Internal Dem memo faults party message

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: The Hill

Democrats are losing the battle for voters’ hearts because the party’s message lacks emotional appeal, according to a widely circulated critique of House Democratic communications strategy.

“Our message sounds like an audit report on defense logistics,” wrote Dave Helfert, a former Appropriations spokesman who now works for Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii). “Why are we defending instead of advocating a ‘Healthy Kids’ plan?”


<snip>

He said the meeting left him cold because it focused on what polling shows voters want rather than how to present persuasive messages. Republicans have done a better job by developing poll data into focus group-tested messages like “culture of life” and “defending marriage,” along with attacks like “cut and run” and “plan for surrender” in Iraq, he argued.

<snip>

“Republicans have been kicking our rhetorical butt since about 1995,” Helfert wrote.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/internal-dem-memo-faults-party-message-2007-10-26.html

[maseman]

1. Amen

He is exactly right. The Dems clearly have a better platform, but cannot seem to communicate it worth a shit.

[bigworld]

2. I have to agree

... the Republicans are fantastic at boiling down complex thoughts into simple bumper sticker slogans ... we need to do the same. Too often (D) consultants are merely chasing the almighty buck instead of chasing votes.

[tomreedtoon]

7. You know who's been saying that for seven years?

A guy named Bartcop. And every time his message has been promoted here - that Democrats need to speak their messages in easy-to-understand, emotional terms - that idea's been knocked down as retarded, stupid, pointless.

What? Is someone here actually interested in winning elections now?

[yurbud]

19. Drew Westen wrote a whole book on this. Dems besides Kucinich and Dean didn't seem to read it

[ChairmanAgnostic]

38. both dennis and dean DID read it, and

it helps explain the 06 result. the failure to follow up explains the 07 congressional poll numbers.

[yurbud]

40. that's what I meant--they seem to be the only ones who did

[ChairmanAgnostic]

46. I know, and we agree.

sorry about being unclear.

Listening to CSpan on fascist friday proves bartcop right.

[yurbud]

20. problem isn't whether Dems want to win, but who they want to win for, and it aint us

most serve big business as much as GOP does. They just do it with culture issue window dressing that suits a more liberal crowd.

[Blue_Tires]

54. he's posted here a few times in the past

(in fact, reading his site led me to DU some years back) and yes, he was certainly right about that

[roguevalley]

64. Bartcop remembers what it meant to be a dem. He rules.

[calimary]

10. No kidding.

“Why are we defending instead of advocating a ‘Healthy Kids’ plan?”

Why are we not hiring this guy, Dave Helfert, and making him a director of communications for the DNC or some such thing? Send him out to EVERY Congressperson's office and EVERY liberal/progressive advocacy group, and link him up with The Rockridge Institute and George Lakoff, and then go HOT. Go aggressive. Go all burners burning on high.

Put it in bread-and-butter language that can be grasped in the shape of a short sentence or catchy (read: MEMORABLE) buzz phrase.

Remember newt gingrich's "little black book" - of lists and other communication/debate/talking point tips that showed how to out-talk the competition and gain the upper hand with the listener/viewer/reader. It included lists of words and phrases to be used frequently - positive ones to pair up with all things republi-CON, CONservative, reactionary, and negatives to glue onto all things Democratic, liberal, and progressive. All his operatives in his little lobbying/political action group GOPAC got one, and it spread like poison oak at a Cub Scout camp-out. Soon enough, everyone in and close to the GOP had one and followed it more faithfully than even the Bible. And it worked. It happened relentlessly, at every possible turn, and eventually, it sunk in. The seeds were planted effectively and took root. And people's minds were turned, manipulated, and literally brainwashed.

WHY THE HELL CAN'T WE DO THE SAME THING???

[aggiesal]

69. One of the ways they do it is ...

they pick a word, and whenever they say it, it is
said with disgust. How many times have you heard anyone
say "... liberal ..." and then roll their eyes?

I live in San Diego, where the North County is very (R),
so I have to deal with lots of R's.
Every time I hear a stupid statement, I say something like
"... conservative ..." and roll my eyes.

Then I ask them questions I know they have to answer "YES", to
make a progressive point, then walk away saying
"I didn't know you had such a liberal opinion"

[sendero]

83. Very nice....

.. and exactly what we should ALL be doing.

