The Democratic brand is broken. The infrastructure bill isn't fixing it.

[brooklynite]

Politico

In the days after the Democratic Party’s collapse in the Virginia governor’s race, party strategists descended on the commonwealth to figure out what went wrong and understand just how bad the national outlook might be next year.

What they discovered, largely through focus groups and polling, was even worse than expected. The problems cut far deeper than the failings of their gubernatorial nominee, Terry McAuliffe, or President Joe Biden’s flagging approval ratings. Rather, the Democratic Party’s entire brand was a wreck.


“Voters couldn’t name anything that Democrats had done, except a few who said we passed the infrastructure bill,” the center-left group Third Way and its pollsters said in a report, obtained first by POLITICO, on focus groups they ran in Virginia.

Most of the voters Third Way spoke with in suburban Virginia focus groups, according to the report, “could not articulate what Democrats stand for. They could also not say what they are doing in Washington, besides fighting.”

And those were just the people who voted for Biden.

Let me respond in advance to the three obvious complaints I expect to see:

1. "It's Politico": Yes, because this is a political news story that actually happened, and that's what Politico reports on.

2, "Third Way is just 'Corporatist' DINO's": I've been in touch with Third Way for close to a decade. They're not "corporatists" trying to privatize everything; they're advocates fir centrist policies because that's where the votes are to get policies passed and win elections.

3, "It's the media's fault": That's an explanation, not an excuse. We've known what the media is like for a long time (Fox News is 25 years old). If an old strategy doesn't work, its incumbent on you to come up with a new one. As I told the head of the DNC last week, messaging continues to be a glaring weakness in the Party.

[SouthernCal_Dem]

1. Why would you feel the need to respond in advance to complaints?

Why not just post the article for discussion?

[brooklynite]

3. Because I'd like to move the debate to the substance of the story, not the incidentals.

[Budi]

61. The 'substance' of the story is a lie based on a biased opinion of some 'focus group'.

There is no substance.

[Cha]

64. Exactly.. there is No

fking substance.. Zero.

TY

[brooklynite]

69. Every focus group's opinion is "biased". That's the point.

You want to understand the biases of the voters, so you talk to them.

As for "some focus group", I've provided the details downthread.

[Budi]

74. The problem comes when the Politico Writer Interprets the Focus Group results.

It is THAT Writer's interpretation that creates a Lie of a Headline like this one.

IT IS THE BIASED MESSAGING OF THIS POLITICO WRITER.
HOW HE INTEREPRETED THAT FOCUS GROUP RESULTS TO SPECIFICALLY CREATE A HEADLINE

[brooklynite]

76. What is biased in their reporting of the results?

[BannonsLiver]

6. Perceived superiority.

Totally obnoxious.

[Eyeball_Kid]

2. And what do voters believe that the GOP stands for?

Anything? Oh. They stand for insurrection and bullying and violence and fascism. But I guess that it's the Democrats who have the branding problem.

[melm00se]

17. brooklynite

hits the issue right on the head.

Politics is a job of selling people on what you have to offer and a large part of that is the "brand" or rather how people perceive you, your message and your organization.

Doing the one "brand" trying to change how an opposing competitive "brand" is seen is exactly what the Democratic party has been doing for the last couple of decades. Exactly where has that gotten them?

2 Bush terms, 1 Cheeto, 2 Obama terms and (so far) a partial Biden term (which is not being well received).

So, if the Democratic Party continues with its strategy (akin to what you state "{Republicans} stand for insurrection and bullying and violence and fascism&quot , it creates the appearance that all the Democratic Party has to offer is "We hate Republicans". And nothing more.

Unless you have not been paying attention, there are 3 electoral groups:
Those who will vote for Democratic candidates pretty much no matter what.
Those who will vote for Republican candidates pretty much no matter what.
(These 2 groups effectively offset each other)
AND those people who are in the middle and can be influenced to go to one pole or the other.

It is those groups that must be the target for messaging that address what they need, want and desire from a national candidate.

Make no mistake, they view Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the progressive wing of the Democratic party just the same as they view Marjorie Taylor Greene and her ilk. The centrists view them both as extremist nutjobs who aren't going to do anything for them.

Right now, as I see it, the Democratic messaging is targeted at the "vote for Democrats no matter what" crowd and it is alienating those in the middle. Where, exactly, do you think those centrists are going to get pushed to?

IMO, the 21st century Democratic Party has hit peak arrogance...they can do no wrong. All of what they espouse is not only the right path to take but, in their opinion, the ONLY path...either get on the path or there is something very wrong with you.

[gab13by13]

23. I guarantee you this,

If president Biden decides not to run in 2024 and I get the Democratic nomination I am going to make this my #1 campaign priority; The Democratic Party is the party that will protect our democracy, will protect our democratic Constitutional Republic, the Republican Party is the autocratic party who wants to destroy our Constitutional Republic and replace it with an autocratic dictatorship.

My fellow working Americans, it is our democratic form of government that protects us, if we lose our present form of government no one will be safe, we will all lose our freedom. Vote for gab13by13 to save our freedom, to save our democracy.

