for the Kochs' reorientation away from altruism.

Altruism beyond family and friends is still there somewhere in many, though, not successfully purged from their basic natures. 3/4 of all Americans approved of the peaceful #BLM marches last summer. Even more strongly support the national school lunch program that feeds children. In spite of successful reorientation.

[calimary]

28. Yep! BOOM! That is IT.

Right freakin’ THERE.

[appalachiablue]

44. +1 Great quote. I saw Galbraith speak when I was a kid.

[jalan48]

10. Donor Class? And who might that be? Names please.

[William Seger]

16. Here's one way to track some of them down

Just look to see who benefited from the 100+ regulations Trump rescinded.

[jalan48]

24. Yes, I'm sure the Koch's have benefited but "publicly" they oppose Trump. Some fall for the ruse.

[William Seger]

25. The Kochs probably want Trump to know they don't think they got their money's worth

[jalan48]

27. LOL-deregulation executive orders from Trump and their own Sec of State. For some it's never enough.

[Bradshaw3]

11. Here are the two clips

I was as blown away as Lawrence. Everyone should watch.

From O'Donnell:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/12/11/2001282/-There-are-two-major-political-parties-in-the-US-the-Democratic-Party-and-the-Autocratic-Party

From Nicole Wallace:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017625014#post6

[The Wizard]

14. Let's label the donor class more accurately

They're the bribing class. Has Mitch McConnell been getting bribes sent to offshore money laundries?

[Laelth]

56. They're the PARASITE class.

Not a single one of them actually WORKS for a living—not if they can help it.

They benefit mightily from the labor of others.

-Laelth

[LudwigPastorius]

15. Let's call the GOP what it is.

From the Encyclopedia Britannica:

Although fascist parties and movements differed significantly from one another, they had many characteristics in common, including extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism

Pretty much all boxes checked there.

[PatSeg]

17. Good definition of the republican party

[LiberalLovinLug]

43. I never understood how Repubicans get away with painting the Democrats as the "elites" party

While I hate that many Democrats take so much from corporation donor class as well, Republicans take the cake there. With the Koch Brothers etc. but also a lot of dark international money that want to see the rule of elites worldwide carry on.

George Soros is one, I know of at least, that is a billionaire that puts his money back into helping to promote democracy in countries that need it. For that he is hated more than even a left politician like AOC. He's a traitor to his class, and by actively promoting democracy, the antithesis of Facism, he is despised and his name is under perpetual orders to be stained and smeared as much as possible in the media they own.

[LudwigPastorius]

50. A lot of the people that GOPers like to label as "elites" are...

Jewish and are involved in the movie or finance industry.

I think Republicans basically use that word these days as an anti-semitic dog whistle to wink at their scummy base.

[BobTheSubgenius]

18. I suppose the old saying applies.

"Better late than never." And, I guess, better half measures than no measures at all. I find it hard to imagine that Schmidt, Conway, the Lincoln Project, et all, will ever be true blue...but improvement is improvement, and support is support.

It would seem churlish to slam the door in his face, just because it seems like he's not offering enough.

[PatSeg]

22. We don't have to agree with everything

they do or say, as long as they are being sincere and honest. Stuart Stevens, a long time republican consultant, came to the realization that it was all a lie all along and he admits he got sucked into it.

[demigoddess]

21. I have felt this way for a while now. The republicans want to be

the only party elected to anything. They abandoned the Constitution long ago.

[PatSeg]

23. They believe in winning, period

At any cost, the ends justify the means. That isn't democracy, more like brute force.

[Pepsidog]

26. Schmidt was great last night on O'Donnell. He sure has a way with words.

Last edited Fri Dec 11, 2020, 08:20 PM - Edit history (1)

[Upthevibe]

55. Pepsidog....

I completely agree. He has such an eloquent way of making a point without any of the bulls**t.

I realize some will never forgive him, Rick Wilson, and others' for their past. I understand and get it. Having said that, I think they're sincere and played a very important part this year with helping to get rid of the monster in the White House.

[Upthevibe]

29. PatSeg....

That's exactly what's happening. I called all of the Attorney General offices yesterday who joined with The Texas Attorney General. We have to raise hell! It's worked in the past and we have to keep it up. There are names and numbers floating around on DU but here's the list I hurriedly put together:

ARKANSAS 501-682-2207 Leslie Rutedge
ALABAMA 334-242-7300 Steve Marshall
FLORIDA 850-414-3300 Ashley Moody
KANSAS 785-296-2215 Derek Schmidt
LOUISIANA 225-326-6705 Jeff Landry
MISSISSIPPI 601-359-3680 Lynn Fitch
NEBRASKA 402-471-2683 Douglas Peterson
OKLAHOMA 405-321-3921 Mike Hunter
S. CAROLINA 803-734-3970 Alan Wilson
S. DAKOTA 605-773-3215 Jason Ravnsba
TENNESSEE 615-741-3491 Herbert Slatery
UTAH 801-366-0260 Sean Reyes
W. VIRGINA 304-558-2021 Patrick Morrisey
MISSOURI 573-751-3321 Eric Schmidt
N. DAKOTA 701-328-2210 Wayne Stenehjem
MONTANA 406-444-2026 Tim Fox
TEXAS 512-463-2100 Ken Paxton
INDIANA 317-232-6201 Curtis Hill

[housecat]

37. Good job thanks

[PatSeg]

41. That is excellent

What kinds of responses have you gotten when you called? Or was it mostly answering machines/voice mail?

