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.
*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.
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.
Matt, thank you for sharing your assessment. You have several admirable qualities and by-far my favorite is your heart. You seem to put your heart and mind into everything you do.
I agree that The Democrat’s need to make some major shifts especially in areas where they once excelled (especially with the rural population). It seems the world has become inundated and distracted with identity politics that solving real issues became a much lower priority. A focused moron can accomplish much more than a distracted genius. Typically, it’s the morons distracting us with identity politics.
I also don’t believe that doing a full makeover is going to solve the issue’s of political discourse we’ve seen over the past decade or so.
Many, many things need to change outside of the individual parties to put America back on the right track.
As I was contemplating a policy recommendation for class the other day, I listened to my pastor preach about how changing one law or implementing one law isn’t going make everything right. (We covered Romans 13:1-7 in case you’re wondering.)
As a Christian, we believe God has a plan and a purpose for us all. Those elected are to serve His purpose. Sometimes those serving are good for us and other times they are bad for us. Either way, there is a purpose.
I could go into my policy recommendation ad nauseam with you but I wouldn’t want to bore you as I’m sure you get plenty of that anyway. Instead, I’ll pray with you and be at peace with you.
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.
So the elephant in the room question is are you going to run again in NY21?
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.
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.
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.
Matt, thank you for sharing your assessment. You have several admirable qualities and by-far my favorite is your heart. You seem to put your heart and mind into everything you do.
I agree that The Democrat’s need to make some major shifts especially in areas where they once excelled (especially with the rural population). It seems the world has become inundated and distracted with identity politics that solving real issues became a much lower priority. A focused moron can accomplish much more than a distracted genius. Typically, it’s the morons distracting us with identity politics.
I also don’t believe that doing a full makeover is going to solve the issue’s of political discourse we’ve seen over the past decade or so.
Many, many things need to change outside of the individual parties to put America back on the right track.
As I was contemplating a policy recommendation for class the other day, I listened to my pastor preach about how changing one law or implementing one law isn’t going make everything right. (We covered Romans 13:1-7 in case you’re wondering.)
As a Christian, we believe God has a plan and a purpose for us all. Those elected are to serve His purpose. Sometimes those serving are good for us and other times they are bad for us. Either way, there is a purpose.
I could go into my policy recommendation ad nauseam with you but I wouldn’t want to bore you as I’m sure you get plenty of that anyway. Instead, I’ll pray with you and be at peace with you.
🙏✌🏽
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.