Stuart Stevens: 'I get Dems don't want to hear this from me'

[speak easy]

Link to tweet

stuart stevens
@stuartpstevens
As a former R. consultant I bear responsibility for the democracy eating monster the party became, so I get Dems don’t want to hear this from me. But I’d plead with Dems to rally around @POTUS. He’s your guy. You’re going to win with him or lose with him. Make the choice to win.

[dweller]

1. We did

We will again


✌🏻

[Meadowoak]

2. +1

[JI7]

25. Nope , didn't happen with Obama

I'm referring to the midterms.

[dweller]

38. But

That’s not this thread … but you knew that



✌🏻

[JI7]

39. Yes it is

[dweller]

41. Yet

Only you brought up Obama and the midterms,
So
It’s not, it’s to rally around Joe, now, tomorrow and whenever

Shame you missed it


✌🏻


✌🏻

[JI7]

42. Rally around joe means supporting Democrats for office like the Midterms

which did not happen for Obama .

[dweller]

50. Didn't happen for Reagan

Didn’t happen for Clinton
Didn’t happen for Obama
… damn stuck in the didn’t happens where the media wants ya

Until it does happen, but that wasn’t your point was it



✌🏻

[ShazzieB]

86. What didn't happen for Obama has no bearing

on what we should be doing right now.

[LiberalLovinLug]

89. Curious if the Democratic party loses in the mid terms..HOPEFULLY NOT! ........

But if a lot of the pundits predictions come true and they do,

I wonder if you will have second thoughts about the impact of turning on the leader of the party and not coming out to vote, as enough did to make a difference in 2010, will have zero effect on the midterm results this time?

[Hekate]

100. Oh yes it is. We've already got DUers & other Dems picking out other people for 2024

And we were awful to Barack Obama

[JohnSJ]

3. with the upcoming midterms a little over 3 months, it is absolutely insane for the Democrats not to

stand with a united front.

[Wounded Bear]

8. So much this...nt

[LenaBaby61]

10. Some of these so-called progressives are out of their minds ....

Some of these younger voters as well. Some saying they won't vote because Biden won't pay of ALL of their student loan debt. Yeah, the answer is to put the GQP US Taliban party back in there to make a rule that what Biden did pay off--which was a LOT--should be recalled and re-paid back in full PLUS triple the interest.

Over on twitter they're still criticizing Hillary Clinton as well. NOT mentioning the GQP US Taliban Party or Shitler. And when asked about Jan/ 6th, come blame Hillary for not going to the Midwest enough and for calling deplorables what they ARE. It's sickening how people like Cornell West, Brianna Joy Gray and Nina Turner think that if the GQP wins back the House/Senate and Presidency in 2024, they'd be able to run with their Progressive agenda in 2024. Got news for those fools--there won't BE another damn anything if the GQP wins/steals/gerrymanders or out right can steal all of the major upcoming elections.

How fucking stupid and ignorant can people be?

[JohnSJ]

11. pretty stupid from my perspective. As if they learned nothing from 2016.

[question everything]

24. And from 2018 - when moderates flipped the House, and from 2020 when we lost

many seats because the perceived message that we were leaning left.

[qazplm135]

16. given you need their votes

maybe calling them stupid and ignorant isn't the best persuasion device?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

34. +1

[JohnSJ]

47. I don't need their votes. They should be mature enough to realize what the stakes are, and

the consequences of not voting Democratic

If 2016 wasn’t persuasive enough when the SC was at stake, nothing I say will convince them

[qazplm135]

52. lol

that's brilliant. Vote for us, or you're idiots.

I hope the party doesn't adopt that actual strategy.

[JohnSJ]

56. So you are saying they don't understand it was Democrats who gave us Medicare, Medicaid,

Supreme Court Justices that supported Civil rights, women’s rights, workers rights, environmental rights, gay rights, banned assault weapons to the public, etc, etc,

Yeah, if they don’t realize that, they are idiots

In 2016 I did engage those differences, and was told by them that they were not going to vote for the lessor of the two evils anymore, and the Supreme Court didn’t matter

[qazplm135]

62. I'm saying

if you want to win elections, you need to actually convince voters to vote for you. Even if you think it's obvious that they should. Even if you think they are idiots to not to.