[Cosmocat]

111. THIS is the winning message

nm

[panader0]

84. WTF's this "brand" thing mean?

I'm 71 and have voted for Democrats ever since I could vote. My parents and theirs were
also lifelong Democrats. This term "brand" is just more bs mumbo jumbo. Terms come and go
like fashions, Democratic values endure.

[betsuni]

87. +1

[melm00se]

91. Ok, let me clarify

what you refer to as mumbo-jumbo:

Brand can be distilled down to these 4 pieces:
- What is the vision/goal of party, IOW where does the party want to be in the future?
- What is the strategy to achieve the vision? IOW HOW are you going to achieve your vision/goal. What are you going to do and what do you need?
- What is the execution going to be be? These are more specific actions as part of the strategy.
- How are you going to know if you are being successful? What are your measurables/metrics?

These are things that ALL organizations must do and promulgate amongst its leadership and membership. All of these are ideas as well as actions.

Now, ask yourself:

What is the Democratic Party's vision, strategy and execution plan? The success metrics are usually the easiest of the bunch. In the political arena it is: did we win the number of seats/positions/states necessary to maintain a majority?

Now, taking all of this, if you asked 10 other people, from across the Democratic Party engagement spectrum the same question, would they be, maybe not on the same page but at least in the same chapter?

This existing process was just barely successful in the last election.
Office of the President - yes, it was a victory.
Senate is a 50/50 split. Is that a success? short term? medium term? long term?
The House is 221 - 213. Is that a success? short term? medium term? long term?

IMO,

- Office of the President - it should have been a more resounding success against someone who was so reviled. Now you can claim that the big bad republicans suppressed voting. I can tell you that in the middle of the political spectrum, this claim is met with similar response that Trump's claim of voter fraud was.
- Senate is a 50/50 split. In the short term yes but, statistically, the President's party loses 4 - Senate seats at the midterm. Where does that leave the Democratic Party?
- The House is 221 - 213. Again, in the short term, this was a victory but the Democratic Party majority, statistically, is going to go away as the President's party loses an average of 28 seats. Where does that leave the Democratic Party?

Exactly what is the party doing to stave this off? Do you know?
There are 17 Democratic House members not seeking re-election. What is the party doing to 1) stop the hemorrhaging and 2) secure those seats? Do you know?

have you heard anything from the highest levels of the party discuss any of this? How about just echoes?

So about that brand thing. Is the Democratic leadership doing the right thing for the short, medium and long term? I hate to tell you (and I am certain I will be reviled and ignored) but the Republican party is kicking the Democratic party's ass in this area. This is why the numbers are as close as they are.

[Hortensis]

99. So agree, Panader0 and Gab13by13. Democratic principles

today are the same liberal principles our nation was founded on. Equality, everyone's equality, is above all always what these recurrent ideological battles are about. Strong conservatives don't even believe in their own equality.

Not only is it not a card or a brand to switch out, and it's also the reason "changing our brand" wouldn't work. Whatever that involved, we'd still be the equality of all people people.

[Amishman]

100. That's what we think they stand for (and its a good argument) but that opinion is not universal

Ask independents or republicans, they'll probably say the Pubs stand for Capitalism, gun rights, religious rights, and other stuff in that direction.

Looking at the results of the last election its pretty clear that the Pubs branding problem is at minimum no worse than our own. Pretending that everyone can see the Pubs are evil and that our own party is doing just fine is not going to work out well. Trying to focus on the sins of the Republican party hasn't worked out well; the electorate doesn't care about Jan 6, and has gotten over Trump. We need to move on and get a better message than just shouting 'Trump! Fascism!' - we've been doing that heavily for almost a year and it hasn't worked.

There is a huge disparity between how DU (and the consensus on most social media platforms in general) views our country and the perceptions of the overall public.

[kentuck]

4. True.

Much of the messaging has to do with the way Democrats prioritize their messages, in my opinion. All of the messages cannot be of equal weight and carry a majority.

[OnDoutside]

24. I would say Dems focus on issues, Repugs focus on messaging.

It's hard to evade the thought that the majority of the American people are incapable to processing anything other than short simple phrases.

[kentuck]

27. Indeed!

There are very few "issues" that Republicans truly care about. Most of their 'issues" deal primarily with power and/or wealth.

[BannonsLiver]

5. Is your favorite publication still saying DeSantis won the pandemic?

Are they still owned by the German right wingers?

[Cha]

66. +1!

[anti stupid]

7. to point #3

The Dems have always been lousy at trying to frame the issues. It is difficult to reach an audience, when the audience gets a constant stream of lies spoon fed to them on media. On top of that the U.S. population has to be one of the stupidest and misinformed group of human beings to ever to exist. The right has constantly found ways to communicate in such that this group can understand their distorted views, while at the same time, frame liberals as elitists. So....Smart lefties, lets figure out a way to reach stupid people on a level they can understand. Unfortunately, we need some billionaires (who actually pay taxes, if they exist) to fund a tv network, and internet platforms, and find personalities like Rachel to pound the messages across.

[kentuck]

10. One thing I have noticed with the messaging...

Republicans will pick an issue and ride it for days and keep it in their catalogue for future referencing.