The fact is MOST Americans actually are liberal, they've just been brainwashed to believe they are not.

[kenfrequed]

34. Yeah

Whereas the Republican consultants tend to push the issues. The ideas that the republicans apparantly believe in (being whores to corporate America).

The consultants for the democrats feel it is their duty to push the candidates, towards similar positions.

Really friggin backwards.

[dweller]

3. karma

it's nothing that you did, and everything that you do.

dp

[jgraz]

4. Or...they could try actually accomplishing something

That might work...:shrug:

[NewJeffCT]

42. I would rather have them TRY to end the war in Iraq

and fail repeatedly than to have them submit one timeline bill to Bush and then wave the white flag.

[lonestarnot]

48. Me too Jeff. I would have paid to watch the fight!

[jgraz]

60. I completely agree

That would count in my book as "accomplishing something". As would a failed impeachment attempt.

[OHdem10]

5. This is OH so true. ---Could it be that our party has difficulty

developing a message because they cannot reach an agreement
on anything. Pundits comment on this. "There is no unified
Democratic Message on the War on the Democratic Side".

If everyone on the Hill held a similar view on the Iraq War,
for example, it would have been simple to have been just as
cutting right back at the Republicans. The problem is the
influential part of the party are with Bush not just on the
war.

Republicans have been kicking our rhetorical butts since about
1955. The GOP believe in something even if it is wrongheaded
and I do not agree with it. When you believe in something
it is easy to fight. Otherwise, you practice avoidance.

[KittyWampus]

71. Listen, The GOP have one message DICTATED to them. They have think tanks and $ to spend

on endless polling and focus groups.

They've organized.

The Democrats, the ones with the money to get similar intellectual structures and communication systems together DO NOT DO IT.

All you have to do is contrast Howard Dean and Terry McCauliff

[justgamma]

6. I don't know why they don't use phrases

made famous by the Pukes,. "Rule of law" "Quid pro quo" ad nauseum. They apply now more than ever. Every one of the Dems should use the same words over and over. It would not only get the point across, but shove it in the pukes faces.

Words do matter. We need to frame the debate.

[calimary]

8. Yes, indeed. Words DO matter. And we DO need to frame the debate.

You are so correct, justgamma.

[Amonester]

9. Seven replies and ZERO recommends?? K&R, I say...

K&R because this is perhaps so important.

[crickets]

11. Joining you with a K&R

I think it's extremely important. Even if there's no lock step consensus of the details among Dems (and I doubt there ever will be) a general set of persuasive arguments on the issues would go a long way. Right now there's a bit of a vacuum where statements of Dem policy should be.

[Warren DeMontague]

12. Here you go: "Get Government out of our Bodies, Bedrooms, and Bloodstreams".

or- "Do your JOB, fix this country, and leave the preaching in Church"

[hvn_nbr_2]

15. Here ya go

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Kick Ass!

I like the way you think. :thumbsup:

[NewJeffCT]

44. good ones

thanks for posting them.

[depakid]

13. What message?

The Dems as a party have a message?

Must be something like: Most of us aren't as bad as Republicans.

[robinlynne]

14. exactly. I dont think the words are the problem. When a Democratic leader

speaks the truth clearly, you can feel it, no matter what the words. words are nice, but content is better.

[tabasco]

17. They think they will be shoe-ins because Bush has been such a disaster.

They think they just have to play it safe and wait till they have a bigger majority.

People want to see republican criminals kicked to the curb, not coddled.

The democratic leadership just wants to play it safe, in the middle of the road.

Very disheartening.

[Zhade]

66. It's not just disheartening, it's cowardly and cruel.

They're biding their time while millions suffer here and abroad.

My fury at the Republican fascist machine is only surpassed by my rage at the Dems' cowardly complicity (most of them, anyway)!

[NewJeffCT]

24. that what it seems like at times

:mad:

[dflprincess]

49. As the saying goes "Actions speak louder than words"

I haven't seen much action from the Democratic Congress.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

53. Psst ... keeping the powder dry, don'tchya you know.

That way, the Democrats are ready ... for something *other* than ending the war, insuring children, ending warrant-less wiretaps, etc. They certainly don't want to use it until something *really* important needs their attention.

