Thanks Bob and I couldn't agree more. DC Dems still think to win the rural vote you just have to be more pro ethanol, pro massive subsidies to big farmers, and pro chemical or any other essential ingredient to large scale farming. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a dozen persuadable farmers in either the first of third districts. The vast majority of voters in these districts are not big farmers but people who care about clean water, education, health care and quality of life. But hey, how would we know, we just live here.
I posted this today. Everyone needs to start working NOW to line up candidates for everyone election, federal, state and local. The calvary isn't coming and/or will be ineffectual, so we have to take back the process. Let's get in it!
Wow, do we see why the democrats are trying to become only a memory? As if voters weren't tired of ads, here comes some ding dong ads that probably have opposite effect. For election 2 YEARS AWAY!!! Is true this will make interesting conversations. A democrat best be ready for some friendly, truthful ribbing. Of course both parties do dumb things any more.
The issue is deeper than just questionable political consultants and their profit-driven TV ad commissions. The entire Democratic infrastructure is complicit: Party leadership actively chose and empowered these consultants; elected officials had the authority to halt ineffective messaging (subject to legal structures); and Democratic-aligned organizations operated in silos, failing to coordinate strategy with both the Party and elected officials.
While pundits, political consultants or party officials focus on surface-level factors like Biden, Harris, or cultural wedge issues, or dismiss losses as inevitable state-level trends. Some of us in Iowa were accused of crying wolf about the Iowa trends to the DNC 8 years ago - warnings that went unheeded as the party continued down this path.
Check out my Substack! I'm determined to build out the best resource center on the planet for people who want to run for office, support those that do, or be better informed voters.
Enough of the wasteful, negative ads that do nothing but waste money and destroy the process. Let's focus on voter education!.
Spot on, Bob. The whole Democratic Party and it's apparatus has become a wonderment to me, and not a pleasant one. This year, first time ever, we contributed significant funds (probably seemed that way only to us), at national, state and local levels. We were naively hopeful, and look what we got. Recently, the Iowa Dems decided to reelect the same failed leadership from the past election for the next run at the Rs. I assume this is the case nationally, as well. More of the same, with nothing to offer. The funding requests have been arriving at a steady clip. Two words....fat chance.
Agree we need to take a look at who we're consulting with. DNC chair candidate Ben Wikler stated as much in the candidate forum. I don't have a problem with starting now to erode support for MMM and Nunn. My issue is with the ineffective, poor quality of the ads. These are hail mary last ditch campaign ads not the kind of ad that invites people in or attracts good attention which you would want in an early ad. I said this on Blog for Iowa's Blue Sky account about it: "Glad this Dem PAC is serious, but these are typical cheaply made, low quality, cookie cutter, scary voice-over ads that everyone has become all too familiar with. Instant tune-out and turn off for most people. Identical ads for MMM and Nunn. New ad content ideas please." Agree they are a waste of ten million dollars. Here is a link to the Zach Nunn ad on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG7V9aEpwDo
There is always a problem when national groups try to represent the interests of local groups. Any group in a certain location know better what they need to fight for and how to do it than a far off group of “experts”. Give that advertising money to local activist groups to spend it properly.
I guess this time, it’s good to be up here in the 4th district where the national Democratic Party forgets about us so we don’t have to see as many of these silly ads. And why they chose to pick RF Kennedy as the target is puzzling - maybe because it’s crop input buying season (best discounts if you pay by Jan. 31).
Rural folks know how to build shit. If your goal is to soften up rural republican members of congress, a million bucks could go a long way towards building something if you invested in rural builders. Waste money like this and the voters you need get angry enough to burn shit down. Republicans didn't win in the last election cycle, Democrats lost it.
Thanks Bob and I couldn't agree more. DC Dems still think to win the rural vote you just have to be more pro ethanol, pro massive subsidies to big farmers, and pro chemical or any other essential ingredient to large scale farming. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a dozen persuadable farmers in either the first of third districts. The vast majority of voters in these districts are not big farmers but people who care about clean water, education, health care and quality of life. But hey, how would we know, we just live here.
Thanks, John. If you ever want to do a guest post, just let me know.
https://prospect.org/politics/2025-01-20-faiz-shakir-would-like-dnc-do-something/ ... A must read post for people who are upset with the operations of the DNC et al.
Yes. A must-read. DNC members are given little to do. What?
They need to run on a Things Could Be Better campaign and then explain why. Also, stop constantly texting.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sharonlawrence/p/elections-advice-for-potential-candidates?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=a5esd
I posted this today. Everyone needs to start working NOW to line up candidates for everyone election, federal, state and local. The calvary isn't coming and/or will be ineffectual, so we have to take back the process. Let's get in it!