Democrats will pick an issue to criticize the Republicans for and will complain about it for a day or two and then forget about it.

Which do you think will be most effective?

[anti stupid]

29. repubs have a huge echo chamber with amplifiers

[kentuck]

32. Because MSM has the same interests as Republicans.

They are looking for more tax breaks and more wealth. They are operating in their own self-interest.

[gab13by13]

8. I have a complaint with #2.

2, "Third Way is just 'Corporatist' DINO's": I've been in touch with Third Way for close to a decade. They're not "corporatists" trying to privatize everything; they're advocates fir centrist policies because that's where the votes are to get policies passed and win elections.

Saw an article where AOC was willing to campaign in Virginia but was given the cold shoulder. I also would rate the 3rd Way as center - right. Maybe Virginia could have used some progressives to fire up the base? Centrist policies win in states like West Virginia.

My opinion of what happened in Virginia is somewhat confirmed by your post, McAuliffe wasn't an inspiring candidate, a good man, but the enthusiasm factor was missing. It was up to McAuliffe to push the Democratic accomplishments.

[Ron Green]

9. Until politicians, including Democrats, are willing to tell the truth,

you’re not likely to see any real change.

[anti stupid]

13. false equivalency

There are distinct differences between Dems and Repubs. It really has never been so clear.

[Ron Green]

35. 2000: Schwarzenegger introduces the Hummer. 2021: Biden introduces

the Electric Hummer.

If the equivalence is “false” for you, you don’t get what I’m talking about.

[walkingman]

16. The problem with "Truth" is who defines it. In most cases

media defines our truth.

'Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.' Edgar Allan Poe

[anti stupid]

40. ummm

well I guess not, but you just sited an example of how the two parties approach the truth of climate change. In this example, which party is dealing with a true reality.

[Ron Green]

46. Neither one. Any sort of Hummer should not even be made,

much less touted by a politician, much, much less the President.

The truth is that economic growth is harmful in the aggregate and must be called into question. Are any Democrats saying this? Maybe Ilhan Omar has made some statements about an alternative to GDP as a metric, but Jesus, all politicians of both sides are still talking about growth. And Dems (most of them) are saying “green” at the same time! Is this hypocrisy, or just ignorance?

[cinematicdiversions]

106. Ilhan Omar has also made some statements about eliminating incarceration.

You can't win a fight if you punch with only one hand. We need to hit the Republicans from both angles.

For example Democrats should highlight Republicans support for lawlessness and attacks on the police not advocate the release of the insurrectionists (and everyone else) from Federal prison

[Texaswitchy]

11. A lot of Americans can't think for the themselves anyway.

I noticed that the last years I was working.

Blame the schools, tv, and the internet.

I was taught to think for myself.

Critical thinking.

[Elessar Zappa]

44. But it's not the younger voters

(the most internet savvy) who are putting Republicans in office, it’s the older generations. So I don’t think it has anything to do with modern schooling.

[Texaswitchy]

51. I worked with a lot of older workers.

Dems who voted for Reagan types.

They became brainwashed.

Non thinkers come in all ages

The older ones should know better.

The younger ones have excess to knowledge on smartphones.

I was glad to retire.

[Budi]

65. The "younger voters" you describe also ate Tide Pods & bought the lie about Free Shit.

They also have the worst voting record of all demographics.
When your claim to knowing it all is google & Facebook the "internet savy" will never replace knowledge of actual lived experiences.
The gullibility is a freakin nightmare for our Democracy.

'We want free shit' is the message they embraced, ffs.

[Cosmocat]

112. Correct

nm

[dsc]

12. One thing is we should bypass the states and give the money directly in all cases we can

Teachers in my state will be getting bonuses from the local district and state which are largely, if not entirely, funded by the feds. The feds should have skipped the middle man and sent checks of x dollars to every teacher, signed by Biden, Pelosi and Schumer. And for the record these aren't chump change. I will be getting $5900

[awesomerwb1]

14. I agree with some of your points

they're advocates fir centrist policies because that's where the votes are to get policies passed and win elections.

I agree with this for the most part. Center and center left policies win elections.

If an old strategy doesn't work, its incumbent on you to come up with a new one. As I told the head of the DNC last week, messaging continues to be a glaring weakness in the Party.

I agree. Messaging has always been from weak to awful to non-existent from our side.

Was the DNC's head receptive to your message or did he just politely dismiss it with something like a "we're working on it"?

[dalton99a]

15. Why is it incumbent on the rank and file to come up with a messaging strategy?

When a Democrat is accused of jaywalking, Republicans line up on TV and on Capitol steps to denounce and pounce - and the messaging is amplified and beaten into TV viewers' brains for weeks and months

EVERY single Republican just voted against a price cap on insulin. Where are the denunciations?

Random Twitter messages don't count. Most voters don't use Twitter.

[kentuck]

19. Agree.

For example, Joe Biden is traveling about the country attempting to sell BBB.... Why aren't those Democratic Congressmen and Senators back in their districts and states selling it? Get the message down to the people. Stop depending on national media to get out your message.