Pardon my cynicism, it's just I have serious doubts for the future in which my two-year-old daughter will live.

[badgervan]

16. Tip

Whatever the repubs do or say, think up a good, short slogan that represents the opposite - then hammer it home, loudly, continuously, and by all, including friendly media like Obermann.
Most important: show fight, emotion! I swear, Pelosi and Reid are zombies.

[Kaleko]

21. How about: Fighting terror starts at home

Clean the House and Senate

Now, who's afraid of George Bush and his Vice Dick? :evilgrin:

[Trajan]

22. Fuckin A Yeah !

This is EXACTLY what is wrong with today's Democratic Party ....

There is no extended, overarching VISION that captures and integrates what it means to be a Democrat, and on what foundation we stand upon ....

This is not a candidate problem ... but a PARTY problem ..... We get the media microphone, and stumble on trivialities ....

Thankfully, the GOP has the same problem .... but they could get their sea legs soon ....

CMON party ...... SAY something and mean it ! .....

STAND UP for something bigger than yourself .....

[Zhade]

67. THAT'S the problem? To me, the Dem party refusing to stand up for the Constitution is a bigger one.

NT!

[Trajan]

79. While I would agree that the Democratic party should stand up for the Constitution

That is not the exclusive province of a political party: It is incumbent on ALL members of government, including Democrats, to follow due process and protect our rights as defined by the US Constitution ...

Look .... I completely understand and agree that the Party in place in Congress is NOT doing a good job of defending those rights and institutions which we find imperative in Constitutional government. I am NOT pleased with the actions of the Democratic party as they execute their responsibilities in government.

But I still hold out hope that sanity will rule the day once again, soon .....

Am I dreaming ? ..... Do I hold onto a notion of a New Deal, Great Society nation that will never again exist ?

I know you are not nor have you ever pretended to be a Democrat. I respect your right to belong to ANY political group of your choice ..... But I have always been a Democrat, and I do not intend to leave the party just yet ....

Given that: I remember a day when the Democratic party HAD a vision; against poverty; for public education and worker rights .... And our governmental policies reflected those initiatives .....

NO party on earth is perfect, but I still hold out hope that the Democrats WILL find their way, and again express that 'big picture' vision that will help citizens rise up from despair ... The 'vision thing' is the message of which the OP refers to .....

The propriety of actions which infringe on constitutional boundaries are a whole other (but still relevant) set of questions: I want the party to stand up for the Constitution AND present a grand, easy to understand vision of what party philosophy means to COMMON CITIZENS .....

Whatever the Democratic Party stands for: It has not been clearly impressed into the minds of citizens what exactly that grand vision is ......

[truthisfreedom]

23. We don't need government. We don't need anarchy.

We need scientific solutions to saving civilization for future generations. Because bushco intends to rule as warlords for centuries to come, as the world degenerates into flooded continents, drought, and shortage of all necessities. We need to outsmart bushco at a level that blindsides them.

[The Wizard]

25. The Democrats have already conceded the 08 elections.

They have an uncanny knack for stealing defeat from the jaws of victory. Nancy Pelosi's rebuke of Pete Stark, the Senate censure of MoveOn and cowering in the corner every time a Republican shakes his fist have done more to decide the next election than anything Bush or other Republican criminals could imagine.
If the DLC thinks its triangulation bullshit will work against ruthless thugs they are mistaken. They have managed to marginalize Howard Dean, one of our real leaders.
Pelosi is a weak Speaker, more interested in keeping the Republican echo chamber quiet about her cosmetic surgery. Rahm Emanuel would serve us best if he moved back to Israel. Hilary is not Bill and lacks the skill and charisma to win a general election.
The DLC has taken the grass roots and net roots for granted. The heart and soul of the Democratic Party
has been crushed and discarded by the elites who are more interested in counting dollars than votes.
I cannot vote, nor will I support, Republican carpetbaggers posing as Democrats.
Unless there is a purge of the current leadership wedded to the DLC, we can look forward to another generation of Republicans in total control of the government.
With the majority in congress, the Democrats have failed to address the greatest threats to our country: a flawed electoral process without verifiable voting, impeachment, and continuing to fund a military adventure that has weakened our national security and divided the nation.
In short, they will lose in 08 because they deserve to lose.
You can't win a gun fight when you show up wearing boxing gloves.

