Message In a Bottle

This past Wednesday, we were having a discussion in my "All Politics All the Time" class at Florida International University dealing with the past weeks' political events, including our current POTUS, his administration, the dismembering of the Affordable Care Act, what he was going to do about the Iran nuclear pact, and the inability of his Congress to get anything done. Included in our discussion were such matters as:

45's "now-I'm firmly-in-your-corner-now-I'm-fed-up-with-you" response to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico;
Whether the president would "decertify" the multi-national treaty with Iran or let Congress decide what to do about it;
Whether to get rid of DACA or again, turn it over to Congress and let them decide;
Whether to actually build that wall on the U.S.-Mexico border or merely continue talking about it.
How to respond to all those - both inside and outside of government - who proclaim him a moron (and here, one is reminded of anH.L. Mencken quote from nearly a century ago: “As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron”);
45's "now-I'm firmly-in-your-corner-now-I'm-fed-up-with-you" response to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico;
Whether the president would "decertify" the multi-national treaty with Iran or let Congress decide what to do about it;
Whether to get rid of DACA or again, turn it over to Congress and let them decide;
Whether to actually build that wall on the U.S.-Mexico border or merely continue talking about it.
How to respond to all those - both inside and outside of government - who proclaim him a moron;
Whether to continue calling North Korean strongman Kim Jung Un "Rocket Man" or actually do something about the grave threat their nuclear program poses to the world.

In the midst of this discussion, one student asked "Do you think any of this is going to matter one iota to the president's base? I mean, will they continue supporting him no matter what he promises and then does not do, and despite all the obvious, glaring, insane inconsistencies he presents to the world?" This great - though slightly rambling - question spurred on yet another discussion about the politics of derangement, of catering to political bases, political messaging and a host of other things . . . few of which have solid answers. Then, another student asked: "Dr. Stone, do you think the Democrats are going to be able to use any of this stuff against the Republicans in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, let alone the 2020 presidential race?"

"Wow!," I responded after pondering for a moment or two or three what she had just asked. "Rem acu tegisti," I muttered; " . . . which is Latin for "you've hit the nail on the head! But sorry to say that I really don't have a quick answer. My crystal ball hasn't come back from the laundry. Anybody want to chime in?"

And "chime in" they did . . . in a big way.

It's a great class, filled with politically engaged students, many of whom stand firmly on the progressive side of the fence. Some got their first taste of politics during the (Joseph) McCarthy era . . . one or two even back in the days of FDR and the New Deal. They are well-read, know the issues, and deeply care about the path our country is currently on. Our conversation continued on for nearly the rest of the session (thus eliminating several other topics I had on the schedule). Three things we managed to agree on were:

(1), If the National Democratic Party is to get back on top it will take new dynamic leadership that is young enough (as well as articulate and charismatic enough) to turn on - and turn out - the millennials, who at this point in time are turned off;

(2), The party will have to develop and deliver a powerful and clear-cut message which talks about things that actually affect (I refuse to use the word "impact") the daily lives and aspirations of real people; things like new technology, free universal pre-school education and college tuition, healthcare for all, saving the planet from self-destruction and putting people far, far ahead of oligarchs - and

(3), Not being afraid to call a bigot a bigot, a priggish moralist an impediment to progress and not permitting the other guys and gals to sidetrack us with issues which really, truly are nothing more than dog whistles for their intolerant base. In short, let the Republicans field a candidate best suited to 1920 while Democrats fight like hell to attract committed voters who care about 2020 and beyond.

Back in late July, Democratic congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer unveiled the party's so-called "Better Deal," an attempt to "wrestle the populist mantle" from '45 prior to the 2018 midterm election. Since then, both the slogan and its attendant planks have fallen into ashy desuetude. Obviously, the party of FDR, Kennedy, Johnson, Clinton and Obama is deeply divided between those who seek answers in past political successes and those who boldly challenge to "go where no one has gone before." Roughly speaking, the messaging boils down to the (Hillary) Clinton/Sanders dichotomy on display in 2016 . . . and ever since.

Goodness knows that for every progressive proposal the Democrats may eventually add to their agenda, the Republicans will cry out Tax and spend!, Blowing up the deficit for the sake of those who won't work! and Bowing down to our enemies! Since this is all but inevitable, the Democrats must be prepared to fight back and make the public understand in no uncertain terms that the Republicans are also guilty of Tax-cuts and spend!, Blowing up the deficit for the sake of corporations and the 1%! and Turning America into a country our allies can't trust and our adversaries don't fear!" Part of that "message in a bottle" will no doubt come from FDR and LBJ (in terms of social policy and spending); from Obama (in terms of dignity and grace) and from that least political of all baseball legends, Leo Durocher, who famously said "Nice guys finish last." It's time to take off the mittens and put on the boxing gloves.

So far as precisely who will be leading the charge, we will have to wait for that bottle to wash up on shore. But don't be surprised if the names include:

Mass. Senator Elizabeth Warren
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
New Jersey Senator Corey Booker
Calif. Senator Kamala Harris
Minnesota Senator Al Franken
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders
Former First Lady Michelle Obama
Oprah Winfrey
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz
Disney CEO Bob Eiger
Calif. Governor Jerry Brown

The "message in the bottle" which the party urgently seeks is still out of reach, washing back-and-forth betwixt the sea which bore it and the shore which needs it.

270 days down, 1,086 to go.