[leftstreet]

37. +1

[brooklynite]

37. More along the lines of "you don't know all the messaging we're doing..."

[uponit7771]

72. THIS !!!! ☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾 We need to stop blaming "other shit" for dem poor messaging !!!

[Midnight Writer]

18. They are running ads in my local media touting benefits of infrastructure bill. That's a start.

But the media here is totally saturated with Right Wing talking points. They are everywhere. Radio, newspapers, TV. If you want to hear a liberal viewpoint, you have to search for it.

[PTWB]

20. The takeaway is that we need to push for much more aggressively progressive legislation.

And work on our messaging.

[samnsara]

21. i dont feel broken...

[doc03]

22. I saw a poll a few days ago voters are overwelmingly

in favor of the infrastructure and BBB bill. The poll also said voters don't agree with Democrats policies?


The infrastructure plan will not help us at all. We will not see any benefits for years. Before you build a bridge or a road it takes years of planning environmental studies etc.
There may be a few projects that are shovel ready
that's about it.

[gab13by13]

49. In some cases it may take years,

but I heard president Biden say some of the infrastructure is shovel ready.

[uponit7771]

73. Voters aren't connecting BBB with dems, poor messaging. We need to do better and stop blaming every

... thing and everyone else but dem messaging.

[doc03]

85. I agree all we have heard for months is bickering

over cost, most people don't know what is in it.

[uponit7771]

90. +1

[andym]

25. The Democratic Party represents a very broad coalition, so there are (too) many messages

addressing the myriad interests of the coalition, and the sheer number of messages related to policy dilute each other and eventually drown each other out. There needs to a few key messages more strongly emphasized, like Democrats are pro-Democracy and pro increasing opportunities for all through strengthening the economy and providing a safety net that stabilizes the country, while emphasizing the mainstream nature of its ideas and ideals.

[chowder66]

26. When they poll these people ask them what Republicans have done for them and what they stand for.

These polls have an opportunity to educate as well as illicit views but they need to ask more questions that make people think.

Ask: Why?
Ask: Where do you get you political information?
Ask: Do you seek out accomplishments, if so, where do you get the information?
Ask: Do you pay attention to politics more now or did you pay attention more when Trump was in office?
Ask: How long do you think it takes for new policies to kick in and be felt?
Ask: What Trump/Republican policies did you feel that positively affected you?
Ask: Do you think as the population grows that government should scale to match the needs of the people?
Ask: Do you watch press briefings?
Ask: Do you go to the Whitehouse.gov website to view issues and policies?


It seems to me that many people only engage if the topics invoke high emotion otherwise it just falls into oblivion.

If our policies are about parents and some of these people are not parents then good policy may not matter to them.
If it's about the elderly and they happen to be young, it may not matter to them. They are not plugging in.

[TheFarseer]

98. Republicans

Stand for lower taxes, less government interference and traditional values. It’s a consistent message that they pound and pound relentlessly.

Democrats stand, all to often, for “we’d like to help but Joe Manchin and Ted Cruz say no”. There’s a lot of great Democrats that are doing their best to implement the policies most Americans want but too many are only acting like they want to do something while they uphold the status quo. People can see through that. At some point you have to deliver more than closing the schools.

[cinematicdiversions]

107. This. So much this.

We expected the infrastructure bill to a focus instead we have mass groups of people attacking stores and employees in bold daylight robberies while very democratic politicians continue to talk about eliminating bail and reforming the punitive side of the criminal justice system.

We have a great economy with lots of cash and full stores yet I hear people on hear bemoan about the economy all the time. How expensive everything is and how poor everyone is.

Most people are not anything resembling poor in the united states. And the vast majority of VOTERS are not poor.

Oh, and whether it is true or not telling the vast majority of voters they are racists every day is not a winning strategy either.

[TheFarseer]

110. Yes, stop with labeling everyone a racist!

You could so easily pivot to calling it a class thing. For instance, the justice system worked great for OJ Simpson who could afford the best lawyers, but lots of people get screwed with a public defender, not just minorities.

Democrats lean way too hard on social issues. The problem with that is RW voters that vote on GLBTQ issues or abortion are typically single issue voters that are WAY more fired up about the issue than most people on the other side. Even if same sex marriage, for instance, polls well, it is not a reason by itself for most voters to vote D. I’m starting to think that some want to lean on those issues because same sex marriage costs giant corporations nothing. However, $15 minimum wage or paid family leave will hit the bottom line and a Green New Deal might so why take that chance?

[Blaukraut]

28. We live in an era of negative partisanship.

We only need to look at republican messaging to have this confirmed. They excite voters through fear and anger. We need to do the same. Run on how Republicans will TAKE AWAY all the good things WE have done for the people. Keep it simple. SS, Medicare, healthcare, child tax credits, and last but not least: Democracy.

[karynnj]

30. These results do not surprise me .. and while they should be considered, they should not be taken

as absolute truth.

Consider that these focus groups and the poll(s) were taken in the wake of the loss in Virgina and very negative media coverage saying PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY what was found. Although I read mostly mainstream NYT, WP etc and am most likely to watch MSNBC, the message that the Democrats were not getting much done - as far more stories were on things that were not done (and might actually be impossible). The other thing is that since August, the resurgence of Covid in areas where we had seen the promise of it being done has led to discontent.