EVEN if you "tried it once and it didn't work."

If all it takes is one election for you to say eff em, then you aren't really much better than the folks you criticize.

[SunImp]

71. +1 Still 100% Correct

Last edited Wed Jul 13, 2022, 06:03 PM - Edit history (1)

[sheshe2]

102. +1

[sheshe2]

91. You single out Lena on this?

qazplm135

16. given you need their votes

maybe calling them stupid and ignorant isn't the best persuasion device?

She doesn't need your vote, Democrats and saving our Democracy does. You are a Democrat, correct? You are of course and should vote Democratic for yourself, your children and our future.

[qazplm135]

106. sure

I'm clearly not using you in the sense of "one" or "Democrats as a party" but only Lena.

Because I mean we all know Lena decides all elections, so such an interpretation by you is the one that makes sense, not the one by everyone else that responded (who both agreed and disagreed with my take) that assumed I was talking about the party and about the party's need for voters who aren't Democrats.

You cracked the code!

[Steven Maurer]

23. They're not progressive. Accelerationists...

Just like the kind in 1930s Germany. The one running around saying the slogan (and this is 100% real) "After Hitler, then us!"

Didn't work out too well for them back then.

[JohnSJ]

49. Chomsky said something similar in 2016

[betsuni]

53. New definition of progressive: anti-establishment populists, the enemy establishment the Democratic

Party. Right-wing populists will join the revolution to destroy the establishment and progressive populists will be in charge.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

63. +1

Welcome to the "reframing" of reality.

[betsuni]

70. Also reframing FDR liberalism as "democratic socialism" in order to convince people

that liberals/Democrats have rejected FDR New Deal, Second Bill of Rights policies and become just like corrupt Republican neoliberals and are not progressive at all, that progressive populists are the true Democrats walking in FDR/LBJ's democratic socialist footsteps: Liberals hate democratic socialism, FDR was a democratic socialist, therefore liberals hate FDR and New Deal policies and they must be replaced with revolution.

I blame one person for this misinformation.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

84. We see things the same way

[Cha]

96. And, I'm right there With you Two!

TY JABOR & betsuni!💙

Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Just A Box Of Rain]

98. Mahalo Cha!

[sheshe2]

103. I am with you both on this.

thank you.

[betsuni]

31. It's depressing and gives me a nervous stomachache.

[Cha]

72. They care more about

themselves than our Country & Panet.

Link to tweet

Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[PunkinPi]

79. Thanks for posting this tweet, Cha...

This part 100%, "The only thing standing between us and a Christian fascist state is the Democratic Party. Support the Democratic Party or you are part of the problem."

I don't know how folks can not see this, it infuriates me.

Hope you are doing well.

[Cha]

88. Mahalo, Pi💕🤷‍♂️ I'm doing

as well as anyone else who is Worried Sick about our Democracy.



Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[PunkinPi]

94. I feel ya!

Stronger together.

[Cha]

95. I know you do! Mahalo!

Stronger Together!💙

Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[moose65]

82. You are so right

It makes us look weak and flip-floppy to not stand behind our Presidents.

I don't know what "consultant" told people to do that in 2010, but it was a disaster. I assume they were going with the "conventional wisdom" that the party in power always loses seats in the midterms. Pundits and consultants act like that is a law, or something.

Who knows how many Dem and Independent voters were turned off by that in 2010. In an effort to win over the "middle," they may have alienated their own voters.

I live for the day when Democrats will realize that midterm elections are base elections. The party that turns out its base is the party that will win. Democrats need to stop trying to convert the other side - it's not going to happen.

[SouthernDem4ever]

78. +1000

[cilla4progress]

4. I hope

some people see this.

Don't know what it's gonna take, but we gotta win.