[OzarkDem]

31. Good post, well said

Its our party, they're just temporary leaders of it. We criticize them because we want them to win. They seem as clueless as ever in trying to figure out how to do that and their disdain for grassroots Dems is palpable.

[NewJeffCT]

45. The Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity

Was stated by somebody on DU before me, but it seems to be so true.

[KittyWampus]

72. Rahm Emanuel should 'move back to Israel? He's from Illinois.

[The Wizard]

82. I stand corrected

His father was an Israeli.

[DRoseDARs]

26. If they'd stop being shrinking violets everytime the House Repubs stomp their feet...

...or everytime Lord Pissy Pants calls them names, maybe THEN the public wouldn't think the Democrats are a bunch of fucking pussies.



Just a thought. :shrug:

[lligrd]

27. The First Democrat To Call Bush An "Asshole" And Refuse

to apologize for it, gets my vote!

[BootinUp]

28. He couldn't come up with anything

much except criticism apparently.

[OzarkDem]

30. Its much needed criticism

Congress isn't kindergarten, its members need to be frank and open about what's wrong and how to change it before the voters kick them out.

I would question any Dem who thinks they need to keep ignoring the problem as if it will go away on its own.

[BootinUp]

36. I'm not impressed

with his criticism particularly. Perhaps if he offered something substantial in terms of a way to frame the message. I am also not impressed with your suggestion that elected Dems are not intelligent.

[OzarkDem]

29. They still act and talk as if they're the minority

Many of the Dems in Congress, esp. in leadership, are the B-Team. They're the survivors who stuck around during years of GOP rule because they had "safe" districts. They've lived through years and years of the DLC crowd telling them to keep their heads down, be quiet and pretend like they're Republicans if they want to keep getting elected.

I'm convinced there won't be much in the way of positive change until some of them are gone.

[PATRICK]

32. Not to be snipish

but there i goes one more Dem who finally has woken up to what any sound politician should have been able to easily predict eons ago. The flip side is that most haven't, at least the ones that count in forming the idiotic party policy. The philosophy and process is so deeply flawed and is so welded into the psyches of the self-entitled leadership that the party membership long ago felt itself watching some scripted greek tragedy where the people get to see their gods transformed into tweedledee to the bad guys' Tweedledum and then all the spectators die in the end.

We have many fine new Dems being ruined by powerlessness and compromise with this anti-vision thing along with being able to sell voters that anyone else can be trusted to make a difference. If it were not for the fact that we must somehow get along with these shnooks because there is no election but a fight against final fascism and devastation, if it were not for this crisis most of our leadership is willfully, critically blind to- then we would have to have civil war in the party for the hearts and minds the current aggregate is powerless to address. In an ordinary country, on a safer globe that would have been worth losing a few elections to mere RW conservatives.

When they get around to examining- with the proper amount of enlightened paranoia- the process by which their politics has become so destructively, skillfully crafted they might fire the people behind the DLC corporate hem kissing and RW talking points focus groups of the moribund 2% swinging voters. As mild minimum of self-interest and political competence.

My message to any of these who I have to work for next fall to beat back dictatorship is that I am against you also and will be working as hard against you once enemy number one is done. Then it will be "Job well done, you can go home now." We will provide testimonials, oom-pah bands and ribbons and trophies and hurry them out of the way for a proper generation of actual leadership and impassioned commitment for the people. We will especially provide decent primary challenges until campaign finance law gives the people more power over the current over-rated(no matter how badly you actually do rate them) pantheon of pathetic weakness in the face of incompetent evil.

Never has nor ever will be perfect but the day must come when "we can do better" is not a massively ironic understatement. There is no party without a membership. Disable followship and poof, the leadership is also gone, taking the name of the party down with them, but empower the people and it will quite a healthy challenge to demonstrate real leadership to match the party membership. Only a deeply self-induced sick system could produce such inane insanity as afflicts the top of this world today.

[kenfrequed]

33. It would help

If the DLC and the conservative democrats didn't force us into such compromised, stilted positions at every friggin turn.

I mean it is hard for Someone to talk about job security and healthcare or healthcare for the most vulnerable when you have to worry about possible compromises in message and policy. And of course you can't just say "Get the troops home" without some DLC/Blue dog jerk trying to "moderate" or "triangulate" the thing into benchmarks or some other delaying mechanism. All in the hopes that somehow the sting of pulling out might be reduced in regards to a war that the majority of Americans are against. Shmucks.

