WHAT NOW, OH FRACTURED PARTY SYSTEM?
What it will take for the phoenix to rise
Today I was on ABC to discuss what’s happening politically. I hope you like the interview.
I shared that I think the Democratic party elite needs a deep and humble inquiry into what went wrong this year. They need the political equivalent of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission! Unfortunately, the articles I’ve read and newscasts I’ve seen lead me to believe they’re nowhere near a place where they would do that. Apparently the problem was everybody’s fault but theirs.
As I said in the interview, my interest is in helping to forge a new, more soulful political conversation. I will continue to stand up for the issues I brought forth in my campaign in whatever ways I feel I can be most helpful. I do have some plans in mind and I’ll let you know when they’re solidified.
This I do know. The attacks and judgements on both sides have got to stop, and all of us are responsible for that. For those of us who did not vote for Trump: loyal opposition, yes. But our dukes up every single moment, no. The Phoenix will rise but not from hatred. We will only be repaired by love.
(Please let me know your opinion! This is a good time to share our thoughts.)
The radical right won by superior organizing, superior networking, a singular focus, seeding their ideas in a zillion conservative spaces, and a patient long game—aided by unlimited funds and resources and an electoral landscape that greatly favors them. It’s a real Goliath.
We don’t have money on our (pro-democracy) side, but we have wisdom & expertise & compassion & decent people we’d all rather hang out with.
Love your instinct to forge a “coalition of conscience.” We have to be at our best… and I’m trying to clean up my own act (have a LOT of anger right now at all the elites who were in on the con—not the voters who were conned— and helped him win) as well as network with people/orgs I trust.
MASHA GESSEN (who fled authoritarianism for America & might be eyeing the EU right now):
“Individual moral authority—is what threatens autocrats most. It's something that they can't capture.
"You can't buy it.
"You can't [...] take it by force
“You can't lay claim to it by title.
"You have either earned it or not.
"If you think back to the great liberation movements they've always had a person of moral authority or several people of moral authority as their organizing point of focus."
In 2025, we’re going to need to harmonize our skills & create safe spaces to communicate & organize…and stop beating each other up so we can better take on the forces that truly threaten us.
But they HAVE announced it. They are going all out on Project 2025. It was all over the news yesterday. If you haven't read Heather Cox Richardson's November 6 letter on Facebook, please do. The time for hand ringing about how it went down is over. It sucks, but we need to pivot to now. Those of us who still want a democracy need to come together and figure out how to stop this now. The fingers all need to be pointed at the way out of this, not each other.