[Walleye]

5. That is exactly what I have been trying to say

Seems some people in our party think it is their duty to criticize our own leaders.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

36. 52-33 19%

[texasfiddler]

6. It is so unfair that the GOP rallies around trump, but we can't rally around Biden?

I will never forgive those on the left who did not vote for Clinton in '16. I guess we want to repeat the same mistake. Women's rights, LGBTQ rights, science, climate, protection from health care bankruptcy, Democracy Ect........ Come on.

[JI7]

35. Many of those are non liberal leftists . They don't care for things like abortion rights

and are happy it was taken away .

[betsuni]

40. +1

[Cha]

7. I see his very excellent point.. he

must have noticed all those "dems" bashing Pres Biden for whatever GD reason.

Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

26. So you think that's it? Dem Biden bashing? Dem bashing

accounts for a drop from 52% at last election dropping to 33% ( now)? (Dem support) If yes, that's an amazing influential force !!!

Although did hear interesting thought tonight... If no 2024 run you'd never say that now since you'd lose leverage.

If inflation rate and gas prices drop. If Russia pulls out Whole new ballgame!!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

27. AND if Covid goes away

[JohnSJ]

51. A lot of thing can happen in two years

[Laura PourMeADrink]

55. Absolutely!

[yonder]

9. Despite who he was or still is, I respect his take on things.

After all, our President IS the man.

[Mike_in_LA]

12. He's right

Biden is doing great against enormous headwinds, obstruction, and party opposition. Tired of it feeling like organizing Democrats is like herding cats? Then rally around a good dude doing a good job.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

28. Agree! But sadly no one in our party is talking about that!

Our president is battling X, Y & Z. Heavy load! Heaviest load ever!

[Cracklin Charlie]

13. Proud to rally around the President!

He’s doing a great job!

Every day he spends as POTUS is a gift to this nation.

[pazzyanne]

33. Exactly! nt

[wnylib]

99. We could help showing our support loudly

in public, in addition to on DU.

Make our support heard.

[Marcuse]

14. One Love

[JoeOtterbein]

15. Who says we are not behind Joe?

TV? Then don't listen.

republicants like stevens? You should never listen to them.

They paved the road for *rump.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. Are you actually serious? Approval at 33%

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. Do not fall for his bullshit!!!!

[JoeOtterbein]

19. I agree on that...

...stevens is bs.

[Celerity]

45. exactly, his advice is shit

[czarjak]

54. Imagine how I hated hearing compassionate, conservative, born-again hypocrites BULLSHIT.

Arsonists don't get to b*tch about the smoke from the fire. You're sorry now? Gee, thanks, Stu.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

57. Seriously do you honestly think this is all about what some

BS guy like this says?

[question everything]

20. As an aside, thank you for copying and pasting in addition to the twit link

[JoeOtterbein]

22. Dems will win with Joe, or any other...

...candidate WE Dems chose.

republicants like stevens are trying to make it impossible to win with Joe, or without him. Either way they win.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. That's just crazy talk. Agree speaker is bs. But also think

we are in deep shit. You'd have to have your head in the sand to disagree. Hoping that turns around with end of Ukrainian situation, end of high gas prices and end of Covid.

Biden shuffling per NYT today didn't help! But trashing NYT, our last simpatico bastion of news, will solve that!

[qazplm135]

73. I think we are in a 50 50 situation

if it's just the economy, yeah, toast.

But, per usual, the other side overreached and have once again scared the normies.

So the question becomes can we harness that fear not just of abortion rights and gun control but gay rights and a general move towards a VERY conservative country enough to counter the inflation and economy fears?

If so, I think we buck the trend. If not, I think we lose.

Dems have to present a strong and clear set of positions that America is still a tolerant, moderate nation that isn't looking to jail pregnant women, rip up gay marriages, criminalize condoms, or send people to jail for oral sex. We don't want a return to the Wild West.

