Taking a few days to digest the election results and fall out the question arises after defeat what lessons the losing party should take to heart to win future elections. This is a possible road map I think could see Democrats regain the White House and possibly the senate and house by 2020.

1. Make the Democratic Party a Populist Party. Evidence was clearly shown this election the absolute loathing Americans feel toward establishments. This was not a right or left phenomenon, it was clear through Trump and Sanders campaigns the strain of exasperation by so many that the status quo was seeing them be left behind. Return trust in the working class that you give a damn and fight for them.

2. Clean out corruption, starting now and leading up to 2020. The old baggage of party corruption incest reared its head when was revealed the DNC actively supported a candidate in Clinton form the start. This alienated supporters of other candidates, mainly Sanders, and the solution to replace Wasserman Schultz with Brazile did nothing to address concerns. Bringing in an Ellison to the DNC would do a lot to change perceptions of favortism within the party.

3. Fight for something with a clear message, repeat it. To be blunt the slogan "I'm With Her" never hit home the way "Make America Great Again" did. A clear concise message drilled home that shows the party and its candidates are fighting for something. Income inequality and jobs cross various boundaries and cuts through a lot of noise people hear. Fighting for something gets people to show up, which didn't happen as evidenced by millions of fewer people voting than in 2012.

4. Get your priorities straight and stop purity tests. Look, I hate sexism and other forms of hate and am not saying we shouldn't defend against them. However, in the past decade it has felt increasingly like pockets have begun tilting at windmills to find sexism. This repetition hit home when it stopped having affect and became white noise. When you say, "all men are sexist, all white people are racist" you remove all meaning from such words that should hold power. When I, as someone who favors feminism, was called a misogynist because I had "internalized self loathing" due to not being thrilled with Clinton it made the point to me at how little these words hold meaning. Is it any surprise that a chauvinist could take power when people think, "well, they say he's sexist, but then they called me sexist too and I know I'm not, so not such a big deal".

5. Don't despair, don't throw a temper tantrum, do something and stay vigilant. Keep in mind that even though the election was lost it was very close electorally in several key states and actually won the popular vote. This isn't 1984 when Raegan destroyed Mondale, 2020 is winnable with a solid candidate. Seeing the protests this week across the country shows people are worked up, but it is not sustainable every day to take to the streets. You actually have to get involved at levels of government and pressure law makers on issues you are passionate about and vote in primaries and mid terms as well as general election in 2020. This may seem boring compared to shouting in a megaphone on a sidewalk, but it is how change in governance occurs.

My 2020 Presidential Ticket for the Democratic Party.

1. Bernie Sanders (Now with name recognition if he is able Sanders is the obvious choice)

2. Tulsi Gabbard (Gained huge bump after resigning from DNC citing corruption, young and upcoming Representative)

3. Elizabeth Warren (If Sanders cannot or will not run, Warren has proven to be close to him on key issues)

Feelfree to discuss and make own ideas as to improve the party. I just ask to refrain from insults and try to keep this about political strategy and governance rather than tribalism.

Step 1: Wait 4 years
Step 2: Pick any nominee
Step 3: Win election

Optional Step: Propose fair voting laws that will never get passed in a republican congress

A1 - The same thing the Republicans would have done if they lost: wait until people grow angry that those in power really haven't done anything to improve the country or change the status quo. The cycle is never-ending.

2 - Mimic some of the things the Republicans did very well. For instance, Trump could have cut out the heart of a small child in the middle of Times Square and sacrificed it to Satan and Rudy Giuliani would have been on the morning talk-news circuit the next day telling us that the media was being unfair and biased by reporting it. Say something long enough and loud enough and the less intelligent will believe it. This is absolutely brilliant. I'd start now with what Megan Kelly said about Trump trying to influence the media and I would have everyone in the party talk about Trump buying the media.

Really, the political parties don't fight back by improving themselves, they just resort to dirtier tactics. Trump winning is the catalyst for even MORE of that. He won by being nasty and combative and I expect the Democrats to take notes.

imo democrats will win but then just end up losing the house and senate again in the future.