Another factor is that focus groups can get very distorted results if there is a person who others deem "the expert". In some cases, it leads to many people being intimidated from expressing contrary opinions. For polls, many people try to give the answers they think are wanted.

I agree with you that we need to be better getting our message out. The question is how do we do that?

The right has always had the easier time with emotional bumper sticker messages where our response is always more nuanced requiring paragraphs to explain.

I think that now that the BIF is passed, every Democratic Senator and Congressperson should be out personalizing the gains to their district (or state). However, it is harder now because fewer people read local papers (with local content) or listen to local news than even 30 years ago. When some version of BBB is passed the same should happen.

[kentuck]

36. I think the Democratic loss in VA may have been misread?

It didn't help that there was a black woman running as LT Gov on the ticket. That had to have helped the Republicans.

Also, Youngkin was able to come across as a reasonable person, not connected to the nut-wing of the Party. He knew that education was a big issue for the voters of VA.

Lastly, Terry McAuliffe did not spend enough time on issues that were important to the voters and spent too much time on Donald Trump. That does not mean he should have ignored Trump but rather, he should not have ignored everything else.

It was not a well-run campaign, in my opinion.

[kentuck]

31. The "infrastructure bill" could fix it...

...if it was sold properly.

Most people do not know what BBB or Build Back Better even means.

They do not connect "infrastructure" to things they need.

It has to sold in its details. They understand fixing the roads and bridges. They understand the need for child care. They understand that the wealthy are ripping them off by not paying taxes. They understand that the price of insulin is too high.

It is all in the "messaging".

[Scrivener7]

33. Sigh.

[George II]

42. That's your assessment of President Biden, "an 80 year old white dude"?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

43. yeah he only just turned 79

[Budi]

39. Why is politico & it's writers even allowed on DU anymore?

David Siders, author of this bullshit article has also written for Real Clear Politics.

Here's the background on RC Politics
Its not a stretch why this bs headline appears in Politico, considering Politico's recent change of ownership.
Axel Springer purchased Politico for a Billion $$$. Springer is know as the European Rupert Murdoch.

REAL CLEAR POLITICS:
David Siders' RW influenced articles appear in RC Politics as well as Politico.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mediabiasfactcheck.com/real-clear-politics/%3famp=1

Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER

The Founders of RealClearPolitics are John McIntyre, an options trader, and Tom Bevan, an advertising account executive.

In 2007, Forbes Media took a 51% equity stake in RealClear Holdings. In 2015, Crest Media, which owns the Middle East news outlet Al-Monitor, and the original owners bought out a large equity stake that Forbes Media had possessed. Crest Media was founded by the president and chairman of Houston-based Crest Investment Company Jamal Daniel. Daniel is also the founder of Al-Monitor.

POLITICO's newest Media- Right lean, should surprise No One, as it is clear their Bias leans which way the biggest Profits are made.
Axel Springer didn't spend a $$$Billion to be fair & nice. He has no loyalty to any US Party & expects profits above truth.

Nothing Politico writes should be taken as trustworthy again, without fact checking the Writer & realizing all things Politico is now in the ranks of every RW extreme biased anti-Democratic messaging service.

The bias intended in their Headlines, speak for itself.

[George II]

48. I just checked "https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/politico/" - coincidentally they last updated....

....their rating on the very same day as the purchase of Politico by Springer!

Here's their summary, but this piece is not "reporting", it's opinion.

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA (44/180 Press Freedom)
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 2007 by two former Washington Post Journalists, John F. Harris, and Jim VandeHei, Politico is a news and opinion website based in Virginia, USA. Currently, Matthew Kaminski is the editor-in-chief. In 2016, Jim VandeHei left Politico and is now the co-founder and CEO of Axios. They describe their vision as “Politico strives to be the dominant source for politics and policy in power centers across every continent where access to reliable information, non-partisan journalism, and real-time tools creates, informs and engages a global citizenry.” It distributes content via the internet, the Politico newspaper, radio, and podcasts. In Washington, D.C., its coverage includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media, and the presidency. They also have their own bi-monthly magazine that covers politics, news, and opinions.

Can't wait to see what their next assessment is.

[Budi]

50. Thanks. "We tell you what to think" -Joseph Goebbles

Politico is just another BRICK in the Billion $$$ Global Media Empire WALL.

Their only agenda is Profit, & pushing whatever message gets them more & keeps them there.

[joshcryer]

41. It's difficult when our brand is "doing something."

While the Republican brand is literally "not doing anything."

It is extremely hard. Republicans benefit from our doing things. All those infrastructure grants? Going to conservative owned construction companies, who up and down vote for and lobby for deregulation, etc.

So for Republican messaging, all they have to do is say "we want to deregulate, we don't like big government, we believe in freedom." And they win on that. Despite that their entire existence is dependent upon Democratic Party policies. Rural society, for example, is entirely dependent upon massive tax breaks, subsidies, and externalized costing.