Fear. I know we are used to using hope...but I strongly suspect it's time to start using fear. Because, it's legitimate fear.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

101. Very astute and interesting. However, you had me at

us presenting a strong and clear position. Hope someone does that for us!! Need any kind of PR, even a PR novice at this point

[Gaugamela]

29. Hey Stuart Stevens, you pissant, it's not that I don't want to hear it from you,

you Bozo, it’s that I never needed to. I could see through your party’s treason since Reagan. What were you all orgasmic about then, pool boy? When you finally denounce that dumb stump of a human being, then maybe we’ll begin to think about letting you in to the right side of history. If we’re in a forgiving mood as we watch civilization implode, that is.

He has served as strategist and media consultant to dozens of Congressmen, Governors and Senators. Notable clients include President Bush, Governor Romney, Governor Haley Barbour, Governor Tom Ridge, Senator Thad Cochran, Senator Dick Lugar, Senator Mel Martínez, Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Jon Kyl, Governor Bill Weld, Governor Paul Cellucci, Governor Bob Riley and others.[2]

In 2010, Stevens served as strategist and media consultant to 3 winning senate campaigns: Rob Portman in Ohio, Roy Blunt in Missouri and Dan Coats in Indiana.[2]

In 2011–2012, Stevens was the lead strategist in Governor Romney's presidential campaign. He is credited with developing the strategy that won the primary.[11]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Stevens

[betsuni]

46. He wrote a book explaining why he regrets his participation helping Republicans win.

He liked winning. He was wrong.

"This book traces the history of the Republican Party over the past fifty years and lays out how it became the white grievance party it is today." "It Was All A Lie, How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump."

He is not an enemy.

[Gaugamela]

66. So how come I saw forty years before he did? It's nice he came around, but why do we

need to celebrate him here?

[betsuni]

69. Nothing wrong with his tweet about Democrats supporting Biden.

The message is positive for the future of the country and posting it is not "celebrating." No need for a Kill the Messenger.

Reading a tweet by a former Republican doesn't turn anyone into a Republican. Otherwise, after all those Trump tweets we've all seen, we'd all be Republicans. Not to worry!

[sheshe2]

104. +1000.

I agree it was meant as a positive message. TY~

[betsuni]

105. Can't imagine how it could be taken any other way.

If there's some problem with Biden's health or ability, he'll step down after the election and let Harris take over and some younger person be the VP. No question he'll do that if necessary. All this freaking out ...

Don't appreciate demonizing former Republicans either, knee-jerk negativity doesn't help Democrats and is childish. Ally is ally.

[sheshe2]

107. He basically said he is yours, you chose him and all should embrace him.

I do.

[OnDoutside]

74. Who's celebrating him ? Perhaps you might take Betsuni's advice and read his book, which will give

you a wider perspective on the Republican Eco system. People like Stevens, Wilson and Schmidt could have kept their mouths shut and would now be many millions of dollars richer. I've read it and it is really informative.

You can actually download his book here for free

https://b-ok.xyz/book/5713134/41542c

This is the blurb on it

Stuart Stevens spent decades electing Republicans at every level, from
presidents to senators to local officials. He knows the GOP as
intimately as anyone in America, and in this new book he offers a
devastating portrait of a party that has lost its moral and political
compass.

This is not a book about how Donald J. Trump hijacked the
Republican Party and changed it into something else. Stevens shows how
Trump is in fact the natural outcome of five decades of hypocrisy and
self-delusion, dating all the way back to the civil rights legislation
of the early 1960s. Stevens shows how racism has always lurked in the
modern GOP's DNA, from Goldwater's opposition to desegregation to Ronald
Reagan's welfare queens and states' rights rhetoric. He gives an
insider's account of the rank hypocrisy of the party's claims to embody
"family values," and shows how the party's vaunted commitment to fiscal
responsibility has been a charade since the 1980s. When a party stands
for nothing, he argues, it is only natural that it will be taken over by
the loudest and angriest voices in the room.

