Winning & governing requires convincing or beating the Right. Matthew Dowd & Rachel Bitecofer's take.
Is winning 2022 simpler than we think? I think so. Just like one beats a virus with a multifaceted attack, that is how progressives must choose to win IMHO.
Engaging or beating the Right.
Matthew Dowd: Democrats are the only vehicle today to save the Republic
Rachel Bitecofer, election analyst & political scientist/strategist, perfects the progressive message.
An enlightening conversation with a Critical Race Theory opponent, Dr. Tamzin Rosenwasser.
Register: Ask Egberto Anything
Engaging or beating the Right are musts.
I am behind on two newsletters. Here is my mea culpa. My back fence was in a 23-year decline and ready to fall from weather, termites, and plain old age. Activism is not lucrative as engineering and software development were. So rebuilding the fence fell on yours truly. Thanks to two of my most ardent Politics Done Right supporters, Roberto Lewis and Norman Rennalls (and his son), we spent the week building that fairly long fence. I have not worked that hard or felt so much pain as I averaged 22,000 steps a day for several days. I have always believed in fighting for those who we too often marginalize in addition to just having a just society. The fatigue and pain from working in 90+ degree weather 12 hours a day, lifting, cutting, hammering, and screwing wood, as well as mixing concrete while still doing my 1-hour Politics Done Right show increased my resolve and fervor for the mission. We have got to win the progressive battle.
I recently saw Matthew Dowd on MSNBC. His message, especially one coming from a former moderate Republican like him, touched me so much so that I asked him to appear on Politics Done Right. He was kind enough to oblige. Matthew makes it clear that the only choice to save our Democracy in 2022 is for Democrats to shellack Republicans.
Rachel Bitecofer earned her chops by calling the last two elections perfectly. Like Dowd, she has done the rounds on the major networks and was kind enough to give me a quick impromptu interview. She has the winning formula for 2022.
I will continue to maintain that while a 50%+1vote win is a win, a governing win requires more. I try to take a posture to always leave the door open to communicate and engage with absolutely everyone. I won’t convince or change all nor likely most but enough. In that light, after reading an article by a staunchly Right-Wing doctor, I had to engage her on her piece. It was all about planting seeds and I think based on the conversation I did. And both of us left the conversation with our dignity as we made sure to keep the discussion on a civil level. Of course, I used many of the techniques in my book “It’s Worth It: How to Talk to Your Right-Wing Relatives, Friends, and Neighbors. I hope you listen to the interview/conversation in its entirety.
These three interviews made it clear to me that
As Matthew Dowd points out, America, as a continuing democracy, depends on Democrats winning 2022 and beyond.
As Rachel Bitecofer makes clear, there are aggressive messaging techniques that must be used to guarantee a Democratic win.
As the interview/conversation with Dr. Tamzin Rosenwasser made clear, while the process of bringing more from the Right to the progressive fold continues to be difficult, it is not impossible if one earns the trust of the subjects by pointing out commonalities. Again, a victory of 50%+1 is not enough for lasting governance.
I love engagement and would love your thoughts as well.
Matthew Dowd: Democrats are the only vehicle today to save the Republic
Matthew Dowd is a political pundit and consultant, and author of “A New Way: Embracing the Paradox as We Lead and Serve.” He is a vocal opponent of Trumpism and the fascist-leaning of a certain sect within the country.
Mathew Dowd was as unequivocal as ever in his resolve to ensure that Republicans do not destroy our Democracy. He says unabashedly that the only way for our democracy to survive is for Republicans to sustain massive losses. That means Democrats must win en masse.
Dowd has worked for both Democratic and Republican candidates. He left the Democratic Party in 1999 and became a Republican.
Matthew said he saw the direction the Republican was moving to several years earlier than most. He also pointed out that even as 4 years of Donald Trump was terrible, today’s Republican Party is worse.
Dowd points out that Trump has become a tool on which to build autocracy. He finds it unbelievable how fast the party decline has come.
Matthew Dowd now resides in Texas. He became a voter registrar and said he would do all necessary to ensure Democrats win in Texas and throughout the country.
Rachel Bitecofer, election analyst & political scientist/strategist, perfects the progressive message.