[Odin2005]

35. We don't HAVE a united, clear party message, THAT'S the problem.

The party Establishment want to keep everything complicated and vague in order to make pandering and triangulation easier.

[NewJeffCT]

41. It's not just that, though

Democrats have historically been a lot harder to organize than Republicans, who typically fall into line behind their leaders and march in lockstep.

My sig line is about 80 years old, but it's worth restating here - "I'm not a member of an organized political party, I'm a Democrat."

[BootinUp]

57. Give me 2 clear party messages

you would recommend.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

63. Here's two

The Democratic Party is the champion of the middle class- we work to restore jobs, schools, benefits and security for all.

The Democratic Party believes the government should work for everyone, not just the rich.

[Odin2005]

76. 1. Defend the Middle Class via fair trade economic policis.

2. Achieve energy independence by using technology and building new infrastructure to make us a post-oil society.

[BootinUp]

77. I think both yours

and the other response above are common messages now from our elected Dems. IOW they don't strike me as representative of what the OP is saying. I don't really agree with the OP that is.

[tanyev]

37. The Dems only need to start uttering one word to perk their numbers up.

Impeach.

[natrat]

39. designated party of failure

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

43. WTF?

He said the meeting left him cold because it focused on what polling shows voters want rather than how to present persuasive messages.

Yes, messages are much more important than the needs of voters. :eyes:

[redqueen]

52. If the voters don't put 2 and 2 together, they won't see that their needs

are being addressed.

It's sad, but PR has taken over. That's why so many repuke voters vote against their own interests: better marketing. Fact.


Note that he's not saying to STOP considering needs and start just lying (as the repukes do)... he's saying to market the way our policies address their needs in a more 'consumer friendly' manner.

[Zhade]

68. Except, of course, that would be a lie, because what have they done to help?

Fund the war, which they could block?

FISA?

The chump-change not-indexed-to-inflation over-several-years minimum wage bump?

Their letting criminals walk on illegal wars, wiretapping, and the evisceration of the Constitution?

It's not the MESSAGE they need to work on...

[redqueen]

70. Yeah... on the huge issues...

they haven't done nearly as much as I'd like. There's no arguing that.

[Zhade]

73. Worse, the ones who have tried are being blocked by the Dem leadership.

"Off the table" and all that crap.

[redqueen]

74. Which makes it even harder to formulate a message.

It's a self-perpetuating cycle of kowtowing to perceived pressures.

At *some* point, you have to take a stand.

I can't wait till Thanksgiving. :D

[MGKrebs]

47. Paging Drew Weston.

http://www.amazon.com/Political-Brain-Emotion-Deciding-Nation/dp/1586484257/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1533319-1295152?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193406000&sr=8-1

[KurtNYC]

50. Dems don't have the echo chamber that the GOP has built either

Those TDS montages show how well integrated the Republican-owned media is. Fox News, Rush, etc. don't talk to Democrats, they only talk ABOUT Democrats. Pretty hard to get your message out when you don't have a microphone. Bill Clinton was attacked for 8 years and basically got his message out by responding to the attacks but the Republican-owned media learned not to show clips of him but rather to just put up a photo of him and paraphrase what he said in a neutered version. That is now their standard operating procedure -- a Democrat-free media.

[shayna2000]

51. Here's a test

Somebody list the Democratic platform WITHOUT looking things up on the net! I'm betting that we can't do it and THAT is the problem.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

55. Welcome to DU, shayna2000!

:hi:

[MGKrebs]

78. I don't know what it is officially, but to me it's all about

COMMUNITY.

[blossomstar]

56. FINALLY, they get it.

[MilesColtrane]

58. This one would work.

[yodermon]

59. oh fucking WAAHH WAAH.

Democrats are losing the battle for voters’ hearts because they have been FUCKING INFILTRATED, full stop.

[NoodleyAppendage]

61. This passage sums up why we are POLITICAL IDIOTS.

Democratic leadership aides were not impressed, and indicated that the memo did not have a vast and immediate impact.