Wow, do we see why the democrats are trying to become only a memory? As if voters weren't tired of ads, here comes some ding dong ads that probably have opposite effect. For election 2 YEARS AWAY!!! Is true this will make interesting conversations. A democrat best be ready for some friendly, truthful ribbing. Of course both parties do dumb things any more.
To Robert and Robert's Readers:
Julie Roginsky's analysis deserves close attention for her incisive critique of Democratic Party failures. Beyond the national perspective she offers, state parties repeat these systemic problems. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democratic-strategist-issues-hard-truth-to-party-members-after-losing-election/vi-AA1tGOdT?ocid=socialshare
The issue is deeper than just questionable political consultants and their profit-driven TV ad commissions. The entire Democratic infrastructure is complicit: Party leadership actively chose and empowered these consultants; elected officials had the authority to halt ineffective messaging (subject to legal structures); and Democratic-aligned organizations operated in silos, failing to coordinate strategy with both the Party and elected officials.
While pundits, political consultants or party officials focus on surface-level factors like Biden, Harris, or cultural wedge issues, or dismiss losses as inevitable state-level trends. Some of us in Iowa were accused of crying wolf about the Iowa trends to the DNC 8 years ago - warnings that went unheeded as the party continued down this path.
Thanks so much for providing this clarity Ralph.
We need to start now on the next election (2026), but I agree that those particular ads are weird and not well-thought out.
Regarding the next election, who will the Democratic nominee for governor be? We need to get some one on the stage now.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sharonlawrence/p/elections-breaking-down-the-red-wall-a0b?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=a5esd
Check out my Substack! I'm determined to build out the best resource center on the planet for people who want to run for office, support those that do, or be better informed voters.
Enough of the wasteful, negative ads that do nothing but waste money and destroy the process. Let's focus on voter education!.
Fire the consultants!
Thanks for sharing the link again Sharon! Keep up the good work.
Spot on, Bob. The whole Democratic Party and it's apparatus has become a wonderment to me, and not a pleasant one. This year, first time ever, we contributed significant funds (probably seemed that way only to us), at national, state and local levels. We were naively hopeful, and look what we got. Recently, the Iowa Dems decided to reelect the same failed leadership from the past election for the next run at the Rs. I assume this is the case nationally, as well. More of the same, with nothing to offer. The funding requests have been arriving at a steady clip. Two words....fat chance.
Agree we need to take a look at who we're consulting with. DNC chair candidate Ben Wikler stated as much in the candidate forum. I don't have a problem with starting now to erode support for MMM and Nunn. My issue is with the ineffective, poor quality of the ads. These are hail mary last ditch campaign ads not the kind of ad that invites people in or attracts good attention which you would want in an early ad. I said this on Blog for Iowa's Blue Sky account about it: "Glad this Dem PAC is serious, but these are typical cheaply made, low quality, cookie cutter, scary voice-over ads that everyone has become all too familiar with. Instant tune-out and turn off for most people. Identical ads for MMM and Nunn. New ad content ideas please." Agree they are a waste of ten million dollars. Here is a link to the Zach Nunn ad on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG7V9aEpwDo
I’ve been getting requests for money from the Kentucky State Democratic Party for a month.
When I wrote them back asking how they have and will support local candidates- no response. I’m not surprised but still.
The state party does not support more than a handful of candidates that they encourage to run in the first place.
It’s frustrating!
Sounds like here in Iowa...thanks for sharing.
There is always a problem when national groups try to represent the interests of local groups. Any group in a certain location know better what they need to fight for and how to do it than a far off group of “experts”. Give that advertising money to local activist groups to spend it properly.
I guess this time, it’s good to be up here in the 4th district where the national Democratic Party forgets about us so we don’t have to see as many of these silly ads. And why they chose to pick RF Kennedy as the target is puzzling - maybe because it’s crop input buying season (best discounts if you pay by Jan. 31).
Thanks for this story, Bob.
Rural folks know how to build shit. If your goal is to soften up rural republican members of congress, a million bucks could go a long way towards building something if you invested in rural builders. Waste money like this and the voters you need get angry enough to burn shit down. Republicans didn't win in the last election cycle, Democrats lost it.
My elderly brain no longer has the energy to figure out what is sensible and what is not but I'll take your word for it.
Fire the consultants has my vote. Thanks Bob and Laura for giving attention to this stupid ad buy. Stewardship of donations needs to be a priority.