Dr. Rachel Bitecofer accurately predicted Election 2018 and 2020. Her model provides the answers and techniques to win Election 2022. We discuss that today.
Dr. Rachel Bitecofer has temporarily left academia to create a PAC intent on providing the assistance needed on the left to provide a winning narrative. Her new PAC, Strike PAC, is on point. She points out the following.
Democratic messaging has tended to focus on short-term, complex policy issues rather than year-round messaging that appeals to voters’ emotions and guts. STRIKE PAC appeals to hearts and minds and imparts a sense of urgency and what is at stake if we do not win elections. Right now, that’s the survival of our democracy itself.
Our nationalized 50-state strategy tells the stories of how Democrats deliver on their promises to improve the lives of voters. We establish Democrats as the defenders of American democracy while the GOP is a party hijacked by extremists at war with truth and democracy.
Because historically Republicans have never had to defend their brand, the GOP has had free reign to launch offensive campaigns, build a strong base, and fracture the Democratic brand. STRIKE PAC is changing that; we flip the script on the Republican Party and force them to play defense.
We bring together top marketing talent, with an emphasis on digital to maximize reach and cost efficiencies. In addition to organically-shared content we use digital distribution to micro-target voters, as well as television, outdoor, and radio.
An enlightening conversation with a Critical Race Theory opponent, Dr. Tamzin Rosenwasser.
Dr. Tamzin Rosenwasser, an opponent of Critical Race Theory, engaged in a civil conversation where her own beliefs were in conflict with her other beliefs.
Dr. Tamzin Rosenwasser, former President of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) and an opponent of Critical Race Theory, engaged in a civil discussion that proved that the Critical Race Theory is nothing but talking points and scare tactics.
Dr. Rosenwasser’s publicist sent me an article she wrote. At first, my blood boiled. But I quickly snapped back into form. I had to fulfill the mission as I have specified in just about every book I have written. I engage irrespective of ideology for the better good of the necessary growing progressive movement.
I interview and give space to Right-Wingers, not necessarily for the person specifically, but for others who may be reachable after hearing the contrast. Note in this interview how Dr. Rosenwasser basically acknowledged the progressive position.
I made it clear to Dr. Rosenwasser that it is difficult to fit even her beliefs, which are generally benign, into her ideology. I made sure and remained cordial and listened intently. This is slow but necessary if we are to reach enough to make a governing difference.
Many think it is a fool errand to engage the Right at any level because of what some would consider a pathological issue with their mental state. I have addressed enough to understand that while they will never be Democrats, some will, in fact, vote for their interests and the interests of those they love.
What are your thoughts?
Register: Ask Egberto Anything
Ask me anything. And I mean anything. Do you have suggestions or advice? Let’s do it on the first Saturdays of every month at 11:00 AM Central/12 Noon Eastern/9 AM Pacific. We were forced to postpone last week for the 4th of July weekend. Just this time we will be having the Zoom on the 2nd Saturday. We will be back on schedule in August.
Here is the Zoom registration for the next one. Please be sure to use the email address you used here.’
Hi there,
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Jul 10, 2021 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUucOisqTksGtWJeHl0qG6dcMRoFNCKTvto
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Worthwhile Reads
The following three books, culminating in my latest, “How to Make America Utopia,” IMHO presents our economy, politics, and socialization in a context that frees us from the indoctrination inflicted on us from birth through our schools, churches, and media.
My books and/or your subscriptions allow us to keep telling the progressive narrative in a form in which the mainstream media cannot because they are funded by those they must somewhat appease. To effect change, people must be respected and informed truthfully & civilly.
Several of my books have AudioBook versions.
While my newsletter and podcasts are free with no advertisements, you can support our work by upgrading to a full subscription.
Ask Egberto Anything: Meet with Egberto and other paid subscribers via Zoom at 11 AM Central on the first Saturday of every month. You can tell me anything, ask me anything, give me suggestions for articles you want me to research. We can even discuss a topic you command for which you want us to interview you on our radio/video show Politics Done Right.
And remember, your subscription is more than support for our work specifically, but for our movement to make a better America. BTW, to ensure a troll-less and spam-less zone, only our paid subscribers can post comments.