It's not really about messaging, it's about changing the message. Williamson County for instance is trending Democratic, but it's not because a bastion of liberals are moving there, it's because of tax incentives, and economic development, in spite perception of the Democratic Party policies.

Look at, for example, the new Samsung factory in Texas. 97% tax break over 10 years. Essentially a free factory. Built in a small orbital city of Austin, Taylor, TX, with a population of 16000 people. The Democrats Chip Bill enabled this to be possible, with $52 billion in grants to make it happen.

Taylor, TX is in Williamson County, which covers Austin and swings very slightly Democratic. Put the factory there in Taylor, population jumps by several thousand, with very many of those new implants being educated left leaning voters. We are "doing something."

Instead of going out there and touting environment, education, health care, and such, the Democrats should be the ones owning direct tax incentives and government grants. Why the hell are we not running a rally, in Taylor, TX, taking full credit for that new chip factory? Because the Republicans are going to benefit from it anyway. But we don't do it because it just doesn't "look good." We're "not that party."

And we will attack any Democrat that goes "oh let's incentivize a town to make chips for the United States." The problem with the party is it lacks actual identity and interparty loyalty. I guarantee you that there's a massive contingent in the party who would be completely repulsed by such a policy issue. I would be called a third way psycho. A New Democrat. A corporate sellout. All of that.

But the people in Taylor, TX, are going to start voting Democratic more and more, and bringing the chips home is going to be good for the country, good for jobs, good for technology development, and good for even geopolitics. And that's in spite of those in the "party" who can't think this way.

[leftstreet]

52. "Vote For More Corporate Subsidizing!"

Not sure how you turn that into a winning message

[joshcryer]

60. See?

The chip bill grant of $52 billion is a corporate subsidy. The Democrats overwhelmingly passed it. It is good for Taylor, TX. It will make Williamson County more blue.

But we can't fucking own it because "oh the evil Democrats are corporate sellouts."

And that is why we lose and will continue to lose. It's an entirely lose lose situation while the Republicans keep on trucking on and benefiting from our own actions to improve our society.

[leftstreet]

70. The bill isn't subsidizing the citizens of Taylor TX

It's subsidizing for profit corporations

The only way to "sell" it is with an equal amount to subsidize health care, housing, etc

[joshcryer]

79. The Samsung factory, directly benefitting from it...

...is being built in Taylor, TX.

You don't need to subsidize housing, because it is going to bring in very educated, smart people, and those little conservative owned good old boy construction companies are going to build houses like crazy. Samsung workers have incredible health benefits so they don't need a subsidy. It's the Republican companies that want to skimp on that. And I am sure those builders indirectly benefiting from it will be worked into the ground while the good old boy Republicans live on grandpas land they had and got corn subsidies all these years.

You're not going to be able to have the lifestyle you are currently experiencing without highly industrial central organizations. Those chips that that factory are going to make are going to be in the devices you rely on or use every single day.

The "socialist ideal" would be to take over all the factories and build it all with government. OK, fine, elect those people. We don't have those people. This is the reality we are working with. So the best solution is strong environmental regulations. Mandates for health care. Regulatory oversight. And we already have all that.

Taylor is going to do very well, move Texas even further to the left, and it is due to things that Democrats have done for their towns.

[leftstreet]

86. LOL

You don't need to subsidize housing, because it is going to bring in very educated, smart people

Well there ya go. Look no further to find why people are asking if the Democratic brand and message is broken

[joshcryer]

109. Demand begets supply.

I'm sorry it hurts you to know Taylor TX will become more blue, and Williamson County will become more blue, because of an economic thing.

I suspect you'd prefer they become blue magically.

[leftstreet]

113. I hope you get your "educated smart people"

I'm sorry it hurts you that the "new" Democratic party can't win elections without the support of tHe pOoR

[TexasTowelie]

89. Okay, you're discussing my old stomping grounds.

I went to college in Williamson County (Georgetown) in 1983 and have been acquainted with Taylor since 1984. The word across the college campus was to stay the hell out of Taylor because the people there were so backwards. When I started work in Austin there were two colleagues from Taylor and their mindset confirmed what the students discussed in college.

Back in the 1990s one of the radio stations in Austin had a contest to determine which town was the biggest cesspool in central Texas. Del Valle took the top spot while Taylor placed second. Their saving grace was that they had a good barbecue joint and donut shop.

With my familiarity of Taylor along with the nearby farming communities, Taylor isn't going to turn overwhelmingly blue anytime soon unless the new factory employs 5,000 or more people. I expect that most of those employees will end up in some of the farm communities in the area (and I've been to all of them) because they won't be able to afford to pay for the new housing developments in the immediate vicinity.

[Klaralven]

101. The Samsung site will be 1200 acres

I can't see that there is any place in Taylor with an available 2 square miles.

Most likely, the plant will be somewhere near Taylor?