It Was All a Lie is not just an indictment of the Republican Party, but a candid and often
lacerating mea culpa. Stevens is not asking for pity or forgiveness; he
is simply telling us what he has seen firsthand. He helped to create the
modern party that kneels before a morally bankrupt con man and now he
wants nothing more than to see what it has become burned to the ground.

[betsuni]

76. +1 Thank you.

[summer_in_TX]

30. Our "horse race"-obsessed media constantly seeks out criticism

of our president. They take that criticism and harp on it, especially if they can get it from someone who voted for Joe last time.

Distancing oneself from an incumbent president in the mid-terms weakens the president. Luckily, I don't hear of our members of Congress not campaigning with Joe or asking him to stay away.

Besides, POTUS is doing an impressive job and his experience, wisdom, and passion for our democracy. He articulates American ideals for the ordinary Americans better than just about anyone, and he fights for us.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

37. Blame the media! Always a good strategy,:)

[Ford_Prefect]

43. They've done the horserace thing and Dem bashing thing for so long they no longer care if it's real

or not. They want to sell what the advertisers pay for and nothing builds ratings like a family conflict, or the appearance of one if it can be manufactured. Right now they're hooked on selling Ageism and trying to blame the family split on progressives. Give them time and they will bury us, just as soon as they have picked our pockets clean.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

58. Well that might get you one vote! How many Dem

cheerleaders/strategists have you seen on TV lately? And as an aside, assume we've lost NYT too. You do know that anyone can be a guest whenever they want, right? Not sure who that falls on? Media strategy? Whoever it is ( if there is someone) needs to be fired IMHO.

[Ford_Prefect]

61. You may find Chomsky and Herman's Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media

to be a useful reference here.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

64. Doubtful - believe in media biases. But its a new media age! And see

no evidence ( hope I've missed) the D's are clamoring about requesting a voice and being denied. Have you?

[summer_in_TX]

44. Ever read "When Politicians Attack?"

Details media studies done in the 1990s looking for patterns of who gets interviewed by television media.

They wanted to know if there was a predictable way the media behaved if the President and his party held both houses of Congress, or the President's party did not hold Congress.

The long and short of it was there was a definite pattern, all designed to set up the president for a difficult time.

They interviewed members of the president's party who disagreed with him and turned a spotlight on the critics. Members of Congress who agreed rarely landed TV interviews.

Attention is known to increase a behavior. As a teacher, I noticed if I paid attention to a child showing a behavior I didn't want it always increased. Conversely if my attention went to those showing behaviors I wanted, those increased.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

59. That is interesting. Wonder if it's true today. Like if

Our leaders wanted air time they would be refused.

[summer_in_TX]

65. The media has plenty of ways to shape the conversation,

deny airtime or grant it.

They can show selective excerpts that can favor or disfavor a politician or point of view

Or they can manipulate the framing – say several GOP leaning panelists most of whom largely agree and the one Dem voice, so they immediately 1) get a smaller fraction of the time to speak and explain their point of view, and 2) their point of view appears to be marginalized because it's such a minority of those presented.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

68. Of course but have you ever seen this today? I have CNN or MSNBC

on all day in the background. Have for 5 years now. I have never seen an example of what you're talking about that I can think of. And have seen no accounts of any Ds who did not get granted access. Have you? Would like to hear about it, seriously.

All I am getting at is that there comes a time when you have to look inward. When we've done great things... Brag about it everywhere. When our president has faced not only getting rid of the trump stench, but unprecedented obstacles, talk about that twice a day. And if that doesn't work, THEN blame the media

[jaxexpat]

80. Two items that may illuminate your testimony:

1. Fox has more than twice the number of viewers of MSNBC and CNN combined and Fox cares naught about Democrats access to air time.

2. Bothsiderism is the ambitious understudy of the news's lead role, factual perspective.

As in:
"You say those are Russian missiles exploding, Mr. Zelensky? Thank you. We'll have to break away now as the shelling seems to be getting closer. However, in the interest of fairness, we've also requested a word with Mr. Putin. Vladimir, what do you make of the Ukrainian allegations of Russian aggression?"