“Everybody’s a message expert,” said one Democratic leadership aide. “The fact of the matter is Democrats are working hard to communicate our accomplishments. There is work to be done and that’s why Democrats are working together and mounting an aggressive campaign to discuss the real victories we have won for the American people.”

--------------------------------

The naysayers of this memo should be immediately FIRED!

[0rganism]

75. the "leadership aides" tell us in their own words why they should be fired!

"The fact of the matter is" = "I'm only saying this because no one listens to me anyway"
Anyone who says "the fact of the matter is" just wasted five seconds of my life.

"working hard to communicate our accomplishments" = "our accomplishments are not self-evident because we have no idea how to convey them naturally to the public"
If communication is such "hard work" for these guys, maybe they need a new gig.

"There is work to be done" = "Why are you wasting my valuable time with this communications tripe?"
This statement indicates an unwillingness to connect with the matter at hand (i.e., messaging) in a responsible way.

"Democrats are working together" = "useless rhetorical pablum that's half true on our best day"
What bullshit! If Dems were "working together", there'd be no problems with cloture or resolving legislative holds or overcoming those endless weeny amendments the GOPers are using to block bills in the house. The legislative agenda would be set and maintained firmly in a way that left NO DOUBT in the minds of Americans as to what the Democrats' intent might be. Instead we get the same basic repulsive legislation oozing like so much smelly pus out of Congress that we had when Dems were still the minority. A handful of hearings does not a unified agenda make!

"mounting an aggressive campaign to discuss" = "We don't know how to get our message across succinctly"
The GOP does not "mount aggressive campaigns to discuss." They mount aggressive campaigns to DO things, usually awful things, but they know how to get them DONE while Dems are wasting precious time, babbling wonkishly with no solid action to support their points.

"the real victories we have won for the American people." = "if I had my shit together, I'd enumerate three or four of them off the top of my head right now instead of insulting your intelligence"
Congress's approval rating speaks directly to what the American people think of the "real victories" for which Dems have campaigned so aggressively to discuss on their behalf.

"I don’t agree with every point he’s making" = "I refuse to admit my own failures or learn from my mistakes"
"the sentiment of exasperation I totally agree with" = "I'm a sentimental moron who can't accomplish diddly-poo"
Yet more uselessness.

And then this is the crown jewel:
"Are we any more prepared to deal with the threats that are going to come about cutting off funds to the troops?"
All other points aside, this "leadership aide" just propped up the Republican frame. S/he either has no clue how to articulate a suitable Democratic frame or can't stay on message when talking to the press; either way, s/he might as well be on the GOP payroll.

The DNC needs to get Mr. Helfert a job as communications director post-haste, because the guy who's there now clearly isn't doing his job.

[NoodleyAppendage]

80. EXCELLENT post, my friend. Fine analysis. Cheers. n/t

J

[Javaman]

62. They should have pressed the "moron* hates kids" when he* vetoed the

SCHIP.

[Zhade]

65. They just don't get it - it's their letting criminals walk that's killing them.

No matter how rosy the language, it can't explain away why they fail to uphold their Constitutional oaths to hold criminals accountable, or why they keep bringing reprehensible bills to the floor that THEY CAN BLOCK as the majority party.

Substance over style, knuckleheads - and these Dems (with a few exceptions) have NONE.

[Senator]

81. It Ain't The Meat ... It's The Motion

It's virtually irrelevant what "message" is being attempted because the only "message" that is perceptible is one of impotence.

This is not "rhetorical." It is reality.

Doesn't really matter whether you're "defending" or "advocating" if you're not DOING anything but "messaging." While it may be sad and frightening that impeachment is literally the ONLY ACTION available, it is also literally true**.

Again, this is the simple reality of "Unitary Rule By Signing Statement" (i.e., neofascism).

Failure to impeach is complicity -- approval -- exoneration for the regime.

We allow it at our (continuing) peril.

---
** No, the vetoed, non-binding, got-'em-on-the-record, ratcheted pressure(?), bye-partisan, euphemized nonsense that means so damn much in the tiny, insular, politically-strung-out, parochial beltway-bubble is meaningless outside that careerist cocoon. It even becomes meaningless inside the cocoon days or a week after someone squawks about whatever buzz it is. Literally nothing is really being advocated, or even attempted, let alone DONE.

Only Impeachment grasps reality.

---