[TexasTowelie]

103. It is going to be outside the US 79 bypass to the southwest of Taylor with some frontage on FM 973.

Going off the assumption that FM 973 will be the primary entrance to the plant, it looks like the plant location is about one mile out of town. The property did not have direct access to the US 79 bypass.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2021/09/01/taylor-reinvestment-zones-could-link-to-samsung.html

[Klaralven]

104. Thanks

[joshcryer]

108. You are so wrong. You haven't lived there since the 80s?

Stop being so fucking cynical. Williamson County went fucking blue. But here we are, shitting on residents of Taylor. This is why we fucking lose. We should OWN those new developments, because WE MADE THEM POSSIBLE. Literally. The Samsung factory is NOT POSSIBLE without government intervention. It doesn't exist without government grants. It doesn't exist without tax incentives. They could find anywhere else in the world to build. We incentivized it.

[TexasTowelie]

114. I don't have any complaints about Taylor being awarded the factory or the incentives offered to

get the factory, but I will also point out that there were a lot of local GOP officials that made those incentives possible too. While I haven't lived there in awhile, I was in Austin throughout the nineties and a frequent visitor of Williamson county until about ten years ago. I still have politically active friends that live there and communicate with them occasionally, while the tide is turning at best it is a purple county.

The estimated number of employees for the new Samsung factory is stated to be at more than 2,000. However, I doubt that all of them will end up in Williamson county. There will be some people that will choose to live in Travis county for the amenities of the city or to be within their social communities, while there are also three rural counties (Bastrop, Lee, Milam) that are within a 20 minute commute. Housing will be more affordable in Lee and Milam counties compared to Williamson county. There are also underlying racial tensions between the whites and blacks in Taylor that don't receive much media attention which make the city unappealing. There might be an effect on city elections in Taylor with new residents, but at a countywide or legislative district level the influx of new people isn't going to change anything unless they vote 80%-90% Democratic which isn't realistic.

While Williamson county voted for Biden in 2020, I don't consider the county to be blue in any shape or form. One election result does not change the fact that the county has voted Republican in every other election since at least the eighties when I was a student. Nearly every elected office at the municipal, county, and regional levels is held by a Republican. The Democratic party apparatus at the local level isn't very strong while the GOP is well organized with multiple organizations active in the county; meanwhile, the largest base for liberal thinkers is at Southwestern University.

As far as being cynical is concerned, I have lived in both rural and urban areas of the state (e.g. Irving). The last time that I've had a Democrat represent me in any political body (local, regional, state, or federal office except for president) was in 2000. I've learned to read the political landscape pretty well which makes me a pragmatist. While I hope that the county becomes reliably Democratic, I'll need more than one election result to be convinced that Williamson county is firmly in the blue column.

[betsuni]

83. +1

[George II]

45. "The Democratic brand is" NOT "broken."

[hlthe2b]

92. ++++

[BradAllison]

47. What is your deal?

I think most people here would like to know.....

[brooklynite]

53. Care to elaborate?

[BlackSkimmer]

93. I think he has a point.

This is a discussion forum.

[Bettie]

54. Here's another fact for you

the media chooses which messages to amplify.

In the end, it isn't Democrats' message that is being amplified. It is the right wing message and not a centrist one at all.

For example: AOC, the only things most people know about her is what Republicans say about her in their endless, and endlessly covered rants.

But, I get the impression the "solution" you are hoping for is to get rid of all progressives and their goals so that the so-called centrists can do...well, maybe they might do something, IF it doesn't seem too helpful to human beings and IF the super rich people are cool with it.

[brooklynite]

56. I have no object to what you consider progressive goals...as long as you can sell them.

...and explain them clearly to the electorate. In the meantime, my goal is to get Democrats elected at all levels, and poor messaging -- whether about mainstream or progressive policies -- doesn't help.

[Budi]

55. Your posted headline is a flat out Lie

[brooklynite]

58. I'm reporting on the research. Feel free to present a different case.

[Budi]

59. Politico's article was sourced from "a recent focus group"

"In one recent focus group, "...

So whomever was included on that "focus group" is now the source that validates Politico & conservative David Siders' HEADLINE!!

Politico was recently purchased for a $$$ Billion, by Axel Springer, known as Europea's Rupert Murdoch.
And you drag that headline here as truth.
What's next OAN? Owned by Corporate Billionare AT&T.

I thought Billionare Corporatists were the bain of existance...at least that's what we've been messaged to death by ...well..the same Corporate Billionare media that now says Democrats are past tense...because of ...wait for it...Their Lack of Messaging in a "Billionare Corporatist" media system.

See the big glaring picture of blatant hypocrisy yet?

Politico is just one more 'Brick in that Wall' of Corporate Owned Global Billionare For Profit Industry.
They are now no different in directing messaging that makes them more profits, than Fox or Newsmax or OAN.

The relentless messaging against one particular target, for the past 5 years, is the tell.

The only thing standing between our Democracy & the Apocolypse, is our Democratic Party.
Not the RW, nor the fringe who's aim is to normalize extremism.

So some focus group decides the next Politico Headline, same as all their Headlines.
And we buy that bs?

Politico & its writers, is an insult to everything that has held our Democracy together for decades.

This is all thry're about.
"MONEY & MEDIA"
Billionares
Corporatists
Profit Over People

They aren't in this game for anyone but the Billion$.

