Matt, I walked many a block for you in your run for House in 2022, but I must disagree with your assessment of what Democrats have done and what they need to do. If you were paying attention I think you would have realized and acknowledged the astounding success of the Biden Administration in reaching out and securing help for the common people and for the people who feel passed over or left out. You are accusing the Democrats this time with the same accusations that were leveled against Hillary Clinton, that they and she “hobnobbed” with the elite, yadda, yadda! Get real! WHO hobnobbed with the ELITE! I believe their names were Trump and Vance! Think for a moment. Two thoughts together: Biden and Infrastructure Plan, Inflation Reduction Act, Chips Act, support of Unions and living wages, overwhelming interest on student loans forgiveness, reduction of insulin costs and other prescription drug costs, cap on costs for meds for Medicare recipients, support of broad based access to health insurance, etc. The list is endless. In truth, the voters chose a man who has promised to be a dictator and who mocks the Constitution of the United States. Your erroneous analysis is helping no-one.
Matt, I hope you understand that NY21 got ZERO help from "the party" this time out. What many folks outside NY21 don't understand is that "the party" in our neighborhoods isn't a top-down organization, it's "grassroots up". Since the state is solidly Dem, our rural districts get no support, no yard signs, no field organizers, and no money for most Federal races. Sure, there are committed folks in many towns and villages who slog through the paperwork and meeting requirements to keep our rural Democratic committees going - but often the only time we hear from other local Democrats is every 4 years when they don't understand why "the party" can't get yard signs for them. This year, the UPS store in Potsdam must have made a fortune printing and selling Harris signs, as that was the only choice we had for many weeks.
It IS possible to flip a rural district in a special election (ask Kathy Hochul in 2011). But she didn't do it by ignoring the local party activists and existing support networks. We'll be waiting to hear whether there will be candidate forums in our counties, so that we can help our County Chairs make informed choices.
*Communication: breakdowns 'nothing you said could I relate' vs barriers (sabotage). Needs heavily explored. There is an enormous tone & prose difference between coastal comm styles vs heartland. So much is getting lost in translation and it doesn't have to be this way.
*Presenting information in a digestible way = critical. And that depends on rapport which is actually very difficult to build, especially considering how hearsay functions within a culture bubble. Most are hesitant to talk to strangers.
*Appropriate qualifications. Someone without advanced grief comprehension and touch mastery will appear hysterical and foolish to seasoned adults. Domestic violence exists.
*Bias acknowledgement. Feels vs reals. Accurate observance is possible.
*Faith ownership. It's not an empty word. It's survivor wisdom based on active imagination and demonstrated emotional control. Hype isn't hypnosis. They're not performing magic.
I don't agree that New York should be ground zero. Have you not seen what has happened in KS?
Also, I personally cancelled Project 2025. They just don't know it yet.
Republicans have spent years promoting their positions. Trump spent the past six years campaigning for the office of President. His use of propaganda is top notch. The Democrates are weak in blowing their horn and promoting their positions. They delivered. We have a better economy,but one has to look up the Indexes. We are more secure, again we have to look up the data. Earning power and spending power is up, again we have to seek out the data.
The effective use of fear based misrepresentation of our status was a effective tool
W
Democracies failed the counter. I think we have a lesson to learn
A big priority for everyone I know is economic security and the cost of housing. We are afraid that Social Security and Medicare will be eliminated or slashed. And something must be done to create more affordable housing. Why are so many people having to live in their cars even though they may be working two or three jobs?
Matt, thanks for putting this together, especially in the voice of a candidate who ran for office in a red district. The obvious question is whether party leadership hears and understands the message and can translate same in to successful campaigns in the red states while avoiding voter erosion in normally blue areas.
Matt, I walked many a block for you in your run for House in 2022, but I must disagree with your assessment of what Democrats have done and what they need to do. If you were paying attention I think you would have realized and acknowledged the astounding success of the Biden Administration in reaching out and securing help for the common people and for the people who feel passed over or left out. You are accusing the Democrats this time with the same accusations that were leveled against Hillary Clinton, that they and she “hobnobbed” with the elite, yadda, yadda! Get real! WHO hobnobbed with the ELITE! I believe their names were Trump and Vance! Think for a moment. Two thoughts together: Biden and Infrastructure Plan, Inflation Reduction Act, Chips Act, support of Unions and living wages, overwhelming interest on student loans forgiveness, reduction of insulin costs and other prescription drug costs, cap on costs for meds for Medicare recipients, support of broad based access to health insurance, etc. The list is endless. In truth, the voters chose a man who has promised to be a dictator and who mocks the Constitution of the United States. Your erroneous analysis is helping no-one.
So the elephant in the room question is are you going to run again in NY21?
Matt, I hope you understand that NY21 got ZERO help from "the party" this time out. What many folks outside NY21 don't understand is that "the party" in our neighborhoods isn't a top-down organization, it's "grassroots up". Since the state is solidly Dem, our rural districts get no support, no yard signs, no field organizers, and no money for most Federal races. Sure, there are committed folks in many towns and villages who slog through the paperwork and meeting requirements to keep our rural Democratic committees going - but often the only time we hear from other local Democrats is every 4 years when they don't understand why "the party" can't get yard signs for them. This year, the UPS store in Potsdam must have made a fortune printing and selling Harris signs, as that was the only choice we had for many weeks.
It IS possible to flip a rural district in a special election (ask Kathy Hochul in 2011). But she didn't do it by ignoring the local party activists and existing support networks. We'll be waiting to hear whether there will be candidate forums in our counties, so that we can help our County Chairs make informed choices.
Good points. Can I add a few?
*Communication: breakdowns 'nothing you said could I relate' vs barriers (sabotage). Needs heavily explored. There is an enormous tone & prose difference between coastal comm styles vs heartland. So much is getting lost in translation and it doesn't have to be this way.
*Presenting information in a digestible way = critical. And that depends on rapport which is actually very difficult to build, especially considering how hearsay functions within a culture bubble. Most are hesitant to talk to strangers.
*Appropriate qualifications. Someone without advanced grief comprehension and touch mastery will appear hysterical and foolish to seasoned adults. Domestic violence exists.
*Bias acknowledgement. Feels vs reals. Accurate observance is possible.
*Faith ownership. It's not an empty word. It's survivor wisdom based on active imagination and demonstrated emotional control. Hype isn't hypnosis. They're not performing magic.
I don't agree that New York should be ground zero. Have you not seen what has happened in KS?
Also, I personally cancelled Project 2025. They just don't know it yet.
Republicans have spent years promoting their positions. Trump spent the past six years campaigning for the office of President. His use of propaganda is top notch. The Democrates are weak in blowing their horn and promoting their positions. They delivered. We have a better economy,but one has to look up the Indexes. We are more secure, again we have to look up the data. Earning power and spending power is up, again we have to seek out the data.
The effective use of fear based misrepresentation of our status was a effective tool
W
Democracies failed the counter. I think we have a lesson to learn
Klaus
Matt. Awesome comments and perspectives. Totally agree with you!!! Elliott
A big priority for everyone I know is economic security and the cost of housing. We are afraid that Social Security and Medicare will be eliminated or slashed. And something must be done to create more affordable housing. Why are so many people having to live in their cars even though they may be working two or three jobs?
Matt, thanks for putting this together, especially in the voice of a candidate who ran for office in a red district. The obvious question is whether party leadership hears and understands the message and can translate same in to successful campaigns in the red states while avoiding voter erosion in normally blue areas.