[moondust]

30. Succinct and accurate. n/t

K/R

[Gothmog]

31. Steve Schmidt is right

Link to tweet

[LymphocyteLover]

32. I would edit to say "The Republican party is an organized CRIMINAL conspiracy"

[DENVERPOPS]

46. HOW ABOUT:

ORGANIZED CRIMINAL CABAL a millimeter away from CORPORATE FASCIST TYRANNY.?????????

[LymphocyteLover]

49. Yes!

[burrowowl]

52. A nanometer away and and corporations need serious restructuring

[pandr32]

33. In a nutshell

[catbyte]

34. I imagine he's feeling a lot of remorse for his part in what the GOP has become. It seems like

he's done a lot of soul searching and is trying to atone for his role in this whole clusterfuck. It seems like most of The Lincoln Project feels the same, especially Tim Miller and Rick Wilson, too. I'm sure we will disagree with them on policy, but I will never doubt that they love this country as much as we do. They've gone left, too, embracing climate change, income inequality, health care, immigration policy, and human rights. At this point, our common values outweigh our differences.

[PatSeg]

39. Yes

I think most of them are really sincere and remorseful. I can handle some differences on policy issues, as long as they are being honest. The fact that they can admit to making a mistake means a lot to me.

[housecat]

35. base

We need to reach their base, and we haven't found a way yet.

[BarbD]

40. Their base is unreachable. We need to rally the 30-40% who don't vote.

We also need to organize a la Stacey Abrams on a state level.

[PatSeg]

42. I think

we'd have to time travel into the past and re-educate them. This is what we get as a result of a really poor educational system, a bunch of mindless sheep who will believe anything.

I suppose some could be deprogrammed, but how do you deprogram tens of millions of people? Meanwhile, they are still being fed the same right-wing propaganda 24/7.

Welcome to DU!

[Lonestarblue]

45. I think there are some things Democrats can do, but they require great leadership.

And nome will be quick to change minds.

1. Recognize the influencers supporting Republicans. Mayor Pete did this by appearing on Fox and essentially driving their claims into the ground. We need more of that.
2. Use social media better. Republicans have used Facebook to spread all kinds of misinformation. I’m not suggesting that Democrats spread misinformation, but Facebook is a platform reaching millions of people and it should not be ignored. In addition, Democrats need to use the social media of young people to start educating and influencing them. The Democratic digital game needs to improve.
3. Focus on Democratic messaging and work with aligned groups when their messaging is damaging. I’m thinking of the “Defund the Police” slogan that I believe cost us some down-ballot and state races.
4. Produce and share curriculum materials on civic participation and effective government. This is an old tactic that corporations have long used to push a message in schools of free enterprise and capitalism. The materials should come from an organization that is nonpartisan but covers the many topics no longer taught in school since few states offer civics classes anymore. Lessons on how to recognize media bias would also be helpful.
5. Encourage older Democrats in Congress to retire. I’m thinking specifically of Diane Feinstein here. She should never have run again and needs to leave now. I just read an article in the New Yorker about how she is mentally losing it. Her replacement would be a Democrat. There are others who should consider retiring. We need more young people to be learning the ropes. Democrats have kept their pattern of using only seniority to determine committee leaders, while Republicans rotate. Using seniority encourages those who reach a cushy role as a committee chairman to stay there instead of retiring when they should.
6. Work to establish Young Democrats organizations in states that do not have them—or call them Young Progressives groups. The group of young people who formed after the massacre at Margery Stoneman Douglas showed that even teens can be effective at organizing and mobilizing to get more voters registered.
7. Borrow from the Republican playbook and start recruiting people to run for every race in every election. Democrats have gotten better at this, but we need strong national leadership to help the state parties work on this—and money. As younger candidates learn the ropes by running for local offices, they’ll be better prepared to run for state and federal offices.
8. Find ways to get our economic message across. Democrats actually do better on the economy, but Republicans have claimed that ground for years and no one seriously disputes them. The level of economic understanding in this country is abysmal and Democrats could help enlighten people.

I’m sure there are many more good ideas out there, but many of these are things a strong leader of the DNC could accomplish.

[PatSeg]

48. Those are good

True that Democrats have been better on the economy, but republicans are better at messaging. Democrats need to be more direct and concise with their messages.

As for older Democrats retiring, it would depend on the Democrat. Some people are really very valuable where they are, but others have reached their expiration date. Best to exit with some dignity and class. I feel badly about Diane Feinstein and I'm afraid this is how she will be remembered. She truly has been an excellent public servant, but yes, she should not have run again. There is no shame in retiring and at 87, you'd think she'd want some time with her family.

[Cha]

51. Exactly! TY Pat & Steve Schmidt!

[PatSeg]

53. He said it so well!

Coming from a former republican, that means a lot.

[Cha]

54. It really does..

[Woodycall]

58. In other words, government by organized crime...

[PatSeg]

60. Yes

Not exactly what the founding fathers had in mind I'm sure.

[Rhiannon12866]

61. Here's the video of Steve Schmidt's appearance On The Last Word for those who missed it:

Steve Schmidt: '106 Members Of Congress Broke Faith With American Democracy' - The Last Word - MSNBC
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017624985

Fmr. Republican strategist Steve Schmidt joins Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss how some House Republicans refusing to accept that Biden won means “we’re one election away from losing the country to people who do not believe in democracy.” Aired on 12/11/2020.