[Cha]

67. Crickets..

[brooklynite]

68. The first point in the source data....

1. Our weak national brand left us vulnerable. Voters couldn’t name anything that Democrats had done, except a few who said we passed the infrastructure bill. That bill didn’t overcome their opinions that we have spent the last year infighting and careening from crisis to crisis.

As I said in the OP, whining about the messenger doesn't change the data.

[Budi]

77. The data that a conservative writer interpreted from a 'focus group'.

What were the questions asked of this 'focus group' & how were they worded?

And from tgat 'focus group' came the Politico HEADLINE that the DEMOCRATIC BRAND WAS BROKEN!!!

INDEED IT IS NOW OFFICIALLY BROKEN!!! says POLITICO, (now under new ownership by a Billion $$$ deal with Axel Springer, known in as 'The Rupert Murdoch of Europe".!!!)


And you drag that headline here.

[brooklynite]

80. NO. The report OF the firm that carried out the Focus Group....

...which, as I said before, I provided a link to.

[Budi]

82. The Firm. So what. The Headline is a Politico writer's article. An opinion.

Did he approve that message when he chose to plastered it on the Headline News Page?

RW Billionare & Foreign Owned Mag, POLITICO says THE DEMOCRATIC BRAND IS ..wait for it...NOW OFFICIALLY B.R.O.K.E.N.!!!

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST EVERYBODY!!
"Like Us!!"
Buy our Ad Products
The Democrat's Brand is officially BROKEN!!

Congrats to you Brooklynite for bringing us this hard hitting RW Billionare Foreign Owned, Politico Headline.!

I mean, Exley & Waleed couldn't have dreamed such a headline like this would become reality, back 5/6 years ago!
Btw, I'm still waiting for someone to answer my question, 'Why did Zack Exley make that pilgrimage to Russia back in 2012?'
Ya know, just before he merged his Brand New Congress with JDs & Sanders campaign?

I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation, somewhere.
Just asking.

"Money & Media", he answered when asked why he chose to run on the Democratic ticket.

Politico is officially 'part of the problem'

[Act_of_Reparation]

97. umad bro?

You seem mad.

[lapucelle]

96. "Are Third Way's Focus Groups Valid Research?"

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/10/28/are-third-ways-focus-groups-valid-research/

[brooklynite]

57. Update: THIRD WAY just sent me the hard data...

https://thirdway.imgix.net/pdfs/override/Qualitative-Research-Findings-–-Virginia-Post-Election-Research.pdf

We conducted focus groups among suburban NOVA and Richmond Biden voters to understand why they swung to Youngkin or seriously considered doing so. A few things stood out to us about these voters, where our national and Virginia problems compounded each other to swing the state to Republicans:

[WarGamer]

62. DM'd you... nt

[joshcryer]

81. Damning report.

We're doomed.

[Act_of_Reparation]

63. We might disagree a bit on points 1 and 2, but 3 is spot on.

We can't keep playing this game like it's still 1981.

[uponit7771]

71. Dems repeated THE SAME MISTAKES FROM OBAMA CARE in BBB and let the GQP define the bill

.... and vote against it and not even be involved in defining what was in it.

[blogslug]

75. Oh, joy!

I can see out the back of my head, you know, because of where my eyes are.

[betsuni]

78. First 2 paragraphs: collapse, wrong, bad, worse, problems, failings, flagging, wreck.

It was a close election in Virginia. What "collapse"? How very dramatic.

Americans not knowing what's going on in Washington "besides fighting" is nothing new. Typical politiphobe behavior. Long gone are the days when everybody watched the same nightly news shows and people read newspapers.

A Democratic administration in office less than a year and everybody's whining because mommy didn't fix everything, even things that are obviously out of their control? Typical. This is because Republicans run against government even when they are the government. Government is bad. Democrats are the government. This business about nobody knowing what the Democratic "brand" is. It's this almost subconscious idea that government is bad and Democrats are the government plus lack of information that makes it all muddled and confusing for people. Why this is the Democratic Party's fault, I do not know.

[msongs]

88. been telling the DNC things for years but it doesnt really want to hear from

voters unless there is ...... attached nt

[lapucelle]

94. Here's #4.

Are Third Way’s Focus Groups Valid Research?

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/10/28/are-third-ways-focus-groups-valid-research/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Qualitative Research Findings – Virginia Post-Election Research

https://www.thirdway.org/memo/qualitative-research-findings-virginia-post-election-research

[muriel_volestrangler]

95. Message #1: The Republicans are greedy, liars, and insane

Message #2 - The Brand: Democrats are honest and sane

That's the economic messaging for the USA. The Republicans are The Worst People In The World to have in charge of an economy. They like Trump. He is a conman. The only thing they've organized for the economy in this millennium is tax cuts for the rich. They also started failed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that killed thousands of Americans, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghanis, and cost trillions of dollars.

[OBrien]

102. Politico 🙄

[Mad_Machine76]

105. Not saying this poll isn't accurate

But how did we go from sweeping Congress and WH (winning two Senate seats in GA of all places) only to be so horribly “broken” less than a year later after losing a single statewide election? Biden has been a breath of fresh air after the chaotic swampy mess of of the previous 4 years?!

People REALLY that fickle?!