They can never keep at it like the Republicans.

vivster said: Step 1: Wait 4 years Step 2: Pick any nominee Step 3: Win election Optional Step: Propose fair voting laws that will never get passed in a republican congress

 

I heard that this year, how any candidate could beat Trump in a landslide. The shock is still wearing off for some folks what just happened and could happen again. Nominating Tim Kaine, for example, sets them up for a loss, or a tepid win when opportunity is there is make huge gains in legislative branch as well as executive. Anti-Trump carries so far, but voting for something on top would bolster voting totals from 60 million to 70 million range causing knock on effect.

I will agree battling for voter's rights and saying "no one should wait hours to vote!" is a good move and call out states that make it harder.

If they want to win and have a shot at legislative control as well as executive control, then I don't think Sanders is their man. Sure, he's a better bet in the Rust Belt seats, but he struggled among black and hispanic voters in the primaries. Maybe the Democrats don't need that coalition to win the White House in four years time, but they need the so called 'Obama Coalition' (white voters in the Rust Belt, high black, hispanic turn-out, millenials) if they're going to take Senate and House seats as well as the Presidency.

I would say have Elizabeth Warren and Corey Booker on the ticket, whichever way round you put that team you've got a pair that should excite and reach that 'Obama Coalition' of demographics across the battlegrounds the Democrats need to run. Sanders will be nearing 80 by the time he'd be sworn in (if he ran) and I think he's too close to Warren in terms of appeal and politics, a ticket can't just be two left-wing darlings. Warren is younger and established enough in her own right to run for president. Alternatively you could have either of Sherrod Brown (older, libertarian, populist, not well known nationally) and Kirsten Gillibrand (younger but with limited name recognition) as the VP on with Warren or Booker leading the ticket.

Personally I think a Warren/Booker ticket (either way round) would be a strong card for the Democrats. Run with a slogan like "A New American Dream" or "Renewing the American Dream" to make it clear this is a clean break with the Clintons and the 'Third Way' style politics, which is what Obama's "Change you can believe in" slogan helped to do in 2008. "A New Dream" kind of slogan recalls Roosevelt's New Deal, but represents a more radical kind of optimism than Clinton's "Stronger Together" message, which was safe and bland.

pokoko said: A1 - The same thing the Republicans would have done if they lost: wait until people grow angry that those in power really haven't done anything to improve the country or change the status quo. The cycle is never-ending. 2 - Mimic some of the things the Republicans did very well. For instance, Trump could have cut out the heart of a small child in the middle of Times Square and sacrificed it to Satan and Rudy Giuliani would have been on the morning talk-news circuit the next day telling us that the media was being unfair and biased by reporting it. Say something long enough and loud enough and the less intelligent will believe it. This is absolutely brilliant. I'd start now with what Megan Kelly said about Trump trying to influence the media and I would have everyone in the party talk about Trump buying the media. Really, the political parties don't fight back by improving themselves, they just resort to dirtier tactics. Trump winning is the catalyst for even MORE of that. He won by being nasty and combative and I expect the Democrats to take notes.

 

A radical notion would be to do something, but I understand the cynicism. Call me naive, but there has been periods where real change did occur in US history, and I think we are primed to do so again.

The Democrats have the advantage in demographics. Virtually every voting block is in their favor. The only group that votes Republican are white males. People are looking too deep into the results. The Democrats nominated a candidate that wasn't well liked by her own base and rife with scandals. A candidate that still won the popular vote.

Darc Requiem said: The Democrats have the advantage in demographics. Virtually every voting block is in their favor. The only group that votes Republican are white males. People are looking too deep into the results. The Democrats nominated a candidate that wasn't well liked by her own base and rife with scandals. A candidate that still won the popular vote.

 

Agreed, and I touched on that about not despairing that this is 1980s again. 2020 is there to be won if the right moves are made to inspire people to show up. You can have all the demographics, but if they don't vote you can still lose. Been discussed for decades how young (under 35) voters could reshape elections if they just showed up like the 60+ crowd does. Taping into that could mean more than the White House in 2020, it could set them up for success for years across elections.