[calimary]

48. Maybe we need to put this messaging on HIGH repeat.

STAND TOGETHER, Dems!!! Or else we get our heads handed to us and our mouths taped shut - together.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

60. Stand together yes. But in the smartest way.

[meadowlander]

67. Republicans are in a cult. Democrats are in a competition.

[Frostlight]

77. Pardon my English, but...

WE. FUCKING. TOLD YOU. We told ALL OF YOU.

We TOLD you all that you were creating a monster in the Tea Party. By the time you decided to jump in as a 'consultant', you already SAW that we were right. You KNEW that we were right. But you went ahead and added armor plating and claws, and helped FEED that fucking batshit-insane creature of destruction. It's nice and all that you finally decided, back around 2015, that it had 'gone too far', but it was far too late.

You're on a Looooong list of mendacious, hypocritical, irresponsible opportunists and grifters who can best make amends by doing everything in your power, sacrificing everything you have left, and even falling on your sword to fight the monster you helped create.

My father was a cold, cold man. He always told me, "Reasons are just excuses", "Crying is just feeling sorry for yourself", and "If you have to apologize, it's already too late."
I think I've finally met the person he was really talking about.

[onecaliberal]

81. Abortion was still legal when all of these elections happened. The truth is, no one knows exactly

how that is going to drive the election. One thing is for sure. You can't compare it to anything in the past. You can't.

[Joinfortmill]

83. Joe Biden is honest, decent, smart and knows government. Just do it!

[SWBTATTReg]

85. Absolutely. And I hear or see dissatisfaction w/ Biden on a regular basis too, even on DU. Some

issue or other seems to tick people off, you know, the usual (Abortion, voting rights, etc.) but our margins in the House and Senate aren't that great and thus, having an overwhelming mandate isn't there.

We're getting there and still have a ways to go.

Don't listen to the other side, they are climbing onboard, throwing crap at anything Pres. Biden is doing, and will continue to do so, regardless of who's really at fault (as we already know, most issues still stem from tRUMP's tenor as president and his fawning over the billionaires, millionaires, dictators), and some other issues stem from the tight confirms of our bare majority in Congress.

Remember, republicans have been (or so they claim) working for over 40 years to get what they have now (a claim that I doubt...no, they had djt pop up and they used him as a prop and now are done w/ him, but he isn't done w/ them).

[LiberalLovinLug]

90. I think there different types of dissatisfied Democratic voters

I think its very important to distinguish from those who give honest negative reaction and criticism....like some when it came to light, just before the Roe v Wade reversal, that Biden was set to appoint a Republican anti-choice judge, and differentiate them from the extreme Sarandons who will never be satisfied and not vote for him.

No matter how much I rallied for Sanders, and still think he'd have made a phenomenal, and transformitive difference and influence in American history, and would have beat Trump, based on both of their popularity numbers and the youth and independent support, I still supported fiercely voting for Hillary. As did Bernie, at least publicly. And I think the vast majority of Democrats can criticize individual bills or statements, or actions by Democratic reps, but still be loyal as the best alternative, or even the only alternative to the GOP.

[Victor_c3]

87. I don't get where any of the displeasure towards Biden comes from

He’s done a great job. I’m sure there are some things he could have done differently or more to my liking, but I can’t think of what those might be.

The right and the media want desperately to turn Joe Biden into another Jimmy Carter - a guy that they can call a failure in office with little or no legacy anyone can point to.

I stand firmly behind our man.

[SunSeeker]

92. K & R & Retweeted!

[DiamondShark]

93. wow...

I would have gone with a different quote mainly, "Dems to rally around @POTUS. He’s your guy. You’re going to win with him or lose with him."

[pansypoo53219]

97. i am reading a 1989 grieder book about the federal reserve + got to the inflation that took down

carter. biden is the victim of the slow fed on interest rates(zombie greenspan) + covid. and people are to short sighted + will install the fuckups who got us here again if the media keeps up w/ the doom.